Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today joined 390 of his colleagues from both sides of the aisle in supporting H.R. 3606, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act.  The legislation also has won the support of President Barack Obama, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, the Independent Community Bankers of America, and successful entrepreneurs like AOL's Steve Case and Staples' founder Tom Stemberg, among others.

"This bipartisan legislation is about empowering American businesses to start up, hire American workers, and jumpstart our economy," Schilling said.  "It tackles head-on obstacles that are keeping our nation's job creators, small businesses, and entrepreneurs from growing and hiring.  I was proud to cosponsor this pro-jobs package, and am pleased to join so many of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in supporting it today."

The common-sense legislative package includes a number of measures that reduce registration requirements between emerging small businesses and the SEC to boost the economy and create opportunities for entrepreneurs across the country, without the threat of higher taxes.  These bipartisan measures will increase access to capital, spur the formation of startups and small businesses, and enable more small businesses to go public and grow. 

"The talking heads on the TV and radio like to say that Washington just can't come together and get things done, but I don't buy that,"  Schilling said.  "I focus on what we can do to improve things for my constituents and make it easier for them to succeed, not on what we can't.  My colleagues and I in the House have passed dozens of bills that would help the economy and decrease energy costs, and our work is far from over."

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Washington, DC - House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas (OK-03) today announced a series of field hearings on the 2012 Farm Bill that will take place throughout the country in March and April, with the second hearing to take place on March 23^rd in Galesburg, Illinois in the district of Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17).  This hearing will give members of the Agriculture Committee the opportunity to hear firsthand from Illinois farmers and regional stakeholders about their priorities for the next farm bill. 

"This field hearing represents a great opportunity for folks on the Agriculture Committee to come out to Illinois and meet with the 'final three feet' - our area's farmers and producers- to get their input on policies that will allow the U.S. to continue to yield affordable and high-quality food products for our friends and families," Schilling said. "Many thanks to Chairman Lucas and staff on the Committee for recognizing our area's invaluable agricultural contributions to our food supply.  From crop insurance to conservation and rural development to research, this next farm bill represents a great opportunity for rural America and I'm proud that Illinois' 17^th District will be one of the settings for this debate."

"I am pleased to announce a farm bill field hearing in Congressman Schilling's district," Chairman Lucas said. "This will be a great opportunity to meet members of the agriculture community in his district, recognize the contributions our farmers make for this nation and around the world, and discuss the challenges our producers continue to face.   We need more members like Congressman Schilling who understand and appreciate agriculture because now, more than ever, it is important that we stand strongly together in support of production agriculture and rural economies."

The schedule of upcoming field hearings can be found below.  For those unable to attend the hearings, the Agriculture Committee plans to provide a live webcast here.

Friday, March 9, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. EST
North Country Community College, Sparks Athletic Complex
23 Santanoni Ave
Saranac Lake, NY 12983

Friday, March 23, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. CDT
Carl Sandburg College, Student Center Building B
2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd.
Galesburg, IL 61401

Friday, March 30, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. CDT
Riceland Hall, Fowler Center
Arkansas State University
201 Olympic Drive
State University, AR 72467

Friday, April 20, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. CDT
Magouirk Conference Center
4100 W. Comanche
Dodge City, KS 67801

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Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) released the following statement after the House today passed the payroll tax cut conference agreement: a package that extends the payroll tax holiday, blocks a major pay cut to physicians that treat Medicare patients, and includes reforms of unemployment benefits - all through the end of 2012.  Schilling, who supported a 12-month extension in December, again voted in supported of the extension of benefits.

"In December, the House of Representatives passed a responsible, bipartisan package to protect American workers and job creators from tax increases for a full year, provide for a two-year extension of the Medicare 'doc fix,' and extend and reform the Unemployment Insurance Program.  If I could have had my way, that package would have become law," Schilling said. 

"But we control one-half of one-third of the federal government.  We don't control the Senate or the White House - we don't control Washington.  Government still must govern, even if it is divided.  So although I would have preferred to avoid the uncertainty of the last two months, December's two-month extension was better than nothing.  I am grateful the President and the Senate have finally agreed to the certainty today's full-year extension provides.

"Today marks three years since the president's failed near- trillion dollar stimulus package was enacted, and my vote today is a compromise in the name of economic relief.  We have a responsibility to help folks in the short term with the passage of this package, and we have a responsibility to continue our focus on long-term, pro-growth economic policies to help businesses create jobs.  The House has passed more than 25 jobs bills that would help Americans get paychecks, not unemployment checks.  I urge the president and the Senate to work with us in enacting measures that will create long-term private sector jobs."

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Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) not only voted to cut his office budget more than 10 percent since taking office, but will return $110,000 of his 2011 office budget to taxpayers, he said today.

Each congressional office is allotted an annual office budget, or Members Representational Allowance (MRA), from which it pays operating expenses such as district office rent, staff salaries, office supplies, and all mailings to constituents.  Schilling not only voted to reduce his 2011 office budget by 5 percent, but is returning another 8 percent or $110,000 to taxpayers in 2011.  He has voted to reduce Members' office budgets another 6.4 percent in 2012 and expects to return a portion of that to the taxpayers at the end of the year as well. 

"At a time when we are borrowing 42 cents of every dollar Washington spends, Congressional offices like mine should make do with less," Schilling said.  "While some expenses may vary from year to year based on the needs of the district, I am proud my offices have been successfully providing high-quality services to my constituents while reducing our overall expenses and remaining mindful of taxpayer dollars.  The $110,000 I am returning may not solve our debt crisis, but every dollar counts.  Congress must lead by example to end Washington's spending addiction on behalf of the taxpayer."

Schilling spent a total of $151,138 less in 2011 than his predecessor did in 2010, including $405,018 less on staff salaries and expenses alone.  He spent a total of $103,038 less than what his predecessor spent in 2009, including $362,018 less on staff salaries. 

Schilling has brought his own health care to Washington, rejected congressional pay raises and the pension, and has authored legislation to tie Members of Congress' access to their federal pensions to the Social Security age of their constituents.  Schilling also has authored the Savings Over Spending Act to incentivize smarter spending across the agencies of the federal government by discouraging end-of-year  "spend downs."

This week, Schilling also sent a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner (OH-08), asking that the House work to ensure a Member of Congress' returned MRA funds are sent immediately to the Treasury in an effort to pay down our national debt.  Currently, these unspent funds are held in a separate fund for two years prior to being sent to the Treasury. 

"Going forward, the immediate return of unspent MRA funds to the Treasury for debt reduction should be the standard by which we govern," Schilling wrote.  "The more incentives we have at our disposal to save taxpayer money, the better.  This is their money."

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