Bob Etheridge

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, let me state that there is much in this bill that concerns me.

Specifically at a time when our budget deficits and national debt continue to hold back our economic growth, we should not be passing bonus tax breaks for the wealthiest few in this country and handing the bill to our children and our grandchildren. I also strongly prefer the House-passed language that provides estate tax relief in a responsible manner. Additionally, I worry that the payroll tax provisions, while good for working families in the short run, could undermine the finances of Social Security over the long run.

But, at a time when so many people face uncertainty in a fragile economy, doing nothing is not a very good option.

For far too long in this town, shortsighted partisanship has prevailed against the long-term best interests of our country. We need more bipartisanship in Washington, D.C., to tackle our Nation's most pressing problems.

I commend the President for getting us beyond the partisan stalemate and for laying the groundwork for economic progress for the American people.

There are many provisions in this bill that are going to help working families. I strongly support the middle class tax cuts, or at least to keep them going, in this bill. Child tax credits, marriage penalty relief, and education incentives will help middle class families make ends meet and invest for a brighter, more secure economic future.

Most urgently, Congress needs to pass the extension of unemployment benefits contained in this legislation. In my home State of North Carolina, thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the recession caused by the misguided policies of the previous administration. I have met with many, many of these people and have looked them in the eyes as they have told me their stories. These are good people who have worked hard and who have played by the rules. They are depending on these unemployment benefits to get them through these tough times until the economy picks back up and creates good jobs. We are here the week before Christmas, and the last thing we should do is cut off their lifeline.

I will vote to pass this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast recorded votes on Tuesday, December 14, on rollcall votes 628, 629, and

630. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on all three of these measures:

S. 1405, which designates the Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site; S. 3167, the Census Oversight Efficiency and Management Reform Act of 2010; and H.R. 6510, which allows the Military Museum of Texas to purchase the property on which it operates.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the committee for their work and the committee's work in bringing the Omnibus Trade Act of 2010 to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation. It really is about jobs, as you have already heard. At a time when the unemployment rate remains unacceptably high and is really stubborn in a lot of places across this country, this bill will help create jobs and retrain workers for new careers. We tend to forget that sometimes when we think of people losing jobs, of the long-term unemployed and the issues surrounding training for new opportunities.

In my home State of North Carolina, the manufacturers and, really, the manufacturers across the country are the ones which are going to really deliver our economic growth and our national recovery. This bill, as you have already heard, will really help in that regard.

First, it will help lower production costs by leveling the playing field with our international competitors, which is an important piece. You have heard how we do it. It is for those items they purchase that we don't have in this country. When we keep them from paying tariffs, it means that they are more competitive. It means we have more workers working, and people can substitute unemployment checks for paychecks.

As the former State Superintendent of Public Schools in North Carolina, I have always said that education is the key to the future. There is no better way to create jobs than to have a well-educated citizenry and educated workforce. I am pleased that this bill strongly supports job training and that it supports our community colleges to expand access to education for more trade-impacted workers.

While I strongly support this bill, I wish it had included a reauthorization of the cotton trust fund, which would have helped hundreds of workers in North Carolina, and I call on the House

and the Senate to reauthorize the cotton trust fund as soon as possible. Despite this omission, though, the Omnibus Trade Act of 2010 is a good, job-creating bill that will keep American workers competitive in this tough economy we find ourselves in.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is about jobs: good jobs in American manufacturing, good jobs for workers in export industries, and job training for those negatively impacted by trade. It adjusts tariffs to ensure our manufacturing businesses can compete in the world markets, and supports fair trade for American companies. At a time when the unemployment rate remains unacceptably high, this bill creates jobs and retrains workers for new careers.

Manufacturing is a leading sector of the economy in my State of North Carolina and will be important to the Nation's economy as a whole as we continue the recovery. Throughout this Congress I have been proud to support measures that strengthen our manufacturing industry. In order to grow our economy, we must have manufacturing jobs that allow many Americans the chance to earn good wages. By suspending or reducing duties on over 290 products that are used as inputs or components in domestically manufactured goods, this bill lowers production costs for our manufacturers and helps to level the playing field with our international competitors.

I am pleased that this bill provides assistance and training to workers adversely affected by trade. Trade Adjustment Assistance provides training and associated income support to individuals in need of new skills, modernizing our work force and helping workers find a place in today's economy. Recognizing the critical role that community colleges play, the 2009 TAA reforms provided grants to educational institutions to develop, offer and improve education and career training for workers eligible for TAA. H.R. 6517 expands this critical initiative and makes more workers eligible to participate. I have always believed education is the key to economic prosperity. My home State of North Carolina has seen many economic challenges over the years, but it is our solid commitment to education that has allowed our economy to adapt and attract new industries. As the former Superintendent of Public Schools, I've always said that education is the key to the future. There is no better way to create jobs than education.

While I strongly support this bill, I am disappointed that it reauthorizes the Wool Trust Fund, but not the Cotton Trust Fund. A reauthorization of the Cotton Trust Fund is important to hundreds of workers in North Carolina, and would have enhanced the positive jobs impact of the bill. I hope that Congress will continue to work to make this important grant and tariff relief program to strengthen the U.S. cotton industry.

Despite this omission, the Omnibus Trade Act of 2010 is a good, job- creating bill that extends expiring trade provisions, helps displaced workers acquire new skills in order to compete in our global economy, and supports U.S. manufacturing. I would like to thank Chairman Levin for all of his hard work to bring this bill to the floor. This legislation puts Americans to work, and I hope that my colleagues from both sides of the aisle will join me in supporting it.