Fighting for Jobs in the San Fernando Valley

My number one priority in Congress is putting Valley residents back to work. President Obama has laid out an economic plan which I generally support. In fact, I strongly supported the extension of the payroll tax holiday, which provides rough $100 dollars a month to the average working person in the Valley.

I also believe that Washington's trade policy during the last decade has hurt American workers. For too long, we have seen the U.S. export jobs rather than products. Last year, our national debt was a massive $738 billion dollars – this costs us millions of jobs, lowers wages, and further indebts future generations to foreign nations. That is why I introduced the Emergency China Trade Act, which will strip China of preferential access to our markets until they end unfair trade practices. We need a trade policy that creates and keeps good paying jobs here for American working families. Balanced trade with China could potentially reduce our unemployment rate to less than 5 percent.

Additionally, I believe that current tax law actually creates incentives for job-creation overseas. Multi-national corporations manufacture products in foreign countries, sell those products here, and pay no taxes by using tax havens like the Cayman Islands. I cosponsored legislation that will close these loopholes, the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act. I believe American employers should receive a tax break when they create jobs here in the United States. That is why I helped introduce the American Jobs Act, to provide tax incentives for companies that hire Americans. The American Jobs Act also offers a clear plan to rebuild and reinvest in American infrastructure, strengthen small business and grow our nation's economy.

I am also committed to working closely with business leaders from the San Fernando Valley and across the country to enact federal laws important to improving our business climate. That is why I joined my colleagues in passing H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs Act, by a vote of 237-187. The Small Business Jobs Act has helped spur economic growth and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs by encouraging the growth of American small businesses. It increased much-needed lending to Main Street and offers eight new tax incentives so that firms may expand and hire new employees. The bill also helps keep jobs in America by closing tax loopholes that reward multinational corporations that ship jobs overseas. This bill is fully paid for and will not add to the deficit.

One of the most important things our office does is assist businesses and employers located in the San Fernando Valley. We provide information about the various federal agencies that assist small businesses and entrepreneurial development, business regulations, financing, government contracting, minority-owned business programs, strategic assistance, export assistance and overseas investment opportunities. Our office also can provide information on how to sell to the federal government, and we will work on your behalf to request timely action on your proposals to the government, and to ensure that they receive full consideration. Please contact my office at 818-501-9200 to request additional information. I continue to believe that there are more good ideas in the Valley than in Washington, which is why I appreciate hearing from you. Do not hesitate to contact my San Fernando Valley office to share yours.

I will continue fighting to restore jobs and support workers in the San Fernando Valley and across the country.