[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19767]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              THE ECONOMY

  (Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, the war debate this week is one that deserves 
our careful attention, but our economy does, too.
  While Republicans in Congress focus on drumming up support for a 
preemptive strike on Iraq, our economy is faltering. The statistics 
tell the story, and they are staggering.
  The number of Americans without health insurance rose by 1.4 million 
last year. It is up to 41 million now. The poverty rate rose last year 
for the first time since 1992. Twenty-one percent of Hispanic families 
are now living in poverty, and more than 2 million jobs have been lost 
under President Bush.
  I understand that because in my own district unemployment rates are 
as high as 11 percent. Utility bills and the price of gasoline are 
increasing. Thousands of hardworking men and women have seen their 
retirement savings evaporate before our eyes.
  Congressional Republicans are ignoring these problems. Democrats 
understand that we need to take charge of our economy now. Let us do it 
before we adjourn. Let us raise the minimum wage, and we need to pass a 
Medicare prescription drug benefit that lowers drug prices and covers 
all seniors. We need to extend unemployment benefits for those people 
that have lost their jobs and are now seeking some relief from our 
government. Let us do the right thing before we adjourn. Let us help 
working families.

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