| This week in Congress, my colleagues and I honored and reflected upon
the life and the legacy of America's 32nd President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
President Roosevelt came into office during the midst of the Great Depression,
and left his presidency 13 years later with a prospering, booming economy.
President Roosevelt's innovative series of programs, pegged the "New
Deal," fundamentally changed the role of our federal government. Through
the Fair Labor Standards Act, he created the minimum wage, and put an end
to the abusive practices of child labor. The New Deal also produced our
nation's pension system for retirees, known as Social Security. And President
Roosevelt also put 8 million Americans back to work through his WPA program
by creating jobs that repaired schools and hospitals and constructed roads
and bridges.
I believe we can learn a lot from history. During a time when millions
of Americans were out of work, President Roosevelt created jobs that not
only put America back to work, but jobs that produced vast improvements
to our country's infrastructure.
I tried to apply this same principle last year by offering an amendment
to the President's tax cut that would have invested $1 billion in road
construction needs for every congressional district in America. My plan
would have created 18 million new jobs -- 42,000 new jobs in each of the
435 congressional districts!
Unfortunately the current leadership discarded my highway bill. This
is disappointing, because during a time when 9 million Americans are out
of work, my bill would have created much-needed jobs, while also providing
the resources for the construction of Fourth district road projects, such
as I-49, I-69, I-530, and highway 167.
It's all about priorities. At a time when our nation is at war, our
current Administration wants to enact $1.1 trillion in tax cuts -- $521
billion of which they want to borrow from the Social Security Trust Fund.
And to give further perspective to our country's economic state - the
first $2,559 you pay in income taxes each year doesn't go toward education
or health care initiatives, but instead, goes toward paying down the interest
on our national debt!
The people I represent in Arkansas's Fourth Congressional District didn't
send me to Washington to play politics - they sent me up here to do what's
right. And I will continue to push for legislation that creates jobs and
improves our economy, and fight to restore fiscal responsibility to our
nation's government. |
