The Richmond County Daily Journal - January 29, 2010
While there are always going to be issues that divide our nation, the one thing we can agree on is that it is time to get Americans back to work.

President Obama made it clear in his State of the Union speech; jobs must be our top priority. We have to reverse the escalating unemployment and put the more than 15,000,000 unemployed Americans back to work.

This isn’t the time for partisan posturing. This isn’t about Republicans or Democrats. This is about our fellow Americans who just want to put food on their tables, who struggle to care for their families because they can’t find a job. It is an American issue, and we must all work together to solve the problem.

I’ve been working hard at the federal level and collaborating with state and local officials to bring much-needed jobs to the Eighth District. One of the most important things we can do to get our economy back on track is invest in small business and green manufacturing. Small businesses create four out of every five new jobs.

It was this type of investment in small business and green technology that led to Celgard, a Charlotte battery component manufacturer, receiving a Department of Energy grant to expand their production of the battery components for electric cars. Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s commitment to green technology, this $49 million grant led to a direct expansion of the company’s Charlotte facility as well as a new plant in Concord. The new plant will bring 209 new jobs, paying more than $50,000 per year, to the Eighth District. I was proud to help Celgard secure this grant, and see the Eighth District benefit from this investment.

On the same day as the Celgard expansion, I announced a green jobs training initiative through the Department of Labor which will help train workers in the eastern part of the district in renewable energy and green technology. Training our workforce in these fields will help prepare them for future jobs.

I’ve made a commitment to bringing our community leaders together with state and federal officials to make sure our District is able to capitalize on the recovery and address the staggering unemployment some of our counties are facing.

More than 200 elected officials and stakeholders from an eight-county region, including Anson, Richmond, Scotland and Montgomery counties, attended a federal resources summit I hosted with Congressman Mike McIntyre. Those leaders were able to hear from state and federal folks about what resources are available to help their communities.

Earlier this month, I hosted a regional economic summit with community and business leaders from Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Union counties to hear from them on how we can maximize the opportunities to capitalize on the economic recovery.

We brought more than 400 local business leaders together with federal contracting decision-makers during a federal contracting symposium at the Stanly County Agri-Center back in November. Working to expand the military-related industry in North Carolina, the Defense Trade Show in Fayetteville gave local businesses the chance to showcase their products and build relationships with the Department of Defense.

In addition to working with our local and state officials to make sure we are capitalizing on the opportunities, I am working on the legislative side to make sure we are providing the resources necessary to get people back to work.

We passed the Jobs for Main Street Act in December. This bill would infuse $75 billion in leftover, unused TARP funds for highways, school renovations, hiring teachers, police and firefighters while providing funding for small businesses, job training and affordable housing.

In addition, the bill strengthens “Buy American” provisions. I believe it is imperative that we invest in American manufacturing and have introduced legislation to require all items involving textiles procured by Homeland Security to be from companies that make these products in the United States.

I have also signed on to the HIRING Act of 2010 which would provide a tax credit to any business that expands its payroll by 3 percent in 2010 and by 5 percent in 2011. This bill would offer an incentive to businesses to begin hiring and expanding during these tough times while putting in place safeguards to make sure businesses aren’t taking advantage and are actually creating jobs.

As we continue down the road of economic recovery, we must concentrate on finding common-sense solutions to the nation’s high unemployment. While there is still tremendous work to do, I believe this is an issue on which we all can agree.

We must work together to put Americans back to work.

Congressman Larry Kissell (D-N.C. -8) offices include Rockingham: 230 East Franklin St., Rockingham, NC 28379, Phone: 997-2070; Concord number (704) 786-1612; Fayetteville number (910) 920-2070; Washington office: 512 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; phone (202) 225-3715. Web site, kissell.house.gov