On the recordFebruary 3, 2010
Mr. Speaker, while there continues to be signs of an improving economy, it is clear that Americans still need help. In my hometown of Wilson, North Carolina, unemployment rose to 12.5 percent in December. That's one out of eight, and 73 of my 100 counties are suffering unemployment rates of at least 10 percent. President Obama's 2011 budget wisely provides for critical investments to spur job creation and strengthen long-term economic security. This budget includes $100 billion in small business tax cuts, infrastructure and clean energy. This includes a new $33 billion small business tax cut, an extension of the broadest tax cut in American history, the Making Work Pay tax credit. It also increases the child care tax break for middle-class families and eliminates the capital gains tax on investments by small businesses. I urge my colleagues to join me in working to ensure that we take the necessary and commonsense steps to solve these problems. ____________________





