[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H5307-H5308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING PARK AND RECREATION MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
July as Park and Recreation Month. It is a fitting time to celebrate 
our Federal, State, and local parks and recreation systems because so 
many Americans will visit them this summer.
  As a lifelong resident of rural Pennsylvania, an avid outdoorsman, 
and spending time in my career as a recreational therapist, I strongly 
support our Nation's parks and recreation facilities.
  Our parks provide countless recreational and educational 
opportunities for individuals and families to enjoy the outdoors. This 
month recognizes the important role these parks and public facilities 
play in the lives of Americans and the contributions of employees who 
work every day to maintain public parks across the Nation.
  Our parks create opportunities for people to come together and 
experience a sense of community. They contribute to local economies by 
attracting businesses and jobs and increasing housing values.
  In the United States, public park operations and capital spending 
generate nearly $140 million in economic activity annually, and our 
National Park System receives an estimated 331 million recreation 
visits every year.
  Ninety percent of people in the United States agree that public park 
recreation facilities and activities are important government services. 
This support spans across all people in the country regardless of race, 
income, or political affiliation. Nearly 75 percent of Americans agree 
it is important to ensure all members of their community have equitable 
access to public parks and recreation facilities.
  The most economically sound areas are those with ample public park 
and recreation facilities and activities. A key factor in business 
expansion and location decisions is quality of life for employees, with 
a premium placed on adequate and accessible public parks and open 
space.
  Mr. Speaker, public parks and recreational facilities foster a 
variety of activities that contribute to a healthier society. Americans 
living within a 10-minute walk of a park have higher levels of physical 
activity and lower rates of obesity. People who use public parks and 
open spaces are three times more likely to achieve the recommended 
levels of physical activity than nonusers.
  Recreational programs at public parks provide children with a safe 
place to play, access to healthy foods, opportunities to be physically 
active, and enrichment facilities that help prevent at-risk behavior 
such as drug use and gang involvement.
  As we head further into summer, many Americans will visit public 
parks and recreation facilities to spend time outdoors with family, 
friends, and neighbors. We are blessed with beautiful outdoor 
facilities, and it is my hope that all Americans get out and enjoy the 
parks in their areas.


                        Minimum Wage Kills Jobs

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this morning, I rise to 
address a bill that my friends across the aisle, the Democrats, are 
going to bring to the floor next week raising the minimum wage to $15 
an hour.
  There was a score this week by the Congressional Budget Office that 
sheds truth and light on that proposal and what it does, and this 
government source has indicated it kills jobs. It harms Americans who 
are today struggling to make ends meet. The average family income will 
be reduced as a result of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, it is estimated by the CBO, the Congressional Budget 
Office, that 3.7 million jobs will be lost and that 42 percent of 
families who are currently at the minimum wage will see a net reduction 
in their family income, taking many of them, maybe for the first time, 
down into a poverty level of income.
  There is a better way, Mr. Speaker. In the past, this body passed the 
Career and Technical Education Reauthorization bill, the Perkins Act. I 
was proud to work with Mr. Krishnamoorthi from Illinois on that bill as 
we led it. President Trump signed that into law last July.

[[Page H5308]]

  We are seeing this bill restore rungs on the ladder of opportunity. A 
significant number of jobs--6 million jobs--are open and available 
today at family-sustaining wages.
  There is a pathway out of minimum wage. Minimum wage should be a 
starting point. To me, it is not where you start in life, but it is 
where you end up. We have provided the tools to provide individuals 
better access to the type of skills-based education to improve their 
lot in life and to achieve higher wages and greater opportunity, which 
is what this country promises.
  We work hard; we take risk; and we better ourselves

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