The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“JOB CREATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Senate section on pages S2632-S2633 on May 5, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
JOB CREATION
Mr. COATS. Madam President, all 100 of us, Republicans and Democrats, are concerned about our fellow citizens who are unemployed, struggling to pay their bills, and desperate to find meaningful work. We are concerned about the lack of opportunities in many of America's communities and the urgent need for more good-paying jobs across the United States.
There are Hoosiers and citizens across this country hurting in this economy, and it seems as though a new negative economic headline comes out every day. Consider some of the recent discouraging reports we have heard. According to a new USA Today/Pew research poll, Americans by a 2-to-1 margin rate the Nation's economic conditions as poor, and just 27 percent say there are enough jobs available where they live.
A few days ago, the Commerce Department estimated that between January and March of this year, the U.S. economy grew a shocking 0.1 percent. That is .1 percent from no growth whatsoever and just .2 percent from racking up a first quarter of recession.
It takes two quarters back to back to qualify for recession, but we are in the recovery period from one of the deepest recessions since World War II. Now we are into the fifth year, close to the sixth year, of a stagnant economy growing at half the rate it normally does after a recession, and Americans are still out of work.
In addition, the U.S. labor force participation rate is at its lowest point in 36 years. Not since the days of Jimmy Carter has such a low percentage of Americans been in the workforce.
In fact, another shocking headline: Over 800,000 Americans dropped out of the labor force last month alone. Let me say that again. Over 800,000 Americans dropped out of the labor force in just 1 month--
800,000. That is enough people to fill Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, home of Super Bowl XLVI and the Indianapolis Colts, one dozen times.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calls many of these 800,000
``discouraged workers,'' and they join over one-third of all working-
age Americans no longer seeking work. It is not only those who are earnestly out there every day trying to find a job, any job, this is a staggering number of people who have simply given up, saying: It is not worth the effort; I can't find a job; the jobs simply are not there.
Even those young Americans starting their careers, just entering the workforce, are not entering at the traditional level, the level which they are qualified for, have trained for or have been educated for. They are being forced to accept positions that they are overqualified for at wages way below what they expected to make after all their efforts preparing themselves through education and skills training to join the labor force in America.
Given years of growth at half the expected level and high unemployment, it is not surprising but it is very disheartening to hear this news continue well into the fifth year after the recession. But rather than point fingers or assign blame, I am here today to seek, hopefully, a consensus that the Senate needs to propose, needs to debate, and needs to support measures that will increase economic growth and provide economic opportunity for those who are seeking to join the labor force.
It is time for us to start talking about maximizing opportunity. Webster's dictionary defines opportunity as ``a good chance for advancement or progress.'' That is what American workers at all levels of skill and income deserve, but many of us have introduced our own ideas about job creation and economic growth.
Earlier this year I put forward a detailed 10-point plan that I call The Indiana Way. Based on stories and suggestions from Hoosiers, these are commonsense solutions to some of our Nation's biggest problems. Many of my proposals incorporate ideas that have gained bipartisan support.
We are not in the Senate arguing against each other, we are trying to find solutions, proposals, to debate together, to support together, and to move this country forward.
The Indiana Way includes commonsense proposals to reform our broken Tax Code, reduce regulations that are crippling industries and business, unlock American energy sources, and support community banks, credit unions, and those who are providing the tools for investment and the tools for growth.
I welcome the chance to discuss how these ideas will help Hoosiers and Americans who are struggling in this economy, and I know many of my colleagues are also eager for the opportunity to discuss and debate real solutions to help our workforce. There are a number of proposals that have been brought to this floor by my colleagues.
Senator Portman, who sits at a desk next to me, and others have put forward meaningful proposals we ought to be debating. We shouldn't be talking about: Well, nothing is going to get done because it is an election year.
We ought to set that aside and say for the sake of the future of this country and for all of those seeking work and don't have it, let's debate the real issues. Let's work together to pass something that will make our country stronger and our economy better.
It was one of my former colleagues and friend Jack Kemp who once said:
Our goals for this nation must be nothing less than to double the size of our economy and bring prosperity and jobs, ownership and equality of opportunity to all Americans, especially those living in our nation's pockets of poverty--
And especially those who are earnestly seeking work and simply can't find it. Today that goal remains worthy of our time and efforts. Let's join together and have a conversation about real solutions that will make our country stronger, improve the lives of all American citizens, and build a better future for the next generation. This should be our goal. This is the goal that should unite us, and it is long past time for us to get serious about it and take action.
With that, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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