Economic Recovery After the Pandemic

Floor Speech

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Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for hosting this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce you to the newest resident of western and central Kansas. She greets every store's patrons at the business front door and every farmer at the farm gate. She is in the newspaper, on the radio, and all over social media. She goes by Help Wanted, and you have probably met her, too, as she has made herself quite popular under President Biden's policies.

It has been more than a year since the pandemic shut down the country. America is finally getting back to normal. Businesses across the country are ready to reopen and welcome back customers. Unfortunately, President Biden's bonus, the monthly unemployment checks being distributed on top of the already existing unemployment checks, is paying a premium for potential workers to remain at home rather than finding work.

The data doesn't lie. There are nearly 8 million job openings in America right now, a new record. Businesses in the Big First of Kansas--agriculture, hospitality, food service, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare--cannot find workers, leading to reduced hours or closures to accommodate the staffing shortages.

Help is wanted at the North Central Kansas Hospital, short 50 employees and regularly turning away patients as the hospital is unable to properly staff and serve them.

Help is wanted in McDonald's in that same north central Kansas town, closing early each night.

Christina, the owner of hair salons in Garden City, Hays, and Dodge City, Kansas, wants help as she temporarily shuts down one location, only opens another for a few days a week, and shortens hours at all three.

Help is wanted at the ethanol by-products plants in south central Kansas, unable to find workers even after offering a salary of a $35,000 plus health and retirement benefits.

And PureField Ingredients, a food ingredient manufacturer in Russell, Kansas, wants help as they are staffed at only 30 percent of their normal levels.

Mr. Speaker, hear me say this: If you can get to work, you should. Do it for our local businesses and our State's economy. Do it for your family. Most of all, do it for yourself.

I recently joined fellow Kansas Republicans in urging the Kansas governor to opt out of the enhanced unemployment benefits. Additionally, I cosponsored the Help Wanted Act, which addresses the severe labor shortages caused by the Federal unemployment policy and the Get Americans Back to Work Act, which would shorten the extension of the pandemic unemployment checks.

It is time to take off the masks, get our kids back to school, get our businesses open, get people back to work, and get the country back on track.

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