The legislation is expected to face hurdles passing through the Democratic controlled US Senate.
Congressman Barber said, “There are far too many Southern Arizonans who either are looking for work or are working only part-time when they need full-time jobs to support themselves and their families,” Barber said today. “When there are regulations that are unnecessary or duplicative that stifle the ability of employers to create jobs, I will work to cut through that red tape for businesses.”
According to Barber, the legislation lowers taxes on American innovators and job creators, reduces unemployment for our veterans, and increases access to capital for small businesses. It includes many bills that previously were approved by the House separately, but stalled in the Senate.
In voting to pass the bill, Barber, Sinema, and Kirkpatrick voted against the president and leaders of Barber’s own party, all of whom urged a “no” vote.
Included in the legislation is the American Research and Competitiveness Act, which passed the House this spring with Barber’s support. That act makes permanent the research and development tax credit.
The legislation contained provisions introduced by Gosar including the Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act. Congressman Gosar’s legislative contribution to H.R. 4 includes text from title 2 of his Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act which was included in H.R. 1526. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 244-173 on September 20, 2013. H.R. 1526 requires the Forest Service to significantly increase the volume of timber it offers for sale each year. In recent years, timber harvests have dramatically declined due to federal overregulation and harmful lawsuits.
After the vote Gosar released a statement: “The House gave the Senate another chance to take up legislation that will promote job creation and economic growth for Americans across the country. The Jobs for America Act contains some of the 383 bills stuck in the Senate awaiting action, including important provisions of my Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act. Unfortunately, this legislation has lingered in the Senate for nearly a year.”
Salmon said, “On Thursday, we passed two other bills, H. R. 2, the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act, and H.R. 4, the Jobs for America Act. These were easy yes votes. H.R. 4 contained 15 bills that the House has already passed, which would change federal law to empower job creators, fuel economic growth, and ensure the competitiveness of our nation. It would also ensure that Congress is required to vote on all new major regulations before they can be enforced by the executive. H.R. 2 contained 14 bills that already cleared the House to increase domestic energy production and improve our independence. It would ensure that the Keystone pipeline project moves forward and create a new approval process for pipelines that cross our borders with Canada or Mexico. It also reins in the out-of-control EPA’s agenda, which needlessly hampers job creators and destroys the very jobs Americans need most.”
The democrat representatives did not support that legislation.
Also included in the package of bills passed was the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which Barber, Kirkpatrick and Sinema supported.
The legislation authorizes the U.S. Forest Service to manage additional National Forest land through timber production. Some 25 percent of revenue generated by the timber will support rural schools and infrastructure projects, including schools throughout Arizona.
The increased timber production is expected to create 68,000 direct jobs and 140,000 indirect jobs.
The legislation includes all or parts of:
•H.R. 2575, the Save American Workers Act;
•H.R. 3474, the Hire More Heroes Act;
•H.R. 4438, the American Research and Competitiveness Act;
•H.R. 4457, the America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act;
•H.R. 4453, the S Corporation Permanent Tax Relief Act;
•H.R. 4718, making bonus depreciation permanent;
•H.R. 1105, the Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act;
•H.R. 2274, the Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales and Brokerage Act;
•H.R. 899, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act;
•H.R. 2804, the Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act;
•H.R. 367, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act;
•H.R. 1526, the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act.
Barber also joined his Republican and Democratic colleagues in supporting a package of pro-business bills that they hope will promote job creation and reduce burdens on U.S. small businesses.