Date: 2012-01-31
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Its a pleasure to join the gentleman from California and my colleagues from the great State of Oregon. the great State of Illinois. and the great State of New York. I heard earlier this evening that its okay to say happy new year up until the end of January. which happens to be today. and I certainly wanted to start the year off right by joining you again and really pleading with our colleagues. I just want to briefly talk about what my good friend from New York mentioned with regard to reigniting the American Dream. which I am zealously advocating. really. across my State and across the Nation. and I am adding to that: building ladders and removing obstacles. I also see the work of the gentleman from California as really focusing in on an ageold problem. I want to call up a dear friend who is the former chairman of the Transportation Committee. Chairman Oberstar. Just a few years ago he watched his own community have a horrific incident that many of us in America continue to be shocked at. the collapsing of a bridge. the literal collapsing of a bridge and. of course. there was loss of life. devastation and fear. and an economic loss for people who could not be connected. Thats not the America we know and love. So why this is so importantand let me just suggest that there are so many variablesthere are thousands of soldiers coming home from Iraq who are willing to sacrifice their lives for us. and those who have come back are now seeking opportunity. Thats another component of individuals who want to work. although this administration. this Congress has been excellent in veterans preferences and seeking to employ them. Every one of them will say they dont want a handout. They have been able to do massive work overseas that gives them the skills so they could be engaged in the reconstruction. the infrastructure work of airports. highways. highspeed rail. trains and transit. and we can give them the opportunity of reigniting the American Dream. We know that what we must do is build on the working class and middle class. We must build on opportunities for young people who may choose a 4year college. but as the President said last Tuesday. may choose a community college that gets them into job skills. So most economists will say that this is not a time to be. in essence. Scrooge. When times are hard. you invest in human capital. And as someone who represents one of the largest airports in the country. George Bush Intercontinental Airport. and is also in a community that has Ellington Airfield and Hobby Airport. it is truly key to be able to work on the infrastructure. As someone who comes from the coastal areasand I want to present to the gentleman my legislation that talks about deficit reduction and restoration of coastal areas using the energy industrybut looking at it from a positive sense. all dealing with manufacturing. because manufacturing does matter. Let me just say this in conclusion: Our friends or those who want to speak negatively are absolutely wrong that we dont have the genius of manufacturing. In fact. I can document that factories are coming back to America. that the high cost of labor for our friend and sometimes challenging ally. China. is going up. that the cost of having factories there is difficult. and there are obstacles such that now our American companies who are even thinking of going are looking at the agility of the skills of American workers. You cannot underestimate the genius of American workers. the enthusiasm of American workers. the willingness to go into factories. the ability to build them. and I take on anyone who has suggested that our logistical or supply chain does not work. Frankly. let some of our military personnel who are now coming back. who are going into civilian life. let them show you how to do a logistical supply chain. So I believe that manufacturing is here to stay. Just a news clip today talked about an individual who. with tears in his eyes. was talking about bringing back manufacturing of furniture in the Carolinas. I think in this instance it was North Carolina. He was excited. He was emotional about the fact that his father had left him this legacy. He was bringing it back. Despite some of our friends who are talking about they cant make certain iPhones here in the United States. I frankly believe that our technology sector is alive and well. and that were going to be building more. and certainly the infrastructure begs out. in tribute to our dear friend. Chairman Oberstar. and many others who have talked for years. as I joined him. and as I join my colleagues. to say that I believe we live in the greatest country in the world. I believe that there is nothing better than reigniting that American Dream. and I believe that once we move the obstacles and build the ladders. well be building airports. Well be talking about highspeed rail. Thank you to this administration for not abandoning it. Well be doing the trains. well be doing the infrastructure. and well be putting people back to work. I cant imagine a better way to start off the new year. I must leave this in tribute to a pastors words I heard on Sunday: 2012 will be the year of uncommon favor. Thats because we are not going to give up on the American worker and this great Nation. I thank the gentleman for coming to the floor and allowing me to share with him.