[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5027-S5028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Economic Growth

  Mr. President, on another matter, it has been a year and a half since 
Republican majorities took their seats in Congress and a Republican 
President was sworn in. In 2016, the American people made it clear it 
was time to try something new. They were tired of a so-called recovery 
that focused overwhelmingly on big, wealthy metropolitan areas. They 
had seen enough of tax hikes and top-down regulations that held their 
communities back. They turned to Republicans to deliver a pro-growth, 
pro-opportunity agenda to create better conditions for working 
families, job creators, and entrepreneurs to rise together.
  Eighteen months later, the results could not be clearer. Today, more 
people say it is a good time to find a job than at almost any point 
since the turn of the millennium. U.S. manufacturers are more confident 
than ever about the future of their businesses.
  Here is a story from yesterday's Financial Times: ``US retail sales 
rise for fifth straight month in June.'' This is a good sign for 
Americans all across the board. It shows our economy is healthy. It 
shows that families feel they have enough breathing room to

[[Page S5028]]

make purchases, which of course then benefit the companies and workers 
who produce what they are buying. Of course, it is especially good for 
the 42 million Americans whose jobs are supported by the retail 
industry.
  According to industry data, more than 6 in 10 Americans work in 
retail at some point in their career, so this continued prosperity is 
really significant. There is little question that tax reform is to 
thank for a significant portion of this progress.
  For one thing, our middle-class tax cuts are directly boosting 
families' discretionary income. As the Wall Street Journal reported 
this week, ``many households are experiencing less withholding from 
their paychecks thanks to the tax overhaul.''
  Analysts also point to the business side of tax reform, which is 
letting more U.S. employers expand and hire. That means more jobs for 
American workers, which means more income for American families, which 
means more money in the cash registers of American small businesses. 
The virtuous cycle goes on.
  The American people and most fair observers are marveling at what our 
economy is delivering to workers and middle-class families, but I am 
starting to think our Democratic colleagues may have forgotten what a 
successful economic agenda looks like because even in the face of 
headline after headline and testimony after testimony from job creators 
we represent, they try to brush off this impressive growth as nothing 
serious, and they advocate for repealing or undoing the Republican 
policies that are helping to make it happen.
  Fortunately, Republicans know full well how to cut taxes, trim back 
regulations, and get Washington out of the American people's way. It is 
just what we have done. It is just what we will continue to do.