[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 18 (Friday, February 3, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EMPLOYMENT AND DEBT

  (Mr. LANKFORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANKFORD. Our newest national unemployment numbers are in, 8.3 
percent. It's progress, but it's 37 months above 8 percent.
  It makes me grateful again to be from Oklahoma. We have the 10th 
lowest unemployment rate in the country at around 6 percent. Forbes 
Magazine listed my district as one of the happiest places to work in 
the country.
  Oklahoma is the number one place to start a small business and number 
one in technology job growth. In the last 8 years, Oklahoma City has 
created more than 80,000 new jobs. These jobs include a thriving 
energy, aviation, and biomedical center.
  Oklahomans work with private businesses, nonprofits, churches and 
religious organizations to feed the hungry, help families get back on 
their feet after disasters, and offer job training and education.
  On this mission, we don't see Washington as our enemy. Sometimes we 
don't see Washington as our ally. What so many people back home tell me 
they want from their Federal Government is a plan to reduce our debt, 
simplify our Tax Code, and get rid of the red tape off their 
businesses. Then you'll really see our economy take off.

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