Jobs & the Economy

The United States is facing an urgent financial crisis that threatens our fiscal and economic stability. Our government is currently borrowing about 50 cents for every dollar we spend. Our debt is the number one threat to our security and our economic recovery. Since the start of the 112th Congress, I’ve voted to reduce federal spending by $121,628,720,000! Our nation is over $15.9 trillion dollars in debt. I do not want to leave a legacy of debt for the next generation and pledge to continue working to reduce federal spending so that our children and grandchildren can have the bright future that they deserve.

In addition to a Balanced Budget Amendment, I supported a budget alternative that would cut taxes and reduce spending. It is time to let Americans keep more of what they earn and for the government to spend less. We need to trust and empower individual Americans instead of the federal government. By taking these steps, our economy will see the growth and prosperity that have defined America for generations.

The unemployment rate posted its 41st consecutive month at 8.0% or higher in June. While the unemployment rate has declined by 1.8 percentage points since peaking at 10.0% in October 2009, most of the decline is attributable to the decline in labor force participation. We are fortunate in Houston to have a strong economy that has bucked national trends and find ourselves adding jobs to the economy. For those of you in Houston who may be looking for work, I encourage you to take a look at the many private sector companies in Houston that are currently hiring by clicking here.

House Republicans are working to try and improve the economy. We have passed more than 30 bills that would stimulate the economy, however, the Democrat controlled Senate has not considered any of these bills. I urge the Senate and the President to join the House in protecting American jobs and American families.

I have supported the following legislation in the 112th Congress that would help create American jobs and put our fiscal house back in order:

• H.R. 872, Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011 – passed the House on March 31, 2011.

• H.R. 910, Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 – passed the House on April 7, 2011.

• H. J. Res. 37, Net Neutrality – passed the House on April 8, 2011.

• H. Con. Res. 34, House Republican Budget – passed House on April 15, 2011.

• H.R. 1230, Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act – passed House on May 5, 2011.

• H.R. 1229, Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act – passed House on May 11, 2011.

• H.R. 1231, Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act – passed House on May 12, 2011.

• H.R. 2021, Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011 – passed House on June 22, 2011.

• H.R. 2018, Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011 – passed the House on July 13, 2011.

• H.R. 1315, Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011 – passed House on July 21, 2011.

• H.R. 1938, North American-Made Energy Security Act – passed House on July 26, 2011.

Responses to “Jobs & the Economy”

  1. Dan Fox says:

    I applaud your desire to cut spending. Could we have some details, please? Let’s start with the draft of the Bowles-Simpson Deficit Reduction Plan. The most expensive government programs are Medicare, Social Security and military. What do you propose to do there?

  2. Amy V says:

    Congressman,
    I am disappointed that your website does not mention what you are doing about job creation and extending unemployment benefits. With six qualified applicants for every one job, something has to be done. Unless you plan to find a way to multiply the job offerings sixfold, then you will need to extend the unemployment benefits that are set to expire in November. Taking away people’s lifelines will not improve the economy. It costs money, but its an investment in the future of America, one person at a time.

  3. Arthur Perkins says:

    Rep. Culberson:
    I am writing to implore you and all of your colleagues to resist framing the financial regulation efforts being negotiated and debated in Congress as a Republican Party vs. Democratic Party issue. This is a matter of greed and THEFT. Without negative incentives, the bankers and investment companies will be unrestrained in pursuing the same policies that led to the current, very serious situation. A tough, independent regulatory agency is desperately needed to REGULATE the financial sector. The agency must have tough, unambiguous, and enforcable rules. There is reasonable room for debate on all other partisan issues in this or in any administation and congress. This should not be one of them. Money, plenty of money that was confidently invested in the financial industry is gone. This money was invested by Republican citizens, Democratic citizens, Independents, and any other groups with resources to invest. This money will not come back. PLEASE work with both parties to prevent this from happening again. (and again, and again.) I request that you do not support the creation of the Bureau of Financial Protection as part of the Treasury Department as recently proposed by Sen. C. Dodd.

    Respectfully,

    Arthur Perkins
    Houston, TX

  4. M. Sadiq says:

    Dear Congressman John Culberson,

    I urge you to change your course regarding this matter and stand up for the American people as we know you have a good heart, just bring in some guts. I am very sure that this concern just did not popped up yesterday. The government knew all along when they gave the banks a blank check, charged it to the public, and now it’s time to pay; through drastic tax increases, spending cuts, privatization of state industries and services, dismantling of any protective tariffs and trade regulations, and raising interest rates. The effect that this will have is to rapidly accelerate, both in the speed and volume, the unemployment rate.

    If we continue to follow the current course dictated by the Wall Street and big business, I am very sure that when the crisis is over, our middle classes will have been liquidated of their economic, political and social status. Our economy will have gone through the greatest consolidation of industry and banking in American history leading to a system in which only a few corporations and banks control the economy and its resources; government will have lost that right as is even obvious now when majority of our representatives cannot stand up and protect the American people first. If we did not cut the banks to their sizes now then in near future American people will be left to the mercy of the financial oligarchs.

    The sad thing is even when the whole episode behind the economic recovery or let’s call it corporate recovery is unfolding with all the false hope and promises made to American people when giving away the national wealth to the banks, our representatives still won’t get tough.

    It is very simple we need to increase the government spending and create conditions for American people to live with some dignity, create more businesses, help more entrepreneurs get financial backing, start rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, invest in government funded new technology programs which will create more small business rather than big business monopoly, provide more subsidiary in critical areas of economy for real improvement etc. and to do all this we need to collect more taxes. The best places to collect more taxes are the fat banks and big business. They are the ones who took our money and now it’s time for pay back, should they have problems doing so, American people would be much better off if they disappear from our national scene. They are the ones who wronged and they need to pay for their mistakes.

    Obviously we are concerned with our financial situation than why are we still borrowing huge money for our overseas wars? I understand it is of importance to our national security. Why can we not put our best and sincere heads together and re define victory along with our other overseas goals within a realistic and available budget that can be really achieved? If the answer is we have no choice but to keep borrowing for the wars then I would say why cut the corner for the home land.

    I would also suggest creating an economic advisory group consisting of prominent and impartial economists for our district from University of Houston or Rice perhaps to provide alternative interpretation of various financial aspects which shall carry more weight than conventional corporate reports.

    Sincerely,

    M. Sadiq

  5. Bob Donnally says:

    The current financial situation in the US and the world is frightening. This current debt started back in the early 80s when we decided to cut taxes but did not cut spending. It has continued through both Republican and Democratic administrations, although Clinton actually reduced the deficit some.

    We are now in a situation where without heavy government spending, the economy and unemployment will be much worse. The arguments for cutting taxes to improve the economy at this point don’t make any sense. This would only further increase debt and do very little to increase demand, which is the major problem.

    Big banks have been bailed out and are now making profits, thanks to the use of our money. It is time to introduce some serious banking reform. Taxpayers have been bilked long enough. If they are really “too big to fail” it’s time to make them smaller. Congressmen need to stand up to the bank lobbies for once.

    Another bank complaint, credit card interest rates should be limited, as they were years ago. If congress cannot provide such a simple protection for the people, of what use are they? There is no valid argument to justify the current situation, only the campaign contributions of the bank lobby.

  6. Dennis Swanson says:

    With one in five americans unemployed I am wondering if any of our leaders are concerned about job creation.

  7. Pat Hartis says:

    It is painful to watch our current governing congress and executive branches dismantle everything that is America. If they continue, blind to the debt they are setting in place in the name of big government, they will delegate America to the status of a third world country. I don’t care about their motives. I don’t care about their desire to control everything with or without the Constitutional power to do what they are doing. What I care about is the next elections. Until they take away our right to vote they are only in power at the discretion of the voters. The American people will not sleep forever.

  8. rick bowden says:

    I disagree with your actions relative to the recent financial crisis. Your approach (ignoring the wrong-doing, ignoring the causes, and criticizing the tax policy) is wrong. You should be punishing those wrong-doers (we all know who they are). You should be enacting responsible regulation (”yes – regulation – more not less”). Not every solution involves “tax cuts”. Stopping wasteful spending, paying as we go (even it more taxes are required) and making sure that the U.S. has jobs (manufacturing, advanced technologies) is the solution, and not allowing businesses to export our jobs so some executive can make an inflated bonus.