ON REBUILDING AMERICA’S BOOMING ECONOMY
“I’ll start by reflecting on what life was like before the pandemic. Our economy was booming. It was the hottest job market in half a century.
“After a decade of people asking, ‘where are the jobs?’ wages were rising, more jobs were available than people looking for work.
“More people-including a record number of women and people with disabilities-were coming off the sidelines.
“This was because we lifted the regulatory burden. Despite Speaker Pelosi’s best efforts to protect the status quo, Republicans delivered on our promises. As a result, there was optimism again.
“Today, we should be leading to replicate this success. The hardworking people of this country are “anxious for those days to return.
A PROGRESSIVE WISH LIST
“Which brings me to the progressive wish list before us today. It’s the complete opposite of what will deliver results. It’s more regulations and mandates and less freedom to innovate and create jobs.
“The LIFT Act was first introduced in 2017 with a price tag of $85 billion. Today, it’s a whopping $300 billion for the government to regulate the cars we drive and how we heat our homes and businesses.
“This is not the American way. It’s another example of how Speaker Pelosi wants to take us back to the dark ages.
“The LIFT Act will hurt our energy security, affordability, and reliability. It establishes a multi-billion dollar slush fund for the Green New Deal to subsidize the Left’s mission to nationalize California’s downfall. It fails to include solutions Republicans are focused on to Secure Cleaner American Energy-to unleash private investment and remove barriers for new energy infrastructure in natural gas pipelines, nuclear licensing, and clean, renewable hydropower.
“On broadband infrastructure, I’ll leave it to Former FCC Commissioner Michael O’Reilly to explain how this wastes billions without actually closing the digital divide and even setting rural America back even further.
“Overall, I hope we can have an honest debate on how this bill forces a regulatory regime and higher costs on Americans who have struggled enough in the worst economic crisis in our lifetime.
ON REPUBLICAN SOLUTIONS
“For the economy to boom again, we should be lifting the regulatory burden. If the Majority is sincere about turning this partisan bill bipartisan, we stand ready to engage. We are bringing solutions to the table to secure our clean energy future and boost broadband connectivity.
“I would offer, we should begin working together again-rather than hold these virtual hearings where we’re all guilty of just making our points and not listening
“I’m committed to working to counter the forces that keep us from building trust, better relationships, and workable solutions.
“May this committee lead something new and lead the way. Thank you."
