[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 2, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H1213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Garcia) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
President Biden and the significant accomplishments he shared with us 
during last night's State of the Union address.
  Last year, together with President Biden, we made a promise that 
Democrats would deliver for the people; and that we have. Thanks to our 
President's bold leadership and our work in Congress, we have been 
delivering. Let's look at a few areas.
  Jobs, jobs, and more jobs. As was mentioned last night by President 
Biden, in his first year, 6.7 million jobs were created, marking the 
strongest year of job growth in history. In my home State of Texas 
alone more than 37,600 manufacturing jobs were created. These are good, 
well-paying jobs that are putting Texans back to work. Our economy is 
on the rise. Wages are strong. The unemployment rate is low.
  Another area is our Nation's GDP. While GDP dropped 3.4 percent in 
2020, it was able to shoot up to 5.7 percent in 2021--the highest rate 
since 1984. Simply put, the economy has rebounded during President 
Biden's first year in office.
  Another very important area to all our working families is our public 
schools. I am proud of the significant progress that has been made in 
our public schools during the President's first year. We have made huge 
strides in reopening our schools and keeping them open safely.
  One year ago, Mr. Speaker, merely 46 percent of schools were open 
because it just wasn't safe for teachers, students, and faculty due to 
COVID. Today, 99.9 percent of schools are safely opened. The 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as well as the American Rescue 
Plan both provided schools the necessary funds they needed to stay open 
and make up for lost learning time.
  Another very crucial area, vaccination rates. One year ago today, 
only 15 percent of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated against 
COVID-19, today that number is 65 percent. The massive increase in 
vaccinations is the direct result of the President and this Congress' 
leadership to tackle this virus. Even today we do not have to wear our 
masks this morning.
  Let's look ahead. Action from the Biden administration and Congress 
has already resulted in significant progress on the supply chain 
challenges. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will 
improve and protect supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign oil 
immensely for years to come. It will help lower costs and inflation 
rates with time. As President Biden said last night, the plan is to 
lower your costs, not your wages.

  There is a lot more President Biden and Democrats are working on in 
building a better America, like investments in affordable childcare and 
paid and universal pre-K that would allow more working families to 
participate in the economy.
  It is those very workers and everyday hardworking Americans who 
deserve the greatest praise of all.
  Our hometown heroes have braved through this pandemic and powered 
through many challenges. They have been the muscle and the backbone of 
our Nation's record-breaking economic growth and recovery from the 
pandemic and we thank them.
  With President Biden's leadership, Congress' partnership, and the 
support of the American people, there is truly no limit as to what we 
can achieve together in building a better America.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell the people of Ukraine that 
we stand with them. I stand with them. ``Yes, we can,'' ``si se 
puede.'' I want the people of Ukraine to know that we see you, we hear 
you, and we love you. And Russia, who has purposely invaded your 
homeland has been--well, I should not say the word I really want to say 
on the floor--but they have been inhumane, cruel, and just beyond the 
pale. We will not stand for this.
  We will stand with Ukraine. Again, ``yes, we can,'' ``si se puede.'' 
We stand with you.

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