Economic Growth (Cong. Rec., Feb. 1, 2022)
Summary
This is S422 of the Congressional Record, Senate, February 1, 2022, with interleaved columns. A speaker for the Democratic majority discusses the omnibus appropriations negotiations and the confirmation of judicial nominees, and under the heading Economic Growth says the U.S. economy grew at 5.7 percent, which the speaker calls the strongest rate since the time of Ronald Reagan, after forecasts of about 3.5 percent from the CBO and 4.3 percent from the Federal Open Market Committee. The speaker credits the American Rescue Plan and says wages are rising. Under the heading The Economy, Mr. McConnell says working Americans face the worst inflation in 40 years and that Washington Democrats own it, with the views attributed to the speakers.
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“Economic Growth (Cong. Rec., Feb. 1, 2022).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-02-01-crec-2022-02-01-pt1-pgs422-48103a488e/
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S422 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 1, 2022
One day, I hope the barrier-breakers growth has been the scourge of our shutdown, and ensure government ef-
of today will be closer to the norm of economy for so long, as it affects aver- fectively serves the American people.
tomorrow. We want more women to sit age working folks, closing off opportu- This morning, I will meet with
on our courts, especially the Supreme nities for millions of hard-working peo- Democratic appropriators to discuss
Court. We need more people of color, ple who have worked harder and harder the state of negotiations as we work
more public defenders, more civil only to see their lives deteriorate. toward the omnibus. I will be meeting
rights lawyers, more children of immi- Now we are finally seeing signs that with Speaker PELOSI in that meeting,
grants to sit on our courts to reflect wages are going up, and that is going as well. Later today, the four-corners
the broad diversity that America is and to stay for years to come. This is real appropriators—Chairman LEAHY,
will continue to be. In fact, it will con- progress for working families. As we Ranking Member SHELBY, Chairwoman
tinue to grow. keep fighting to lower costs, we Demo- DELAURO, and Ranking Member
The more Americans look at our crats are going to do everything we can GRANGER—will also meet to continue
courts and see people who look like to see that this large wage growth re- their talks. We need to have an omni-
them and come from the same back- mains and continues, and that will bus to fund the government. That is
grounds and share similar experiences, mean better lives for the American the goal we are working toward, and I
the better off our justice system and people. want to thank my colleagues for their
our democracy shall be. And nowhere We know the work is not done. We diligence and their leadership.
else is this more important than the know we must keep working to help Separately, of course, today the Sen-
Supreme Court. Americans lower costs so they can bet- ate will continue confirming the Presi-
So I applaud the President’s commit- ter afford the basics, from healthcare dent’s highly qualified nominees. Be-
ment to choosing a qualified and his- and prescription drugs to daily essen- cause of a growing backlog of non-
toric nominee, and the Senate stands tials like groceries, to the costs of controversial nominees, which a small
ready to work quickly to confirm higher education. Addressing these handful of Republicans continue to ob-
President Biden’s pick when we get it. issues remains our focus. struct, I filed cloture 2 weeks ago to
ECONOMIC GROWTH We also must address strained and move forward on 20 individuals. Today,
Mr. President, on economics and eco- broken supply chains. Later this week, we will have votes on three of these
nomic wins, at the beginning of last the House will take up the long-await- nominees. We are prepared to work late
year, the CBO projected that the U.S. ed USICA bill by passing a companion, into the evenings this week to get
economy would reach a growth rate of the America COMPETES Act. I have these nominees confirmed without fur-
about 3.5 percent by the end of 2021. been working very hard to make sure ther delay.
The International Monetary Fund had that this happens. Once conferenced, Confirming these nominees is a top
this legislation would bring manufac- priority for the Senate this week. They
a rosier outlook. They said economic
turing back to America instead of will serve on our Federal judiciary, ad-
growth could be closer to 4 percent.
sending jobs overseas. This bill will vance America’s diplomatic and eco-
The Federal Open Market Committee
say: ‘‘Buy America’’; keep the jobs nomic interests, and work to strength-
was perhaps the most optimistic, fore-
here. en our national security. The vast ma-
casting a growth rate of about 4.3 per-
We saw what just happened in Ohio jority of these men and women were re-
cent.
They were all wrong. The U.S. econ- in the advent: thousands and thousands ported out of committee with strong
of new jobs in manufacturing. So this bipartisan support and normally would
omy shattered most expectations and
legislation is going to bring manufac- pass through this Chamber with con-
grew at the amazing rate of 5.7 percent,
turing back to America, bring jobs over sent, without a lengthy process. In-
the strongest rate since the time of
here, good-paying jobs back here. stead, because of a handle of obstruc-
Ronald Reagan. This was no accident,
It would strengthen domestic supply tionist Republicans, the Senate will
far from it. Last year’s historic turn-
chains and, thus, reduce our costs and, take the necessary votes to confirm
around is a reminder that the right
in particular, help our country address these nominees.
leadership in government matters. Every President deserves to staff
Democrats promised in 2020 to fix Don- its semiconductor shortage, a driver of
rising costs in so many different their team with the individuals that
ald Trump’s utter mismanagement of the President sees fit, and we in the
the COVID crisis and get our country things, from cars to cell phones to ev-
Senate will keep working to make sure
back on track. And, a year later, after erything.
Finally, all this is a reminder of what President Biden has his nominees con-
securing the strongest growth rate in firmed so they can carry out their mis-
decades, Democrats are delivering on Democrats at our core stand for: build-
ing ladders of opportunity for working sion serving the American people.
that promise. I yield the floor.
After Congress passed the American Americans to get to the middle class I suggest the absence of a quorum.
Rescue Plan, I said: ‘‘Help is on the and provide stability to those already The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
way.’’ And that help is getting America in the middle class so they can stay pore. The clerk will call the roll.
back on a path to normal. Though we there and thrive. And wages going up is The bill clerk proceeded to call the
are still learning to live with the virus, a large part of that. And this adminis- roll.
our economy, our communities, and tration’s record on wage increases, we Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
our schools are better off because of haven’t seen in decades. ask unanimous consent that the order
vaccines, because of testing, and be- We still have more work to do to for the quorum call be rescinded.
cause of targeted legislation we passed bring our country out of the rubble of The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
last year, like the RESTAURANTS Act COVID so that we can look confidently pore. Without objection, it is so or-
and Save Our Stages. into the future. But the growth of last dered.
I want to stress an important point year showed we are well on our way, RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
that is forgotten too often. We are fi- and Democrats will keep working to The Republican leader is recognized.
nally seeing wages go up at a signifi- help working people—working families, THE ECONOMY
cant rate. That is dollars in the work- middle-class families, poorer families Mr. MCCONNELL. Working Ameri-
ing people’s pockets. trying to get to the middle class—have cans and their families are being ham-
For decades, economists have decried the kind of prosperity and help they mered by the worst inflation in 40
the lack of wage growth in America. It need and deserve. years, and Washington Democrats own
has been reported that from 2000 to BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE it. Sometimes it can be difficult to di-
2020, if you were in the bottom 75 per- Mr. President, Senate business: rectly connect Washington policies to
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
cent of Americans—the majority—your approps and on nominations. On a sepa- the downstream effects on our families.
wage growth was not real at all. In rate matter, we Senate Democrats will Sometimes it can be tricky to identify
other words, costs ate up all of the continue to work with our Republican cause and effect. But not this time—
wage growth, and the wage growth was and House counterparts on the vital not in this case.
paltry, in many years: 0 percent, 1 per- task of passing an omnibus package to The pain that families are feeling
cent, declining in some. Lack of wage fund the Federal Government, avoid a today was not just foreseeable, it was
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