Letter to David Dreier, Chairman, House Committee on Rules

Letter

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, along with her Democratic colleagues on the committee, today sent a letter to Chairman David Dreier urging him to hold hearings immediately on jobs legislation falling directly under the committee's jurisdiction.

"The President has submitted his detailed proposal for job creation, which we hope the committees of jurisdiction will begin considering immediately," wrote the Rules Democrats. "The Rules Committee has an important role to play as well," referring to a set of three bills introduced by Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson.

Last month, Larson introduced three pieces of legislation to refocus the agenda of Congress on jobs: H.R. 2835, the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation Act of 2011, H.R. 2836, the Job Creation and Economic Growth Act, and H.R. 2837, the Job Creation and Economic Growth Act.

All three bills fall under the jurisdiction of the House Rules Committee.

"This Congress has been missing in action as 14 million Americans languish in joblessness," said Slaughter. "That's unacceptable. And we cannot expect to put these Americans back to work with half measures and swipes directed at the EPA. We have several bills in front of the Rules Committee right now that would refocus this Congress on job creation, and I urge the committee to take them up -- today."

Republicans have continued to stonewall legislation to address America's jobs crisis, including holding up President Obama's American Jobs Act that would strengthen small businesses by helping them to grow and hire.

In part, their letter said, "The legislation before us asks a simple question- will we begin the process of job creation in this Congress, or will the Majority choose to avoid solving the most pressing issue of our time?

"We urge the Rules Committee to take quick action on the job creation legislation before our committee, and request that you schedule an original jurisdiction hearing and committee consideration of these bills immediately."

The full text of the letter is below.

October 3, 2011

The Honorable David Dreier

Chairman

Committee on Rules

H-312 The Capitol

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Dreier:

Creating jobs and revitalizing the economy is the number one priority facing this Congress and the American people. With nearly 14 million Americans needing our help, we cannot delay. We must come together in a bipartisan effort to get Americans back to work today. Neither party can do it alone- we must put aside our differences and act on legislation together to create jobs now.

The President has submitted his detailed proposal for job creation, which we hope the committees of jurisdiction will begin considering immediately. Also, the new Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is beginning its work, and we hope they will recognize the vital connection between creating jobs and reducing the deficit for the long term.

The Rules Committee has an important role to play as well. Last week, our colleague, Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson, introduced three pieces of legislation to refocus the agenda of Congress where it should be -- on the creation of jobs. All three of these bills are within our committee's jurisdiction.

H.R. 2835, the "Joint Select Committee on Job Creation Act of 2011," would establish a new joint select committee of Congress on job creation modeled on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, with the same deadlines for legislative proposals and action.

H.R. 2836, the "Job Creation and Economic Growth Act," would amend the Budget Control Act to require the existing joint committee on the deficit to develop a job creation plan in addition to the deficit reduction proposal, with the same deadlines.

H.R. 2837, the "Job Creation and Economic Growth Act," would -- like H.R. 2836 -- amend the Budget Control Act to require the existing joint committee on the deficit to develop a job creation plan in addition to the deficit reduction proposal. It would also expand the joint committee to 16 members and create a job creation subcommittee.

Chairman Larson has proposed three different options to begin the work of job creation in this Congress. Given the bipartisan spirit in which the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction has begun its work, there is little reason why similar approaches to address historic levels of unemployment should not receive the same support from the Rules Committee and every Member of Congress.

The legislation before us asks a simple question- will we begin the process of job creation in this Congress, or will the Majority choose to avoid solving the most pressing issue of our time?

We urge the Rules Committee to take quick action on the job creation legislation before our committee, and request that you schedule an original jurisdiction hearing and committee consideration of these bills immediately.

Sincerely,

Rep. Louise Slaughter

Rep. James McGovern

Rep. Alcee Hastings

Rep. Jared Polis

Source