Eric Cantor Calls On Senator Reid To Stop Playing Politics With FEMA Disaster Relief

Eric Cantor Calls On Senator Reid To Stop Playing Politics With FEMA Disaster Relief

“There are people who are suffering in a big way right now, and they need to know that FEMA and the disaster relief monies will be there for them. We are told that FEMA will run dry and the Disaster Relief Fund will have no money by next week. That is why the House acted. The President made his request for the Disaster Relief Fund, we doubled that request and did it in a responsible manner and sent it over to the Senate. Harry Reid now says he won't take that bill up. Harry Reid is arguing with himself. This is why people don't like Washington.

"We have the money in the bill, it's there in a responsible manner, let's get the money to the people that need it. Harry Reid is now talking about perhaps bringing up a clean CR without disaster relief funding. If that happens, FEMA will run out of money and it will be on Harry Reid's shoulders because he won't act. The bill is there in front of him. The Senate should take the bill up and get the people the disaster relief they need. You're also going to hear from two of our freshmen from Pennsylvania whose districts are most hard hit as far as people really suffering and who need the money.

Q & A:

“The intention for us is to complete the TRAIN Act and to finish business of the day. The point is this: there is no brinksmanship, Harry Reid is holding a bill up with no reason but for politics. Again, this is why the people just don't have the respect for this institution and this town anymore. You heard the stories, people need the money. The money is in the bill, the emergency disaster request from the President is funded and then some, times two, and so there's no reason that Harry Reid is holding this up other than politics. Let’s get on with it and get the people their money.”

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) Remarks at GOP Stakeout September 23, 2011

TEXT CREDIT: Eric Cantor Majority Leader Office of the Majority Leader H-329, The Capitol House of Representatives P: 202.225.4000

VIDEO and IMAGE CREDIT: EricCantor

Susan Collins Weekly Republican Address TEXT VIDEO 09/24/11

Susan Collins Weekly Republican Address TEXT VIDEO 09/24/11

In the Weekly Republican Address, Maine Sen. Susan Collins discusses the burdens excessive regulations place on businesses and how they hurt job creation.

I'm Senator Susan Collins from the Great State of Maine.

Last month, our nation produced no net new jobs. More than 14 million Americans could not find work.

I’ve asked employers what would it take to help them add more jobs. No matter the size of their business or the size of their workforce, they tell me that Washington must stop imposing crushing new regulations.

Some regulations are just plain silly. Last year, the federal government issued a warning to a company that sells packaged walnuts. Washington claimed that the walnuts were being marketed as a drug, so the government ordered the company to stop telling consumers about the health benefits of nuts.

Other regulations have far more serious consequences. The EPA has proposed a new rule on emissions from boilers that it admits would cost the private sector billions of dollars and thousands of jobs.

No wonder employers dread what is coming next out of Washington.

Over-regulation is hurting our economy; unfortunately, the problem is only....
...growing worse. Right now, federal agencies are at work on more than 4,200 new rules, 845 of which affects small businesses, the engine of job creation. More than 100 have an economic impact of more than $100 million each.

No business owner I know questions the legitimate role of limited government in protecting our health and safety. Too often, however, our small businesses are buried under a mountain of paperwork.

Business owners are reluctant to create jobs today if they're going to need to pay more tomorrow to comply with onerous new regulations. That's why employers say that uncertainty generated by Washington is a big wet blanket on our economy.

We Republicans say, enough is enough. America needs a ‘time out’ from the regulations that discourage job creation and hurt our economy.

Republicans have many good ideas about how to tame the regulatory behemoth. We want to prevent agencies from imposing new regulations without first thoroughly considering their costs and benefits. In addition, many of us have called for a one-year moratorium on certain costly new rules.

If a rule would have an adverse impact on jobs, the economy, or America's international competitiveness, it should not go into effect.

That EPA rule on boilers is a good example of why we need a regulatory time out. If it went into effect as written, a recent study estimates that this rule, along with other pending regulations, could cause 36 pulp and paper mills across the country to close. That would put more than 20,000 Americans out of work -- 18 percent of that industry's workforce.

And that is just for starters. Once these mills close, their suppliers would also be forced to lay off workers. Estimates are that nearly 90,000 Americans would lose their jobs. Even that is not the end of the story. People and businesses would still need paper. Where do you think we would get it? We'd be strengthening the economies of other countries like China, India and Brazil, while America's economy grows weaker.

American businesses need pro-growth policies that will end the uncertainty and kick-start hiring and investment.

American workers need policies that will get them off the sidelines and back on the job.

The American economy needs a time out from excessive and costly regulations.

In sports, a ‘time out’ gives athletes a chance to catch their breaths and make better decisions.

American workers and businesses are the athletes in a global competition that we must win. We need a time out from excessive regulations so that America can get back to work. ####