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Under the speaker's announced policy of January 5, 2011, the gentlewoman from Washington,
Mrs. McMorris Rodgers is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the Majority Leader.
Mrs. Rogers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I ask to revise and my remarks.
Mr. Speaker: Without objection.
Mrs. McMorris Rodgers: Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous pride that I stand with my
fellow Republican women on the House floor tonight.
We stand before you from every corner of America, as businesswomen, nurses, physicians, farmers,
mothers, educators, attorneys, to tell you the story of the Republican Woman.
While our backgrounds and our professions may be different, one thing is not, we are
all conservative reformers committed to leaving America better, for our children and grandchildren.
After all, women in this country know better than anyone the effects of harmful economic
policies. Why? Because 2 out of 3 business are started by women.
Women owned businesses are the fastest growing segment in the United States economy, and
they generate revenue over $2.5 trillion of revenue a year. Women manage 83% of the household
income; spend two out of three healthcare dollars; and make up the majority of healthcare
providers in America.
Women are at the center of this and the house republican women are committed to leading
it. But when at a time when our country has accumulated $14 trillion in debt and face
28 consecutive months of unemployment above 8%, we know this is not an easy task.
Yet despite the obstacles and opposition, we are committed to fight this fight, to creating
jobs, to making America what she once was. The land of opportunity, innovation and ingenuity.
And that's why we’re all here. It’s why we ran for Congress and stand in the halls
of Congress. Some of us for many years, others are brand new, all of us bound by the commitment
to real reform.
We have seen the numbers, 81% of Americans know someone without a job.
The average unemployed American has been searching for over 38 weeks and since president Obama
took office we’ve lost over two million jobs in this country.
We refuse to sit here and watch the numbers rise.
As Eastern Washington’s representative I ran for Congress seven years ago to help keep
that American dream alive. I spent thirteen years working beside my mom, dad and brother
in our family owned business in Kettle Falls, Washington.
I was the first in my family to graduate from college, and I later had the honor of serving
as State Representative while continuing to work in our family business and learning firsthand
the value of hard work, the value of opportunity.
From the fruit stand in Kettle Falls to the halls of congress, I’m here because I refuse
to let that opportunity be threatened. I come home every night to two beautiful children,
Cole and Grace and I want them to have the opportunities that I have had, and want them
to not only the American dream and what it is, but I want them the opportunity to live
it.
America stands at a crossroads like never before in our nation’s history.
Last year at this time, the administration was talking about a recovery summer. This
year, we should be talking about a reality summer. The reality is clear and it’s unprecedented.
I was just home in Spokane where the unemployment is over 9% and there is one thing on the forefront
of everyone's minds, jobs.
So tonight, we Republican women are here to remind the American people that creating jobs
is our number one priority. Our GOP Plan for Job Creators will empower small businesses,
fix the tax code, encourage entrepreneurs, increase competitiveness and pay down America’s
national debt.
We will stand on this House floor, debate in committee hearings, work with our colleagues
across the aisle and continue to listen to those at home until we get Americans back
to work and we will.
We are on the road to economic recovery and The House Republican Women are committed to
ensuring we get there.