[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 30, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              The Economy

  Mr. President, now on the economy, the outlook for the American 
economy continues to get brighter and brighter under the leadership of 
President Biden and Democrats here in Congress.
  Last week, a report showed that consumer sentiment surged by nearly 
30 percent over the last 2 months. And Americans received even more 
good news this week. The American economy far exceeded expectations in 
the last quarter of 2023, growing at a rate of 3.3 percent and avoiding 
even a hint of a recession.
  The hard right predicted that Democrats' investments would drive our 
country to a recession, but today, American families are seeing more 
money in their pockets, low unemployment, and inflation cooling down.
  The bottom line is that the American economy is headed in the right 
direction thanks to Democrats investing in our infrastructure, 
increasing manufacturing through CHIPS and Science, and lifting our 
country from crisis through the American Rescue Plan. I am proud to say 
that in all three, Senate Democrats, whether in the minority or 
majority, played a leading role.
  The economy is now on an upswing, so much so that Republicans and 
even the former President are trying to take credit. After the Dow 
Jones and S&P hit record highs last week, Donald Trump deployed a spin 
job for the ages, calling it the ``Trump stock market.'' You can't make 
that up. Four years ago, Donald Trump predicted the stock market would 
crash if he lost the election. Well, Donald Trump did lose the 
election, but today, the stock market is setting record highs.
  It is both laughable and very telling that Donald Trump is trying to 
take credit for the successes of President Biden and the congressional 
Democrats. Donald Trump knows his disastrous and chaotic record can't 
stand scrutiny against the jobs, increased wages, and investments 
secured by Democrats.
  Of course, Donald Trump is hardly the only Republican taking credit 
for Democrats' successes. Around the country, scores of congressional 
Republicans are attending groundbreakings, and they are going to 
ribbon-cutting ceremonies and factory openings for projects they voted 
against in Congress, but the Democrats in the House and Senate 
prevailed.
  Last week, a Minnesota GOP Congressman cheered the announcement of $1 
billion for a new bridge in his district, saying he was ``proud to have 
worked with my Minnesota and Wisconsin congressional colleagues to 
secure this critical investment.'' There is only one problem: 2 years 
ago, this very GOP Member voted against the infrastructure bill that 
provided these funds, stating at the time:

       I will not be complicit in paving a destructive and 
     irreversible path towards socialism.

  Well, there he was at the bridge. There he was at the bridge.
  A few days later, another GOP Congresswoman from Florida tried to 
take credit on air for $40 million in funding that came from bills she 
voted against in Congress, including the CHIPS and Science bill, which 
I was proud to have authored. I hope she will give me a pat on the 
back. When pressed on her voting record, her excuse was she didn't 
remember her vote.
  This is going to be a pattern we are going to see all year long. 
Without any accomplishments of their own to talk about, Republicans in 
the House and Senate will try to take credit for jobs and investments 
they opposed in Congress.
  Well, that is the difference between the Democratic and Republican 
agenda. Democrats are working hard to lower costs, increase wages, and 
fuel economic growth, while Republicans are creating chaos and then 
taking credit for our work.
  If Republicans want to keep claiming credit, I encourage them: Work 
with us. Pass bipartisan legislation, and then you can proudly go to 
these events without contradiction.
  We still have a long way to go to make our economy work better for 
families, so there will be plenty of opportunities for Republicans to 
work with us.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.