[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17031-17032]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       AMERICA IS MOVING FORWARD

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, over the past few months, my colleagues on 
the other side of the aisle have come to the Senate floor in a vain 
effort to convince America that we are worse off than we were 4 years 
ago.
  They offer a pessimistic litany of distorted statistics to discredit 
the measurable progress America has made in the last 4 years. Just last 
Friday, the minority leader came to the Senate floor to cast a negative 
light on America's astonishing rebound from the triple shock of 
terrorist attacks, corporate scandals, and a recession inherited from 
the Clinton administration.
  It is critical that the American people know the truth.
  Far from the other side's woeful depiction, America is moving forward 
and gaining strength. We have been tested, and we have proven ourselves 
to be a tough, resilient and resourceful nation.
  America remains the economic engine of the world. While our European 
friends struggle with double digit unemployment, America's unemployment 
rate is at historic lows and dropping.
  Are we better off? Four years ago, President Bush inherited an 
economy that measured $9.8 trillion. Today, the economy has grown 
almost $1 trillion more.
  Are we better off? Four years ago, President Bush inherited an 
economy that was the equivalent to roughly $25,000 for every person. 
Today, that number has grown to nearly $30,000.
  Are we better off? Four years ago, President Bush inherited an 
economy that employed 136.9 million people. Today, the number of people 
working has grown by nearly 2 million and is on track to create 1.2 
million jobs this year.
  Contrary to claims made by critics, the quality of jobs being created 
is excellent. Three quarters of the new jobs created in May were in 
industries that, on average, pay a higher hourly rate than the overall 
average.
  Are we better off? Manufacturing jobs have grown this year for the 
first time since the mid-90's; 64,000 jobs have been added in the 
manufacturing sector since January, alone, and there are more jobs to 
come.
  More manufacturers have been reporting increased activity and new 
orders than at any time in the last 20 years. The ISM Manufacturing 
employment index in April hit its highest level in 15 years.
  Are we better off? Four years ago, President Bush inherited an 
economy that was constructing only 1.5 million new houses per year. 
Today, homeownership is at an all time high, including minority 
homeownership. Americans are investing in themselves and their futures.
  Are we better off? Productivity is its highest in 50 years. 
Unemployment is lower now than it was in the 70s, 80s and 90s--lower, 
in fact, than during the Clinton years.
  Are we better off? The answer is, clearly, a resoundings yes.
  Because of President Bush's tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, Americans now 
have more money to invest, save, or spend as they choose. Business 
owners have more opportunities to realize their entrepreneurial 
potential.
  America is moving forward because President Bush and the Republican-
led Congress believe in the ingenuity, creativity, and common sense of 
the American people.
  When it comes to fighting crime, American law enforcement has the bad 
guys on the run. The statistics are remarkable.
  Fire-arm related violent crime is down. Burglary, robbery and theft 
are all down.
  Simple and aggravated assault is down. Violent crimes, including 
rape, sexual assaults and robberies, are now at their lowest levels 
since the government began collecting crime data in 1973. Violent crime 
is falling in all regions of the country, whether measured by race, 
ethnicity, age or income.
  Property crimes continued a more than 20-year decline.
  Gun-related crimes have continued to fall.
  The fall in the crime rates has coincided with more aggressive 
prosecutions of criminals. Average sentences for violent criminals are 
increasing, and violent felons comprise a growing share of the prison 
population.
  Real, positive change is taking place in America's neighborhoods. 
American's are safer and more secure at home.
  When it comes to improving major social programs, a Republican-led 
Congress has delivered on major new reforms.
  Seniors now have, for the first time, prescription drug coverage 
under Medicare.
  The other side of the aisle had eight years to enact Medicare reform. 
They didn't. Instead, they played politics with seniors' health. And 
now that we have made historic improvements, opponents to reform are 
trying to scare seniors from enjoying their new benefits.
  The truth is, under Republican leadership, America's seniors are 
getting vastly improved Medicare services.
  Under the bipartisan Medicare Modernization Act signed by President 
Bush in December, for the first time, all seniors will have access to 
$400 billion in expanded drug benefits. Low-income seniors and those 
with high drug costs will get the most help. Millions of seniors will 
get comprehensive prescription drug coverage with no gaps in coverage, 
no premium, and no more than a $5 copay.
  Even now, only 6 months after the Medicare legislation became law, 
the Bush administration is providing immediate relief from the high 
cost of drugs through its prescription drug discount program. Millions 
of seniors are getting $1,200, just like cash, on top of 10-25 percent 
off of the cost of their drugs.
  Seniors will have expanded access to an array of preventive 
benefits--including an annual physical examination--that simply were 
not part of the program before.
  Moreover, all Americans will pay less for prescription drugs because 
we took steps to speed the delivery of lower cost generic drugs to 
consumers.
  We have also given all Americans more affordable coverage through 
tax-free health savings accounts so they could take more control over 
their health care needs and hard-earned dollars.
  When it comes to education, again, Republican leadership is 
delivering major reform.

[[Page 17032]]

  Because of the No Child Left Behind Act, passed by a Republican-led 
Congress and signed into law by President Bush, millions of 
disadvantaged children are now getting the focus and attention they 
need and deserve.
  Reading and math scores in America's large urban schools have 
improved.
  Parents of children in struggling schools have powerful new options, 
and they are using them. If their school is struggling to teach their 
children the basics, such as math and reading, parent now can send 
their kids to a better public school or get their children special 
tutoring.
  Under No Child Left Behind, States and local school districts are now 
being held accountable for ensuring every child learns--regardless of 
race, parents' income, disability, geography, or English proficiency. 
As President Bush has said time and again, every child can learn, and 
every child should be given a fair chance. The No Child Left Behind Act 
is helping to make sure the promise is becoming a reality.
  As a result of the No Child Left Behind Act, the Federal Government 
today is spending more money on K-12 education than at any other time 
in the history of the United States. Federal K-12 education funding to 
states and local schools has increased by a historic $6.9 billion since 
the hallmark education reform legislation was signed into law.
  Title I aid for disadvantaged students, the cornerstone of the No 
Child Left Behind Act, has increased by over 40 percent since 2001.
  In fact, aid for disadvantaged students received a larger combined 
increase during the first 2 years of President Bush's administration 
than it received in the previous 7 years combined under President 
Clinton.
  Our economy is stronger, crime is down, education is improving. 
Americans have good reason to be optimistic about the future.
  And when it comes to environment, we are also seeing major progress. 
Emissions are down and water quality is improving.
  All signs are encouraging.
  More, however, can be done, starting with strengthening America's 
energy independence. President Bush has offered a long-range plan to 
diversify our energy supply and encourage the use of renewable energy 
sources.
  Senate Democrats, however, are committed to a strategy of 
obstruction. They come to the Senate floor to lament America's energy 
problems. Meanwhile, they block the very reforms that would lessen 
America's dependence on foreign oil supplies.
  Likewise, the other side of the aisle bemoans rising health premiums 
while continuing to block medical malpractice reforms that would lower 
medical costs.
  Which brings me to the larger point.
  This year, the other side has been engaged in an unprecedented 
campaign of obstructionism. Their obstructionism is costing billions of 
dollars that could be growing the economy and hundreds of thousands of 
jobs that could be employing America's workers.
  The campaign to poor-mouth America's progress may be an election year 
strategy to immobilize the process, but it is also unfairly discredits 
the efforts of every American working hard, paying taxes, and leading 
this country back to economic health. The distorted statistics and 
misleading charts are meant to sow doubt and confusion. They are meant 
to make Americans question their own success.
  It will not work, and it must not work. We are a strong, robust, and 
prosperous nation. Optimism is the essence of our success. It drives 
our creativity and emboldens our entrepreneurial spirit. It is what 
makes us invest in the future and accomplish our highest aims.
  I am confident the American people will look at the gains we are 
making everyday as a nation and as individuals, and that we will 
recognize our success, take heart, and keep moving forward. It is the 
American spirit, and it is the American way.

                          ____________________