Americans Want Manufacturing Jobs, Not Manufactured Financial Crisis, Says Congressman Garamendi at New America Foundation Event "A Vision for Economic Renewal"
WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA) joined a New America Foundation panel discussion on a recently released report, "A Vision for Economic Renewal: An American Jobs Agenda." The report, authored by the New America Foundation's Task Force on Job Creation, offers fifteen concrete recommendations for creating jobs now.
The Congressman was joined on the panel by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Task Force Chair Leo Hindery, Jr., Sherle Schwennieger, Director of the Economic Growth Program at the New America Foundation, and the Honorable Patrick Mulloy, Commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The panel was moderated by Michael Hirsh, Chief Correspondent at the National Journal. For more information on this event, including the complete video, visit the New America Foundation's webpage.
"Americans want jobs," said Congressman John Garamendi. "They want to go back to work and support their family. Additionally, the only way to address our long term deficit problem is by creating jobs."
Garamendi continued "It is incumbent upon all political leaders to develop a jobs agenda. The elements of a successful program are in this report and in the Make It In America agenda. Now, let's get to work, putting people back to work."
Job-creating policies recommended in the New America Foundation report include:
• Establishing firmer Make It In America procurement provisions because "no single measure would do more to help resuscitate U.S. employment, particularly in manufacturing, than a buy-domestic government procurement requirement;"
• Extending critical renewable energy tax credits;
• Creating a national infrastructure bank to "fund a broad range of initiatives and leverage private capital;"
• Eliminating tax incentives that reward corporations for shipping jobs overseas; and
• Countering Chinese theft of intellectual property.
Republicans have controlled the House of Representatives for 200 days without bringing a single bill to the floor that would create jobs. Meanwhile, Congressman Garamendi and House Democrats continue to advocate a Make It In America agenda for job creation, including the promotion of domestic manufacturing, research, education, and transportation, energy, and water infrastructure. Congressman Garamendi is the lead sponsor of two bills that would strengthen Buy American standards for clean energy and transportation.