Our Record on Job Creation
Dear Friends,
Knowing of your interest in job creation and economic development in San Francisco and across the nation, I wanted to update you on recent efforts to create and save jobs. My Democratic colleagues and I will continue to measure every effort that comes before us by three standards: does it create jobs, does it reduce the deficit, and does it strengthen the middle class? There should be no greater priority of this Congress than job creation.
Unfortunately, the new House leadership has yet to introduce one bill that creates jobs. Instead of focusing on Americans’ top priority, Republicans are promoting a divisive agenda to repeal patients’ rights and restrict women’s access to reproductive health care.
Our Record on Job Creation
Last Congress, we made progress passing legislation to create jobs and grow the economy. These actions laid the foundation for San Francisco to continue leading the nation as a generator of jobs, a bastion of entrepreneurial spirit and a beacon of innovative thinking.
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT: Last month, I visited the site of the Tenderloin YMCA Redevelopment Project, which received $54 million in Recovery Act funds to build 174 supportive housing units for the chronically homeless and a wellness clinic. The project will help create 390 jobs during construction.
SMALL BUSINESS JOBS ACT: In 2009, Serina Calhoun launched Syncopated Architecture, a boutique architecture firm specializing in sustainable and green design in San Francisco. In October, 2010, Serina received a loan for $13,600 to purchase the car she needed to take on more clients. Serina was able to expand her business and hire her first employee in January, 2011.
EDUCATION JOBS AND MEDICAID ASSISTANCE ACT: San Francisco County public schools received over $10 million in funding to save teachers’ jobs. An estimated 16,500 teachers in California were able to remain in classrooms teaching our children this school year.
HIRE ACT: At least 1.5 million workers in California were hired by employers who could qualify for HIRE Act tax exemptions this year.
HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM:Virginia Donahue, owner of San Francisco’s Pet Camp, is expecting to save $7,600 this year through tax credits from health reform and will use the savings to help pay for a renovation. Her small business provides health insurance to 15 employees.
Their Plan Endangers 800,000 Jobs
My colleagues across the aisle opposed every one of these job creation plans in the last Congress, and have yet to introduce a single job creation bill since taking the majority. Instead, they passed a bill which would make drastic cuts in discretionary spending over ten years, putting at least 800,000 jobs at risk according to the Economic Policy Institute, and halting our economic growth.
Among other reductions, this year they plan to make deep cuts in vital services such as:
* Job Training Programs - $2 billion in cuts
* Community Health Centers - $1.3 billion in cuts
* Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) - $747.2 million in cuts
* National Park Service - $51 million in cuts
* National Institutes of Health (NIH) - $1.3 billion in cuts
* High Speed Rail - $1 billion in cuts
It is my hope that all Members of Congress will join together to work to create jobs now and to responsibly address the deficit. We must put our fiscal house in order, but we must do so without jeopardizing targeted investments that are helping the private sector grow and hire new workers.
Please know that we will not stop in our efforts to put Americans back to work, grow our economy and set our nation on the path to prosperity.
Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my Web site. I am also on Twitter https://twitter.com/NancyPelosi.
Sincerely,
Member of Congress