Supporting Good American Jobs

Statement

For too long, the U.S. economy has been rigged in favor of companies that ship jobs and profits overseas. But not all companies have followed that destructive path. Some companies, like Block Steel in Skokie, Illinois, have grown their workforce, paid good wages and benefits (including retirement benefits) and made their communities stronger. We must reward employers, like CEO Joe Block, who put these patriotic values into their business model and truly care about their employees and our country -- not just maximizing profits. That's why I introduced the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act. Senator Dick Durbin has introduced the Senate version.

In late May, I toured Block Steel. The company would benefit directly from the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act. I spoke with Joe Block, Mike Corrigan of Teamsters Local 731 and several Block Steel employees. They welcome and support this common-sense legislation. All across our community and country, people need us to strengthen companies like Block Steel. If the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act is enacted, we can give substantial tax credits to patriotic employers, paid for by closing $50 billion in tax loopholes for those who ship jobs and profits overseas. Don't just take my word for it; the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act has gotten some media attention.

Addressing the Dangerous Trend of Data Breaches

Late last month, reports emerged that hackers gained access to past tax returns of more than 100,000 people. You will be contacted by the IRS in a letter if your information was affected. Click here to learn about how you can protect yourself.

Unfortunately, this is just one of the latest of a series of public and private data breaches that have harmed consumers across our country. In fact, as I was writing this, news broke of a data breach at the Office of Personnel Management. Over the past decade, almost one billion records with personal information have been compromised -- things like Social Security numbers, birth dates, address and even tax filing status. In many cases, those breaches were not highly sophisticated, and in some cases, consumers were never made aware that their information was compromised. As the IRS hack reminds us, those data breaches have very real consequences.

The Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee -- where I serve as the top Democrat -- has been considering legislation regarding data breaches. As I have consistently stated, that legislation must require entities holding sensitive data to adequately protect it and to notify users or customers in the event of a breach. Had both of those requirements been in place, the IRS breach might not have been as effective or wide-ranging as it was. I will continue to work to enact legislation that prioritizes data security. Thanks for reading!

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