[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TAX REFORM AND ECONOMIC HEALTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Newhouse) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, proud to share a snapshot of 
rising wages, more jobs, and increasing opportunity in the Fourth 
Congressional District of Washington, which I have the distinct 
pleasure of representing.
  In the city of Yakima, unemployment is at 5.5 percent, as reported in 
April by the Washington Employment Security Department. That number is 
reportedly the lowest it has been for that month since electronic 
reporting began in 1990. Yakima County is the most populous county in 
central Washington and had a May unemployment rate at 6.0 percent, 
which is the lowest rate in decades.
  In another major population center in Washington, the Tri-Cities, 
unemployment was at 5.2 percent in May. Wages in the Tri-Cities area 
are up 3.8 percent over 2017 and are among the fastest growing in the 
State.
  The latest jobs report showed decreasing unemployment rates across my 
district in every single county, with Okanogan at 6.3 percent; Grant, 
6.1; Franklin, 5.5; Douglas at 5.2; Benton at 5.1; Adams at 4.8; and 
Walla Walla at 4.3.
  New jobs in construction, food manufacturing, and professional 
business services are largely driving the regional growth in the labor 
force. These numbers are more than just statistics, Mr. Speaker. 
Increasing employment opportunities mean families can provide a more 
secure future for their children. Graduating students are able to 
choose from more options after graduation.
  My constituents deserve a Federal Government whose policies foster 
this kind of growth through lower taxes and smarter regulation. We 
should encourage entrepreneurs by helping, not hurting, growth.
  Since tax reform was made law, local businesses in my district, such 
as Irwin Research & Development and Abbott's Printing in Yakima, have 
expressed optimism at the prospect of increasing investment and giving 
earnings to workers rather than the Federal Government.
  The ability of businesses to write off the full value of equipment 
and other assets will help Buhrmaster Baking Company in Yakima plan for 
equipment upgrades. Chukar Cherries in Prosser has announced a $1.8 
million, 12,000-square-foot expansion, in large part due to tax reform.
  Cacchiotti Orthodontics announced hourly raises for their Moses Lake 
employees thanks to tax reform. Pacific Power, which serves Yakima 
County, announced that it will pass tax reform savings on to its 
ratepayers. Washington Federal, with branches in Moses Lake and Quincy, 
announced 5 percent merit-based increases in wages for all employees 
earning less than $100,000, as well as an investment in employee 
training programs.

  Pacific Northwest companies such as Alaska Airlines, Costco, Boeing, 
Premera Blue Cross, and Starbucks have announced millions in increased 
benefits, raises, employee education, and nonprofit donations.
  To sum it all up, central Washington's economy is experiencing 
growth, and that is good news for workers and for their families. I 
will continue to work on behalf of my constituents to promote economic 
opportunity, and I am proud that this tax reform is working as it was 
promised to work.

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