Obama/GOP Tax Compromise

Statement

This week the House passed the tax compromise that was reached between President Obama and the GOP, Congress continued working to pass the FY2011 budget, Electrolux announced plans to transfer jobs to Memphis, and I voted for the repeal of DADT.

Obama/GOP Tax Proposal

On Thursday I voted against the Obama/GOP tax compromise. Before casting this difficult vote, I each of the contacts I received from constituents--emails, letters, phone calls and the web poll. Of course I wanted to extend unemployment benefits and provide tax breaks to middle class families, which I have previously voted for as stand-alone bills, but the price of this plan is too high. In the end, I could not support this agreement because it is a bad deal for America--it increases the deficit by $858 billion without creating enough jobs or providing enough economic stimulus to justify its cost. Further, it gives tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires, threatens Social Security and enacts a too-liberal estate tax. In voting no, I was joined by 77% of the Progressive Caucus and 64% of the Congressional Black Caucus, including the legendary Congressmen John Lewis and John Conyers. The Obama/GOP proposal ultimately passed the House by a vote of 277-148. Thanks to everyone who called, emailed and responded my web poll question about the tax proposal. To view my statement on the floor further explaining my vote, click here.

Passing a Federal Budget

Congress will likely not adjourn until next week because the Senate is still working on passing funding for the federal government. It is imperative that we at least pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) for the remainder of the Fiscal Year, as the current funding authority expires soon and the federal government would shut down without action. The Senate was working on an Omnibus bill that included earmarks, which did not increase the spending, only allocated funding within the budget. However, the agreement was breached when Republican Senators who previously agreed to vote for the Omnibus pulled out because of threats from the Tea Party.

There are nearly $13 million of projects that would benefit Memphis that would be included in the Omnibus but not in a CR. They include:
- $500,000 for AgBioworks Initiative, Memphis Bioworks Foundation
- $500,000 for Operation Safe Community, U of M
- $400,000 for Stop the Killing, Freedom From Unnecessary Negatives
- $400,000 for the Memphis Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, U of M
- $750,000 for Biofuel Micro-Refineries for Local Sustainability, U of M
- $750,000 for renovation of the National Civil Rights Museum
- $1,550,000 for Pigeon Harbor Industrial Park
- $1,000,000 for Memphis Airport Runway Seismic Retrofit
- $225,000 for Le Bonheur Children's Hospital-Pediatric-equipped Ambulance
- $550,000 for Methodist Healthcare Foundation
- $1,600,000 for the St. Jude Global Education and Collaboration Center
- $1,000,000 for Winchester Road Airfield Crossings-Seismic Retrofit Phase 1, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
- $2,400,000 for Intelligent network centric sensor development program, U of M
- $1,200,000 for new technologies for infectious disease pathogens, UT Health Science Center

Renew Tax Incentives

I recently issued a letter to House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Sander Levin and Ranking Member Dave Camp urging them to "include a two year renewal of tax incentives for empowerment zones, renewal communities, and enterprise communities in any upcoming legislation to extend expiring tax measures." Memphis is a renewal community. Click here to read the letter.

Electrolux

Electrolux -- one of the largest and most respected home appliance manufacturers in the world -- announced this week that they will transfer jobs and manufacturing functions to Memphis from Canada. This is great news for the city of Memphis. Memphians are capable and ready to work. The new jobs created by Electrolux and its suppliers will be a great shot in the arm for our city and economy.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

On Wednesday I voted to support legislation that would repeal a ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the U.S. military. If someone wants to defend and serve their country they should be allowed to do so. It shouldn't matter whether someone is gay or lesbian. Gays and lesbians deserve the same rights and opportunities everyone else gets in America. Many of our troops, our generals and a majority of the American public agree that it is time to repeal "don't ask, don't tell.' The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Earthquake Preparation

Yesterday was the 199th anniversary of one of the largest earthquakes ever to strike the United States. The earthquake occurred in 1811 and 1812 in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), a fault system in the Central U.S. that includes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regions IV, V, VI and VII and eight of the states that make up those regions: Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas and Missouri. The geological characteristics in this zone increase the potential for an earthquake to cause greater damage, in amount and size, than other earthquake-prone areas in the U.S.

The NMSZ is a major issue which is why I introduced HR 4852, the Critical Infrastructure Earthquake Preparedness Act directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a grant program to improve the ability of trauma center hospitals and airports to withstand earthquakes. If enacted, Memphis would be eligible to obtain grant money to retrofit The MED and/or the Memphis International Airport because of the 9th District's location in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. Last year, I secured a $500,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for a seismic mitigation study for the 9th District. The destruction caused by the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile are evidence of the vastly different outcomes that can result from catastrophic earthquakes depending upon the level of preparedness.

The FEMA READY Campaign is encouraging all Americans to prepare for earthquakes and other disasters by making a new year's resolution to "Resolve to be Ready" in 2011. It only takes a few simple steps to prepare for emergencies, and anyone can visit www.Ready.gov to learn more.

Grant Announcements

Each week I release a list of grant announcements from federal agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, and others. These federal funding opportunities are available to faith-based and neighborhood associations, nonprofits and other community organizations in the 9th district. The announcements are updated weekly on my website.

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