[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16265]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            THE U.S. ECONOMY

  (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, if the U.S. economy is a racehorse, this 
administration has led the thoroughbred into a pool of wet concrete, 
and it is starting to set. The speed is slower and every stride is 
harder to take.
  The U.S. economy is not some anonymous subject. It is millions of 
American people. What is the health of the U.S. economy? Take the pulse 
of the people to find out. Over 8 million Americans are without jobs. 
Over 43 million Americans are without health insurance. For those 
Americans who are working, wages are not even keeping up, much less 
moving ahead. The President has lost almost 2 million jobs during his 
watch, a feat not seen since the Depression. The drag Republicans have 
placed on the economy with massive budget deficits will be felt and 
paid for by future generations.
  The American economy is a thoroughbred. It has not lost its heart but 
its stride is shorter and its breathing is more labored. America does 
not lack for heart or for innovation. America lacks leadership. It is a 
shortcoming we will remedy in 105 days.

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