Mark Pocan: “I would like to read a little bit from The Washington Post. ``This new budget points the way forward for Democrats.''…”

“I would like to read a little bit from The Washington Post. ``This new budget points the way forward for Democrats.'' And what this specifically is addressing is the Progressive Caucus budget. It is looking at it and saying: ``Democrats should recognize its ideas as an inspiration for the party going forward. ``The People's Budget starts by acknowledging a problem that most leaders acknowledge but few have addressed: the country's crumbling infrastructure. It provides $2 trillion over 10 years to repair bridges and tunnels, revitalize mass transit, replace contaminated water systems, rebuild public schools and more.'' And that is what we talked about. Those are the very provisions that we put forward in that $2 trillion investment in our infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I will go back to reading this. ``The Economic Policy Institute projects that the People's Budget would add 2.4 million jobs and increase GDP by 2 percent in the near term.'' That is 2.4 million people with a good family-supporting job while we are rebuilding our Nation's infrastructure and increasing our Nation's gross domestic product. What does that mean? I have been a small-business owner for 29 years. It is the rising tide that lifts all boats. The more people that have money in their pockets that can spend it, puts money right back into the economy.…”