Levin Opening Statement on Repeal of 3 Percent Withholding Provision and Boost Hiring for Veterans

WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) today delivered the following opening statement during floor debate on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 674:

"Madam Speaker, I believe this bill will pass with overwhelming support. Nearly everyone agrees that the 3% withholding provision should be repealed. It was a misguided approach when it was enacted by the last Republican Congress and it is misguided now. That is why we tried to repeal it earlier and ultimately delayed its implementation.

"Its repeal, however, should not be claimed as a significant jobs bill. As economist Mark Zandi has said, ‘I don't think it's meaningful in terms of jobs. I think it's more trying to clean up something that needs cleaning up.'"

"The veteran provision is a real jobs bill. It is a useful start to helping those who have loyally served our nation find work and I would hope that all of us support them, including the tax credits to encourage businesses to hire veterans.

"Most on our side support these provisions and they were included in the president's jobs proposal, but no one should consider these modest steps as a substitute for action on the president's comprehensive jobs plan which Republicans have so far blocked.

"The president's job plan includes a payroll tax cut that would save the average family $ 1,500 a year. Payroll tax cuts for hiring and incentives to invest. It includes an infrastructure bank and $75 billion to rebuild roads and schools. That's a job agenda that could help many of the 14 million Americans who are still looking for work.

"Picking out two of the smaller pieces of that agenda and saying you've acted on the president's jobs bill is really disingenuous. The 3% withholding repeal and the veteran's provisions are things we should do, but we must do much more. Millions are counting us to do more.

"So passage of this bill today represents a challenge to the majority in this house. End your blockade of comprehensive jobs legislation as proposed by the President of the United States."

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