Friends,
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support this election. I am humbled to have your trust in representing the Big First.
This Congress has made landmark steps toward reviving American industries by slashing harmful government regulations that were once suffocating Kansan businesses, and unleashed our economy by modernizing our tax code so American consumers have more money in their pockets. I congratulate our new freshman legislators, and I look forward to working with them across the aisle.
In other news, non-farm payroll employment rose by 250,000 jobs in October, smashing economists’ expectations once again. This makes for the longest consecutive streak of positive monthly job numbers in American history. With monthly job gains averaging 213,000 per month, the economy has added 4.5 million jobs since November 2016. These employment gains are widespread, as we see over 40,000 jobs created in the hospitality, education, and health service sectors. Manufacturing and construction services also grew by 32,000 and 30,000 jobs respectively. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, American workers are being pulled off of the sidelines and unemployment across all demographics is at a record low.
Trade with Cuba
With net farm income resting at a 12-year low, it is imperative that the United States seek new export outlets for American agriculture. With one of these new markets just 90 miles offshore. Cuba, with its population of 11 million people, imports $2 billion of agricultural products each year from faraway producers in Vietnam, China, and the European Union. This could present a huge opportunity for the United States.
Read my Op-ed here.
National Veterans Small Business Week
On Thursday, the Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in collaboration with the Veterans Business Resource Center and the U.S. Small Business Administration, hosted a networking event in Manhattan for military veterans who double as small business owners. Veterans pitched their entrepreneurial ideas each other and developed closer business relationships. I would like to thank the organizations responsible for organizing such an event. With over 22,963 veteran owned small businesses in Kansas alone, I am proud to see our country giving back to those who risked it all.
Dr. Roger Marshall is the Kansas 1st District Congressman.