Washington – Business Roundtable President John Engler today issued the following statement in response to the results of the 2014 congressional elections:

“Voters in America have sent a loud message to Washington tonight: ‘We want action! We want problems solved!’ Voters understand America faces problems and challenges that need to be addressed, and they are telling their elected officials to get to work.

“I believe Congress has an immediate opportunity in the lame-duck session to extend or make permanent expired and expiring tax provisions; pass Trade Promotion Authority legislation to give the President and U.S. negotiators the tools they need to conclude promising trade agreements with Asia-Pacific countries and the European Union; and pass a federal budget for the current year.

“Failure to act on these three priorities will discourage investment and hiring, and inject instability and uncertainty into the economy.

The new Congress in 2015 should then go to work on a growth agenda that accelerates investment, increases hiring in America and improves global competitiveness.”

Business Roundtable has long advocated an aggressive growth agenda, which includes tax reform, energy policy, immigration reform, trade expansion and infrastructure investment.