WASHINGTON, DC– Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today released the following statement following passage of the payroll tax holiday compromise extending through the end of the year a tax cut for millions of working Americans as well as jobless benefits and preventing a 27 percent reimbursement cut for Medicare doctors:

"Today's passage is a compromise agreement that will avert a tax hike for 160 million Americans, extend and reform federal jobless benefits and forestall a major pay cut for Medicare doctors.  It will give emergency workers and first responders their own national wireless network, closing a crucial security gap exposed by the 9/11 attacks.  It contains no tax increases and the unemployment extension and doctor reimbursement are fully offset with spending cuts and government reforms.

"It is a measure necessary because the policies being advocated by President Obama and Washington Democrats have not done enough to create jobs by removing the economic uncertainty that is dragging down small businesses.

"Strong majorities in the House and Senate agree that it is necessary to provide relief to taxpayers, working families and seniors.  We must, however, continue our efforts to enact fiscally responsible proposals that will bring growth, prosperity and certainty to our economy."

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