100 days of accomplishments in the House
Washington,
May 9, 2005 -
With the first 100 days of the 109th Congress under our belt, the U.S. House Republicans have a record of accomplish that will keep our economy humming and create new jobs.
While the media have focused on the controversies surrounding the Terri Schiavo case, the Senate fights on judicial nominations and Democratic attacks on the majority leader, Tom DeLay, we’ve quietly gone about doing the people’s business.
After a career as a small businessman in homebuilding, I know the challenges that our entrepreneurs face – and I also know that they are the engine that fires the U.S. economy. According to the Small Business Committee, of which I am a member, 99.7 percent our businesses are small businesses (23 million). They create 75 percent of the new jobs in this country.
In my first four months in the House, I’ve supported successful legislation that will boost our economy. Here’s a sample of what we’ve accomplished for the American people:
The Energy Policy Act: Our nation has gone for years without an energy policy, and passage of this act – held up for years by extremists on the left – is long overdue. Once signed into law, this bill will create more than 500,000 jobs in the manufacturing, construction, agriculture and technology sectors by reducing our dependence on foreign oil while exploring different sources of renewable fuels and nuclear energy. The energy act also allows for exploration of oil in a tiny section of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which has the ardent support of Alaskans. That exploration, experts surmise, could create 735,000 new U.S. jobs and a new source of domestic energy.
The Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act: This legislation prevents double taxation on Americans who’ve worked hard, built businesses and saved money to pass on to their children and grandchildren. Too many small businesses are swallowed up by the death tax. We’re going to put a stop to it.
Class Action Fairness Act: When predatory trial lawyers "shop" for favorable courts, it drains billions from the economy, cripples businesses and costs jobs. This act, signed into law by President Bush earlier this year, will protect businesses while still guarding consumer rights.
Transportation bill: The Congress has invested significant resources to improve and expand our nation’s transportation systems. Quick, efficient travel is the backbone of our economy and, additionally, for every $1 billion spend on highway funding, 40,000 jobs are created. I’ve worked, and will continue to work, to see that Georgia gets more of its fair share back in transportation funding.
2006 Budget resolution: House Republicans fulfilled their pledge to restrain spending and cut the budget deficit in half in five years, while continuing to implement tax relief.
Despite the emphasis on the sensational, we’ve kept our eyes on the practical. We have a strong record in the first 100 days, and we’ll need to keep that focus as we move on to tackle huge issues such as Social Security reform and the continuing war on terror.
