State of the Economy

Floor Speech

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Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the majority leader for yielding, and for his leadership, and for organizing this Special Order Hour.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in setting the record straight when it comes to the Trump economy.

The Trump economy was on sad display in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday, when 1,300 of my constituents stood in line for a chance at 185 affordable housing units in West Charlotte.

Instead of investing in shelter, affordable housing, and community health, the Trump economic policy is about consolidating wealth. The Trump economy is one that works for the American billionaire, but not for the union boilermaker. It is an economy that works for executives with golden parachutes, but not for educators teaching elementary school students parachute games.

It doesn't have to be this way. In 2016, when Donald Trump was elected, he inherited a robust economy, thanks to President Obama and his administration. It was President Obama who turned our economy around and helped pull us out of the Great Recession. Seventy-five consecutive months of private sector job growth? Thanks, President Obama.

However, since then, Trump's ``Billionaires First'' policies have hurt our neighbors and our families. Some of these harmful policies: The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement; the ongoing trade war with China, and threats to place tariffs on goods imported from our allies; this administration's cruel efforts to dismantle and weaken the Affordable Care Act; Trump's heartless immigration policies that have led to fearmongering and separation of families at the border.

Trump economic policy is not about helping others. Instead, the cruelty is the point. In fact, the only compassionate thing about his economic policy is that it looks out for billionaires, and not just millionaires like himself.

But Scripture tells us that, ``Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.'' The dividends we seek as public servants are not from increased wealth, but from a more perfect commonwealth.

Luckily, the American people are standing up to push back against this economy. And whether it is a small business owner who gives the homeless a place to park their cars at night, or the community advocates helping their displaced neighbors find new homes, the Queen City knows that service is the rent we pay for living on this Earth.

The American people are working for the people, and so is the people's House. It is time for the Trump administration to do the same.

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