WASHINGTON   –  “There has not been a more urgent time in the last 50 years to reassess the federal role in making sure the American economy is and remains strong.  National unemployment today exceeds ten percent, and counting the number of people who have stopped looking for work may in fact put the real unemployment figure between 14 and 17 percent.  Unemployment figures have accelerated in the last two years, but action to stimulate the U.S. economy is still long overdue.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8.2 million Americans have lost jobs since December of 2007.  Then, the national unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent.  Today, it has more than doubled to 10.2 percent.  Seventeen percent of Americans are underemployed.  The national jobs engine is sputtering, yet the best solution to that problem the Administration has managed to come up with – the so-called “stimulus” bill – ignored job-creating opportunities.  Approximately 88 percent of the “stimulus” remains unspent, and 57 percent of the stimulus hasn’t reached the point at which we know what it will be spent upon.  In the last year, Congress has increased the national debt by 11 percent.  We are spending more and getting less than ever before.

More job-killing efforts are currently underway.  Cap-and-Trade, a $700 billion proposal of surcharges and fees on energy, would cost our state trillions in economic activity and thousands of jobs.  The health care bill passed a month ago in the House of Representatives would make retaining employees tougher for small- and mid-sized businesses.  At a time when job creation and preservation ought to be the primary concern of every American, a job-killing agenda is under full steam in Congress.

Fortunately, there is a tremendously helpful effort sitting on the sidelines in Washington DC.  The new transportation reauthorization bill for highways and other infrastructure has the potential to dramatically boost job opportunities in some of the hardest-hit sectors of our economy.  Aside from the short-term benefits of new jobs from transportation projects, these investments in infrastructure lend strength to the economy as a whole by providing fast, safe and affordable ways to get goods to buyers all over the nation and all over the world.

In Southern Missouri, these efforts have produced excellent results for our local economy where they have been implemented.  Highway 60, Highway 63 and Highway 67 have undergone major improvements in recent years, and they are becoming vital corridors for commerce in our region.  More projects are on the way, thanks to congressional action and advocates at the local, state and federal levels.

If I had my way, the highway bill would supplant the stimulus entirely.  We would simply cancel that bad idea and start over with a list of ways to boost the economic infrastructure of our nation, from roads, rail, waterways and bridges to job training programs and workforce investments. 

In Missouri, I am constantly reminded during the visits I make to entrepreneurs and employers large and small that the work ethic of our region is unsurpassed anywhere in the world.  By redirecting our priorities to America’s infrastructure and strengthening the competitive advantages inherent in our roads and waterways, we can put American small businesses and manufacturers in the best position to compete in a global marketplace.  We should be using opportunities like the highway bill to connect these businesses to new markets, spur growth and create jobs.  I will be working in the U.S. House of Representatives to ensure that we do.”