WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) released the following statement today regarding ongoing fiscal negotiations in Congress:

"The legislation passed by the Senate on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote to avoid the fiscal cliff represents an important compromise, and I will vote for it in the House. It guarantees that 98 percent of Americans will not see their taxes increase permanently. It addresses the dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax prudently. Unemployment insurance benefits will not be discontinued. Doctors who care for the elderly will not have their Medicare payments cut by 27 percent.

"While the legislation is not a 'grand bargain' and leaves critical issues to be dealt with in the near future, I will vote for it precisely because it is a bipartisan compromise. I urge the Speaker to bring the Senate-passed bill to the floor of the House immediately for an up-down vote.

"The American people have been dragged through enough, and our fragile economy cannot sustain Congressional failure to act. A great country does not jump off a fiscal cliff."

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