Kenny Hulshof: “Mr. Speaker, we face many challenges in the wake of the terrorist attacks since September 11. We have responded as far…”

“Mr. Speaker, we face many challenges in the wake of the terrorist attacks since September 11. We have responded as far as allocating additional resources to address some of our military needs, our intelligence needs, in fact some monies for airline security; and we have more to do. But one of the most difficult challenges we are trying to face today is the state of the national economy. As was stated before, our economy was in distress before September 11, but it has worsened since. A recent Wall Street Journal analysis says in the last 6 weeks, we have taken a $100 billion hit to the economy, not counting the tens of billions of dollars for the disaster assistance and rebuilding Lower Manhattan or rebuilding the Pentagon. One part of the solution I think is what we are considering today. Some say we should not even respond in a fiscal year. I reject that. Should we let the business cycle run its course? Should we allow a faltering economy to topple into recession, like those magnificent towers in Lower Manhattan? I believe fiscal stimulus is as essential as the expedited disaster relief for the clean-up efforts in Lower Manhattan and Northern Virginia.”