The Service Employees International Union Local 1, Harris County AFL-CIO Council, Texas Organizing Project and Good Jobs Great Houston coalition banded together with Congressmen Al Green, Gene Green and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to bring attention back to the issue of jobs not cuts when Congress meets in Washington next week for the “lame duck” session.
Congress has a task on its hands as the problem of sequestration is looming over the country. Politicians are not making light of the situation and neither is the people of America. Trillions of dollars are at risk and the Jobs Act has yet to pass the House of Representatives in a time where many domestic programs are on the verge of being slashed.
Americans all over the country are still in limbo in the job sector and with a Congressional stupor in full effect the continuing effort to stay hopeful is becoming more of a challenge. A compilation of unions in Houston called upon their Congressional heads to speak out for and to them about the challenges that lie ahead in this upcoming “lame duck” session.
The Jobs Act
Congressman Al Green challenged his colleagues in Congress to help out President Obama and the constituents when it comes to the Jobs bill. He assured the public that if the bill is passed there will be money for infrastructure, job creation for peace officers, firefighters and teachers and help for veterans.
“Jobs are here to be created if we only do some of the things the President has proposed. There was a lot of talk about the President not having a Jobs Bill,” said Congressman Al Green. “The President submitted his jobs bill to Congress and it has not been acted on. The Jobs Bill should be acted on.”
Inside the Job Bill there is room for infrastructure improvement. An infrastructure bank can be created and the bank will help with the transportation issues, help rebuild bridges, refurbish the airports and other projects, according to Congressman Al Green.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee also called for help from her colleagues on Capitol Hill as she emphatically spoke about the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, who offered a hand of friendship to the newly re-elected President Obama. As a gesture of good faith and a better working relationship this can be seen as a sign of peace that may help elected officials get the results needed in Congress.
“I’m excited about the Senate Majority Leader, who said he’s ready to work, but he has to be able to want to work on the behalf of all of you, the voices of America, which means we should go back and pass the Jobs Act and our number one priority should be jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Congresswoman Lee.
Congressman Al Green also spoke on how Veteran’s deserve to come home to the job opportunities they left behind for service. Green charged forward saying that if we can spend unlimited money to put soldiers in harm’s way we ought to be able spend an equal amount of money to make sure they have good jobs when they come home.
Medicare/Medicaid/ Veterans Health
Medicare and Medicaid served as a big topic that could not be ignored by the Congressional leaders. Congressman Gene Green did not mince any words when declaring he would fight not to cut Medicare, but he did make a provision by saying he would cut the doctor’s reimbursement which caused him the concern of how doctors would react. He explained that the problem with Medicaid was not on the federal level but on the state level because the State won’t pick up the cost. G.Green also opposes the idea of the government tampering with Veteran’s benefits.
“We don’t want Veteran Qualified Health Centers cut off. We have money for expansion under the expansion stimulus dollars through the Recovery Act of ’09,” said Congressman Gene Green. “We don’t want to cut that now when we are just gearing up to help people who don’t have access to a doctor.”
Congressman Al Green is a known advocate for Senior Citizen rights. He started in firmly on behalf of the senior community voicing he is not a fan of senior Medicare warfare. A.Green continued to rally that all seniors should have the opportunity to have Medicare and it should be protected for unborn generations. He also protested against minimizing Medicaid stating that we have to maximize our dollars that we get, we have to protect Medicaid because it helps people who are poor and without Medicaid would not get medical services.
Live In America Wage Act / Housing
Americans living below the poverty line while working a full-time job is a burden that many live with daily yet never find any relief from; Congressman Al Green introduced the Live In America Wage Act to Congress in order to help any person who works full- time in America to live above the poverty line. He proposes to index the minimum wage to the poverty line so when the poverty level goes up so does the minimum wage. Congressman Gene Green concurred that constituents need help and the government should kick in to help in times of need. He rallied that the government should do what a second job would do and find more revenue so there won’t be a need to make drastic cuts that will hurt the people that are the most defenseless.
The cuts that may happen in sequestration could possible housing. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), houses many Houstonians and American’s alike and the notion of cutting HUD funds is jeopardizing the stability of millions.
“HUD could be cut and we don’t want that to happen. There is a lot that can be done to balance the budget but we want to do it fairly,” said Congressman Gene Green. “We don’t want to do it on the back of working people and poor people.”
Congresswoman Lee closed the press conference by reassuring the crowd that their elected leaders want them to have jobs, Medicare and for women to have healthcare without the intervention of anyone telling them what their healthcare should be.
Our Congressional leaders go back into session on November 13th and can last into the beginning of January 2013. The whole country will be waiting and watching to see what will happen on Capitol Hill in the next two months. The outcome of the fiscal budget and the passing of the Jobs Bill hold much weight in America’s future.
