[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 208 (Thursday, December 2, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H6863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECKLESS POLICIES DRIVING INFLATION

  (Mr. BARR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, on the heels of the most expensive 
Thanksgiving in decades, the American people are heading into the 
holiday shopping season that is going to be the most expensive in 
American history. That is because everywhere Americans open their 
wallets or swipe their credit cards, they are paying more because of 
President Biden's reckless tax, borrow, and spend policies.
  Gas prices are up 61 percent from last year.
  Think about it, Mr. Speaker, in 1 year's time we went from energy 
dominance to total dependence on foreign sources of energy. Electricity 
prices are up nearly 25 percent, and with winter in full swing, the 
cost of natural gas is soaring. Nearly half the homes in United States 
use natural gas for heat, and families could pay an average of $746 
more this winter, 30 percent more than a year ago.
  In October, the CPI rose 6.2 percent, the highest it has been in over 
30 years. Core inflation--minus food and energy costs--is at 4.3 
percent, well above the Fed's 2 percent target.
  Mr. Speaker, the Fed is not meeting its price stability mandate, and 
now Democrats want to double down on their failed policies of 
overspending, discouraging work, and constraining the supply of energy.
  The Build Back Better bill is not going to remedy inflation; it is 
going to make it much, much worse. It is time for this administration 
and the majority in this Congress to reverse course and stop 
jeopardizing the future prosperity of the American people.

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