We must act, and act wisely, with the clear understanding of the significance of the issues we face. Because the three large subject matters we must address as a Conference Committee involve the daily lives of millions and millions of Americans:
* The taxes they pay -- 160 million Americans are impacted by the work we do here.
* The unemployment insurance that more than 5 million Americans are receiving as a vital lifeline during this period of the highest long-term unemployment on record. An average weekly benefit of $300 to help them and their families with the basics of living while they look for work.
* And the effective access to physician care for more than 46 million seniors and the disabled.
Beyond the well being of families throughout the United States, the payroll tax reduction and unemployment insurance affect the continued economic recovery and well being of our entire nation.
There are hardly three issues that have a greater impact on people’s lives than the issues in front of us today. It should not be surprising if their resolution involves some policy issues where there are differences whose resolution is neither easy nor only technical.
That means that they will require us as legislators to work extra hard and to work together as conferees.
All of us House Democratic conferees are committed to do all that we can to succeed, as we must.
