Wiley Nickel: “Harry Truman famously labeled the 80th United States Congress the ``do-nothing Congress.'' Back then, Republicans…”

“Harry Truman famously labeled the 80th United States Congress the ``do-nothing Congress.'' Back then, Republicans controlled the House and Senate for the first time in a while, while Truman was in the White House. Congress opposed all of Truman's Fair Deal bills but still saw some work on both the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. They also passed the Taft-Hartley Act over Truman's veto but generally did very little for the American people. After that do-nothing Congress, Democrats were able to take back the House, take back the Senate, and reelect President Truman. I, of course, think of the famous photo of Truman standing with the newspaper that says: ``Dewey Defeats Truman.'' It turns out the American people like having a Congress working to solve problems. This is a job about results, and that Congress did very little. That is a big reason why voters chose to send the Republican majority in the House and Senate packing back then. Now, we are in the 118th Congress, and we are on track to be one of the least productive Congresses in our Nation's history. Mr. Speaker, 22 bills have been signed into law. At about this point in the last Congress, 81 bills had been signed into law. At this point in the 116th Congress, the Congress just before that, 107 bills had been signed into law. Mr. Speaker, what have we accomplished for the American people? I will tell you what: Virtually nothing.…”