| Weekly Update from Sam |
| Dear Friends,
This morning, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that unemployment in June rose to 9.2 percent with just 18,000 jobs created, well below the 90,000 to 125,000 economists had been expecting. June marks the 29th consecutive month that unemployment has been at or above 8 percent— the level the President said unemployment would never reach if the stimulus passed.
Today’s disappointing report serves as more evidence that we cannot tax, spend and regulate our way back to a prosperous economy. A long-lasting recovery will never be achieved through government bailouts and massive spending programs.
My House Republican colleagues and I have passed nine separate bills that would help create millions of jobs and spark economic growth. However, to date, the Democrat-controlled Senate has not considered any of these bills—or offered any plan of their own.
As Washington considers a deal to raise our debt ceiling, we must remain focused on removing barriers for job creation by restoring fiscal discipline and putting our economy on a sustainable path by cutting spending, lowering taxes and removing burdensome regulations.
Sam Graves
Chairman
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Latest Committee Action
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On Thursday, Agriculture, Energy and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Scott Tipton (R-CO) held a hearing to examine how the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed Grain Inspection, Packer and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule could hurt thousands of small businesses in the beef, pork and poultry industries; further damage our already unstable economy; and cost thousands of American jobs. The Honorable Edward Avalos, USDA Undersecretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and several farmers provided witness testimony.
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Notable Op-eds
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Small Businesses Need FTA Passage
By: Rep. Sam Graves
July 1, 2011
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News From Washington
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On Thursday, the House voted on H.Res. 268, to reaffirm the United States' commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The resolution passed 407-6.
On Friday, the House passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2012 (H.R. 2219) 336-87. The bill includes a total of $530 billion in non-emergency, discretionary funding, which is an increase of $17.2 billion above the non-emergency spending level for FY 2011 and $8.9 billion below the president's request.
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| July 8, 2011 |
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| What We're Reading |
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| Member Highlights |
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| Small Biz Resources |
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