Hilda L. Solis: “the war debate this week is one that deserves our careful attention, but our economy does, too. While Republicans in…”

“the war debate this week is one that deserves our careful attention, but our economy does, too. While Republicans in Congress focus on drumming up support for a preemptive strike on Iraq, our economy is faltering. The statistics tell the story, and they are staggering. The number of Americans without health insurance rose by 1.4 million last year. It is up to 41 million now. The poverty rate rose last year for the first time since 1992. Twenty-one percent of Hispanic families are now living in poverty, and more than 2 million jobs have been lost under President Bush. I understand that because in my own district unemployment rates are as high as 11 percent. Utility bills and the price of gasoline are increasing. Thousands of hardworking men and women have seen their retirement savings evaporate before our eyes. Congressional Republicans are ignoring these problems. Democrats understand that we need to take charge of our economy now. Let us do it before we adjourn. Let us raise the minimum wage, and we need to pass a Medicare prescription drug benefit that lowers drug prices and covers all seniors. We need to extend unemployment benefits for those people that have lost their jobs and are now seeking some relief from our government. Let us do the right thing before we adjourn. Let us help working families.”