[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 17, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H13013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET

  (Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, how quickly we forget. Last 
year at this time the Nation faced the worst financial crisis in 
decades, shedding over 600,000 jobs a month. We knew that unemployment 
was going to get worse before it got better. This is little consolation 
to the millions of Americans who are currently unemployed, facing 
foreclosure, or forced to take multiple low-paying jobs to make ends 
meet.
  Earlier this year, we took unprecedented action by passing the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The impact of this legislation 
is growing more evident each day across this country, but it's not 
enough, especially if you don't have a job.
  It's time for us to focus on creating jobs that enable Americans to 
take care of themselves and their families. We must engage in long-term 
job creation, continuing the Recovery Act to rebuild our roads, 
bridges, water, sewer, and energy infrastructure to compete in a global 
economy. We must open credit markets to enable the real job creators, 
small businesses, to grow and hire.
  Mr. Speaker, as millions of Americans continue to suffer, I ask us to 
get busy creating jobs and move quickly to pass a bill that will create 
hundreds of thousands of new jobs and make critical investments in our 
infrastructure.

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