[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 3 (Thursday, January 8, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S202-S203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise to discuss the urgent need to 
address our Nation's economic challenges and to suggest that a major 
part of our approach should be to invest in clean alternative energy 
and energy efficiency.
  Before I get into my remarks, it has been a very exciting few days 
for me. Since being sworn in as the junior Senator from New Hampshire, 
and as this is my first speech on the Senate floor, I want to begin by 
thanking Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, our senior 
Senator from New

[[Page S203]]

Hampshire Judd Gregg, and the entire Senate leadership for their warm 
welcome and support.
  On November 4, voters in my State of New Hampshire went to the polls 
and demanded a new direction, just as voters did across the country. I 
am eager to work with my fellow Senators and with our next President, 
Barack Obama, to fulfill that promise of change. The challenges before 
us are great. For 11 months in a row, the number of jobs in our Nation 
has declined. More and more families across the country are losing 
their homes to foreclosure, and too many Americans watched their 
retirement savings evaporate last year.
  It is no exaggeration to say that this 111th Congress and President-
elect Obama will face some of the most difficult challenges in our 
country's history. These problems were created over many years, and 
they will not be solved quickly. But Americans have always united to 
meet great challenges, and I have no doubt that we will do so once 
more.
  Our first task is to get our economy back on track by putting middle-
class families first again and creating good jobs. As the recession 
continues, it has become clear that a bold economic recovery package is 
necessary. This package must focus investment in areas of the economy 
that will provide the recovery we need and lay the foundation for long-
term economic growth.
  Investing in our Nation's infrastructure will both create needed jobs 
in the short term and foster economic development in the long term. 
There are critical capital projects throughout the State of New 
Hampshire and the country--projects such as repairing and upgrading our 
roads and bridges, modernizing our public schools and higher education 
facilities, and replacing outdated water treatment plants, and other 
municipal projects. These investments will create jobs and lay the 
groundwork for sustained economic growth.
  We also need a bold investment in energy efficiency and clean 
alternative energy. These investments in new energy will create 
millions of 21st century green-collar jobs, begin to reverse global 
warming, and start on the path to energy independence.
  New Hampshire small businesses already are leaders in the new energy 
economy, making everything from wood pellets to ethanol, from forest 
byproducts to solar panels and biofuels. We have seen firsthand how 
investment in clean energy creates good jobs up and down the economic 
ladder--advanced manufacturing jobs, highly skilled construction jobs, 
jobs installing solar panels and energy-efficiency systems, jobs 
selling and delivering new fuels. These are good jobs. They are jobs 
that cannot be outsourced overseas. I am honored I will be joining the 
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to work on these very 
issues as we develop a real energy policy for the future of this 
country.
  These investments are necessary to get our economy moving again. But 
as we must invest, we also must develop a comprehensive plan to address 
the Nation's ballooning budget deficit and the enormous national debt 
we have inherited. Our Nation's financial strength tomorrow depends on 
our careful planning and prudent investments today.
  In November, Americans cried out for a new way of doing business in 
Washington. I applaud President-elect Obama for leading the way with 
the most open and transparent transition process in our Nation's 
history and believe we must continue that transparency. We must 
recommit to accountability and oversight, and we must end the partisan 
gridlock that has stymied progress for too long. I am committed to 
working across the aisle to make Washington work again for middle-class 
American families.
  Tuesday, when I took the oath of office as a Senator, I made a 
commitment to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead and to help lead 
our Nation in a new direction. I am eager to begin.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, could I ask my friend from New Hampshire to 
withhold her request?
  Mrs. SHAHEEN. I say yes to the majority leader. I did not see the 
majority leader on the floor. I apologize for that. I withdraw my 
request.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The request is withdrawn.
  The majority leader is recognized.

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