Tonight, I stand firm with the president and say clearly that America is united to protect and preserve our freedom. Following the tragic events of Sept. 11, Americans have shown the spirit and determination to conquer the challenges brought by that day.
We must commend our noble men and women in uniform for their bravery and sacrifice in this war against terror.
Representing a state with one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, I was pleased to see the president emphasize the need for economic stimulus and job creation. But the House Republican leadership’s long-term corporate tax breaks do little to stimulate the economy or create jobs in the short term. Congress must go back to the table and this time, pass a real economic stimulus bull with significant unemployment assistance, health benefits and targeted tax cuts for small businesses and working Americans to bring relief to our country.
This is a challenging time for the country and for Oregon. Many in my district did not experience the economic boom of the ’90s, and now Oregonians are suffering from record job loss and unemployment.
We in Congress must work together to pass legislation to stimulate the economy, increase jobs, provide adequate unemployment assistance, improve education, make strides in energy conservation and independence and put in place a real prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients.
While we differ in the details, I look forward to working with the administration and my colleagues to resolve our differences and move forward on these important issues for Oregon and for our nation.