[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 84 (Thursday, June 17, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H4294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS

  (Mr. SHUSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute our steadily growing 
economy. Sometimes it is hard to remember how the intellectual fortunes 
of free enterprise have fallen under high taxes and government 
intrusion. Now that the Bush tax cuts have started to kick in and boost 
the economy, we see again that job growth has remained strong and in 
May we gained jobs. The American people are recognizing the positive 
leadership of George W. Bush and the Republican Congress.
  Let us look at the facts: job seekers in America are getting good 
news and, most importantly, jobs. There were 248,000 jobs created in 
May. That means more than 900,000 jobs created over the last 3 months 
alone. Today the unemployment rate is down to 5.6 percent, lower than 
the average unemployment rate of the last 3 decades. America's families 
are seeing the change in their kitchen-table finances. Homeownership 
has risen to the highest level ever and real disposable income is up to 
an annual average rate of 3.9 percent. Finally, our business owners are 
benefiting. Real business investment in equipment and software is up to 
an annual rate of 14 percent.
  This is an economics package that puts people first. The President 
and the Republicans in Congress will continue to knock down the 
barriers of high taxes and government red tape. By removing those 
barriers, we see the true entrepreneurial spirit of the American people 
and with that spirit so grows our economy.

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