Let's Put America to Work

Floor Speech

Mr. TONKO. I rise today to once again urge House leadership and the majority party in the House to refocus on what should be our top priority--jobs and the long-term economic stability of our Nation.

Each day, we report to our constituents that economic growth and putting Americans back to work is job one in Congress; yet very rarely does our agenda reflect that priority in this House. In fact, the request to name conferees to complete the budget process to grow jobs and grow the economy doesn't get heeded over and over again.

We are putting more and more people to work each month, but I have no doubt that we can do better. As I talk to neighbors and friends back home, unemployment remains their top concern. Instead, many in this Chamber are plotting to take the debt ceiling hostage. We already know the dire consequences from that act.

The bottom line is this: jobs and economic growth are our constituents' top concerns, and they should be ours as well. We can and must do better. Let's put America to work.

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