[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 2945]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to shine some light on the 
good economic news that continues to roll in. This is further proof 
that Republican pro-growth policies of low taxes are working for the 
American people.
  The economy grew at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the final 
quarter of last year. January's unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent, 
which is the lowest monthly rate since 2001, and lower than the average 
rate in the seventies, the eighties and the nineties. There have been 
29 consecutive months of job gains. The economy has created over 2 
million jobs over the past 12 months. Economists are now predicting 
that growth will clock in at an amazing 4.5 percent in the current 
January to March quarter.
  In order for this good news to last, Congress must fight its urge to 
spend too much and continue to foster a positive environment for the 
economy for it to thrive.

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