[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 21 (Monday, February 4, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              THE ECONOMY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, one final matter--last week, our Nation 
received yet another wave of good news about our strong economy and all 
the opportunities it is creating for working Americans.
  Republicans' pro-growth, pro-family economic policies have helped our 
Nation's job creators and small businesses hit the accelerator, and 
middle-class families across the country continue to reap the rewards.
  The Labor Department tracks the total amount that U.S. employers 
spend each year on wages and benefits for workers. Last quarter, the 
year-on-year increase was the highest it has been in more than 10 
years. Last month, the total percentage of Americans who are employed 
hit its highest mark since December 2008.
  Let me say that again. Following Republican policies, we are now 
seeing the largest annual jump in a decade in the amount spent on 
workers' compensation and a higher percentage of Americans working than 
we saw at any point--at any point--under President Obama.
  An expert described these data to the New York Times: ``Employers are 
still actively looking for jobs, and with wages ticking up, it looks 
like workers are getting some more bargaining power.''
  Another expert put it this way: ``The virtuous cycle continues . . . 
a virtuous cycle of a continuously growing U.S. labor market.''
  So I am confident we will hear more about this from the President in 
his address Tuesday evening. The state of our Nation's economy is 
thriving and working Americans are feeling the boost. This is what 
happens when Republican policies get Washington out of the way.
  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for the quorum call be rescinded.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.

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