On Tuesday, Politico published an op-ed coauthored by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on their bipartisan legislation to encourage job creation, which was also introduced on Tuesday. The American Growth, Recovery and Economic Empowerment (AGREE) Act contains measures from both sides of the aisle — policies that tend to be associated with one party or another, but which Senator Rubio and Senator Coons agree can support job creation in the United States.
As freshman senators from states hit hard by the recession, we believe Congress can’t afford to spend the next year spinning its wheels — scoring political points in a debate that is more about protecting political jobs in 2012 elections than getting the jobless back to work. We should unite behind policy ideas we all agree on and that would likely be signed into law if we stop letting politics get in the way.
Today we are introducing legislation that includes some of these ideas. Our bill would extend tax relief for small businesses — to help them purchase new equipment so they can grow and create jobs. It includes modernizing and improving the research and development tax credit; encouraging hiring of returning veterans and reforming burdensome regulations.
It will take steps toward boosting high-skilled legal immigration, so we can attract and retain talented individuals with extraordinary capacities, to create high-paying jobs in America. It will also protect our businesses against the illegal theft of intellectual property, with strict enforcement of laws already on the books.
Our plan borrows heavily from legislation introduced by both parties and in both chambers of Congress — Republicans in the House, and Democrats in the Senate. All the provisions have garnered bipartisan support in today’s political climate, and all would help encourage job creation today.
Read the full op-ed in Politico.
Delawareans are encouraged to click here to review the bill and share their opinions.
Click here to download a more thorough summary of the bill.
Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to create American jobs.