Aaron Schock RSS Articles

Schock & Schilling Introduce Small Business Tax Relief Bill

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressmen Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Bobby Schilling (R-IL) have introduced the 1099K Overreach Prevention Act, which will prohibit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from implementing a new tax reporting requirement that would have far reaching implications for small business owners nationwide. Today, Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) introduced the 1099K Overreach Prevention Act in the Senate.

“This is an unnecessary IRS requirement that will only lead to more accounting headaches for businesses. My concern is that the IRS is asking for flawed information from small businesses by requiring them to reconcile their internal numbers with that of third party entities,” said Congressman Aaron Schock. “When you take into consideration all of the types of merchant transactions that occur between a customer and a small business all this adds up to unnecessary administrative costs, a new accounting burden, and more time away from growing their business. At a time when there is still record unemployment, adding another job killing regulation on small businesses is not the right solution.”

“As a small businessperson, I’ve seen the impact of government red-tape and paperwork firsthand. When I speak to fellow small business owners, I frequently hear that they are burdened with a lot of complicated paperwork that is difficult and time-consuming to navigate,” said Congressman Bobby Schilling. “For small companies, the cost of tax compliance is already $1,584 a year. If not overturned, this IRS requirement will undoubtedly add to that cost. It is wrong to weigh down the very folks we are asking to put Americans back to work and lead us into economic recovery.”
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, requires the IRS to collect a new document known as a 1099K from third party payment entities, such as credit card companies. The 1099K will show all credit transactions within a merchants business for a given year. Unfortunately, the IRS is using the 1099K to add additional burdens on small business tax forms by requiring them to reconcile this report with the merchants own internal numbers, which was NOT the original intent of the law.

Customers asking for cash back, returning merchandise bought on credit for cash, or collecting the deposits for rentals can all lead to discrepancies when reconciliation occurs.

“Small-business owners across the country are thankful for the leadership from Congressmen Schock and Schilling to repeal this new IRS demand. This new requirement for small-business owners is more than a mere paperwork burden, it is an additional complication in an already complicated tax-reporting process,” said Dan Danner, CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business. “The tax code, as it currently stands, ultimately puts the small-business owner at a disadvantage with compliance and their ability to succeed in business is falling further and further behind government demands on their time.”

“We want to applaud Congressmen Schock and Schilling for introducing a bill that will restrict the IRS from placing this unprecedented paperwork mandate on the backs of small businesses who accept merchant payment cards,” said Giovanni Coratolo, vice president of small business policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Unless the IRS eliminates this directive, 8 to 10 million businesses will be subjected to the folly of data collection and paperwork rather than focusing on adding jobs and growing the economy.”

As many small businesses don't have the specialized accounting software, bookkeeping technology, time, or personnel to cross reference and reconcile their own internal numbers with third party generated numbers, this reconciliation requirement increases the accounting workload and costs for small businesses.

The 1099K Overreach Prevention Act prevents the IRS from using the 1099K data to require new reconciliatory calculations on the part of the small business, returning this provision to the intent of the law when it was enacted.

The Latest Small Business Headache

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Latest Small Business Headache
By Congressman Aaron Schock

Unintended consequences can be as quirky as Zooey Deschanel sometimes. But when it comes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), quirky means job creators have to spend more time and money ensuring the Feds don’t come knocking on the front door. But following in the illustrious footsteps of 3% withholding and Obamacare 1099 reporting provision, the IRS has come up with a new tax reporting requirement that will be placed on small businesses next year unless Congress acts now.

Small business owners are just beginning to learn about the 1099-K tax reporting provision. This new requirement requires the IRS to collect a new document known as a 1099K from third party payment entities, such as credit card companies, which will show all the credit transactions within a merchants business for a given year. Unfortunately, the IRS is using the 1099-K to add additional burdens on small business tax forms by requiring them to reconcile this report with the merchants own internal numbers, which was NOT the original intent.

While on the surface this may seem like a simple task, as you dig deeper it becomes immensely more complicated and expensive for our employers.

For example, one of the most commonly asked questions after you swipe your debit card is if you want cash back. The withdrawal of additional cash on top of the purchase price of the sale overstates the overall sale in the eyes of the credit card company. This leads to the IRS asking for flawed information since the sale price and the cash back option don’t equal to the small business making more money, it’s just distributed differently.

Merchandise that is bought on credit and reimbursed with cash when it is returned is another example. This again would lead to gross receipts being overstated between what the cardholder paid for the item and the amount of cash used as the form of reimbursement. This area also gets murky when you take into consideration items that are returned during the next tax year. This is very common around the holiday season and becomes a nightmare for accountants trying to balance their books.

To rectify this problem, I have introduced legislation that would prevent the IRS from placing this latest burden on our nation’s already struggling small business community.

I want to help the thousands of small businesses that don’t have the specialized accounting software, bookkeeping technology, time, or personnel to cross reference and reconcile their own internal numbers with third party generated numbers – all this leads to increased accounting workloads and additional costs for small businesses.

No one will argue that the IRS shouldn’t have a role to play in ensuring that companies of all sizes adhere to the tax code, but the rules and regulations we have in place have to make sense and must be practical for both the IRS and those from which this bureaucracy collects its taxes. This sensible legislation will restore the original intent of Congress and lessen the burden on employers everywhere.

Schock Statement on Senator Mark Kirk’s Medical Condition

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) issued the following statement after learning of the news that Senator Mark Kirk admitted himself to Lake Forest Hospital over the weekend. It was reported today by Senator Kirk’s office that the Senator suffered a stroke over the weekend:

“I was shocked to learn of the news today that Senator Mark Kirk was admitted to the hospital over the weekend. It’s never easy to see a good friend and colleague go through such a sudden and difficult medical situation. The reports that Mark’s surgery was successful this morning is very welcome news during this tough time. Mark has been a champion for Illinois both as a member of the House of Representatives and now as a United States Senator. I look forward to the day he will return to the Capitol to continue his fight on behalf of the citizens of Illinois.

“My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult period of time.”

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Townhall.com: Voting to Repeal Another Piece of Obama's Healthcare Law

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Voting to Repeal Another Piece of Obama's Healthcare Law
By: Congressman Aaron Schock
Posted on Townhall.com

This week, I voted to repeal another piece of President Obama's unsustainable healthcare law - the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program. In addition to voting to repeal this legislation, I am a co-sponsor on the bill that would repeal this program. The CLASS program as written creates a new entitlement program designed to pay out social security style benefits to individuals who need assisted living services such as those provided by nursing homes.

However, the Administration was repeatedly warned when the program was originally designed that it would ultimately become another unfunded liability and a drain on future generations. Yet, despite these warnings, Congressional Democrats included the CLASS program in the health care law while simultaneously implementing a five year waiting period before paying a single dime out in benefits. When the experts crunched the numbers over a 75 year window, the same long-term projection used by Social Security, they discovered the program would become insolvent only a few years after enactment.

According to Richard Foster, the non-partisan, Chief Actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, all of the savings the CLASS program builds up in the first five years of existence would be wiped away, "in the first few months of the 6th year." The Department of Health and Human Services tried 8 different methods of implementing this program, but all 8 failed because, "they did not significantly lower premiums or were deemed to be too complicated to implement." As a result, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the program would not go forward in October 2011.

This is not the first time Congress has acted to repeal a provision of the health care law. As you will recall, Congress repealed the 1099 tax provision last year, with both Democrats and Republicans united in opposition. President Obama even admitted this provision needed to be repealed to remove the financial burden that was about to be heaped on small businesses across the country. Unfortunately, these are the type of results we get when the Democrats in Congress rammed through a thousand page bill without reading it first.

This week's vote in the Ways and Means committee is the next step by Congress to permanently end another misguided policy by this Administration. The bipartisan vote achieved in the Ways and Means committee demonstrates the need to end this program and stop a government Ponzi scheme before it starts.

Schock Statement on Recess Appointment of Richard Cordray

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Aaron Schock issued the following statement after President Barack Obama announced he intended to appoint Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) through a recess appointment:

“This unprecedented maneuver is an absolute abuse of power by this Administration that will prevent any checks and balances to this rogue agency.

“I led the bipartisan charge in the House for a more practical approach; one that would put a council of regulators in place, rather than putting the power to regulate trillions of dollars of financial transactions in the hands of one politically appointed administrator. The decision by the President to bypass Congress has set a dangerous precedent for appointments to come.”

BACKGROUND
- In the 111th Congress, Congressman Schock and Congressman Walt Minnick (D-ID) spearheaded a letter to the Financial Reform Conference Committee Chairmen Barney Frank and Chris Dodd requesting they include language to establish a powerful council of regulators called the Consumer Financial Protection Council (CFPC) charged with establishing tough, new consumer regulations for all financial firms.

- In December of 2009, Schock and Minnick offered an amendment to H.R. 4173, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, to change the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) to a powerful council of regulators called the Consumer Financial Protection Council (CFPC). Unfortunately, the amendment failed by a vote of 208 to 223.

- In the 112th Congress, Schock voted for H.R. 1315, which passed by a bipartisan vote of 241-173 and is currently awaiting further action in the Senate. H.R. 1315 established a bi-partisan Commission to carry out all the duties that would have otherwise fallen to the Director of the CFPB, much like the above Schock-Minnick Amendment

Schock Continues to Find Success as Legislative Year Comes to an End

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) continued to work on behalf of residents of the 18th District of Illinois, reaching across the aisle, and finding legislative success on issues ranging from job creation to tax relief and spending reduction.

Congressman Schock began the year with the appointment to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee, considered the most powerful committee in Congress. Schock serves on the Trade, Oversight and Social Security subcommittees, where he worked to overcome partisan divisions and gridlock to pass commonsense bills that were signed in to law by President Obama. Among these successes include legislation removing the onerous 1099 tax provision from President Obama’s Health Care law and three job creating free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

Additionally, Schock and the committee continue their work on comprehensive tax reform that will lower taxes for all individuals, while allowing the U.S. to become more competitive, spurring job creation and economic growth. In just this year, the Ways and Means committee has held over 13 hearings on tax reform, including hearing testimony from executives from Caterpillar on how the current tax system impacts their ability to do business inside the U.S. and around the world. As a member of the Society Security subcommittee, Schock led a bipartisan letter to the Social Security Administration to encourage them to be honest with the American people about future Social Security benefits. This same topic was also brought up by Schock during a Social Security hearing earlier this year.

Schock has played a leading role in committee hearings this year, including questioning Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick on President Obama’s Health Care law and the negative impact it will have on businesses – large and small. Schock questioned Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner directly on the tax the White House tried to levy on businesses that didn’t receive TARP funding, but would be unfairly taxed so the government could recoup their funding faster.

Earlier this month, Schock participated in a joint Senate Finance Committee-House Ways and Means committee hearing on the tax structure levied on products that include businesses in Illinois. Finally, last week Schock participated in a hearing on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is a new Asia Pacific free trade agreement that the United States has begun to negotiate. During his questioning, he focused on ensuring there will be adequate intellectual property protections put in place to ensure the U.S. is not put at a disadvantage against the other countries in the agreement. In addition, the TPP would be good news for the agricultural community. In 2010, U.S. exports of agricultural products to the TPP region total $84 billion, which accounted for 72 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports to the world.

Congressman Schock is recognized by his colleagues as someone who has reached across the aisle to get things done. His legislative track record embraces this fact. Since January, he has had a wide variety of his legislation passed by the House including:
• H.R. 513 (incorporated in H.R 1540) to prohibit the transfer of any terrorist to the U.S.
• H.R. 606 (incorporated in S. 365) to establish a commission to reduce government spending.
• H.R. 389 (incorporated in H.R. 1) to end taxpayer funded Stimulus advertisement signs.
• H.R. 2082 (incorporated in H.R. 674) to provide for a Work Opportunity Tax Credit for businesses that hire unemployed U.S. Veterans.
• Amendment to delay new FEMA flood insurance mandates.
• Amendment to allow for deployment deferment for dual military families with a minor.
• Language (incorporated into H.R. 3078) to enact the United States-Colombia Trade Agreement.
• Amendment requiring EPA to take agriculture jobs and the economic impact on agriculture industry into account before issuing any new regulations relating to agriculture.

Schock has also introduced a wide variety of legislation which has been supported by numerous colleagues on both sides of the aisle:
• H.R. 1653, supported by close to 100 House Members to lower tariffs, remove trade barriers and decrease the cost of products for businesses and consumers.
• H.R. 2231 to encourage the development of new blender pumps and other infrastructure to support renewable energy use.
o Named 1 of the 10 Most Important Advocates for Renewable Energy in Washington by BioFuels Digest & selected as the 2011 Fueling Growth Award Winner, the highest honor presented by Growth Energy to Members of Congress who support ethanol.
• H.R. 2479 to decrease the costs of making historic renovations and help the Warehouse district in Peoria.
• H.R. 1936 the Medicare Access to Diabetes Supplies Act aimed at preserving the ability of the nation’s seniors to continue receiving their diabetic testing supplies from their neighborhood pharmacist.

In addition to the introduction of legislation, Schock has spearheaded numerous letters of critical importance to the Administration and the President, including:
• Asking the National Labor Relations Board to stop its regulation assault on small businesses.
o   This led to the successful conclusion of getting the NLRB to back away from a mandate requiring posting of unionized procedures.
• Asking the Social Security Administration to be honest with American citizens about the future of Social Security benefits.
o   This led to the Social Security Administration’s rescission of continuing to mail yearly updates to citizens which promised benefits the current funds can’t deliver
• Following through on his continued pledge to support navigation and restoration efforts of the Illinois and Upper Mississippi Rivers.
o   This helped outline the need to secure close to $40 million in appropriated funds for river navigation and ecological efforts along these two rivers
• Asking the State of Illinois not to release the private information of law abiding state gun owners.
o   It was just recently announced that the State of Illinois would not be releasing this private information.

The House of Representatives has been hard at work this year:
In April, Schock voted for and the House passed the FY2012 budget - Path to Prosperity - which was the product of Budget Chairman Paul Ryan. While the House has approved a budget, the Senate has gone nearly 1,000 days without passing one of their own. This includes voting 97-0 against President Obama’s budget he submitted at the beginning of the year. Congressman Ryan’s budget is a proposal that would begin to put the country on sound fiscal footing while looking at ways to keep programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid solvent, and begin to pay down the $15 trillion in debt the U.S. has accumulated. The Path to Prosperity received more votes this year than any budget in the previous 13 years. In response to keeping future spending under control, the House passed a Balanced Budget Amendment that would ensure the government is not spending more than it is taking in.

The House has passed multiple pieces of legislation focused on domestic energy production including the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act. Schock has urged using the revenue from new oil and gas leases, along with the revenue from the motor fuel tax, as a way to help pay for a long-term highway bill.

This week, the House passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act which will protect all American workers from higher taxes, spur job creation, and ensure those who have fallen on difficult times by losing their job by no fault of their own can access unemployment benefits available to them while they search for a new job. This bill was a combination of bipartisan ideas and proposals that include many items that President Obama urged Congress to pass.

For the first time since World War II, the federal government will spend less this year than the previous year. This is a remarkable accomplishment which has begun to put the federal government on a fiscally responsible path.

Job Creation and Economic Growth
Since being sworn in to his second term in January, Schock’s voting record has been consistently in favor of job creating policies. He, along with his House Republican colleagues, have passed 28 jobs bills aimed at encouraging private sector job creation and economic growth that are currently awaiting action in the Senate.

Schock Calls for Long-term Highway Bill
Schock’s efforts include his call for a long-term transportation infrastructure authorization. Just months ago this issue was not at the forefront of any legislative discussions, but since September Schock has consistently pushed for a bill to be passed by Congress and signed in to law by the president as soon as possible. All this has led to the Speaker of the House discussing the topic in recent speeches and the chairman of the House Transportation Committee indicating that work on a long-term bill will begin in January. Last week, Schock led the bipartisan effort to send a letter to President Obama with over 110 of his House colleagues urging him to support a long-term highway authorization.

Bipartisan Coalition of 111 members Urge President Obama to Support Six-Year Transportation Package

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Representatives Aaron Schock (R-IL), Jim Cooper (D-TN), John Carney (D-DE), and Patrick Meehan (R-PA), sent a letter to President Obama urging him to support a fully paid for six-year transportation reauthorization. More than 111 members signed it, including 62 Democrats and 49 Republicans.

The letter states that "short-term extensions fail to recognize that meaningful, large-scale transportation projects take years to plan, approve and implement." States and contractors need a long-term bill in order to execute large projects and repair the nation's crumbling infrastructure.

With the construction industry facing an unemployment rate of 13.3 percent, the members said that "a modern, safe and efficient transportation authorization will not only create jobs now for the construction industry, but it will also set the table for long-term job creation and economic growth."

The bipartisan group expressed their willingness to work with the Administration on funding options for a six-year authorization. The last Surface Authorization bill expired in September 2009 and has been temporarily extended eight separate times. The latest temporary extension is set to expire at the end of March 2012.

“The American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) gives our transportation infrastructure a grade of “D,” said Rep. Schock. “While other sectors of the economy grew during the month of November, the construction industry lost 12,000 jobs. These are the reasons why I have been so vocal for the passage of a long-term highway bill and why we are asking the president to join us and support our efforts. A long-term highway bill is as much about putting people back to work now as it is about investing in our country’s infrastructure to entice businesses to expand their operations in the U.S. to sell their products around the world more efficiently.”

“Unemployment in the construction industry is higher than 13 percent, and our infrastructure needs repair," Rep. Cooper said. "Let’s put Americans back on the job to fix our roads and bridges.”

"Repairing our infrastructure is a critical priority, and ignoring this issue is simply not an option," said Rep. Carney. "A six-year transportation bill will create jobs, ease congestion, improve the safety of our roads and bridges, and make America a more attractive place for international companies to grow their business."

“Supporting infrastructure is an investment in America’s economic future and will enhance our ability to compete globally,” said Rep. Meehan. “More importantly, predictable funding means real and sustained jobs. We cannot allow structurally deficient roads and bridges to further deteriorate. It is time for Congress to pass a fully funded, long-term transportation bill to make our families safer on the roads, improve our quality of life and kick-start our economy.”

Bipartisan letter to President Obama

The letter has been endorsed by a number of labor, professional, & manufacturing groups, including:
The American Trucking Associations
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association
American Iron & Steel Institute
Institute of Transportation Engineers
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
Teamsters
Associated General Contractors of America
National Association of Manufacturers
American Society of Civil Engineers
International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers
American Council of Engineering Companies
Steel Manufacturers Association
American Institute of Architects
BlueGreen Alliance

Schock Leads Bipartisan Effort to Encourage Obama to Support Long-Term Transportation Reauthorization

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) led a bipartisan effort today in sending President Obama a letter urging him to fully support congressional efforts to fund a long-term transportation reauthorization. Continuing what has been a several months long campaign by Congressman Schock to push for passage of a long-term and paid for transportation infrastructure bill, he is now calling on the President to join with him, and others in Congress, in supporting legislation that Schock says will address urgent transportation and infrastructure needs, create American jobs and give the private sector important incentives to locate, invest and hire in the United States.

Congressman Schock On MSNBC's Morning Joe Discussing Letter to President Obama

“The American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) gives our transportation infrastructure a grade of “D,” said Rep. Schock. “While other sectors of the economy grew during the month of November, the construction industry lost 12,000 jobs. These are the reasons why I have been so vocal for the passage of a long-term highway bill and why we are asking the president to join us and support our efforts. A long-term highway bill is as much about putting people back to work now as it is about investing in our country’s infrastructure to entice businesses to expand their operations in the U.S. and sell their products around the world more efficiently.”

In the letter, the 111 Members of Congress jointly state that “a modern, safe and efficient transportation authorization will not only create jobs now for the construction industry – facing a 13.3 percent unemployment rate – but it will also set the table for long-term job creation and economic growth…A long-term transportation authorization will help make America more competitive in the global marketplace and create jobs in all sectors of our economy.”

Last month, Schock held a press conference at the state capitol in Springfield - with business and labor leaders from Illinois - praising the recent announcement that legislation will soon be introduced in the House of Representatives that will link domestic energy production with the funding for transportation related programs. For the past several months, Schock has been calling for a robust highway bill that is linked to increased domestic energy production to pay for the cost of a long-term transportation infrastructure bill. Schock’s proposal would both encourage the increased production of American energy and help fund a new highway bill, both of which would boost job creation.

The bipartisan group concluded their letter by writing, “Given our fiscal challenges, we recognize that a long-term transportation authorization will need to be paid-for. We stand willing to work with your Administration on a variety of funding options.”

Attached: Bipartisan letter to President Obama

Background Materials
YouTube Video - American Needs a Six Year Highway Bill
Press Release - Schock Praises Announcement to Link Domestic Energy Production with Transportation Funding
Press Release - America Needs a Six Year Highway Bill
Press Release - Schock to Visit Successful North Dakota Energy Field

Audio Files from Springfield Transportation Infrastructure Press Conference (11.10.2011)
Springfield Transportation Infrastructure Press Conference-File #1
Springfield Transportation Infrastructure Press Conference-File #2
Springfield Transportation Infrastructure Press Conference-File #3

Long-Term Infrastructure Investment Necessary for Sustained Economic Growth

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Long-Term Infrastructure Investment Necessary for Sustained Economic Growth
By Aaron Schock

Now more than ever America needs to reinvest in our rails, roads, highways, and bridges. We live in a globally connected world and it is vital Illinois and the United States have a 21st century infrastructure strategy. This can be solved by doing what every president for decades has been able to accomplish - passing a long-term highway infrastructure reauthorization.

The need for a long-term transportation authorization is clear to any American who drives a car or truck, rides the rails or flies in an airplane. Our aging infrastructure risks creating a safety hazard for Americans. The American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) gives our transportation infrastructure a grade of “D,” and a recent federal report estimated that more than 11 percent of the nation’s bridges need timely repairs to avoid unsafe structural deficiencies.

For the last couple of years, highway funding has been authorized for only short increments at a time. This does nothing to create the certainty states or the construction industry need as they consider new multiyear infrastructure projects.

What America’s infrastructure needs is not another one time shot in the arm to fill a few pot holes, buy new signs and pave some roads, but rather a long term, fully funded highway bill to create jobs now and help grow our economy in the future. One-off measures like the Stimulus bill or President Obama's current one-time-only small proposal provide only for superficial things like resurfacing at best, offering no catalyst whatsoever for new economic growth. This is in direct contrast to the benefits of a multi-year highway bill that provides financing and certainty for major road and bridge construction and re-construction projects that leave lasting economic benefits.

I say "fully funded" and "paid for," because a bill of this magnitude should adhere to both principals. I have been advocating for a way to pay for the bill by using revenues from new oil and gas leasing combined with the current revenues people already pay at the pump via the motor fuel tax. This would help boost production and demand for American-made energy, lower energy cost, and at the same time ensure we have the money to pay for vital investments to our country’s highways and infrastructure.

At the end of October, I visited North Dakota’s Bakken Shale, an oil and natural gas field that has shown a clear way forward when it comes to domestic energy production and job creation. During my visit, I learned the town of Williston’s biggest struggle was not creating jobs, it was finding enough people to fill them. There is not a town in America that wouldn’t want to be in that position. I believe its energy havens like the Bakken Shale that show there is a way forward by coupling domestic energy production and economic growth; all while being done in a safe and responsible manner.

A new highway bill will not only put people back to work now, but it will also help lower the cost for businesses who manufacture goods and transport their merchandise to reach worldwide customers. Transportation backlogs increase costs for small businesses and hurt job creation and economic growth. The ASCE reports that the cost of failing to invest in the nation’s roads and bridges would total $2.1 trillion in lost economic growth by 2020, costing 877,000 jobs. The ASCE went on to find that congestion by 2020 could cost us $276 billion a year in lost time and inefficiencies. As a result of using more fuel, lost productivity and accelerated auto-wear on worsening roads, the overall cost to a family’s household budget would be $1,060 a year.

Nothing is more costly than delaying maintenance and repairs and our current infrastructure must be properly maintained. That is one side of what needs to be done. Additionally, we also need build the new highways, bridges, rail, airport expansions and water transportation to meet the needs of our people and to help spur a growing economy. Few things for example are proven to create more permanent jobs and growth than the opening of a new highway.

A long-term transportation authorization will help make America more competitive in the global marketplace and create jobs in all sectors of our economy. This is true here in Illinois with manufacturers and farmers who are literally growing grains and putting their product directly on ships on the Illinois River so that they can sell their products on the world market. With the passage of the Panama, Colombia and South Korean free trade agreements, it’s now more important than ever to ensure we are investing in our infrastructure to help move those U.S. products to new markets.

If we can lower the cost of doing business here in the United States, we can help attract more high paying manufacturing jobs in our country. That is good news for a weak economy and stagnant unemployment rate. A long-term highway bill isn’t a silver bullet that will solve all our economic woes--but it can begin to pave a way to better days

Schock Urges White House to Reconsider Political Decision to Delay Keystone XL Pipeline Approval

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) is urging the White House to reconsider its decision to postpone final approval of the Keystone XL pipeline following the announcement last week that a decision would be delayed until after the 2012 elections. A move many have criticized as a politically calculated choice by the Administration that delays development of important domestic energy resources and prevents the creation of thousands of new American jobs.

Schock joined with others in Congress today in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to take action before the end of the year, which is in line with the Department of State’s longstanding public time frame. This is the second letter Schock has sent to the Administration this year on the need for a final decision to be made on the Keystone pipeline.

“I just held a press conference last week on the need for the United States to incorporate domestic energy production with job creation. The news that the Administration is now delaying a final decision is an outrageous setback for job creators and those looking for work. The reality is this announcement to punt a final decision was not based on sound policy, but partisan politics. At a time when millions of Americans are out of work, the 20,000 jobs that would have been created by the final approval of the Keystone XL pipeline shows that the priorities of the White House are very different than that of the rest of the country.

“For months I have been touting the benefits of linking a robust transportation infrastructure bill to domestic energy production to both reinvest in our nation’s deteriorating highways, bridges and rails and to also create an environment for job growth immediately and in to the future. Since taking office, the Obama Administration has stood in the way of American energy production, decisions that have cost this country jobs, made us less secure and raised energy prices. Since January 2009, the national average for a gallon of gas has doubled from $1.84 per gallon to $3.44 per gallon today.

“In numerous instances this year the House has acted and passed legislation focused on domestic energy production, including voting to expedite the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. As with over 100 other pieces of legislation, the Senate has yet to act. I believe now is the time for both the Senate and the President to move forward and ensure the approval of the Keystone pipeline is approved by the end of the year. Failure to do so will further set us back in terms of job creation and domestic energy production.”

Earlier this year, Schock voted for the House passed H.R. 1938, North-American Made Energy Security Act, that required a decision to be made by the Obama administration on the Keystone XL project by November 1.

Attached: Letter to President Obama

Background Materials
YouTube Video - American Needs a Six Year Highway Bill
YouTube Video - Schock Speaks Out on Job Creation
Press Release - Schock to Visit Successful North Dakota Energy Field
Press Release - Schock Praises Announcement to Link Domestic Energy Production with Transportation Funding
Press Release - America Needs a Six Year Highway Bill

Audio Files from Springfield Press Conference (11.10.2011)
Springfield Transportation Infrastructure Press Conference-Audio File #1
Springfield Transportation Infrastructure Press Conference-Audio File #2
Springfield Transportation Infrastructure Press Conference-Audio File #3