By Terry Kivlan Union and business group officials on Tuesday warned a House panel against approving a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gases that could further undermine the international competitiveness of the recession-damaged manufacturing sector in the U.S. "We have to make sure we do not put another nail in the coffin of American manufacturing," United Steelworkers… Read more

Washington D.C. - Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement today upon the release of a committee analysis which shows the detrimental effects energy tax hikes would have on U.S. exports:  “If Congress moves hastily to impose risky new cap-and-trade energy taxes, America stands to lose a stunning $162 billion in export sales - a drastic 30… Read more

Camp Statement on GOP Solutions to Help Americans Rebuild Their Savings Washington, DC – Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement as The Savings Recovery Act was unveiled at a press conference today: “Retirement security is about providing certainty and savings, which today’s economic conditions have severely undermined.  Today’s initiative, The… Read more

Washington, DC – While the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office’s analysis of the President’s budget impact on the deficit has created an uproar among both Republicans and some Democrats, the continued job losses should not be glossed over, according to Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI). “To paraphrase: it’s the jobs, stupid,” said Camp.  “The… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Mr. Chairman, you have commented that the globe is smaller and more interconnected than ever, and I couldn't agree more.  In this era of increased globalization, the prosperity of American families is intricately linked to the global market, and therefore America's prosperity is intricately linked to its international competitiveness. Millions of American jobs… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Today’s hearing is about two things.  The first is the large backlog in Social Security and SSI disability claims, and efforts to reduce it.  That is a big problem, which we should work to fix.  The second, and in the long run more important, thing this hearing is about is the plummeting credibility of our Democrat colleagues and the… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you and congratulations Mr. Chairman.  I look forward to the good work we will accomplish together. I also want to welcome our new members and our colleagues from the Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee.  We all share a real concern about the delays our constituents face when they visit or contact a local Social Security office, call… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) When Congress acted to stave off an imminent financial and economic collapse, the results of which would have been Depression-era unemployment levels, we did so with the faith that the past and current Administration would carefully manage the people’s money.  That trust has been shattered.  Lesson learned. What has been particularly troubling is the difficulty… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you, Chairman Lewis. I’d first like to recognize the absence of our Ranking Member on Oversight, Dr. Boustany, whose father passed away earlier this week.  The thoughts and prayers of all of our committee members are with him and his family. The Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, was intended to open up credit for families and businesses, but… Read more

Editorial President Obama has been warning that tit-for-tat protectionism could drive the world into an even worse economic slump than it is already in. He is right. Unfortunately, Congress doesn’t seem to be listening. The $410 billion spending bill that Mr. Obama signed into law last week cuts off financing for a pilot program that allows Mexican trucks to deliver goods across… Read more