Thomas Foley: “this year we celebrate our 10th anniversary as the governing party of this great Chamber. In 1994, the Dow Jones…”

“this year we celebrate our 10th anniversary as the governing party of this great Chamber. In 1994, the Dow Jones industrial average was at 3,834. Today, it is 10,453. Homeownership was at 64 percent. Today it is a record high of 69.2. Violent crime is down. Interest rates are down from 8.5 to 4.42. Charitable giving among Americans is at its highest, from $150.7 billion in 1996 to over $241 billion now. Bankruptcy rates are down from 17.9 to 2.8. Per capita incomes are growing. Poverty is shrinking. African Americans living in poverty are decreasing and their homeownership is at record highs. Unemployment is down from 6 to 5.4. These may be dry statistics to some, but they are progress to many Americans, thanks to the direction we have taken this country and this Congress. Yes, America is safer, and I thank the President for standing steadfast against terrorism, against tyranny.”