[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H1254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                JOB LOSS

  (Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the 
suffering felt throughout our Nation as Americans lose homes, 
businesses, jobs and opportunity. The job loss is proceeding at an 
alarming pace, one that hasn't been seen in decades. In January alone, 
598,000 jobs were lost, the largest 1-month loss in 35 years. And it 
marked the 13th straight month that more workers were laid off than 
were hired. And just this morning, the Department of Labor announced 
that 623,000 initial jobless claims were filed last week. It is a sober 
reminder that it is time to get this country back on track.
  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create 3 to 4 million 
new jobs over the next years, 66,000 in my home State of Maryland, 
8,000 in the Fourth Congressional District of Maryland. And our actions 
are necessary to stop the free fall and to get this country back on 
track.
  Madam Speaker, what we do in this crisis will affect our Nation for 
generations. And I will vote for the recovery package because it will 
create jobs. It will create hope, opportunity and confidence for the 
American people. It is time to restore that hope and opportunity.

                          ____________________