Need Action in the Senate

Floor Speech

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, just a short while ago, one of my colleagues talked about the plight of folks who are unemployed--individuals who are unemployed either short term or those chronically unemployed. He actually failed to mention those who are underemployed in this Nation. It is an issue that needs to be addressed.

I am actually proud to be a part of solutions that have passed out of the House of Representatives but sit in the Senate, waiting for Senator Reid to take the leadership to bring those House-passed jobs bills to the Senate floor for action--bills that would provide some immediate opportunities for individuals who are unemployed.

More than anything else, what folks who are unemployed need is a job--a good-paying job with family-sustaining wages.

Mr. Speaker, the House has passed bill after bill to help working middle class Americans get the skills they need, the jobs they desire, and adequate pay to provide for their families. In the Senate, yet another day has passed when Leader Reid has chose to deny consideration of these commonsense bills and chose to deny the relief that would come for those who are unemployed.

The House has acted on more than one occasion to advance completion of the longstanding Keystone XL pipeline. This decision has again been delayed by the Obama administration.

The House recently passed the Save American Workers Act, which would restore hourly wages cut by ObamaCare's 30-hour workweek rule. This bill remains stalled in the Senate's legislative graveyard.

The House has passed bipartisan legislation that would renew the Federal Government's commitment to actively and adequately manage our Federal forests. Where we have well-managed Federal forests that are managed in a healthy way, we have healthy rural economic communities where we grow jobs. Today, that bill is gathering dust on the Senate Leader's desk, awaiting action.

Mr. Speaker, we were elected to solve problems. It is about time we got about the people's business. Hardworking Americans deserve as much.

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