At the end of this month, states across the country will be forced to put road construction projects on hold if Congress cannot address the Highway Trust Fund.  At risk are hundreds of thousands of jobs in the construction industry.  A strong infrastructure is central to commerce and, at a time when millions of Americans are packing their bags to take a vacation, or just… Read more

Thirty-Two States Have Yet to Recover Lost Jobs.  Most States have yet to recover all the jobs that were lost during the 2007-2009 recession, marking another broken stimulus promise. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. ________________ As introduced on June 17, 2014, Ways and Means Chairman Camp… Read more

Businesses all across the country are applauding H.R. 4718, which will reduce the tax burden on businesses by making permanent 50 percent bonus depreciation.  At a time when economic growth is stagnant, making certain tax policy permanent encourages businesses to grow, invest and hire.  Letter from over 100 associations representing millions of businesses and workers across… Read more

We all can agree that funding improvements to the nation’s infrastructure is vitally important to creating economic growth and promoting commerce.  An important feature of our tax reform discussion draft would provide enough revenue to maintain the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund for eight years.   Americans deserve to know that as they travel around town, go to work or… Read more

Washington, DC – Today, the Ways and Means Committee passed by voice vote a bill that would provide nearly $11 billion for highway funding – allowing projects to move forward through May 31, 2015.  Legislation that will be considered by the Senate Finance Committee this afternoon would provide a nearly identical amount of funding.   The Ways and Means package contains three… Read more

More People Dropped out of the Workforce during the “Recovery” Than during the Recession.  In a “recovery” that has been three times longer than the recession, more than six times as many people dropped out of the workforce.   Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. ________________ As… Read more

House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) today announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the U.S. trade agenda and the World Trade Organization with Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Michael Punke.  The hearing will take place on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, in 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 10:00 A.M. In view of the… Read more

Invisible Unemployment Remains Above 10 Percent for 59 Straight Months.  Although the unemployment rate has fallen, when combined with those that have given up looking for work, the “invisible” unemployment rate remains above 10 percent. Sources: January 2009 Romer/Bernstein Report ("Administration Prediction With Stimulus… Read more

Sifting through the June jobs report suggests that when it comes to “quality jobs,” this may have been the worst June in recorded U.S. history.     Specifically, in real (i.e. not seasonally adjusted) terms, June 2014 was: The worst June ever for full-time employment growth. The only June ever in which part-time employment grew. For men, the… Read more

Far More Adults Have Left the Workforce Than Found New Jobs. Under the Obama Administration, the ratio of adults in their early and prime working years that have left the workforce for every one that found new employment is more than 3:1.   Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. ________________ As… Read more