(Washington) – Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) today voted to save and create almost 320,000 American jobs—including saving the jobs of 4,700 Michigan teachers.  The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, which passed the Senate last week and passed the House today by a vote of 247 to 161,  will provide states with the necessary funding to help states keep their teachers, firefighters, police officers, and nurses on duty.  Completely paid for, the bill will reduce the deficit by $1.4 billion over the next 10 years, in part by closing a loophole that encourages corporations to ship American jobs overseas.  The bill will provide Michigan with $600 million in funding to help close the hole in the state budget and create thousands of jobs. 

 

 

I thank Speaker Pelosi for asking us to come back to Washington this week to vote on a bill that will help protect some of Detroit’s best assets---our teachers, firefighters, police officers, and nurses.  One of the things I have noticed over the past year, as our country has faced some of the greatest economic difficulties imaginable, is that there have been very few easy or inconsequential votes taken on this floor.  Our nation’s problems are vast and deep and they have tested this Congress, as we have again and again been forced to rise and meet unforeseen challenges while, at the same time, working to restore the promise inherent in the American dream to our fellow countrymen and women. 

 

Today is no different.  The bill we bring to the floor today is a necessary measure.  The fiscal fate of our states and over 300,000 jobs weigh in the balance.  If we do not act, many of our nation’s children will be left without teachers when they return to school in a few weeks.  Worse, inaction could exacerbate an already unfolding crisis in our state and local governments, where budget shortfalls have cost 100,000 public servants their jobs in the past three months.

 

So, we must act.  It is unfortunate that in doing so, we must also cut $11 billion in benefits from the food stamp program to offset the cost of this necessary state aid.  Indeed, this is a bitter pill to swallow. 

In real terms, this means that monthly benefits for a family of three will drop by $47 dollars in April 2014.  Now, $47 dollars may not seem like a lot of money to many in this chamber, but during this recession this additional funding has served as a lifeline for many of those who have been hit the hardest by this recession.  Our food stamp program is already chronically underfunded.  At current levels, these benefits are often insufficient to allow a family to purchase enough food to last an entire month.  

 

Madam Speaker, this is why many of our fellow citizens are frustrated with Washington.  It is why they think we are out of touch.  We offer aid with one hand and take from the neediest with the other.  It makes no sense whatsoever.  As my friend, the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, noted the other day: those who need help the most had finally caught a break, only to now have it taken away.

 

That said, I want to reiterate that this bill, taken as a whole, is a good bill and I will support it.  This is the burden of governing; we have a duty to make tough decisions and live with them.  While I disagree with the decision to phase out these important benefits in 2014 and pledge to work to ensure that they are reinstated, I respect the work my colleagues on this side of the aisle have put into crafting this necessary jobs package.  It is certainly much more admirable and serious than what the other side offers: a resolution calling for Congress to shut down and take a paid two-month vacation. 

 

I may not agree with the choices some of my Democratic colleagues make, but never for a moment do I doubt their commitment to facing down and solving the challenges facing the American people.  This debate, frankly, illustrates the choice offered to our fellow citizens this fall: serious, difficult, deliberation and governance or silly and trivial gimmicks aimed at scoring political points.  The American people will have to decide.   

 

I encourage my colleagues to support this necessary, job-saving bill.     

 

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