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BUILDING IN BENGHAZI, LIBYA.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS
ADMINISTRATION FOR MAKING THAT
HAPPEN.
WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD BACK.
THE
BACK.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
AN ENROLLED BILL.
H.R. 818, AN ACT TO
DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR TO ALLOW FOR
PREPAYMENT OF REPAYMENT
CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND THE UENTA WATER
CONSERVANCY DISTRICT.
UNDER
THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY
OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE CHAIR
RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ILLINOIS, MR. JACKSON, FOR 30
MINUTES.
SPEAKER.
TONIGHT I WANT TO SPEAK FROM
THE SUBJECT JOBS, JOBS, JOBS,
WILL RESTORE FAITH IN
GOVERNMENT.
INVEST, BUILD, AN GROW.
ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A
CHRISTIAN TO UNDERSTAND OR
BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
ABOUT THREE CRITICAL THINGS
THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO LIVING
OUR LIVES, FAITH, HOPE, AND
I WANT TO CONNECT THE
IDEA OF FAITH TO FAITH IN
GOVERNMENT.
HEBREWS 11:1 SAYS, NOW FAITH IS
THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED
FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT
SEEN.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS
THAT ARE HOPED FOR AND NOT
-- SEEN?
WHEN WE DRIVE A CAR, WE HAVE
FAITH THAT WHEN OUR LIGHT TURNS
GREEN AND WE GO, THE PERSON
DRIVING THE CAR IN THE OTHER
DIRECTION WILL OBEY THE LIGHT
WHEN IT TURNS RED AND STOP.
WHEN WE STOP FOR A RED LIGHT,
WE HAVE FAITH THAT THE CAR
BEHIND US WILL ALSO STOP AND
NOT RAM US IN THE REAR.
WE HAVE FAITH THAT PEDESTRIANS
WILL OBEY THE YIELD SIGN AND
NOT RUN OUT IN FRONT OF OUR
MOVING CAR.
WE HAVE FAITH THAT IF A DRIVER
TURNS ON THE RIGHT-HAND TURN
SIGNAL, THEY WILL NOT SUDDENLY
TURN LEFT IN FRONT OF US.
WE HAVE FAITH THAT OTHER
DRIVERS WILL NOT RECKLESSLY
ENGAGE -- ENDANGER OUR LIVES BY
NOT DRIVING DRUNK.
SO WHETHER DRIVING TO WORK OR
TO PLAY, IT IS FAITH THAT
ALLOWS US TO DRIVE.
IF ANOTHER PERSON RUNS A
STOPLIGHT, DOESN'T BREAK BEHIND
US, DOESN'T OBEY THE YIELD
STEIN, SUDDENLY TURNS IN FRONT
OF US OR DRIVES DRUNK, THEY
HAVE BROKEN THE FAITH.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN YOU'RE
DRIVING, THE ONLY THING THAT
STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND DEATH IS
FAITH.
IF YOU FLY ON AIRPLANES YOU HAVE
FAITH.
YOU HAVE FAITH IN A PILOT THAT
YOU'VE NEVER MET, THAT THEY'RE
WELL TRAINED, THAT THEY KNOW HOW
TO TAKE OFF AND LAND.
CAN HANDLE A STORM IN THE AIR,
CAN HANDLE AN EMERGENCY, IS
PHYSICALLY FIT, PSYCHOLOGICALLY
STABLE AND IS NOT DRUNK OR ON
YOU HAVE FAITH IN THE FLIGHT
ATTENDANTS, THAT THEY'VE BEEN
TRAINED TO HANDLE UNRULY
PASSENGERS OR AN EMERGENCY
SITUATION.
YOU HAVE FAITH THAT THE
MAINTENANCE PEOPLE HAVE PROPERLY
SERVICED THE PLANE BEFORE IT
TAKES OFF.
FAITH THAT THE T.S.A.
EMPLOYEES HAVE DONE THEIR JOB
AND HAVE NOT MADE AN ERROR THAT
WILL PUT YOUR LIFE OR THE LIFE
OF PASSENGERS IN DANGER.
YOU HAVE A REASONABLE FAITH IN
THE REGULATIONS OF THE F.A.A.,
THAT THE FUEL, THE ENGINES, THE
BODY OF THE PLANE AND THE
RUNWAYS ARE SAFE.
A CRITICAL ERROR ANYWHERE ALONG
THIS LINE WILL DAMAGE AND
DESTROY YOUR FAITH IN AIR
TRAVEL.
TRAIN ENGINEERS HAVE FAITH THAT
DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS WILL NOT
DRIVE OR WALK AROUND RAILROAD
CROSSING GATES AND ENDANGER
THEMSELVES OR THE TRAIN.
BUS PASSENGERS HAVE FAITH THAT
THE DRIVER IS NOT INTOXICATED,
ON DRUGS OR EXPERIENCING
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS THAT COULD
RIDERS.
LOOK, MADAM SPEAKER, AT HOW
FAITH OPERATES DURING MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES.
WHEN WE'RE AT OUR WEAKEST, IF
SUDDENLY WE BECOME ILL AND NEED
TO BE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL, WE
HAVE FAITH THAT A WELL-TRAINED
AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN WILL ARRIVE QUICKLY
AND PROVIDE US WITH CARE.
WE HAVE FAITH THAT DRIVERS ON
THE ROAD WILL PULL OVER WHEN
THEY HEAR THE SIRENS TO ALLOW
OUR AMBULANCE DRIVER TO GET US
QUICKLY AND SAFELY TO THE
HOSPITAL.
WE HAVE FAITH IN THE DOCTORS,
THE NURSES AND THE MEDICAL STAFF
THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE US WITH
THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE
POSSIBLE REGARDLESS OF OUR
PERCEIVED ABILITY TO PAY OR
WHETHER WE HAVE MEDICAL
INSURANCE.
WITHOUT THE FAITH THAT OUR
JUDICIAL SYSTEM HAS LAWS THAT
ARE RATIONALLY AND MORALLY SOUND
AND FAITH THAT OUR JUDGES WILL
CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A
RESPECTFUL AND FAIR WAY TOWARDS
PROSECUTORS AND DIVIDENDS, WE
CANNOT HAVE A JUSTICE -- DEFEND
ANT, WE CANNOT HAVE A JUSTICE
SYSTEM THAT ENDURES.
I SPENT A DAY WITH A FAMILY
DURING THEIR FAMILY'S HARVEST
SEASON.
AS WE WERE SITTING DOWN FROM
LUNCH, MR. JOHNSON LED US IN A
SHORT PRAYER TO THANK GOD FOR
SUCCESSFUL SEASON'S HARVEST.
THROUGH HIS PRAYER, I QUICKLY
LEARNED HOW MANY FACTORS A
FARMER HAS TO RELY ON FOR A GOOD
HARVEST YEAR.
WHEN I PRAY OVER MY FAMILY'S
DINNER, IT'S ALWAYS, GOD IS
GOOD, GOD IS GREAT, THANK YOU
FOR THE FOOD THAT I'M ABOUT TO
RECEIVE, FOR THE NEWERISHMENT IN
MY BODY, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE,
EATS.
BUT WHAT I HEARD FROM MR.
JOHNSON'S PRAYER, THERE MUST
HAVE BEEN A DOZEN UNSEEN FACTORS
ON HIS MIND THAT SMALL FAMILY
FARMERS DEPEND ON FOR THEIR WAY
OF LIFE.
HE EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR THE
SUN, GRATITUDE FOR THE RAIN,
GRATITUDE FOR THE SOIL AND
GRATITUDE FOR THE HARVEST.
HE PRAYED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST
THINGS THAT CAN DESTROY HIS CROP
AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR EQUIPMENT.
HIS PRAYER WAS A MIGHTY
DIFFERENT PRAYER THAN THE PRAYER
THAT I NORMALLY PRAY OVER MY
FOOD, BUT THE JOHNSONS AND OTHER
SMALL FAMILY FARMERS ALSO
BELIEVE IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
IF SOMETHING BAD DOES HAPPEN IN
A SEASON, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS THERE TO PROVIDE CROP
INSURANCE AND DISASTER INSURANCE
TO GET THEM THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.
THEY RELY ON THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE RESEARCH
THAT ENHANCES PRODUCTION AND
YIELD AND GENETIC ENGINEERING OF
THE CROP AND SEED BREEDING.
THEY HAVE FAITH IN THEIR
GOVERNMENT THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT
WILL BE THERE IN THEIR TIME OF
NEED.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE
A CHRISTIAN, A MUSLIM, A JEW, A
BUDDHIST, A BEHINDUE,ING A NOTIC
OR ATHEIST.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE WITHOUT
FAITH.
OUR AUTO INDUSTRY ALMOST
COLLAPSED SO WE CAN ONLY HAVE SO
MUCH FAITH IN GENERAL MOTORS AND
CHRYSLER AND FORD.
OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM DID
PARTIALLY COLLAPSE.
SO WE CAN ONLY HAVE SO MUCH
INVESTORS.
QUESTION ONLY HAVE LIMITED FAITH
SECTOR BECAUSE IT
HAS $2 TRILLION TO $2.5 TRILLION
SITTING ON THE SIDELINE, MONEY
THAT IT REFUSES TO INVEST IN
JOBS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND IF CONGRESS PASSED AND THE
STATES RATIFIED A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT IT WOULD MEAN
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
COULD NEVER MEET THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE'S NEEDS OR CORRECT GAFFS
AMONG OUR PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE
CORRECTED AND WE WOULD LOSE
FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
WE NEED TO HAVE FAITH IN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A
GOVERNMENT OF, BY AND FOR THE
PEOPLE.
BUT WE CAN ONLY HAVE SUCH FAITH
IF IT MEETS OUR PEOPLE'S CURRENT
NEEDS.
WITHOUT SUCH FAITH AND THE
DELIVERANCE BY OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WE CANNOT SURVIVE AS
A NATION.
WHAT IS THE GREATEST NEED OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TODAY?
THAT A GOVERNMENT OF, FOR AND BY
THE PEOPLE SHOULD RESPOND TO?
JOBS.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS
DYSFUNCTIONAL CONGRESS IT SST
NOT KEEPING THE FATE WITH THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE BY PROVIDING
THEM WITH THEIR GREATEST NEED,
JOBS.
EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS TAKES
THE FOLLOWING OATH, I DO
SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I
WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
WHEN WE TAKE THAT OATH BUT LEAVE
25 MILLION PEOPLE EITHER
UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED,
INTERNALLY WE ARE CREATING
POTENTIAL DOMESTIC ENEMIES.
I THINK I'VE DEMONSTRATED THAT
ALL OF US HAVE FAITH.
MEN CANNOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE.
AND WE COULDN'T LIVE IF WE
DIDN'T HAVE FAITH.
BUT TO HAVE FAITH IN A
GOVERNMENT MEANS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT THAT IS ACTUALLY OF,
BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE MUST BE
RESPONSIVE TO THE PEOPLE'S
NEEDS.
SO WHEN CONGRESS OR MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS SAY THROUGH WORDS OR
DEEL DEEDS OR ACTIONS OR
INACTION THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT CAN'T HELP, IT
DESTROYS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S
FAITH IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.
THE GREATEST MATERIAL NEED OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TODAY IS
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS.
THE GREATEST NEED OF THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY TODAY IS
AGGREGATE DEMAND.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT
WAY TO MEET THE NEED FOR JOBS
AND AGGREGATE DEMAND IN THE
SPIRIT OF F.D.R. IS FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DIRECTLY
HIRE WORKERS, TO DO THE WORK
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THE RESULT OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT INVESTING, BUILDING
AND GROWING THE ECONOMY AND
CREATING FULL EMPLOYMENT WILL BE
THE RESTORATION OF FAITH IN
GOVERNMENT.
FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS WE'VE BEEN
BOMBARDED WITH RONALD REAGAN'S
CONSERVATIVE NEGATIVE GOVERNMENT
RHETORIC.
QUOTE, GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE
SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM,
GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING PHRASE.
HOW CAN A GOVERNMENT OF, BY AND
FOR THE PEOPLE BE THE PROBLEM?
LOGICALLY IT SAYS EITHER WE
DON'T HAVE A GOVERNMENT OF, BY
ARE THE PROBLEM.
SO THE FIRST THING WE MUST DO TO
COUNTER THIS NEGATIVE REAGAN
PROPAGANDA IS TO HAVE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO POSITIVE
THINGS TO RESTORE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE'S FAITH IN GOVERNMENT AND
IN THEMSELVES.
AMONG THE MANY THINGS THAT THE
ADDITION OF THE 13TH, 14TH AND
15TH AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION DID DURING
RECONSTRUCTION AFTER THE
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR WAS TO
RESTORE THE PEOPLE'S FAITH IN
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S
CAPACITY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.
IN TAKING OVER HERBERT HOOVER'S
MASSIVE LIMITED FEDERAL ACTION
AND INACTION, THE FIRST THING
THAT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT'S
NEW DEAL DID BY THE CLOSING OF
BANKS TO STOP THE RUN ON
CURRENCY AND GOLD.
SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THE AGES,
INVESTMENT BY THE
S.E.C., AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANCE
TO NEEDY FARMERS, THE WAGONER
ACT THAT BENEFITED WORKING MEN
AND WOMEN, THE CIVILIAN
CONSERVATION CORPS, THE C.C.C.
AND THE WORKS PROGRESS
ADMINISTRATION, THE W.P.A., THAT
PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK WAS TO
RESTORE FAITH IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
LINDEN JOHNSON'S GREAT SOCIETY,
WHOSE WAR ON POVERTY WORKED AND
REDUCED POVERTY, MEDICARE FOR
THE ELDERLY, MEDICAID FOR THE
POOR, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS, THE 1964
PUBLIC AC DATIONS ACT, THE 1965
VOTING RIGHTS ACT FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, FOR MOST
AMERICANS RESTORED FAITH IN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
TODAY IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE'S FAITH IN
GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT MUST JUMPSTART THE
PRIVATE ECONOMY BY PRIMING THE
PUMP.
JOBS.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?
MADAM SPEAKER, WE SHOULD MOVE
THE MONEY.
JOBS, NOT CUTS, TAX THE RICH,
STOP THE WARS, BRING HOME OUR
TROOPS.
WHAT DOES MOVE THE MONEY MEAN?
IT MEANS WE NEED TO CREATE A
SECOND ECONOMIC STIMULUS, NOT
WORKED.
IT STOPPED FROM US GOING INTO
THE ABYSS.
BUT BECAUSE THE WHOLE WAS --
HOLE WAS DEEPER THAN WE
ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WE NEED A
SECOND STIMULUS.
MY CONSERVATIVE COLLEAGUES IN
BOTH PARTIES ARE LIKE THE MAN
WHOSE HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND
TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WITH HIS
GARDEN HOSE AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
YOU KNOW WHAT HE CONCLUDED?
HE CONCLUDED THAT WATER DOES NOT
PUT OUT FIRES.
BUT THAT WAS THE WRONG
CONCLUSION.
HE SHOULD HAVE CONCLUDED THAT HE
NEEDED MORE WATER AND A BIGGER
HOSE.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ORIGINAL
STIMULUS HAS GIVEN US 20 MONTHS
OF PRIVATE JOBS GROWTH.
BUT WE NEED MORE TO GET US BACK
ON TRACK.
WE NEED THE PRESIDENT'S AMERICAN
JOBS ACT.
WE NEED JAN SCHAKOWSKY'S
EMERGENCY JOBS TO RESTORE THE
AMERICAN DREAM ACT.
AND WE NEED THE PLAN THAT I'M
PUTTING TOGETHER, THE INVEST,
BUILD, GROW AND FULL EMPLOYMENT
ACT.
IN MARCH OF 2009 CONGRESS PASSED
THE FIRST ECONOMIC STIMULUS
WHICH INCLUDED $757 BILLION
INTENDED TO SAVE OR CREATE 2
OVER TWO YEARS.
IT SUCCEEDED.
BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH.
IN DEETS, -- DECEMBER, 2010,
CONGRESS PASSED AN $858 BILLION
BILL EXTENDING BUSH ERA TAX
CUTS, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO
CREATE THREE MILLION JOBS OVER
THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
IT MAY, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
THAT'S 1.-- $1. TRILLION OVER
FOUR YEARS THAT WE'VE INVESTED
TO CREATE FIVE MILLION TO 5 1/2
MILLION JOBS AND WE'LL PROBABLY
SUCCEED.
BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
WE NEED A PLAN THAT FITS THE
SIZE OF THE PROBLEM.
WE NEED SOMETHING MORE AND
SOMETHING MORE EFFICIENT AND
EFFECTIVE TO PUT 15 MILLION
AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
TAX CUTS ARE THE WORST AND MOST
INEFFICIENT WAY TO CREATE JOBS.
BY CONGRESSIONAL STANDARDS, $900
BILLION IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S USED TO
JUMPSTART THE $15 TRILLION GROSS
DOMESTIC PRODUCT THAT IS THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY.
IF WE CAN AFFORD $712 BILLION TO
FIGHT A WAR ABROAD IN IRAQ, WE
CAN AFFORD $900 BILLION TO PUT
AMERICANS BACK TO WORK RIGHT
HERE AT HOME.
WE CAN MOVE THE MONEY FROM THOSE
WHO CAN AFFORD TO GIVE MORE TO
THOSE WHO NEED IT AND NOT HURT
ANYONE.
THAT'S HOW WE KEEP THE FAITH.
WE NEED TO DO WHAT F.D.R. DID
DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION,
HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HIRE WORKERS.
IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC CRISIS,
GOVERNMENT HAS A CRUCIAL
IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY.
PEOPLE MATTER AND RESULTS COUNT.
BACK IN OUR HISTORY TO FIND
EXAMPLES, SAID MICHAEL HILSICK,
AN AUTHOR AND REPORTER WHO
EXPLORED THIS ISSUE IN HIS
LATEST BOOK "THE NEW DEAL: A
MODERN HISTORY."
FOR THOSE OF MY CONSERVATIVE
COLLEAGUES IN BOTH PARTIES WHO
SAY THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T AND
DOESN'T CREATE JOBS, HE WRITES,
THE W.P.A. PRODUCED 1,000 MILES
OF NEW AND REBUILT AIRPORT
RUNWAYS, 651,000 MILES OF
HIGHWAY.
124,000 BRIDGES, 8,000 PARKS,
18,000 PLAYGROUNDS AND ATHLETIC
FIELDS, SOME 84,000 MILES OF
DRAINAGE PIPES, 69,000 HIGHWAY
125,000
PUBLIC BUILDING PERMITS AND
BUILDINGS BUILT, REBUILT OR
EXPANDED.
AMONG THE LATTER, 41,300
SCHOOLS, THE TRANSFORMATIVE
POWER OF THIS EFFORT IS
INESTIMATEBLE.
F.D.R. USING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY CREATED JOBS
BECAUSE IT TOOK JOBS TO DO ALL
OF THAT.
F.D.R. INVESTED IN AND BUILT UP
AN ENTIRE REGION WITH THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY.
THE PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION
BUILT THE GRAND COOLLY DAM IN
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND PUT
8,000 MEN TO WORK STARTING IN
1933, USING MATERIALS FROM 46
STATES.
THE W.T. -- P.W.A. HELPED
REPLACE SCHOOL BUILDINGS
DESTROYED BY AN EARTHQUAKE,
MARCH 10, 1933.
IN FLORIDA THE P.W.A. BUILT THE
OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, 127 MILES OF
CAUSEWAYS AND BRIDGES CONNECTING
THE MAINLAND AND KEY WEST AND
TRANSFORMED THE ISLAND INTO ONE
OF AMERICA'S PREMIER TOURIST
ATTRACTIONS.
IN NEW YORK CITY, THE P.W.A.
BUILT THE BRIDGE THAT CONNECTED
THREE OF THE CITIES FIVE AREAS
AND HAS FUNDED THE BUILDING OF
LAGUARDIA AIRPORT.
HOOVER DAM ONCE KNOWN AS BOULDER
DAM IS LOCATED IN THE BLACK
CANYON OF COLORADO RIVER.
ON THE BORDER BETWEEN ARIZONA
AND NEVADA.
IT WAS CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 1931
AND 1936 DURING THE GREAT
DEPRESSION AND IN JULY, 1934, IT
EMPLOYED OVER 5,000 WORKERS
BUILDING THE DAM.
AND IN MY HOME CITY OF CHICAGO,
THE LAKESHORE DRIVE BRIDGE WAS
STARTED IN 1929 BUT THE GREAT
DEPRESSION PREVENTED ITS
COMPLETION UNTIL THE W.P.A.
DELIVERED FUNDS IN THE MID 190S.
WHEN COMPLETED IN 1937, THE
BRIDGE WAS 356 FEET LONG, 100
FEET WIDE, MAKING IT THE WORLD'S
MOVEBLE.
OR DRAW BRIDGE.
A TYPE OF BRIDGE THAT WAS
DEVELOPED AND PERFECTED IN
CHICAGO AND USED FOR MANY OF ITS
RIVER CROSSINGS.
SO WE ALREADY HAVE AN ECONOMIC
MODEL, THE C.C.C., THE W.P.A.,
THE P.W.A., AND F.D.R.'S NEW
DEAL.
IF WE JUST HAD, MADAM SPEAKER,
THE POLITICAL WILL, THE FIRST
PHASE OF AN OVERALL SIX-YEAR,
2.2 TRILLION PROPOSAL, WE CAN
TAKE $600 BILLION, JUMPSTART
THIS ECONOMY BY HIRING 15
MILLION WORKERS AT AN AVERAGE
SOME WILL MAKE $20,000, SOME
$60,000 DEPENDING ON THE JOB, TO
INVEST IN AMERICA THIS PROJECT
WILL REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE,
PUT AMERICANS BACK TO WORK AND
CREATE AGGREGATE DEMAND, THE
NEED OF THIS ECONOMY.
AND THE AGGREGATE DEMAND WILL
BRING THE $2 TRILLION TO $2.5
TRILLION OF PRIVATE MONEYING
SITTING ON THE SIDELINES BACK
INTO THE GAME.
THE INVESTMENT OF PRIVATE MONEY
WILL CREATE EVEN MORE JOBS AND
ALL OF THESE WORKERS WILL BE
PAYING TAXES, THE NUMBER OF
GOVERNMENT FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION AND FOOD STAMPS
WILL BE REDUCED, WHICH WILL HELP
LOWER THE DEFICIT AND DEBT
FASTER THAN ANY CURRENT
PROPOSAL.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS HAVE PROPOSED A
SIMILAR FIVE-YEAR $2.2 TRILLION
PLAN TO BUILD AND REBUILD
AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE
FUTURE.
IN 2011, ACCORDING TO THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE
BUDGET OFFICERS, STATES HAVE A
COMBINED DEBT OF ALMOST $200
BILLION.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD
BAIL THEM OUT AND GIVE
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
GOVERNORS AND STATE
LEGISLATURES A CLEAN ECONOMIC
SLATE.
OUR CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE IN
DEBT.
ANOTHER $100 BILLION
TO BAIL OUT MOST, IF NOT ALL OF
THEM AND GIVE DEMOCRATIC AND
REPUBLICAN COUNTY PRESIDENTS
AND COMMISSIONERS, MAYORS AND
CITY COUNCILS A CLEAN ECONOMIC
SLATE.
$700 MILLION IN CHICAGO.
$48 MILLION IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO FOR A MERE $900 BILLION,
WHICH IS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN
EACH OF THE LAST TWO STIMULUS
PACKAGES, WE CAN BAIL OUT ALL
STATES, MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THE
COUNTIES AND CITIES, AND PUT 15
MILLION AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE LACK IN
WILL.
SO I AGAIN SAY WE NEED TO
RESTORE PEOPLE'S FAITHS, MOVE
THE MONEY, JOBS, NOT CUTS, TAX
THE RICH, STOP THE WARS AND
BRING OUR TROOPS HOME.
ROBERT WRITES IN HIS LATEST
AFTER SHOCK, ARGUES THAT
THE CENTRAL HEART OF AMERICA'S
ONGOING ECONOMIC PREDICAMENT IS
TO, I QUOTE, SO AMERICANS SAVE
MORE AND BORROW LESS FROM THE
REST OF THE WORLD, IT'S TO
REBALANCE AMERICA'S ECONOMY SO
ITS BENEFITS WILL BE SHARED
MORE WIDELY WITHIN AMERICA.
IN OTHER WORDS, AMERICA'S JOBS
AND AGGREGATE DEMAND PROBLEMS
CANNOT BE SOLVED THROUGH THE
MALDISTRIBUTION OF INCOME AND
WEALTH WHICH IS AT THE HEART OF
OUR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.
WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT?
ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT
NONPARTISAN C.B.O. REPORT, AND
AGAIN I QUOTE DIRECTLY, THE TOP
1% OF EARNERS MORE THAN DOUBLED
THEIR SHARE OF THE NATION'S
INCOME OVER THE LAST THREE
DECADE.
IN ADDITION, GOVERNMENT POLICY
HAS BECOME LESS REDISTRIBUTED
DURING THE LESS 1970'S TO
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF INCOME,
THE EQUALIZING EFFECT OF INCOME
WAS SMALLER IN 2007 THAN IN
1979.
THE COMPOSITION OF FEDERAL
REVENUES SHIFTED AWAY FROM
PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAXES TO
LESS PROGRESSIVE PAYROLL TAXES.
ALSO FEDERAL BENEFIT PAYMENTS
-- AS A GROWING SHARE OF
BENEFITS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY
GOES TO THE OLDER AMERICANS AND
REGARDLESS OF THEIR INCOME.
FROM 1979 TO 2007, THE AVERAGE
INFLATION ADJUSTED AFTER-TAX
INCOME GREW BY 275%.
FOR THE 1% OF THE POPULATION
WITH THE HIGHEST INCOME.
FOR OTHERS IN THE TOP 20% OF
THE POPULATION, AVERAGE REAL
ESTATE TAX HOUSEHOLD INCOME
GREW BY 65%.
BY CONTRAST FOR THE POOREST
FIFTH OF THE POPULATION,
AVERAGE REAL AFTER-TAX
HOUSEHOLD INCOME ROSE ONLY 18%.
AND FOR THE 3/5 OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INCOME
SCALE THE GROSS IN SUCH
INCOME WAS JUST UNDER
-- THE GROWTH IN SUCH HOUSEHOLD
INCOME WAS JUST UNDER 40%.
THE WARFARE THAT REPUBLICANS
HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT IS
EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT
THEY SAY IT IS.
IT HASN'T BEEN CLASS WARFARE BY
THE POOR AND THE MIDDLE CLASS
AGAINST THE RICH.
THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE POOR
ARE NOT JEALOUS OF THE RICH.
AND THEY ARE ESPECIALLY NOT
JEALOUS OF THOSE WHO ARE PART
OF THE GREEDY RICH.
THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE POOR
HAVE NOT BEEN ATTACKING THE
REAL JOB CREATORS.
YES, THERE ARE OPPOSED TO
GIVING MORE TAX BREAKS AS
REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO TO THE
SO-CALLED JOB CREATORS WHO
ALREADY HAVE $2 TRILLION TO
$2.5 TRILLION SITTING IDLE ON
THE SIDELINE AND HAVE NOT USED
THAT MONEY TO CREATE JOBS.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
THERE IS CLASS WARFARE GOING
THE NONPARTISAN C.B.O. JUST
DOCUMENTED THAT IT'S BEEN CLASS
WARFARE BY THE RICH AGAINST THE
CLASS AND THE POOR.
THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.
WE LIVE, MADAM SPEAKER, IN A
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.
DEMOCRACY IS A GOVERNMENT OF,
BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
A GOVERNMENT OF, BY AND FOR THE
PEOPLE WILL BE RESPONSIVE AND
MEETS THE MATERIAL NEEDS OF ITS
PEOPLE AND ITS PEOPLE'S
ECONOMY.
WE REALLY DON'T HAVE AN
ECONOMIC PROBLEM, AT LEAST ONE
WE CANNOT SOLVE.
INSTEAD, WE HAVE A POLITICAL
PROBLEM WITH MY CONSERVATIVE
COLLEAGUES WITH BOTH PARTIES IN
THIS CONGRESS.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE NOT DEMANDING THAT THEIR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MEET THEIR
NEED FOR JOBS AND THE RESULTING
ECONOMIC AGGREGATE DEMAND.
THE PEOPLE OCCUPY WALL STREET,
OCCUPY LA SALLE STREET, OCCUPY
OAKLAND AND THE OTHER 99%
MOVEMENTS THAT ARE SPRINGING UP
AND BECOMING ACTIVE AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD
ARE BEGINNING TO DEMAND THAT
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS
EVERYWHERE ADDRESS THE EXISTING
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JOBS AT
MEANINGFUL WAGES.
IN 2010 THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT
BECAME POLITICALLY ACTIVE AND
MOVED CONGRESS IN A MORE
CONSERVATIVE DIRECTION.
IF THE OCCUPY MOVEMENTS ARE TO
BRING ABOUT REAL CHANGE, THEY
MUST BECOME POLITICALLY ACTIVE
IN 2012 AND BEYOND.
THEY NEED TO MOVE CONGRESS IN A
MORE PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION, A
DIRECTION THAT FITS THEIR
NEEDS.
JUST LIKE THE ULTRACONSERVATIVE
TEA PARTY MOVEMENT, PRESSURED
MODERATE REPUBLICANS TO STIFFEN
THEIR BACKS ON CONSERVATIVE
THINGS REPUBLICANS SAY THEY
BELIEVE IN, SO, TOO, DO THE
OCCUPY MOVEMENTS MUST PRESSURE
DEMOCRATS TO STIFFEN THEIR
BACKS ON THE LIBERAL THINGS
THAT DEMOCRATS SAY THEY BELIEVE
MADAM SPEAKER, WE ALREADY KNOW
THAT MY CONSERVATIVE COLLEAGUES
IN BOTH PARTIES BELIEVE IN
STATES' RIGHTS AND DEREGULATION
WHICH WILL ALLOW THE PRIVATE
ECONOMY AND MARKET FORCES TO
WREAK HAVOC ON THE ECONOMY AND
MOST AMERICANS LIKE IT THAN THE
FIRST DECADE OF THE 21ST
MADAM SPEAKER, WE ALREADY KNOW
CONSERVATIVES IN BOTH PARTIES
BELIEVE IN TRICKLED DOWN
ECONOMICS THAT NEVER TRICKLE
DOWN BUT ALWAYS FLOOD UP.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE ALREADY KNOW
THE CONSEQUENCES TO THE
ECONOMY, WORKERS AND SOCIETY OF
LAYSA FAIR POLICIES, FAILED
CORPSES, SDAST US HOME
FORECLOSURE CRISES, HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT AND CORRUPT
POLITICS.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE ALREADY KNOW
WHAT CONSERVATIVES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE BRING US,
BUT WILL PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS
ADVOCATE FOR BRINGING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ANYTHING
BETTER?
SO I WANT TO CHALLENGE MYSELF
AND MY PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUES TO DO MORE.
WE SAY WE CARE ABOUT THE POOR.
WELL, LET'S GIVE THE POOR SOME
BOOED STRAPS SO THEY CAN LIFT
THEMSELVES UP.
WE SAY WE CARE ABOUT THE
WORKING CLASS, WELL, LET'S
ADVOCATE FOR A SOLUTION THAT
FITS THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM
AND CREATE ENOUGH JOBS TO
EMPLOY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO
ARE UNEMPLOYED AND PUT ALL
AMERICANS TO WORK, NOT BY 2017,
THE MONTH.
TRY MISSING A BILL FOR FOUR,
FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
ONLY WASHINGTON COULD CONCLUDE
THAT UNEMPLOYED OR
UNDEREMPLOYED PERSON HAS UNTIL
2018 TO WORRY ABOUT BRINGING
DOWN UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS.
WE SAY WE WANT MORE
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
WELL, LET'S PROPOSE MEANINGFUL
SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSING FORECLOSURE CRISIS.
WE SAY WE'RE FOR THE MIDDLE
CLASS.
WELL, LET'S ADVOCATE FOR
POLICIES THAT WILL RESTORE THE
MIDDLE CLASS' PREVIOUS STANDARD
OF LIVING.
WE SAY WE SUPPORT STUDENTS.
WELL, LET'S HELP THEM REDUCE
THEIR COLLEGE DEBTS.
WE SAY WE SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES.
LET'S ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES
THAT WILL HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
GROW AND ENABLE THEM TO HIRE
MORE WORKERS.
WE NEED TO STAND WITH FAMILY
FARMERS LIKE THE JOHNSONS IN MY
NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND
AGAINST AGRA BUSINESS WHEN THEY
THREATEN TO MOVE THE JOHNSONS
SO I SAY, MADAM SPEAKER, IN
CONCLUSION, LET'S PUT AMERICA
ENOUGH OF THE GAMES.
INVEST IN AMERICA.
REBUILD AMERICA.
GROW THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.
END THE HOUSING FORECLOSURE
CRISIS.
AND RESTORE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
ENABLE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO GO
BACK TO SCHOOL.
RETRAIN OUR WORKERS.
SAVE OUR CHILDREN.
SAVE OUR FAMILY FARMS.
REBUILD OUR BRIDGES, OUR PORTS,
OUR SEWERS AND OUR WATER
SYSTEMS.
BUILD HIGH-SPEED RAIL, PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, PORTS, LEVEES
AND NEW AIRPORTS.
INVEST IN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
SOURCES -- WIND, SOLAR, BIOMASS
AND GEOTHERMAL.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
REGISTER AND VOTE FOR
POLITICIANS WHO WILL BETTER
REPRESENT THE REAL ECONOMIC
INTERESTS OF THE AMERICAN
WE CAN ACT.
WE CAN CHANGE THINGS.
WE CAN RESTORE FAITH IN
GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WE MUST INVEST.
BUILD AND GROW TO ACCOMPLISH
FULL EMPLOYMENT.
WE MUST DO BETTER, MADAM
WE MUST PUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TO WORK AND MOST IMPORTANT WE
MUST HONOR OUR HIGHEST
OBLIGATION AS MEMBERS OF THIS
INSTITUTION.
AND THAT IS TO RESTORE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE'S FAITH IN THE
CAPACITY OF THEIR GOVERNMENT TO
BRING ABOUT CHANGE POSITIVELY
IN THEIR LIVES.
I THANK THE SPEAKER AND I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR WOULD BE HAPPY TO
ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS
TIME.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
NOW MAKE A MOTION THAT THE
HOUSE DO NOW ADJOURN.
THE
QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION TO
ADJOURN.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
AND ACCORDINGLY, THE HOUSE