Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) on Thursday blasted Senate Democrats for blocking nearly 40 House-passed jobs bills.
"Since the beginning of this Congress, nearly 40 jobs bills have remained stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate. That’s nearly 40 bills that would improve education and build a stronger economy, promote innovation. It’s 40 bills that would ease harmful regulations on small businesses, promote opportunities for veterans, and create sustained economic growth," Boehner said during his weekly press briefing.
Boehner then held up three bills that would help middle-class families by improving job training, providing more flexibility in the workplace, and approving the Keystone pipeline.
"This new normal of slow economic growth, stagnant wages, and too few jobs is unacceptable. President Obama ought to call on Senate Democrats to pass these bills so we can finally, finally stop hearing the question, ‘where are the jobs?’" Boehner concluded.
Boehner’s full remarks are available below:
SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER: You know, whenever I go around the country, including in my own district, I hear the same question: Where are the jobs? Once again this week House Republicans continue our focus on the number one issue in the country, and that's jobs and the economy. And the American people are concerned about this issue, and our priorities will continue to be the priorities of the American people.
Since the beginning of this Congress, nearly 40 jobs bills have remained stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate. That's nearly 40 bills that would improve education and build a stronger economy, promote innovation. It's 40 bills that would ease harmful regulations on small businesses, promote opportunities for veterans and create sustained economic growth. Yet they still sit there, gathering dust, because Senate Democrats are more worried about losing their majority than the American people are who are losing their jobs.
This is the SKILLS Act, right here, sitting over in the United States Senate, would help provide skills to the American people for jobs that are out there in America. Yet Senate Democrats won't bring it up for a vote.
This is the Working Families Flexibility Act, a bill that came through the House, would provide flexibility for men and women in the workplace. It would help our economy. Yet it continues to sit in the Democrat Senate.
And here's a bipartisan bill on the Keystone pipeline -- create 20,000 jobs, 116,000 indirect jobs -- and yet continues to be blocked over in the United States Senate.
Why? Because just a sheer lack of courage.
Yesterday Secretary Kerry called on the Western Hemisphere countries to gather together to increase regional economic cooperation. With all due respect, I think it takes some audacity to call for greater cooperation amongst nations on the economy when they've only been focused on the jobs issues that we've got right here in America need to be resolved.
This week we're going to pass two more jobs bills. One will make the research and development tax credit permanent, providing more investment in our economy. The other expands access to charter schools because we all know that a good education is the key to get in ahead of this economy.
This new normal of slow economic growth, stagnant wages and too few jobs is unacceptable. President Omaha ought to call on Senate Democrats to pass this bill so we can finally, finally stop hearing the question, where are the jobs?