04 Oct 2012

In Case You Missed It: No Labels Gives Problem-Solvers Seal to Bobby Schilling

By Andrea Pivarunas

No Labels Commends Illinois Lawmaker's Commitment to Problem Solving
This week No Labels gave its official Problem-Solvers Seal of Approval to Rep. Bobby Schilling of Illinois' 17th district. The Problem-Solvers Seal is awarded to candidates or legislators who agree to join No Labels' emerging "Problem-Solvers Bloc," a group of House lawmakers who are dedicated to working across the aisle to find effective, principled and pragmatic solutions to our country's problems. Schilling has committed to join the bloc.
"In the gridlocked political climate we face today, we need more leaders like Schilling who believe that cooperation and solving problems are virtues, not signs of weakness," said No Labels Co-Founder Mark McKinnon. "Throughout his first term, Schilling has exhibited his willingness to work across the aisle and find common ground with members of the opposite party. He will be a welcome addition to No Labels' Problem-Solvers Bloc."

"Many thanks to No Labels for this recognition," said Congressman Schilling. "As a parent and as a small business owner, continually learning, trying new things, and working with all sorts of people is common-sense - common sense I took with me when the folks of the Illinois 17th asked me to represent them in Congress.     Our district's priorities -- like workloading the Rock Island Arsenal, passing a Farm Bill, reauthorizing our transportation and infrastructure programs, creating jobs at the vacant Thomson Prison, and more - aren't Republican or Democrat issues, but red, white, and blue issues, and I am committed to reaching across the aisle to help move our district, state, and great country forward.  I appreciate the mission of No Labels and will continue working on a bipartisan basis to get our economy back on track and get folks back to work."
The Problem-Solvers Bloc represents No Labels' effort to create a new center of gravity in Congress, where those legislators willing to work across the aisle can exert real influence. In today's Washington, Republicans and Democrats rarely meet with one another to discuss issues. With No Labels' new bloc, members will have a banner to gather under to develop real solutions. No Labels began constructing this bloc in mid-2012 and has already had tremendous success recruiting current and prospective members of Congress to join.
"Schilling's efforts to find common ground on important legislation like the recent farm bill have shown once again his dedication to problem solving and working across the aisle to get things done," said No Labels Co-Founder William Galston. "He has earned a full seal of approval from No Labels for his willingness to work across party lines to achieve long-term solutions to the issues facing the American people."
No Labels is a grassroots movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents dedicated to the politics of problem solving. For more information on the Problem-Solvers Seal of Approval or to arrange an interview with a No Labels co-founder, please contact John Rigby at press@nolabels.org or (202) 588-1990. To learn more about No Labels, please visit http://www.NoLabels.org.

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02 Oct 2012

Manzullo, Schilling, Loebsack Statement on Thomson Prison Developments

By Andrea Pivarunas
Congressmen Don Manzullo (IL-16), Bobby Schilling (IL-17), and Dave Loebsack (IA-02) today released the following statement on the Obama administration moving to purchase the Thomson Correctional Center from the state of Illinois:

"The bottom line is that this is a welcome development for our region, particularly those who have been struggling to find good jobs.  Thomson Correctional Center has been sitting empty for 10 years, costing the residents of Illinois millions of dollars in upkeep and keeping many Illinoisans and Iowans out of work each year.

"We have been working together towards the same goal of reaching across the divide, finding a solution, and bringing these jobs to our area without moving detainees from Guantanamo to U.S. soil.   If the Administration was willing to move on Thomson without closing Guantanamo all along, we question why they waited this long before taking action.  But as the old saying goes, 'There's no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.'"


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17 Sep 2012

Schilling Supports Domestic Manufacturing

By Andrea Pivarunas
Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today joined 338 of his colleagues in voting to pass H.R. 5865, the bipartisan American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act introduced by Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-03).  Lipinski introduced similar legislation in the previous Congress that passed the House, but stalled in the Senate.

"I strongly believe in the American worker, and am focused on advancing policies that encourage private-sector job growth and job opportunities here in the United States," Schilling said. "If as a country we are able to compete in the global market, I know that American manufacturers and workers will deliver."

The American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, which Schilling cosponsored, would set up a public-private board tasked with devising a national strategy to revitalize American manufacturing and create jobs.  Schilling, a member of the bipartisan House Manufacturing Caucus, has cosponsored several additional pieces of legislation to help create jobs and spur our economy, including H.R. 5910, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act, H.R.110, the Manufacturing Reinvestment Account Act, H.R. 942, the American Research and Competitiveness Act, and H.Res.705, which would designate a "Buy American Week."

Since taking office Schilling has fought to bring home wins for manufacturers around the 17th District, working to lift the cap on public-private partnerships at arsenals to promote job growth, removing wasteful spending from the federal budget, and voting to advance a multi-year transportation plan.  

"Just last month, the manufacturing sector lost 15,000 jobs," Schilling said. "Today, I'm proud to be supporting this pro-jobs legislation with so many folks from both sides of the aisle to boost American manufacturing.  The Senate should work to immediately advance this bill to promote a national manufacturing strategy and help provide our unemployed friends and neighbors with fresh job opportunities and regular paychecks."

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To send Congressman Schilling an e-mail, click here
13 Sep 2012

Schilling Remembers September 11, 2001

By Andrea Pivarunas
Washington, DC - Sept 11, 2012 - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today issued the following statement in remembrance of the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation:

"As folks across the country and across the world remember the lives taken and the sacrifices made because of the attacks on our nation that day, let us also remember the deep feeling of unity that brought us together as Americans in the face of evil.  My thoughts and prayers remain with those whose lives were taken the morning of September 11, 2001, with their loved ones, and with our country's first responders and men and women in uniform as they work every day to protect our freedoms and keep us safe from harm."

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12 Sep 2012

Schilling Condemns Libya Attack

By Andrea Pivarunas
Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) released the following statement this morning:

"I condemn the attacks on the American consulate in Benghazi and our embassy in Cairo.  My thoughts and prayers are with the families of Ambassador Chris Stevens, Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith, and the two other brave American personnel who were killed in Libya.  We must honor these public servants, and continue working to promote individual and religious freedoms, democracy, and peace throughout the world."

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09 Sep 2012

Schilling Hits on Absent Sequestration Report

By Andrea Pivarunas

White House ignores deadline to detail devastating defense cuts it proposed
Moline, Illinois - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today released the following statement as the White House is ignoring the deadline to comply with H.R. 5872, the Sequestration Transparency Act, legislation President Barack Obama signed into law requiring his Administration to detail the impact of the sequester.  Administration officials including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have repeatedly described the cuts' impact on our national security as "devastating," though they have been keeping plans for its implementation hidden from public view as the date of implementation looms. 

"These cuts are set to begin in just four months, but defense manufacturers and folks at the Rock Island Arsenal have yet to learn if or how they will be impacted," Schilling said. "We need the President to lead and present the American people with his plan for these defense cuts as required by the law he himself signed."

A study released in June by the National Association of Manufacturers indicates that across-the-board budget cuts to the Department of Defense scheduled to begin in January 2013 would cost approximately 1 million jobs at a time when the nation's unemployment has remained at or above 8 percent for 43 consecutive months.  According to the NAM study, Illinois, with its 8.7 percent unemployment rate, is among the top 10 states to be impacted by job losses, with more than 35,400 jobs on the line in the next two years alone. 

With Schilling's support, the House of Representatives in May passed H.R. 5652, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act, which would provide mandatory spending cuts to reduce the deficit and replace automatic cuts to discretionary spending in 2013 under the Budget Control Act.  It also passed H.R. 4310, the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.  To date, the Senate has passed neither.

"This inaction by the Senate and by the Administration is just inexcusable," Schilling said. "With the Senate having gone more than three years without a budget, sitting on more than 30 bipartisan House-passed jobs bills, failing to advance a single appropriations bill this year, and not yet passing its version of the defense bill, enough is enough.  I strongly urge folks who care about the future of the Rock Island Arsenal, our region's unbeatable defense manufacturing capabilities, and our national defense to speak up and make your voices heard.  These cuts are avoidable, but only if our leaders put partisan politics aside, come together, and do the job they were elected to do for our community, our state, and the security of our great nation."

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