[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 119 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               Tax Reform

  Mr. President, on another matter, fueled by American workers and job 
creators and assisted by the pro-growth policies of this Republican 
government, our economy continues to surge ahead.
  Last week, we examined the Department of Labor's June jobs report, 
which indicated another month of remarkable growth--213,000 new jobs. 
On Friday, economists at the Florida Chamber of Commerce announced that 
the Sunshine State's GDP had surpassed $1 trillion for the first time. 
That is $1 trillion for the GDP of Florida. If Florida were a sovereign 
nation, it would be the 17th largest national economy in the world. In 
the past year, Floridians, alone, have created 182,000 new jobs. It is 
hard to argue with the facts, but it is even harder to argue with 
reports that come straight from hard-working Americans.
  Last month, during his visit to Duluth, MN, President Trump met with 
local workers and job creators to discuss tax reform and economic 
growth in their communities, and he heard them loud and clear. 
Republican policies are working.
  Adam Morse, a production truckdriver for U.S. Steel Minntac, told 
President Trump that ``the tax plan is working, and I'm seeing a 
difference in my paycheck.''
  Ray Klosowski, Commissioner of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, says 
that the past year has brought significant steps forward for the port 
and the jobs it supports. They added a first-ever intermodal freight 
area, which has allowed Duluth to process containers from the west 
coast and significantly expand shipping capabilities. There are 
millions of dollars in new contracts and commitments to hire hundreds 
of new workers at the port. Mr. Klosowski summed it up, saying:

       The customers . . . we've been used to--our old tried-and-
     true customers--have experienced expansion because of the new 
     tax structure. . . . They're coming to us with more business 
     than we've [ever] seen in the past.

  Our Democratic colleagues are still grasping for ways to put a 
negative spin on all of this good news and the Republican policies that 
are helping it along. But all around the country, Americans are trying 
to get their attention so that they can explain just how tax reform, 
regulatory reform, and the rest of our policy agenda are helping to 
improve their businesses and their lives.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.