[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 173 (Friday, December 2, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              U.S. ECONOMY

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 2, 2016

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this morning, the 
U.S. Department of Labor released its November jobs report detailing 
the state of the U.S. workforce and employment throughout our nation. 
According to the report, the unemployment rate declined to its lowest 
point since August 2007, falling from 4.9 percent to 4.6 percent 
unemployment last month. U.S. employers also added 178,000 jobs to the 
economy--pointing to strength and stability throughout the country.
  Our growing economy and burgeoning workforce is a testament to 
President Obama's policies and efforts to put Americans back to work by 
reversing years of damage caused by President Bush and the regressive 
policies of the right. President Obama has helped to steer us to the 
lowest period of unemployment in nine years, despite having to face the 
most serious economic downturn since the Great Depression and the most 
divided Congress this nation has seen in recent years. Businesses have 
been able to add 15.6 million jobs since early 2010 and this growth can 
endure as long as we continue to enact policies and embrace a culture 
that favors everyday men and women, and not just a select few.
  As we inch closer to President-elect Trump's administration and a 
Congress dominated by Republicans in the House and Senate, I will 
continue to encourage the new Administration and my colleagues in 
Congress to stay on our current path of creating jobs and decreasing 
unemployment for all Americans. If we reverse course by handing out 
billions of dollars in tax breaks to only the largest corporations and 
the wealthiest Americans, gutting public programs and social safety 
nets, or slashing spending on research and development, then our 
economic growth will surely stall.
  Mr. Speaker, our nation is at an important crossroad. The transition 
to this new administration and Republican-controlled Congress poses new 
opportunities and even greater challenges. Will we choose to continue 
on the path to prosperity? Or will President-elect Trump and the 
Republican majority work to reverse all of the progress that we have 
achieved for everyday Americans by instead favoring the super wealthy 
and the biggest corporations? Only time will tell, although it is 
imperative that we look to these gains throughout our economy over 
these eight years and work to continue that trend. Anything less would 
be an insult to the American people and a devastating step in the wrong 
direction after coming so far.

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