Richard Gephardt: “I rise to urge the Republican leadership to address the unfinished business of the American people's agenda. The House…”

“I rise to urge the Republican leadership to address the unfinished business of the American people's agenda. The House has a lot of work to do and not a lot of time in which to do it. In America today millions of hard working families face challenges in their daily lives. Since January, 2001, our Nation's economy has deteriorated dramatically and this House has failed to provide real relief to the families who need it most. We have seen the most anemic period of economic growth since Dwight Eisenhower was President. In 18 months the stock market has lost $4.5 trillion in value. More than 2 million people have lost their jobs. A wave of corporate scandals has eroded people's fundamental faith in our Nation's free markets and scores of corporations have become bankrupt. Consumer confidence dropped in each of the last 4 months and is at the lowest level since November, 2001. Our Nation's retirement security system has also been undermined and in great difficulty. In 18 months Republican economic policies have taken $2 trillion from the Social Security Trust Fund. Baby boomers' retirement benefits have been jeopardized. In each of the last few years, prescription drug prices have soared more than 10 percent. Reliable prescription drug coverage eludes almost two-thirds of all Medicare recipients. On a daily basis, senior citizens face a choice between buying food, paying the rent, or buying their medicine.”