[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H732-H733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MEMBERS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DEAL WITH OUR ECONOMY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Space) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss our economy. I do not 
rise, however, to cast blame, engage in political posturing, or cast 
aspersions against my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I rise 
to speak to what I believe all of us who have been blessed with the 
right of representation for our constituents have an obligation to do; 
that is, to deal with our economy.
  Our constituents don't really care how we got here; they don't care 
who is to blame; they, frankly, don't care who comes up with the 
solutions, but they deserve and need resolution to these economic 
problems that we are facing right now. What our constituents on both 
sides of the aisle deserve is vision: vision of the future, vision of a 
new economy.
  Back in Ohio's 18th Congressional District, Mr. Speaker, things are 
especially difficult. It is the area known as Appalachian Ohio, 
consisting of 16 of the poorest counties in the State of Ohio with the 
highest unemployment rates, the highest poverty rates. And with those 
high poverty rates come the manifestations of poverty, including 
hunger, homelessness, the breakdown of the traditional family unit, a 
lack of access to health care, a lack of access to education. The list 
goes on and on.
  What I have been attempting to do in southeastern Ohio and what I 
urge my colleagues to consider doing around the country is to look 
forward to a future of economic prosperity, one where we know that 
things will be better.
  For example, in the area of energy, I have organized an effort called 
Renew Ohio that is designed to focus on the jobs of the future. One of 
those fields that we know is an emerging sector is the field of energy. 
Not only will developments in technology and investments in energy 
sectors ultimately bring down the cost of energy, ridding ourselves of 
this dangerous and cancerous dependence on foreign oil, it will also 
create millions of jobs. It is obvious and it is promising.
  Another sector, health care. Because of the aging nature of our 
society, we know that there will be future prospects for employment in 
the field of health care.
  Another sector, technology. By bringing broadband, for example, to 
unserved and underserved areas of America, we are going to be advancing 
opportunities for economic growth and bridging the divide that exists 
right now in rural America when it comes to access to health care and 
education.
  And, finally, agriculture. Agricultural jobs of tomorrow are quite 
different from the ones we know of today and the jobs of yesterday. It 
is a field that shows promise when it comes to trade, a field that 
shows promise with its relationship to energy, and one that, if we 
position ourselves correctly in, will create jobs for tomorrow.
  This crisis that we are dealing with in this country, which has 
become very personal to every American, is one that we must address 
without regard to partisan politics. Our constituents clearly are ahead 
of Congress on that issue. They don't want blame. They don't want 
aspersions. They don't want excuses. They want answers and they want 
vision and they want leadership.
  I urge Members on both sides of the aisle in this hallowed Hall to 
work together to find consensus and to move forward for a brighter 
tomorrow.

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