[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S WORDS STILL RING TRUE TODAY; THE FAILINGS OF THE 
                           STATE OF THE UNION

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2026

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and include in the Record a 
portion of President Harry S. Truman's Address in St. Paul at the 
Municipal Auditorium on October 13, 1948. While this speech is over 50 
years old, the sentiments still remain today, as highlighted by the 
President's recent State of the Union. Millions have lost access to 
much needed food assistance, while prices at the grocery store continue 
to rise. Daycare centers and rural hospitals are closing. Ill-
considered tariffs have cost every hardworking family more than $1,750 
and caused untold inflation which is making everyday life unaffordable. 
We cannot pretend all is well when many of our fellow citizens know it 
simply is not. I hope that my colleagues across the aisle will join me 
in this pursuit, because all the people we represent surely need it.

       Well, I have been studying the Republican Party for over 12 
     years at close hand in the Capital of the United States. And 
     by this time, I have discovered where the Republicans stand 
     on most of the major issues.
       Since they won't tell you themselves, I am going to tell 
     you.
       They approve of the American farmer--but they are willing 
     to help him go broke.
       They stand four-square for the American home--but not for 
     housing.
       They are strong for labor--but they are stronger for 
     restricting labor's rights.
       They favor a minimum wage--the smaller the minimum the 
     better.
       They indorse educational opportunity for all--but they 
     won't spend money for teachers or for schools.
       They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine--for 
     people who can afford them.
       They approve of social security benefits--so much so that 
     they took them away from almost a million people.
       They believe in international trade--so much so that they 
     crippled our reciprocal trade program, and killed our 
     International Wheat Agreement.
       They favor the admission of displaced persons--but only 
     within shameful racial and religious limitations.
       They consider electric power a great blessing--but only 
     when the private power companies get their rake-off.
       They say TVA is wonderful--but we ought never to try it 
     again.
       They condemn ``cruelly high prices''--but fight to the 
     death every effort to bring them down.
       They think the American standard of living is a fine 
     thing--so long as it doesn't spread to all the people.
       And they admire the Government of the United States so much 
     that they would like to buy it.

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