America's Economy is in Trouble

AMERICA'S ECONOMY IS IN TROUBLE -- (House of Representatives - December 08, 2005)

(Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, the President would have us believe that all is well with our economy. But the American people know better. Despite finally receiving some good economic news, middle-class families in this country continue to fall behind as incomes remain flat or drop.

Gas prices fluctuate, health care costs soar, and home heating costs skyrocket. Americans this week are paying nearly 70 cents more per gallon on gas now than in the first year that President Bush came to office.

According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the average family using heating oil or natural gas will pay nearly three times the amount families paid the first winter President Bush was in office.

For the past 5 years, health care costs have increased by nearly 60 percent, driving up the number of uninsured by 6 million since the beginning of the Bush administration. Under President Bush, college tuition has gone up about 40 percent, even taking inflation into account.

Meanwhile, real household income fell for the fourth year in a row in 2004. Together, America can do better than an economy in which middle-class families are seeing falling incomes in the face of rising prices. The American people know it and so should the President.

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