[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 37 (Thursday, February 28, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1557-S1558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Economic Growth

  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, just in getting started this morning, I 
wanted to take a minute to mention the good news on economic growth we 
received this morning.
  While headlines mentioned the very solid 2.9 percent growth number 
for

[[Page S1558]]

2018, if we use the measure that economists prefer, the news is even 
better--3.1 percent growth from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the 
fourth quarter of 2018. This is just more evidence that Republican 
economic policies are working.
  We lifted burdensome regulations and passed a comprehensive reform of 
our Tax Code to put more money in Americans' pockets and make it easier 
for businesses to grow and expand jobs. Now we are seeing the effects.
  Unemployment is low. January marked the 11th straight month that 
unemployment has been at or below 4 percent. That is the longest streak 
in nearly five decades. The number of job openings hit a record high in 
December, and, once again, there were more job openings than job 
seekers. Wage growth has accelerated. Wages have now been growing at a 
rate of 3 percent or greater for 6 straight months. The last time wage 
growth reached this level was in 2009. Median household income is at an 
all-time, inflation-adjusted record of $61,372. The list goes on.
  What does all of this mean? It means more money in American families' 
bank accounts, more jobs and opportunities for American workers, more 
Americans feeling hopeful about their future.
  Republican economic policies are making life better for American 
families, which is why it is particularly disturbing that Democrats are 
currently advancing policies that would not only destroy the economic 
progress we have made but would severely damage our economy for the 
long term.