Congresswoman Laura Richardson Rises in OOpposition of H.R. 3630, the GOP Tax Extenders Package

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 3630, the GOP Tax Extenders Package. This bill does nothing to create jobs, support the middle class or stimulate our economy. Instead, the Republicans have decided to play politics at the expense of ninety-nine percent of American families.

As we wrap up this year's legislative business, individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits, physicians anxiously awaiting certainty that they will be adequately reimbursed for treatment they deliver to Medicare patients and millions of middle class families facing a tax increase are depending on us to put politics aside and act responsibly. Unfortunately, the GOP Tax Extenders Package is mere political theater that takes an irresponsible approach to solving these issues.

Mr. Speaker, President Obama called on Congress to extend the payroll tax deduction in order to save working Americans an average of $1,500 over the next year. If Congress does not act by the end of the year, American families making an average of $50,000 per year will see their taxes raised $1,000. At a time when the average American is struggling to make ends meet, it is essential that we extend the payroll tax cut to ensure that middle class American families can spend the money they've earned. Lowering the rate Americans contribute to Social Security out of their paychecks will help stimulate consumer spending, create jobs and revive our economy.

While the Republican bill we are considering today extends the current payroll tax cut by two percent and addresses the SGR ''doc fix'' for two years, there are a number of ideological poison pills attached to this bill that simply make this measure unacceptable. First, the bill cuts Medicare provider rates by over $21 billion and significantly increases the number of Medicare beneficiaries required to pay higher premiums for services they need.

Second, the bill would cut over $21 billion from Affordable Care Act programs, which will increase the ranks of the uninsured by 170,000 Americans. Although we are making progress in ensuring that more Americans have access to quality and affordable health insurance plans, the Republicans are recklessly attempting to roll back provisions of the Affordable Care Act that have proven successful at increasing access to healthcare. The Prevention and Public Health Trust Fund, an essential piece of the Affordable Care Act tasked with promoting healthy lifestyles and prevention treatment to keep Americans healthy, would suffer a deleterious $8 billion cut.

Further, this bill would roll back the amount of time benefits are provided to recipients of emergency unemployment compensation. The current program allows beneficiaries to receive unemployment compensation for up to 99 weeks; however, the Republican Tax Extenders Package would lower that amount of time to 59 weeks. As we are all aware, the current job market is extraordinarily bleak. With the unemployment level in my district hovering around twenty percent, shortening the length of time benefits are provided would have a devastating impact on those who rely on unemployment compensation as their main source of income.

Mr. Speaker, cutting back emergency unemployment compensation from 99 to 59 weeks hurts the most vulnerable members of our society. That is why I submitted an amendment to this legislation that would extend current unemployment benefits for 2012, if the implementation of subtitle B of title II is found to have a disproportionately adverse effect on workers aged 55 and older by the Secretary of Labor. Had my amendment been made in order and adopted, it would have provided much needed relief to job-seeking seniors in this tough economic environment.

Time is running out. Republican brinksmanship on must-pass legislation continues to damage job creation and create uncertainty for businesses and the markets. In their Pledge to America, House Republicans promised to focus on jobs and keep extraneous and controversial provisions out of must-pass legislation. This bill is yet another example of their broken promises to the American people.

For all these reasons I cannot support H.R. 3630, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this bill.