Tammy Baldwin: “many months ago, Congress was tasked with replacing a $5 billion-a-year export subsidy for domestic manufacturers that…”

“many months ago, Congress was tasked with replacing a $5 billion-a-year export subsidy for domestic manufacturers that was deemed illegal by the World Trade Organization. At the time, I believed this would be a golden opportunity for Congress to not only replace the subsidy, but also craft a bill that would provide incentives to domestic manufacturers in order to create more jobs and get America back to work. The bill on the floor today, H.R. 4520, is sad evidence that Congress has squandered this opportunity by letting the needs of special interests and lobbyists come before the needs of American families. Like the rest of America, my home State of Wisconsin has been hit hard by the loss of good paying manufacturing jobs over the last few years. Many of those workers who have found new jobs are typically working longer hours, working for less pay, working for fewer benefits, and working harder than ever to keep their families' budgets afloat. There are thousands of other Wisconsinites who have yet to find a job. By passing H.R. 4520 today, Congress will essentially turn its back on those who are struggling to maintain or find a job. The so-called American Jobs Creation Act is a 930-page bill that reads like a horror story to me. Simply replacing the export subsidy would have cost $50 billion over 10 years. Instead, House Republicans have brought to the floor a bill, riddled with special-interest provisions and favors, that costs $150 billion over 10 years.”