[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 138 (Monday, August 20, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ECONOMIC GROWTH

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, now on another matter, if I sound like 
a broken record discussing the pro-growth, pro-worker trend in our 
Nation's economy, it is because the headlines continue to roll in 
faster than I can relate them.
  Here is one headline from last week: ``Small-business confidence hits 
another record high.'' And one industry survey reports more optimism 
among small business owners this month than at any time in the past 35 
years.
  Another headline: ``U.S. jobless claims fall for a second straight 
week.'' That one comes not long after the number of Americans filing 
for unemployment benefits hit a 49-year low last month.
  And another: ``U.S. retail sales increase strongly in July.'' In 
fact, they are up 6.4 percent over 1 year ago.
  An economy that is expanding, bringing more people into the 
workforce, and encouraging investment at all levels--reports like these 
are exactly what Republicans had in mind when we began implementing our 
pro-growth, pro-opportunity agenda last year.
  But while we worked to pass the historic tax reform and regulatory 
reforms that are helping create these conditions, our Democratic 
colleagues offered up a different set of predictions. They shared our 
belief that 2018 would be a headline-making year for the U.S. economy, 
but they insisted the headlines would be catastrophic. The House 
Democratic leader talked about ``Armageddon.'' My friend, the Senate 
Democratic leader, proclaimed that ``nothing''--nothing--in tax reform 
was ``suited to the needs of the American worker.''
  I don't think I have heard my friends revisit those arguments 
recently.
  I haven't heard too many Democrats eager to remind middle-class 
American families and small business owners that every single Democrat 
in the House and in the Senate tried to kill their tax cuts with 
completely partisan opposition.
  But Republicans were undeterred. We pressed on and got tax reform and 
so many other pro-growth policies accomplished for the American people.
  And now, unlike our friends across the aisle, we are talking about 
these victories practically every day. American enterprise, American 
ingenuity, and the talent and work ethic of our people are what made 
these headlines happen. Republicans are just proud we could play a part 
by getting Washington's foot off the brake and leaving them more free 
to build their lives and pursue their happiness.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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