Washington, DC – Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) made the following statement today upon announcement of being formally elected by the United States House of Representatives to serve as the Ways and Means Committee Chairman for the 112th Congress.

“It is a great honor and even greater responsibility to be selected today by my colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for the 112th Congress.  The number one priority of the Ways and Means Committee this Congress will be restoring sustained economic growth and creating jobs, while reducing out-of-control federal spending.  To meet this goal, we will pursue fundamental tax reform to make our tax code fairer and simpler, so that families can thrive and employers can create jobs.  We must also expand our opportunities to sell American-made goods and services around the world by implementing our three pending trade agreements.

“Repealing the job-killing health care law is another top priority for the Committee.  The law is too costly and too intrusive and must be replaced with common sense reforms that actually lower the cost of health insurance for individuals, families, workers and employers without raising taxes, without increasing the deficit, and without robbing Medicare to fund a new entitlement this country cannot afford.

“Our nation is at a crossroads – facing record debt and an unemployment rate stuck at nearly 10 percent.  We must reform programs to help Americans get back on their feet and start collecting paychecks instead of unemployment checks.  We must restore our nation’s fiscal future through bipartisan pro-growth, pro-job solutions and find lasting solutions to strengthen Social Security and Medicare.  

“I look forward to working with Ranking Member Levin, our new and returning Committee members, Congress and the American people to produce the best possible solutions to these critical issues.”

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