[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17553]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              JOB CREATION

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to join with my 
colleague from Rhode Island, Mr. Cicilline, in extending my condolences 
to the family of Julius Michaelson, former attorney general of Rhode 
Island, a dedicated public servant, someone who truly made a difference 
to the people of our State. He made a difference, and he will be 
greatly missed.
  Madam Speaker, next week Americans will be celebrating Thanksgiving 
with their families. Unfortunately, far too many will be preoccupied 
with the uncertainty of being unemployed and finding ways just to put 
food on the table.
  Our country currently has a 9 percent unemployment rate, and there 
are four unemployed workers for every open job right now. In my home 
State of Rhode Island, our unemployment rate continues to hold steady 
above the national average at 10.5 percent.
  Madam Speaker, where is the urgency on job creation? The House just 
returned from its 11th scheduled recess of the year. With only 45 days 
left until the end of the year, the Republican-led House has failed to 
take any meaningful action to spur job creation this year.
  Our constituents deserve better than this. The American people are 
demanding more than this. Congress must put partisan politics aside and 
focus on growing our economy and creating new job opportunities and 
getting this country back on track. It is our obligation to do this, 
and we need to do it now.

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