April 04, 2011

Manchin: We Need To Put American Jobs First

In speech to AFL-CIO, Manchin applauds the American workforce and emphasizes the need to create jobs at home

**Photo Attached**

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today underscored his commitment to making America strong again by focusing on domestic job creation in a speech to the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.

“We need to rebuild America by putting American jobs first,” Senator Manchin said. “We need to create a new economy that creates real jobs in America that support a family – instead of the empty promise of a job that may come decades from now. We need to create a new tax system and regulatory system that attracts industry and investment, instead of one that punishes businesses and costs us jobs.”

Senator Manchin expressed his deep appreciation and support for the men and women who make up the finest workforce in the world – the men and women who helped build this great nation and who will help make this country strong again.

And, in light of a contentious budget debate that threatens to bring the federal government to a standstill this week, Senator Manchin highlighted the importance of getting elected leaders in Washington to put politics aside and discuss their shared values and priorities for this country’s future.

Excerpts of Senator Manchin’s speech are included below:

We need to create a new economy that creates real jobs in America that support a family - instead of the empty promise of a job that may come decades from now.

We need to create a new tax system and regulatory system that attracts industry and investment, instead of one that punishes businesses and costs us jobs.

We need trade deals built on fairness that create a level playing field so American workers can compete and succeed globally.

The truth is, I am sick and tired of trade deals where we trade our jobs for no jobs.

It's time for our government - Republicans and Democrats alike - to negotiate trade deals that are based on fairness first.

Trade deals that promise American workers and businesses a level playing field - instead of a cliff.

Trade deals that create more jobs at home, instead of abroad.

The issue of trade and fairness is not an academic one. It's about lives, families, and our future as a nation.

We need jobs and we must craft regulations and policies that prioritize job creation. 

We need to cut spending, so we must cut or consolidate redundant programs, make government work more efficiently across the board.

We must work together to spend every tax dollar on those in need and what we need, not on what we may want.

But we will not be able to do any of this if we continue to allow our national debt and deficits to grow.

If we don't act to take control of our spending it will strangle our very ability to choose where we need to invest in America. 

I will continue to fight for the jobs you have now to get back the jobs America has lost and to create the jobs you and America need.

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