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WORD ON WASHINGTON
“Jobs First! Jobs for Us!”
August 2011 |
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The spotlight of the national media has been sharply focused on the recent debate on raising the federal debt ceiling. I voted against the last-minute debt deal that unfairly put so much at risk for our nation. Though a debt crisis was averted, most Americans agree that putting people back to work is crucial to improving the economy and the lives of our citizens.
I am confident that we can put our country on a trajectory that will restore our fiscal health and properly fund our national priorities, but a big part of the solution in addressing our ballooning debt and deficit spending can be found in boosting American jobs, encouraging entrepreneurship and rebuilding our economy through the domestic production of goods. In the coming months, there will be many controversial spending debates about what our national spending priorities should be and what cuts the soon-to-be-established “Super Committee” will produce. But let’s be clear -- it is essential that we adopt policies that foster the creation of more jobs here in America, protect working families, help small businesses grow, and close tax loopholes for corporate America that give tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas. We simply cannot afford to relegate this important agenda to the back burner when the partisan bickering returns to Washington.
Last year, some of my colleagues and I introduced Make It In America – our economic agenda to support job creation for current and future generations. Many of the bills under Make It In America have already become law, but there is still much to do. Make It In America was designed to help encourage small businesses and American manufacturing, strengthen our infrastructure, and support investments in key areas like education and energy innovation. In recent months we have continued to build on that agenda, and the latest edition includes a push for the Administration to step up its efforts to establish a comprehensive manufacturing strategy. I have vehemently opposed the trade agreements that have shipped so many American jobs overseas, but nonetheless, the loss of one-third of American manufacturing jobs over the last decade has been devastating to middle class families. It is important that we do all we can to increase U.S. exports, and I will continue to work towards revitalizing a manufacturing base that can provide jobs at home.
I also have a 5-point plan of action – “Jobs First! Jobs for Us!” – for job creation in Southeastern North Carolina which includes five critical components: 1) Helping small business by improving access to capital and reducing unnecessary regulation and red tape; 2) Building infrastructure, including deploying high-speed Internet and investing in water and wastewater projects; 3) Retraining our workforce with the private sector and educational institutions; 4) Reforming the tax code to lower taxes, close corporate loopholes and simplify it; and 5) Create jobs for tomorrow by boosting our domestic manufacturing base and investing in bio-fuels, marine biotechnology, green industries and in North Carolina’s coastal treasures.
One recent example of a successful and innovative approach to building our infrastructure for the future was just announced at UNC-P. MCNC, the private, non-profit operator of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), hosted a state-wide Virtual Groundbreaking Ceremony in four locations around the state—one being at UNC-Pembroke – to highlight the start of construction on a significant rural broadband initiative. This marks the second round of the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative (GLRBI) which was funded through a $75.75 million federal grant and $28.25 million in private funding, including $24 from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The majority of funds have been spent on private-sector engineering, construction, materials and technology companies, and it is estimated that this infrastructure improvement will create or save 2,500 jobs in North Carolina. It is a great example of the public-private partnership that can exist to further job creation, while at the same time serving as a shining example of possibility and opportunity in rural and underserved areas of the state.
We must make certain that we continue to move forward in the right direction so that we put our nation on the right track for a stronger and more vibrant economy for generations to come. If you would like more like more information on Make It In America or other important legislative initiatives and resources for job growth and export assistance, please visit our website at www.mcintyre.house.gov.
U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre
Representing the 7th District of North Carolina
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Lumberton, NC
500 North Cedar Street
Lumberton, NC 28358
(910) 735-0610
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301 Green Street, Room 315
Fayetteville, NC 28301
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(202) 225-2731
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