WASHINGTON DC- Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander M. Levin (D-MI), delivered the following opening statement today at a markup of the Committee’s Views and Estimates Submission for FY2012 and H.R. 1034, Airport and Airway Trust Fund Financing Reauthorization Act of 2011:
“Thank you, Chairman Camp, for scheduling today’s meeting and markup. I thank you for bringing both of these items before the Committee.
“However, I am disappointed that there has been a failure to date in this Committee to consider legislation that would promote growth and create jobs in America.
“It is my hope that the Committee will turn its attention to crafting legislation that will help hard-working Americans get back to work. The Democratic members of this Committee have introduced H.R. 992, the Building American Jobs Act of 2011, which would help finance needed infrastructure investments and create jobs. We would appreciate the opportunity to work with you on this.
“With respect to the Views and Estimates letter under consideration, I believe the letter provides some framework on the plans of the Majority. However, we have concerns about the approach in the letter to trade policy, and the absence of a commitment to renew the 2009 provisions of Trade Adjustment Assistance. There is also a lack of a specific agenda for job creation, and whether the Social Security and Medicare legislation your letter references includes the plan of your colleague, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin. For these reasons, we will send a separate letter to the Budget Committee on our views and estimates for the fiscal year.
“Finally, Chairman Camp, we both know the Federal Aviation Administration has been operating on a series of short-term extensions during the last three and a half years. We also know that we must end these short-term extensions. During this time, the House has twice passed longer-term legislation but the Senate has had a difficult time moving legislation in that chamber.
“This year, the Senate has already passed its bill. We are now meeting to consider the revenue title for the House bill, which I hope will allow the House to act soon as well. The bill extends current law for three and a half years. I believe that will allow us to move to conference with the Senate bill, which includes some provisions that were part of previous House-passed bills. I support moving forward on this important legislation.
“Thank you. I yield back."
