Congresswoman Hirono: Americans Want Jobs, Not Games

Press Release

The U.S. House today considered legislation that would block the Obama Administration's request to increase the U.S. debt limit in order to pay for obligations that our nation has already incurred.

The bill, H.J.Res. 98, passed the House on a 239-176 vote and must now be considered by the U.S. Senate. Similar legislation passed the House in September 2011 but was rejected in the Senate.

"I just returned from Hawaii where people on every island I visited expressed their frustration and disappointment with Congress. They want us to focus on creating jobs, not continuing the debate from last summer on whether the United States should pay its financial obligations. For the sake of Americans everywhere looking for a job, let's create opportunities to get more people back to work and boost our economy. That's one of the best ways to reduce our deficit," said Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), who voted against the bill.

The Budget Control Act, which became law in August 2011, allows the Administration to raise the U.S. debt limit to meet these obligations but provides Congress the opportunity to prevent this increase by passing legislation disapproving of the President's request to increase the limit.

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