[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16455]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1210
                     REBUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM

  (Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, with less than 2 months left in 2011, this 
Republican-controlled House has yet to focus on the top issues facing 
our country: creating jobs, growing our economy, and rebuilding the 
American Dream. Back home in St. Louis, I have seen firsthand how 
businesses, families, seniors, and students are frustrated and 
suffering because of inaction, obstruction, and political games in this 
Congress.
  Last week I met with business owners in my home State, including a 
commercial and residential plumbing company in St. Louis. That business 
is suffering from the terrible housing market and poor economy. It's 
our responsibility to work to help our constituents who have built 
businesses that have been hard-hit by these tough times.
  The President has proposed the American Jobs Act which would help put 
people back to work. And independent economists say this bill would 
help create more than 1 million jobs. It's time for action. We cannot 
retreat to our ideological corners and ignore the challenges that we 
face. I will work with anyone, anywhere, anytime to grow the economy 
and help create jobs. I challenge my colleagues to work with that same 
spirit. It's time we pull together and put our country first.

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