FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 10, 2004

CONTACT: Stacey Farnen 202-225-3130

Whip Hoyer Joins Democratic Leaders in Launching Discharge Petition on Bipartisan Manufacturing

Legislation Bipartisan Bill Would Keep Jobs in U.S., End Trade Sanctions

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, along with Representative Baron Hill and the House Democratic Leadership, today signed a discharge petition that would force the House to vote on the bipartisan Rangel-Manzullo manufacturing bill.  The legislation will help American manufacturers create jobs in America and avoid potentially billions of dollars in European Union trade sanctions, which began on March 1. 

As the House Democratic Whip, Hoyer will lead the effort to collect signatures for this discharge petition.

“Congressional Republicans could have and should have dealt with this issue last year by passing the bipartisan and widely supported Rangel-Manzullo bill.  Instead they have allowed the European Union to initiate sanctions that could potentially cost American companies billions. 

“Rangel-Manzullo will end the perverse incentives in our tax code that reward companies for sending jobs abroad and instead reward companies that create jobs here at home. 

“More than 2.8 million manufacturing jobs have been lost over the past three years.  In response, we must re-examine our economic policies and ensure that they are geared toward job creation for the American people.  I call on the Republican controlled Congress and the President to finally act on this bipartisan legislation, put an end to damaging European sanctions and provide incentives for companies to create jobs here at home.”

 

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