Blog
Remembering Pearl Harbor
Today we remember the 2,402 American servicemembers who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. 71 years later, their sacrifice lives on, and we are eternally grateful.
I also want to thank all of those men and women of the Greatest Generation, who liberated Europe and Southeast Asia, and carried the future of the world on their backs. Earlier this year, we honored the First District's World War Two veterans at the North Charleston Convention Center, and it was a day I will never forget. They are true heroes, and we will never forget them.
(photo of USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor via Wikipedia)
Tim
This Week in Washington
Today the House passed legislation to authorize appropriations for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) through fiscal year 2014 and for the Maritime Administration through fiscal year 2013.
We also voted for the American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act (HR 6582), sponsored by Representative Robert Aderholt (R-AL). This legislation would “provide important and necessary technical corrections to the law, ultimately increasing domestic competitiveness, supporting more efficient and innovative technologies, and promoting job growth here at home.”
Tim
Each week the House is in session, Congressman Scott blogs about the House floor schedule. You can also view what legislation will be on the House floor on the Majority Leader’s website.
This Week in Washington
This week the House took up an important issue facing our nation – immigration reform.
Today, the STEM Jobs Act (HR 6429), introduced by Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) passed the House of Representatives with my support. This legislation will award 55,000 visas to foreign graduates of U.S. universities with doctoral and masters degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Tim
Each week the House is in session, Congressman Scott blogs about the House floor schedule. You can also view what legislation will be on the House floor on the Majority Leader’s website.
Supporting U.S. Manufacturing
Today I was honored to receive the National Association of Manufacturers Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence. Our manufacturers play a key role in our nation's economy, and we must ensure Washington is creating the right environment for them to grow and compete.
Protecting South Carolina Families
As you might have seen today, a new report shows the defense industry supports 140,000 jobs and $16 billion worth of economic activity in our state. The threat of the President’s sequester still stands as a piece of the fiscal cliff, and I am committed to protecting South Carolina families from the damaging effects that would occur if the sequester were to be implemented.
I have already voted to avert the sequester three times in the House, and will continue to make every effort possible to do so. We cannot afford to play political games with our nation’s security, and we cannot afford to play political games with the jobs and lives of thousands of middle class Americans. In Beaufort and Jasper counties alone, more than 12,000 jobs are military-based.
As we work to avoid the fiscal cliff, you can count on three things from me:
- I will make every effort to avert the dangerous sequester
- I will be a strong, vocal advocate for tax REFORM, not tax HIKES
- I will work hard with my colleagues to find the common ground necessary to move forward – without compromising our principles
Tim
This Week in Washington
This week the House is scheduled to vote on nine suspension bills, as well as the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act (HR 6156).
The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, introduced by Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI), would grant Russia permanent normal trade relations (PNTR), and have the State Department hold responsible (through sanctions) individuals in Russia responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky.
The suspensions include:
- The Asthma Inhalers Relief Act (HR 6190) by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)
- Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act (HR 6371) by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MN)
- European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act (S. 1956) by Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
- To extend the application of certain space launch liability provisions through 2014 (HR 6586) by Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS)
- Concur in the Senate Amendment to the New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act (HR2606) by Rep. Mike Grimm (R-NY)
- To amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to consolidate certain CBO reporting requirements (HR 6570) Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ)
- Concur in the Senate Amendment to Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act (HR 2453) by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)
- To amend the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to provide for direct appeals to the United States Supreme Court of decisions of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court, as amended (HR 6116) by Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
- Stop Tobacco Smuggling in the Territories Act (HR 5934) by Del. Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS)
Tim
Each week the House is in session, Congressman Scott blogs about the House floor schedule. You can also view what legislation will be on the House floor on the Majority Leader’s website.
Thank You to Our Veterans
Women in the Workforce Since 2009
While we keep hearing there is a "War on Women," perhaps looking at the numbers below will shed some light on how the President's policies have affected women since 2009.
- 450,000 More Unemployed Women Since President Obama Took Over
- Labor Force Participation Among Women the Lowest in 20 Years: Labor force participation among women has fallen to a 20-year low under the president’s failed policies. According to BLS, only 57.6 percent of all women in America are in the workforce, the lowest level since October 1992.
- 4 Million More Women Left the Workforce Since President Obama Took Over: According to BLS, the number of women who are not in the workforce has grown by 4.3 million since President Obama took office.
- Unemployment Among Women Up Since President Obama Took Over: Unemployment among women of all walks of life has steadily increased because of the failed economic policies of President Obama
- Unemployment among all women ages 16 and over is now 7.5 percent, a 7 percent increase since the president took office. The only reason the rate is not higher is because so many women simply gave up their search for a career.
- Unemployment among single women is now 11.2 percent, an 11 percent increase since the president took office
- A recent Pew study found that “women are the only group for whom employment growth lagged behind population growth from 2009 to 2011.”
The Imperial Presidency
Majority Leader Cantor released a great report today on how the President's tendency to ignore Congress has harmed our economy and hurt job creation. The report includes a discussion on the importance of my Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act, which was passed by the House last September.
You can read the full report here.
Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff (video)
I joined Fox News last week to discuss the importance of avoiding the fiscal cliff at the end of this year.