Dave Camp Statement on December Jobs Report

Washington, DC – Today, Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) released the following statement in reaction to the December jobs report from the U.S. Department of Labor. A net total of 155,000 jobs were created, and the unemployment rate for December rose to 7.8 percent from the 7.7 percent rate previously reported for November.

"It is clear there is still a long way to go before we can declare the economy is healthy again. This week, we took a critical step toward strengthening our economy by making Republican tax cuts permanent so that more money stays in the hands of families and job creators, but that was a first step and not the last step. The simple truth is that our tax code is a nightmare. Washington must work with the American people to pass and enact comprehensive tax reform that makes the tax code simpler and fairer so they are in control of their economic security, rather than Washington."
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House Committee on Ways and Means: 1101 Longworth HOB, Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone (202) 225-3625 Fax (202) 225-2610 Michelle Dimarob, or Sarah Swinehart (202) 226-4774

Paul Ryan Statement On Raising National Flood Insurance Program Debt Ceiling

Chairman Ryan Statement On Raising NFIP’s Debt Ceiling - WASHINGTON—House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin issued the following statement upon passage of legislation to increase the FEMA’s borrowing authority to carry out the Flood Insurance Program:

"I agree with my colleagues that we must help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. We should meet all of their needs as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, Washington's legislative response fails on both counts. It refuses to distinguish—or even prioritize—disaster relief over pork-barrel spending.

"Today’s legislation concerns the National Flood Insurance Program, a program $20 billion in debt and in desperate need of reform. The GAO has said that, in the future, NFIP may need to borrow money just to meet its interest payments. This legislation proposes to increase the program’s borrowing authority by $9.7 billion. It would be irresponsible to raise an insolvent program’s debt ceiling without making the necessary reforms.

"Likewise, CBO projects that nearly half of the money in the bill won’t be spent until 2014 or beyond. In fact, some of the new spending would be for claims unrelated to Hurricane Sandy. In a time of crisis, we must ensure that every dollar we spend is on those who need it. President Obama and Congress owe the people of New York and New Jersey better."

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Committee on the Budget: U.S. House of Representatives 207 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Contact: Conor Sweeney, William Allison 202-226-6100