Congressman Manzullo's Remarks Regarding Attacks Against USA

U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and member of the Subcommittee on Middle East, issued the following statement in response to the attacks against the United States in Libya and Egypt:

“Yesterday’s brutal murder of four American diplomats, including the United States Ambassador to Libya, and the attack against the United States Embassy in Egypt, are stark reminders that the U.S. remains a significant target throughout the world.  We must honor the memory and service of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and his colleagues by making it absolutely clear that our nation will not tolerate violence against our people.  Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.

“The United States must not apologize or otherwise seek to appease those who desperately want to do us harm.  When America does not speak clearly about its values and intentions, then the rest of the world is left to wonder whether we have the resolve to defend what is valuable to us.  America stands on the principles of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights.  There is no excuse, no justification for what happened in Libya and Egypt.”

Governor Quinn's Offer To Sell State Prison Could Doom Illinois Congressional Delegation Efforts

 Governor Pat Quinn’s offer last week to sell a state prison in southern Illinois to the federal government could doom a two-year effort by Illinois’ Congressional delegation to create more than 1,100 jobs in northwest Illinois by opening the vacant Thomson Correctional Center as a federal prison.

In a letter to the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons released Friday, Quinn said the 14-year-old Tamms supermax prison – which still houses state prisoners – would be a valuable addition to the federal prison system.

Quinn’s offer to sell the Tamms Correctional Center comes on the heels of ongoing efforts by U.S. Reps. Don Manzullo (R-IL), Bobby Schilling (R-IL) and other members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation to ink a deal for the federal government to purchase the vacant state prison in Thomson, IL and open it as a maximum security federal prison, creating more than 1,100 much-needed jobs in northwest Illinois.

“With his new offer to sell the Tamms state prison to the federal government, Gov. Quinn may have doomed our efforts to open Thomson as a federal prison and create more than 1,100 jobs in northern Illinois,” Manzullo said.

“In these very tight financial times, we have been working hard to find the federal money needed to buy Thomson, and now the Governor has thrown a new option on the table that will compete with our efforts. The federal government certainly doesn’t have the money to buy two state prisons in Illinois.”

"The Illinois delegation has been working closely to find a bipartisan way to advance Thomson Prison," Schilling said. "But to really move this forward, we need the Governor to focus in on and join us in our efforts. I remain optimistic that we can get Thomson opened, and will continue working to see it through."

The operation of Thomson as a federal prison is expected to create more than 1,100 jobs and provide $19 million in local labor income and $61 million in local business sales each year. Total local economic impact, both direct and indirect, is expected to be at least $202 million each year. That annual economic impact would provide more than $20 million in direct federal income tax revenue, $6.2 million in direct state income tax revenue, and $3.8 million in sales tax revenue.

Other Side To Health Care Law

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the President’s health care law:

“The President’s health care law is wreaking havoc on our economy by surging health insurance costs for Americans, hiking taxes, and hurting the efforts of small employers to put Americans back to work. In fact, I have already heard from small business owners in northern Illinois who will either lay off workers or forgo new hires in order to stay below the 50-employee threshold that would require them to purchase costly insurance for their employees.

“Americans are rightfully concerned that their employer-provided health insurance is threatened with this new law, and they don’t want it. I will join with our leaders in the House and support full repeal of the President’s health care law and instead pursue reforms that will truly make health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans without destroying our economy and stifling job creation in America.”

 

U.S. Trade Promotion Legislation Co-authored By Manzullo Heads To Senate For Approval

The U.S. House of Representatives tonight unanimously approved legislation designed to strengthen U.S. trade promotion efforts to help American companies sell more of their goods overseas and create more American jobs.

The Export Promotion Reform Act (H.R. 4041) would integrate the Administration’s export promotion agenda by giving the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee budget review authority over the numerous export promotion programs managed by the Administration.

The bill would also deploy U.S. Commercial Service personnel and budgets to help U.S. firms win sales in the markets with the best opportunities.  H.R. 4041 requires performance assessments of the effectiveness of our embassies in carrying out commercial diplomacy and helping U.S. exporters. The legislation, co-authored by U.S. Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Don Manzullo (R-IL), now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“Currently, each trade promotion agency submits its budget to the President and is judged on its own,” Manzullo said. “The Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee should be able to review each agency budget first and determine how it fits in with other export promotion programs to implement the trade promotion agenda of the Administration. The TPCC could then recommend to the President an integrated trade promotion budget that works most efficiently on behalf of U.S. exporters to create American jobs.”

Manzullo, who represents the heavy exporting 16 ^th Congressional District of Illinois, introduced legislation in 2006 and 2008 to reform the TPCC and move its responsibilities to the Executive Office of the President. Many of those reforms were realized when the President formed the Export Cabinet in 2010 and adopted many of the reforms included in Manzullo’s earlier bills.

In 2010, Manzullo joined with former Rep. Gabby Giffords in introducing legislation to remedy the current problem. Rep. Berman continued Giffords’ legacy by joining Manzullo on the legislation the House approved tonight.

USA Satellite Manufacturing Improved

“Before 1998, the U.S. share of global satellite manufacturing was 75 percent. But over the past 13 years, it has averaged 44 percent because of Congress’ overreaction in shifting commercial satellite export licensing decisions to the highly restrictive munitions list. as explained by Congressman Don Manzullo –R-16^th.District.

The action provided a competitive advantage to foreign satellite makers at the expense of American manufacturers and American workers,” says Manzullo, who Chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. 

Manzullo explains, “The amendment the House approved – while not perfect – provides a balance that will bolster both our national and economic security and give our satellite manufacturers an opportunity to sell again on a level playing field. I will continue to work on the bill as it heads to the Senate and eventually to conference committee because it will help create American jobs.”

The amendment is similar to bipartisan legislation Manzullo co-authored with Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) that would restore the President’s ability to determine what export restrictions should apply to commercial satellites and related components, The Safeguarding United States Satellite Leadership and Security Act of 2011

Unanimously approving H.R. 3288 also prohibits any such exports to China, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, or Cuba.

“Before 1998, the U.S. share of global satellite manufacturing was 75 percent. But over the past 13 years, it has averaged 44 percent because of Congress’ overreaction in shifting commercial satellite export licensing decisions to the highly restrictive munitions list.  That action provided a competitive advantage to foreign satellite makers at the expense of American manufacturers and American workers,” said Manzullo, who Chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

“The amendment the House approved today – while not perfect – provides a balance that will bolster both our national and economic security and give our satellite manufacturers an opportunity to sell again on a level playing field. I will continue to work on the bill as it heads to the Senate and eventually to conference committee because it will help create American jobs.

The Winner Is---Huntley High School Senior, Tabitha Hein

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) announced the winner of the 2012 Illinois 16th Congressional District High School Art Competition today.

Students from high schools across northern Illinois submitted 16 pieces of art for this year’s competition, in which the winner receives two free airplane tickets to Washington, DC for the national reception in June. In addition, the winning artwork will be displayed in the halls of Congress with other winners for the next year. Winners may also qualify for a $3,000 scholarship to the prestigious Savannah Center for Art and Design (www.scad.edu).

Tabitha’s winning piece is a color pencil drawing entitled  “French Quarter”.
The second place winner is Michael Anthony Abboreno, who attends Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin
The third place winner is Andrew Plautz, who attends North Love Christian School in Rockford

Avoiding A Credit Crunch

Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Ill., have introduced a bill to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank to avoid a credit crunch in trade finance and grow U.S. exports. The bank, whose authority expires May 31, helps finance sales of U.S. goods overseas. 

“Exports create jobs in Washington state and across the nation. The Export-Import Bank is an essential tool that allows our exporters, large and small, to sell their products overseas,” Larsen said. “The Export-Import Bank has been a huge success story, financing billions of dollars of U.S. exports each year and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. Failing to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank would have disastrous consequences for American manufacturers.”

“I represent one of the most export-intensive districts in the nation, and the Export-Import bank fills a vital gap in trade finance,” Manzullo said. “Directly, Ex-Im helped sustain and expand jobs at many companies in the 16th District of Illinois by providing $143 million in desperately needed export credit assistance since 2007. Indirectly, Ex-Im helped dozens of local suppliers to aerospace, heavy equipment, and power generation manufacturers. This was all done at no net cost to the taxpayer. We cannot allow export credit to dry up for these manufacturers. Passage of this bipartisan, bicameral legislation represents a win-win for good paying jobs and the taxpayer during these tough economic times.”

Larsen added: “Not only does the Ex-Im Bank not cost American taxpayers a single dollar, it returns a profit to the U.S. Treasury helping us reduce our deficit. The bank is important for large manufacturers like Boeing, but also small and medium manufacturers that are seeking to grow their exports overseas. I am pleased to join Congressman Manzullo in introducing this straightforward bipartisan bill to keep America open for business. In addition I would like to thank Senator Cantwell for her leadership on this legislation in the Senate.”

In 2011, the Ex-Im bank supported nearly 290,000 export-related jobs in the United States, helping to finance more than $41 billion in sales from more than 3,600 American companies.

The Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012:

• Extends the Bank’s authority through September 30, 2015;
• Adjusts the Bank’s aggregate loan, guarantee and insurance authority by $10 billion a year to $140 billion by 2015;
• Directs the Bank to review its current domestic content requirement to ensure the bank is driven at promoting U.S.-produced exports and creating U.S. jobs;
• Strengthens Congressional oversight of the Bank, requiring it to submit a 5-year strategic plan and yearly evaluations and reporting;
• Improves the Bank’s transparency by requiring the Bank to provide more notice and details to the public about transactions over $100 million;
• Strengthens risk oversight so risk to taxpayers is fully considered and mitigated; and
• Enhances restrictions against financing for entities that do business with Iran.

The text of the bill as introduced can be found here. A section-by-section breakdown of the bill can be found here. The legislation was first introduced in the Senate as an amendment to the JOBS Act by Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Tim Johnson, D-S.D., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala.

The Export-Import Bank helps finance billions of dollars in sales from U.S. companies to overseas customers. In Washington’s 2nd Congressional District, which Larsen represents, the Ex-Im Bank has supported more than $21 billion in exports since 2007. In Illinois’s 16th Congressional District, which Manzullo represents, the bank has supported more than $143 million in exports since 2007.

For information on Ex-Im-supported exports from Washington’s 2nd Congressional District, visit: http://www.exim.gov/congmap/#/WA-2. For information on Ex-Im-supported exports to Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, visit: http://www.exim.gov/congmap/#/IL-16.

Manzullo Appoints Caledonia Girl To U.S. Air Force Academy

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today announced that Genevieve Marie Clemens of Caledonia, Illinois, has received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO for the class entering June 2012.

Genevieve currently attends Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford and will graduate in June 2012.

As a member of the Girl Scouts, Genevieve served on the C3 Leadership Committee and was a Voting Youth Delegate for the Northern Illinois Council.  Her commitment to influencing younger girls extended to the many summers she spent as a camp counselor.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, serves as the Entertainment Editor on the Titan Tribune and has been a member of the Pompoms / Dance Team for four years. She received the Janet Burow Zangs Memorial Scholarship to advance her aviation education.

Genevieve is the daughter of Doug and Celine Clemens.

Texas Politicians Involved In Illinois Election

A liberal Super PAC from Texas is following the lead of Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) in trying to distort the much more superior conservative voting record of Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL).

In fact, a misleading absentee ballot scheme launched by the Super PAC against Manzullo this week prompted the Winnebago County Clerk to issue a press statement late Wednesday clarifying the absentee voting process and distancing herself from the Super PAC.

The Super PAC, named the Campaign for Primary Accountability, is funded primarily by three multi-millionaires from out of state and most recently spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of ultra-liberal Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a former Democratic Presidential contender, in his losing primary race. The liberal Super PAC has been helping Kinzinger by trying to tear down Manzullo's strong conservative voting record through misleading mailers, emails, and robocalls. It was just 10 days ago that Kinzinger got caught twisting the words of a Rockford newspaper columnist to distort Manzullo's record.

Winnebago County Clerk Margie M. Mullins issued the following press statement late Wednesday after receiving numerous calls from voters confused about the source of absentee ballots they received from the Super PAC, along with materials erroneously attacking Manzullo's record. "The application is being mailed, along with a partisan political piece, a stamp and a pre-addressed envelope returnable to me as Winnebago County Clerk. None of these materials were prepared by or originated in my office. They appear to be sent by the Campaign for Primary Accountability PAC in Houston, Texas. The office of the County Clerk and the City Election Board of Commissioners does not send partisan election materials to voters, nor does it endorse any political candidate or political party," Mullins said.

Manzullo has also received numerous contacts from constituents outraged by the Super PAC's shady tactics and the attempts of this outside group of multi-millionaires to influence the local election on Kinzinger's behalf.

"The people of northern Illinois have been calling us in outrage that this liberal Super PAC from Texas is using the bankrolls of three multi-millionaires from out of state to distort my superior conservative voting record. You can't get a 96 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union as I have if you spend recklessly as this shady Super PAC suggests," Manzullo said. "But I can understand why this liberal Super PAC would want to have my opponent in office rather than me, as I am without doubt the only candidate in this race serious about cutting spending, balancing the budget, and paying down the national debt."

The Super PAC and Kinzinger have both been mounting campaigns of distortion against Manzullo in an effort to convince voters that Manzullo's superior conservative voting record is somehow a mirage. Here are the facts:

Manzullo voted last year 79 more times than Kinzinger to cut $209 billion more in spending than Kinzinger in 2011. In addition, Manzullo voted for the only budget alternative that would have cut $9.1 trillion in spending and balanced the budget within 10 years. Kinzinger voted against the bill.

Manzullo has received much higher conservative ratings than Kinzinger from national organizations that studied 2011 votes, including:

• American Conservative Union lifetime scores: Manzullo 96 (#1 in Illinois), Kinzinger 72.
• Club for Growth: Manzullo 85, Kinzinger 56.
• Heritage Action for America: Manzullo 84, Kinzinger 63.
• Americans for Prosperity: Manzullo A+, Kinzinger B.
• National Journal (conservative composite score): Manzullo 74, Kinzinger 58.

Manzullo has been endorsed by every conservative organization that has given an endorsement in the race, including:

• Illinois Tea Party
• RedState Editor and CNN political contributor Erick Erickson
• Family-PAC federal
• Eagle Forum of Illinois
• Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC
• Illinois Citizens for Life federal PAC
• Illinois Conservatives (4,000 conservatives across Illinois under 35 years old)
• The Madison Project (national pro-life, pro-family group) 

Editors Note: It appears that this is what happens when redistricting takes place on a partisan basis.

Endorsement For Congressman Manzullo

Congressman Don Manzullo-R, currently representing the 16^th Congressional District that includes McHenry County, has been endorsed for re-election by the 60 Plus Association over opponent Congressman Adam Kinzinger. The group awarded Manzullo the Guardian of Seniors' Rights Award.

The 60 Plus Association is a 20-year-old nonpartisan organization working for death tax repeal, saving Social Security and Medicare, affordable prescription drugs, lowering energy costs and other issues featuring a less government, less taxes approach as well as a strict adherence to the Constitution.

60 Plus supported the Republican Study Committee's budget alternative last year that would have cut $9.1 trillion in spending over 10 years, strengthened Social Security and Medicare, reformed the tax code, and balanced the budget in 9 years. Manzullo supported the bill, but Kinzinger opposed it and instead supported a budget bill that spent $3.3 trillion more over 10 years.

Manzullo will no longer be representing McHenry County, thanks to the recent redistricting. However, he has not changed his political views and in effect is still representing voters in McHenry County although not directly.

Most of McHenry County is now located in the 14^th Congressional District except for Algonquin Township, which is located in the Sixth Congressional District.

Sixth Congressional District Candidates

Democrat – Leslie Coolidge, Geoffrey Petzel, Maureen E. Yates.

Republican—Peter J. Roskam

Fourteenth Congressional District Candidates

Democrat—Dennis Anderson and Jonathan Farnick

Republican – Randy M. Hultgren

U. S. Congressman Don Manzullo Voted Number One Conservative From Illinois

The American Conservative Union, America's oldest and largest grassroots conservative organization, today issued its 2011 Congressional vote ratings that show U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) is the #1 conservative from Illinois and his opponent in the upcoming election , U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) is ranked #8 out of 11 Republican Members of Congress from Illinois in lifetime ratings.

"Once again, Congressman Manzullo's ACU rating shows a consistent commitment to conservative principles on a wide range of issues," said Larry Hart, ACU Director of Government Relations. "His lifetime rating of 95.5 is one of the highest in the Congress over that period of time."

The ratings for Republican Members of Congress from Illinois are as follows:

Don Manzullo	95.51	92
Peter Roskam	93.6	76
Joe Walsh	92	92
Randy Hultgren	88	88
John Shimkus	87.64	68
Aaron Schock	82.67	68
Bobby Schilling	76	76
Adam Kinzinger	72	72
Judy Biggert	68.46	44
Tim Johnson	68.27	64
Bob Dold	44	44

 

The ratings confirm what several other conservative and non-partisan organizations have stated this year in their own rankings – Manzullo is by a wide margin much more serious than his opponent about cutting wasteful Washington spending, balancing the budget, and paying down the national debt. The American Conservative Union's ratings – which show Manzullo with 95.51 to Kinzinger's 72 lifetime – dovetail with the 2011 ratings from the non-partisan National Journal (Manzullo – 73.7; Kinzinger – 58.2), Heritage Action for America (Manzullo – 84; Kinzinger – 63), and Americans for Prosperity (Manzullo – A+; Kinzinger – B).

"I am honored to again be rated the top conservative Member of Congress from Illinois. These ratings from the American Conservative Union show a wide disparity in conservative voting between myself and my opponent and again confirm that I am the only candidate in this race who is serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending, balancing the budget, and paying down our national debt," Manzullo said.

"We now have four major national organizations that looked at the votes from last year and determined I am the conservative in this race who is focused on getting our financial house in order and reducing the role of government in our lives. America is at a crossroads right now, and we need solid conservatives who will go back to Washington and take the tough votes necessary to cut spending and reduce our debt. I have a strong record of voting to cut spending and that record will continue as long as I am in Congress."  

The vote rankings also confirm why Manzullo has received all the endorsements from the major national and statewide conservative groups, including:

Illinois Tea Party

Family-PAC federal

Eagle Forum of Illinois

Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC

Illinois Citizens for Life federal PAC

Illinois Conservatives (4,000 conservatives across Illinois under 35 years old)

RedState Editor and CNN political commentator Erick Erickson

The Madison Project

Conservative groups are lining up behind Manzullo because they know he is the only candidate in the race who is serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending, balancing the budget, and paying down the national debt. In fact, Manzullo voted last year 79 more times than Kinzinger to cut $209 billion more in spending than Kinzinger. In addition, Manzullo voted for the only budget alternative that would have cut $9.1 trillion in spending and balanced the budget within 10 years. Kinzinger voted against the bill.

McHenry County voters should note:  Manzullo will no longer represent McHenry County which was placed in the 14th and 6th Congressional Districts during the redistricting process. 

Cary-Grove Graduate Appointed to U.S. Naval Academy

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today announced that James E. Hansen III of Cary, Illinois, has received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD for the class entering June 2012.

James graduated from Cary-Grove High School in June 2011 and currently attends the University of Minnesota with a declared major of Aerospace Engineering.

As a member of the National Honor Society, he logged over 60 community service hours, including working with Cary-Grove Community Christmas to distribute gifts to needy families and with the Yellow Ribbon Military Care Packages effort through Saints Peter and Paul Church.  At the U of M, he is a freshman year squad member with the NROTC Endurance Team and Close Order Drill Platoon.

James is the son of James and Julie Hansen

Legislation To Repeal Obamacare Mandate

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) joined his colleagues at a Capitol Hill news conference today to highlight legislation he co-sponsored to repeal an unconstitutional Obamacare mandate that would violate the conscience rights of religious institutions.

The Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179) would amend Obamacare to preserve conscience rights for religious institutions, health care providers, and small employers who pay for health care coverage. The legislation is endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Right to Life Committee, Americans United for Life, and other organizations

“This most recent Obamacare mandate is deeply troubling and patently unconstitutional,” Manzullo said. “Over the past several weeks, we’ve all heard the contradictory rhetoric from this administration and the so-called ‘compromise’ that was offered. 

 The compromise is a thinly-veiled version of the discredited original policy, dressed up to look like something else.  At the end of the day, it remains a serious violation of religious freedom. No one should ever be forced by the government to carry out policies that violate their conscience rights.”

Bishop Thomas Doran of the Diocese of Rockford, Illinois, was alarmed by the attack on religious liberty and shared his thoughts on the mandate with his parishioners on Jan. 28, 2012:

“We cannot—we will not—comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.”

Congressman Manzullo Gains Supporters For His New District Area

Congressman Don Manzullo (IL-16) gained another major conservative supporter Monday when the Illinois Tea Party endorsed him for re-election to Congress.

“In our opinion, Don is the true fiscal conservative in this race,” announced Barb Offill, President of the Iroquois County TEA Party.  “Don is an ethical man and a passionate conservative who always votes in-line with his values.  His 19 years of experience in manufacturing, creating jobs, cutting wasteful spending, and reducing the deficit in Washington is a strength.  He hasn’t been named ‘Mr. Fix it’ for nothing, the Congressman just gets things done in Washington.”

Currently McHenry County is included in the 16^th District. However, with new redistricting taking effect for the upcoming March 20 election, Manzullo will no longer be representing McHenry County. That is not his choice, but the decision of those in charge of the recent redistricting.

McHenry County will be included in two Congressional Districts. Algonquin Township is included in the Sixth District while the remainder of the County is included in the 14^th District. 

Tea Party Endorsement For Congressman Manzullo

Congressman Don Manzullo (IL-16) gained another major conservative supporter Monday when the Illinois Tea Party endorsed him for re-election to Congress.

"In our opinion, Don is the true fiscal conservative in this race," announced Barb Offill, President of the Iroquois County TEA Party.  "Don is an ethical man and a passionate conservative who always votes in-line with his values.  His 19 years of experience in manufacturing, creating jobs, cutting wasteful spending, and reducing the deficit in Washington is a strength.  He hasn't been named 'Mr. Fix it' for nothing, the Congressman just gets things done in Washington."

The Illinois Tea Party noted that the choice for Illinois voters in the 16th district could not be clearer.  In 2011, Rep. Manzullo voted 79 more times to cut $209 billion more in federal spending than his opponent, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, which is why Manzullo is receiving all the awards and endorsements from conservative organizations that are serious about cutting wasteful spending and reducing debt. Manzullo holds a huge 21% lead in conservative ranking from Heritage Action for America, the political arm of the Heritage Foundation.   

"I thank the members of the Illinois Tea Party for their endorsement and recognition that I am the candidate in this race most serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending, reducing our massive debt, and helping employers put Americans back to work," Manzullo said. "We will never improve our economy as long as we continue to borrow 42 cents of every dollar our government spends. We must get serious about cutting spending and shrinking the role of government in our lives."

The endorsement from the Illinois Tea Party is the latest in a string of endorsements Manzullo has received from conservative organizations in this year's primary election. He was endorsed last month by Illinois Citizens for Life, the Illinois Conservatives (a group of about 4,000 young conservatives throughout the State of Illinois), and Family-PAC Federal, Illinois' leading pro-family organization.

January Jobs Report A Little Brighter

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) issued the following statement this morning in response to the January jobs report. The Labor Department reported that 243,000 jobs were created in December and the national unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent:

STATEMENT:

“It’s wonderful to see some people returning to work, but we need to do much more to strengthen our economy and help employers create even more jobs.

While 243,000 Americans returned to work, the long-term unemployed – those without jobs for more than 6 months – remained essentially unchanged at 5.5 million people. There are still too many Americans who want to work but can’t find a job.  My American Jobs Agenda would go a long way to help our employers expand and create jobs.

“Things are looking much brighter in northern Illinois. Just last week, I was able to greet the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner when it stopped in Rockford on its maiden tour of international airports.

The production of that amazing airplane will generate $16 billion in contracts for just one Rockford company – Hamilton Sundstrand – and many more local companies will benefit through sub-contracts.

In addition, we were ecstatic to learn just yesterday that Chrysler – now owned by Italy’s Fiat -- plans to add 1,800 jobs by this summer at the Belvidere Assembly plant to build the exciting new 2013 Dodge Dart, the first Chrysler vehicle to incorporate Fiat architecture, similar to that used in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

Things are definitely moving in the right direction, and I strongly encourage the Senate and the President to work with us and pass the nearly 30 House-passed jobs bills that are languishing without action.” 

Manzullo Votes For Continued Federal Pay Freeze

 U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) tonight voted to continue the existing pay freeze for Members of Congress and all federal employees for at least an additional year. The House passed the bill, HR 3835, by a vote of 309-117.

Manzullo, who has voted more than 700 times to cut more than $2.6 trillion in spending since 2007, opposes President Obama’s plan to give government employees a pay raise this year. The legislation Manzullo supported tonight continues the pay freeze for Members of Congress for the third straight year.

In addition, Manzullo voted this year to cut 6.4 percent from the budgets Members of Congress use to pay their office employees and expenses. Manzullo supported an additional 5 percent office budget cut last year.

“With many Americans facing stagnant wages and unemployment lines, a pay raise for federal employees as President Obama has proposed is out of the question. I again voted tonight to continue the pay freeze for Members of Congress, their staffs, and all federal employees for another year. I have also voted to cut the office budgets Members of Congress use to pay their staffs and expenses by 11.4 percent over the last two years,” Manzullo said. “With the government continuing to borrow 42 cents of every dollar it spends, Congress must get serious about cutting spending and reducing our budget deficit. Cutting our own office budgets is a good start.”

Congressman Manzullo On The President's Speech

“If the President is serious about wanting to help our employers put Americans back to work, he must stop talking about the two things that will keep Americans on the unemployment lines and extend our difficult times – tax increases and excessive government regulations. 

"Employers are not going to create jobs when they could face huge tax increases and unnecessary regulatory burdens in the near future. We need to reduce the cost of doing business in this country and help make our employers more competitive so they can expand and create jobs. My American Jobs Agenda offers solutions that would put our great nation back on the path to prosperity.

“The President also needs to get serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending and shrinking the size of government so we can strengthen our economy and give our employers the confidence they need to invest in their businesses. Today marks the 1,000th day the Senate has gone without passing a budget. That’s unacceptable.

" I strongly encourage the President and Senate Democratic leaders to take a look at a budget I supported last year – the Republican Study Committee budget – that would have cut $9.1 trillion over the next 10 years while strengthening Social Security, saving Medicare, reforming the tax code, and balancing the budget in 9 years. It’s time for Washington to start living within its means and end the massive borrowing from China and other countries that is saddling future generations of Americans with massive debt.”

Congressman Manzullo Fights Debt Limit Hike

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) voted yesterday to force Congress to cut wasteful spending by opposing the President’s latest request for a $1.2 trillion increase in the national debt limit.

Manzullo, who wrote to Speaker John Boehner last month urging him to call Congress back into session if necessary to vote down the request, said it is time for the President and Congress to make the tough choices and get serious about cutting spending instead of continuing to borrow money and put America deeper and deeper in debt. The federal government currently borrows 42 cents on each dollar it spends, and the national debt recently surpassed $15 trillion.

Manzullo, who also opposed the President’s request for a $500 billion debt limit increase last September, said he was disappointed in the failure of the “super committee” to agree on significant spending cuts last November.

“During my time in Congress, I have voted nine times against raising the debt limit because it was not tied to real spending controls. This is another such time to say no,” Manzullo said. “I have voted more than 700 times against $2.6 trillion in spending over the past five years – that’s a good place to start to find savings. We have to get serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending and reducing our deficit so we can strengthen our economy and help employers put Americans back to work.”

Congressman Manzullo Responds To President's Decision on Pipeline Permit

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) issued the following statement today responding to President Obama’s decision to deny the Keystone XL energy pipeline permit.

“The President’s decision today to kill the Keystone XL pipeline project is outrageous. The President had an opportunity to support the project and put more than 100,000 Americans to work while ensuring our nation a stable energy supply from our friends in Canada. Instead, his denial will keep those Americans on the unemployment lines and ensure the United States remains dependant on costly, foreign oil from unstable sources overseas.

Two of the largest challenges standing in the way of America’s return to prosperity are unemployment and high gasoline prices, and the President denied a great opportunity to make progress on both fronts today.

“As the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and the Chairman of the U.S.-Canada Interparliamentary Exchange, I am also concerned that the President’s denial today will push Canada to partner with China on this additional energy source. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper previously warned President Obama that his denial of Keystone would force the Canadians to seek new customers in Asia, and that would be a disaster for American manufacturers trying to compete with their Chinese competitors.”