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.
“U.S. ECONOMY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1579 on Dec. 2, 2016.
The Department provides billions in unemployment insurance, which peaked around 2011 though spending had declined before the pandemic. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, claimed the Department funds "ineffective and duplicative services" and overregulates the workplace.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
U.S. ECONOMY
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HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, December 2, 2016
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this morning, the U.S. Department of Labor released its November jobs report detailing the state of the U.S. workforce and employment throughout our nation. According to the report, the unemployment rate declined to its lowest point since August 2007, falling from 4.9 percent to 4.6 percent unemployment last month. U.S. employers also added 178,000 jobs to the economy--pointing to strength and stability throughout the country.
Our growing economy and burgeoning workforce is a testament to President Obama's policies and efforts to put Americans back to work by reversing years of damage caused by President Bush and the regressive policies of the right. President Obama has helped to steer us to the lowest period of unemployment in nine years, despite having to face the most serious economic downturn since the Great Depression and the most divided Congress this nation has seen in recent years. Businesses have been able to add 15.6 million jobs since early 2010 and this growth can endure as long as we continue to enact policies and embrace a culture that favors everyday men and women, and not just a select few.
As we inch closer to President-elect Trump's administration and a Congress dominated by Republicans in the House and Senate, I will continue to encourage the new Administration and my colleagues in Congress to stay on our current path of creating jobs and decreasing unemployment for all Americans. If we reverse course by handing out billions of dollars in tax breaks to only the largest corporations and the wealthiest Americans, gutting public programs and social safety nets, or slashing spending on research and development, then our economic growth will surely stall.
Mr. Speaker, our nation is at an important crossroad. The transition to this new administration and Republican-controlled Congress poses new opportunities and even greater challenges. Will we choose to continue on the path to prosperity? Or will President-elect Trump and the Republican majority work to reverse all of the progress that we have achieved for everyday Americans by instead favoring the super wealthy and the biggest corporations? Only time will tell, although it is imperative that we look to these gains throughout our economy over these eight years and work to continue that trend. Anything less would be an insult to the American people and a devastating step in the wrong direction after coming so far.
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