OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Three Major Crises

Floor Speech

Date: May 19, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Employment and Affirmative Action Economy and Fiscal

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Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, Joe Biden says America is on the move again. But to me, folks, it looks like Americans are still at home. There are a record 8 million job openings in America right now. Eight million, folks. That is the population of the great State of Tennessee, where I come from.

We are hurting small business recovery and the economic growth. We have got to get our country back to work, Mr. Speaker. Joe Biden and the Democrat policies are not helping our recovery. The $15 minimum wage makes it harder on the very small businesses. The McDonald's restaurants in the district that I represent are now starting folks off at $15 an hour, and some are offering health benefits as well.

Bonus unemployment benefits that we are paying Americans to stay at home is just not working. The job-killing regulations that are directed at industries, like our energy sector, as well. The Green New Deal and more of this push to the left is only hurting us further.

Worst of all, we are pushing tax increases during an economic recovery. This is totally backwards, Mr. Speaker, and this is keeping Americans dependent on Big Government, which I am not so certain is not the ultimate goal.

Instead, we need to be encouraging the private sector to invest in recovery areas. My Opportunity Extension Act does just that, giving investors more time to use the highly successful Opportunity Zones program.

Opportunities Zones are in areas that are hit hardest by COVID economic fallout. These Opportunity Zones represent areas such as our rural areas and our inner cities, areas which I am proud to represent.

Our Opportunity Zones were responsible for $52 billion--$52 billion, Mr. Speaker--in new investment, and a half a million new jobs in our underserved areas before COVID hit.

This bill renews investment in these communities. It spurs economic growth. It attracts business. It is creating good-paying jobs, a much better alternative than the Federal Government handouts being pushed by many of my colleagues across the aisle.

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to discuss my bill further with anyone who is interested.

I thank the vice chairman for yielding to me. I appreciate you for organizing this event, brother.

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