Walberg Weekly Wrap-Up

Press Release

WALBERG WEEKLY WRAP-UP

Bringing the GI Bill into the 21st Century

Often in my weekly column, I report on partisan politics that take place in the halls of Congress. This week I am pleased to say that a spirit of bi-partisanship enabled House Democrats and Republicans to come together and pass an important bill that will greatly benefit our veterans.

The House came together and passed a bill that includes a long-overdue modernization of the Montgomery GI Bill, a reform I have been pushing for. We must ensure that our veterans are provided every opportunity to succeed when they return home from the battlefield. Providing a world class education for our soldiers is one of the ways Congress can show support for the brave service of our veterans. These reforms to the GI Bill will ensure our veterans receive the best education possible once their service has concluded.

For the 8,261 veterans in Michigan who currently depend on the GI Bill, this legislation will increase their yearly benefit from $9,900 up to $19,543. That means Michigan veterans will receive up to $63 million in new education benefits next year alone. The funding for the GI Bill has not kept pace with increases in tuition, which is why I have worked to help bring the GI Bill into the 21st Century.

The bill also fully funds and supports our men and women currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, without handcuffing our generals in the field. While our commitment in these countries is not endless, we must continue to support the progress they are making and the new strategy that has turned Iraq around. This bi-partisan vote is a demonstration of confidence in our troops.

Tax Increases Continue to Drive Away Jobs

This week I received the sad news that Michigan's unemployment rate has now reached 8.5%, nearly a one percent increase since the end of 2007 and 50% above the national average. Tax increases are clearly sending Michigan jobs to other states and this course must be reversed. Michigan needs to once again become a state with regulatory and tax structures that encourage business growth and innovation. Michigan families and businesses are hurting and the solutions are clear. In Congress, I am working to stop a $683 billion tax increase, because Michigan's current unemployment rate once again proves a state cannot tax its way to prosperity.

While times are tough in Michigan, I know Michigan can come back, and I will continue taking practical steps to encourage the creation of good-paying jobs, lower gas prices, make health care more affordable and promote economic growth. Congress must not follow Michigan's failed blueprint of higher taxes and bigger government.

If any of you need help locating job opportunities, please call 1-877-TIM-MI07 or visit my Job Center at http://walberg.house.gov/ConstituentServices/MIJobs.htm. I also supported an extension of unemployment benefits for those who have currently exhausted their unemployment benefits. These benefits will help many Michigan families in the short term. In the long term, we must stop job-killing tax increases and encourage the creation of good paying jobs.

Energy Solutions

As gas prices keep rising, I am continuing my push for an increase in U.S. energy production and greater investment in alternative sources of energy. Last week, I filed a discharge petition to force a vote on the No More Excuses Energy Act, a bill that would lower our electric bills, bring down the price at the pump and make America energy independent. I am recruiting both Democrats and Republicans in this effort, because we need bipartisan solutions to our energy crisis.

This week I also supported the Expand American Refining Capacity Act, which would help streamline the construction of new refineries on closed military bases. America has not built a new refinery since 1976, and increasing our refinery capacity would help get America's energy supply to the market faster, more efficiently and keep good paying jobs in America. Refinery construction is also a good way to utilize these closed and nearly vacant military bases and help suffering local economies.

If we increase our domestic energy exploration in places like Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf and increase our refinery capacity, we can start to bring more American-produced gasoline to the market and lower the price. In the long run, America cannot survive on oil alone, which is why I signed on to the Clean Energy Stimulus Act to bring more alternative energy to market. However, increasing American production and the number of refineries will help bring down prices and break our dependence on foreign oil while we continue to develop new alternative energies.

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