Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member; and with what is going on here today, I know soon that you will be Chair, because this is really a very sad day in the House of Representatives, the people's House.

Once again, we are doing like what has happened in this House over and over again, practicing what I call reverse Robin Hood. When I was coming up, my favorite program was Robin Hood. Well, what this House, under the Republican leadership, constantly practices is reverse Robin Hood. What does that mean? Well, it means robbing from the poor and working people to give tax breaks to the rich.

Today, instead of debating a fair minimum-wage bill, we are debating a near repeal of the estate tax bill for millionaires. This is a bill that benefits only 6 to 7,000 very, very wealthy people. This does not help the poor or the majority of working Americans at all. This reverse Robin Hood policy which gives tax breaks to the very wealthy robs from the rest of us and leaves us with very little money to provide services like educational loans, health care, homeland security, transportation, our Nation's veterans, our seniors, our children, the poor.

This is the reason why 77 percent of the American public does not believe that the United States Congress represents their interests. And this reverse Robin Hood bill is a perfect example of why.

I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and send this horrible bill back to the drawing board.

This Republican Congress has now gone beyond being a rubber stamp for President Bush and is now handing him the responsibilities of Congress itself. They are putty, look at this putty in my hand, and the President squeezed them into doing anything that he wants even if their constituents don't agree. That is why 77 percent of the public thinks this Congress is out of touch with their priorities and why 70 percent of the American public thinks President Bush is doing a terrible job.

Let me be clear. I did not vote to give President Clinton a line item veto. I certainly would not vote to give it to this President who, like no other President in the history of this country, tramples over the rights of Congress and the rights of American people, and still to this day shows nothing but contempt for the House of Representatives.

This President has spent over $450 billion on a war of choice that was based on lies.

The President turned a $5.6 trillion dollar surplus into a $3.2 trillion dollar deficit. And this is who is supposed to stop the rampant spending of this Republican-led Congress. This is a joke, and everyone here knows it.

Vote no on this bill, and let the people's House get back to doing the work that the people actually want us to do.

Mr. Speaker, this Republican Congress has now gone beyond being a rubber stamp for President Bush and is now handing him the responsibilities of Congress itself.

They are putty in the President's hands, and he squeezes them into doing anything he wants, even if their constituents don't agree.

This is why 77 percent of the American Public thinks this Congress is out of touch with their priorities, and why 70 percent of the American public thinks President Bush is doing a terrible job.

Now I didn't vote to give President Clinton a line-item veto, so I'm certainly not going to give it to the President who, more than any

other president in history, has trampled over the rights of Congress and the rights of the American people, and still today shows nothing but contempt for the will of the House and Senate.

This President has spent $450 Billion dollars on a war in Iraq based on lies, and turned a $5.6 Trillion dollar surplus into a $3.2 Trillion dollar deficit, and this is who is supposed to stop the rampant spending of this Republican led Congress. This is a joke, and everyone here knows it.

Vote ``no'' on this bill, and let the people's House get back to doing the work that the people actually want us to do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the life of Reverend Kenneth White.

There are those who pass this way, and touch lives. There are others whose very life and living is a testament to God's teachings of love, compassion and service. Reverend White was this man of great character and strength who touched so many and cared so deeply. Here was a man who lived a full and rich life--rich in its complexity and the depth of challenges he faced; yet wonderfully abundant with the unique touch he so deftly applied to all his endeavors. From fighter to chaplain, from husband to father, from a man of God to a child of God, all of these characterizations are, and was, Reverend White, the man who so loved his people that he would give unselfishly of his time and talents for the betterment of mankind. This gentle man was firm in his convictions that no greater love has one than the love of family. Yet his love and respect went beyond the family bonds, and touched so many, and by so doing, helped generations of young lives uphold the creed of self- respect, honesty, truth and caring for others.

The gaze, the smile, the laugh, and the way he could embrace you and make you his friend, will be missed. Yet these are the very qualities we will cherish as memories of our dearly beloved Reverend White. Rest now, my friend, for your work here is done and your life shall live on forever in each of us.

Mr. Speaker, one of my favorite scriptures is, ``Let the work I have done speak for me.'' Mr. Speaker, what a difference a week makes. Last week seven House Republicans joined Democrats in supporting an increase in the minimum wage. Yesterday, when the measure came up in another appropriation bill, they certainly changed their minds and joined the rest of the Republicans in ignoring the needs of 7 million hardworking minimum-wage workers, which begs the question: What exactly happened over the last 7 days to make those seven Republicans change their minds?

They certainly didn't spend any time with minimum-wage workers, otherwise they would have heard how the

workers can barely make ends meet, considering that those who work have to work an entire 8-hour shift just to fill up their gas tank, if they are lucky enough to have a car. In the wealthiest country in the world, this is not acceptable.

Mr. Speaker, House Democrats want to expand economic opportunities for 7 million Americans. Let the work we do make a difference for the working men and women in this country.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the congressman. I have a question. I was in my office and I got a notice across my desk that perhaps tomorrow we may be debating the estate tax for millionaires.

And my question is that we can't get the minimum wage up that affects close to 7 million Americans that are working every day that can't make ends meet, but yet we are talking about an estate tax that is going to only affect about 6,700, the top 1 percent in the entire country. But my question is how are we going to pay for it? We are in a war that we are paying $450 billion for, and we are spending about $600 billion a month. So how are we going to pay for this?

Congressman, how long have you been here in Congress? Over what, 30 years? How long have you been a Member of Congress?

Twenty-three years. And in that time period I know you have seen always checks and balances, whether it is the House, the Senate, or the administration. The problem that we are experiencing now is that we have every branch of government controlled by Republicans, whether it is the House, the Senate, or the administration. And so therefore there is no restraint. That is why 77 percent of the American people say that Congress is out of step with them.

I want to thank the leadership that we

have here that come and discuss these issues. And it seems that the major problem that we have in this country is that we do not have any checks or balances. The House, the Senate, and the administration are all controlled by Republicans. So if you don't have any checks and balances, we will have zero balance in the bank account.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to join you all this evening.

Rubber Stamp Republicans: There is a very good reason why 77 percent of the American public does not believe that the United States Congress represents their interests. Instead of debating a fair minimum wage bill, tomorrow we will be debating the Repeal of the Estate Tax for millionaires!

Instead of dealing with high gas prices, Republicans want to talk about gay marriage. Instead of providing the services that the veterans need when they return from Iraq, the Republicans want to talk about flag burning.

Just last week, seven House Republicans joined Democrats in supporting an increase in the minimum wage, but yesterday, when the measure came up in the CJS appropriations bill, they suddenly changed their minds, joining the rest of the Republicans in ignoring the needs of seven million hard working minimum wage workers.

So while ignoring the needs of hardworking low-income workers, House Republicans once again will vote to reward those who least need help!

Just as they rewarded Halliburton, they continue to award big oil companies huge tax breaks at the expense of hard working Americans paying over $3 per gallon!

The White House is collecting our phone records and tapping our phones, yet has no interest in investigating the abuse and fraud by Halliburton in Iraq.

It is high time our country needs a change in direction! We need new energy policies, Iraq policy, higher education policy, health care policy, transportation, national security, and the list goes on and on and on! And this needs to be done in a fiscally sound way, not in a way that puts our children into more debt than they're piled in already.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today deeply and personally saddened by the loss of my dear friend Ed. I shall truly miss his friendship and hope to fill this void with the warm and comforting memories of our lasting friendship. For Ed and for the Booth family, I offer my personal reflections in hopes that they may bring you some comfort in this moment of loss.

There are those who pass this way and touch a few lives, and there are others, who, by their very being, reach beyond the confines of family, neighbor and community--and in so doing leave an indelible mark on the lives of many, even on the heart and conscious of a people. By his very being, Attorney Booth was the embodiment of honesty, truth, integrity, and upheld the virtues of respect for everyone, and compassion for every human condition. He was not one to rush to judgment, personally or professionally, but relied on his innate ability to identify with the plight of others, and respect their pain. Ed was a man who first and foremost loved his family, and in his associations, required no more of others than he would of himself. A gentleman, a scholar, confidant and a personal friend was Ed, and he was one who practiced his faith in deeds, and with humility.

In his passing, we honor him by keeping his family in our prayers and his memory alive in our hearts forever.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that I support the troops. Yet the debate about the Iraqi war is not about supporting the troops. I knew from the very beginning that there were no weapons of mass destruction. Well, how did I know that? Well, I am from Florida. And I knew back in 2000

that the Bush administration that we were dealing with would say anything and do anything. They were full of lies. Let's look at the evidence.

Since the beginning, the Republican leadership in Congress has outright refused to investigate Vice President Cheney involving the billions of dollars awarded to Iraq for reconstruction contracts to Halliburton. $9 billion in reconstruction funds have been unaccounted for. I repeat, $9 billion in reconstruction funds have been unaccounted for.

The amount of taxpayers' money spent by Halliburton and the defense contractors audit agents have deemed either excessive or insufficient documentation is $1.7 billion.

Halliburton has received more than $17 billion in no-bid cost-plus contracts for Iraq reconstruction. Folks, I am talking about billions with a B. That is billions and billions of dollars. It amazes me now that these figures contrast with the attention that the media has given to the Katrina mismanagement, while the billions and billions of dollars in unaccounted funds to Halliburton are still largely ignored by the media.

You know, we need checks and balances. The House, the Senate and the administration are all Republicans. There are no checks and balances. No checks, no balances. No checks, zero balance.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Chairman, it has been over 2 years since the train bombing in Madrid and almost a year since the rail bombing in London and we still have our heads in the sand in this country. We are waiting until another country tries to take over our ports before we get serious about port security. I pray that it doesn't take a disaster for us to care about rail security.

We spend billions and billions of dollars on aviation and highways, but our rail system repeatedly gets short-changed by this Bush administration and this Congress, even though five times as many people take trains as planes every day and while freight demand is expected to double by 2020.

I was recently in several European countries meeting with their transportation officials about rail security, and I can assure my colleagues that the United States is way behind all other countries in rail infrastructure and investment. Every industrialized country in the world is investing heavily in rail infrastructure because they realize that this is the future of transportation. But, sadly, as this system gets bigger and better, our system gets less and less money.

This amendment, which provides just $30 million in the Rail Line Allocation and Improvement program, is a good start in providing the money that our rail system must have to meet the needs of an ever expanding freight and passenger rail system. It is time that we start investing in improving our rail system in this country, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support the freight and passenger rail by supporting this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, attention students: since the Bush administration took office in 2001, tuition and fees at 4-year public colleges have increased by 40 percent, forcing more and more students and their families to take out Federal loans. The typical student borrower now graduates from college with a record of $7,500 debt, which they must start paying months after they graduate.

But thanks to the Bush administration, come July 1, interest rates will be raised by 7 percent, and for the parents 7.8 percent. To avoid adding potential thousands of dollars to the life of their loans, students and parents with Federal student loans should consolidate now before the July 1 rates take effect and lock in interest rates as low as 4.75 percent.

To circumvent increases caused by the Republican raid on student loans, a tax on student loans, borrowers should call the Department of Education at 1-800-557-7392. I repeat, to avoid this, call 1-800-557- 7392.

Once again, we are up here fighting for the life of Amtrak, 35 years of service to the public. It just amazes me that constantly people, the Chair of aviation, billions of dollars that we have put in aviation, billions of dollars, and yet it doesn't pay for itself, and we do not want zero funding for Amtrak.

This administration constantly, constantly cut down the funds for Amtrak. This administration has come up with a lot of wacky ideas, but let me tell you something. When gasoline will go up to $4 a gallon, you are going to see a lot of people lining up to take Amtrak.

With the passage of the latest emergency funding, President Bush will have spent over $439 billion on the war in Iraq, but we don't want to spend money for Amtrak. During Hurricane Katrina, the way the victims and first responders were able to leave the gulf region and the New Orleans area was through Amtrak, Amtrak.

Mr. Chairman, this year, Amtrak is celebrating 35 years of public service to this nation through it's commitment to passenger rail.

I travel all over the country and the people I talk to love Amtrak. It is a great way to commute to work, it takes cars off our already congested highways, and in many areas of the country is the only mode of transportation available. In fact, ridership has increased in 8 of the last 9 years reaching a record level of over 25 million passengers last year. It is also important to note that Amtrak's long distance trains are the only inner city passenger trains in half the states in America.

Amtrak was also a First Responder during hurricane Katrina, and helped evacuate thousands of Gulf region residents while President Bush and his Administration were nowhere to be found. Now they are becoming a key part in each states future evacuation plans.

Now what I can't understand is why the Bush Administration is trying to destroy passenger rail in this country. Every Industrialized country in the world is investing heavily in rail infrastructure because they realize that this is the future of transportation. But sadly, as there systems get bigger and better, our system gets less and less money.

President Bush has a lot of wacky ideas for dealing with the high gas prices he created, but I can assure him that as prices climb to $4 per gallon, you are going to see American's lining up to use a passenger rail system that has been neglected by this very Administration. But what more do you expect when you put J.R. Ewing in the White House.

Once again we see the Bush Administration paying for its failed policies by cutting funds to vital public services and jeopardizing more American jobs. This Administration sees nothing wrong with taking money from the hard working Amtrak employees who work day and night to provide top quality service to their passengers. These folks are trying to make a living for their families, and they don't deserve this shabby treatment from the President.

With the passage of the latest emergency funding for the war, President Bush will have spent over $439 Billion on the war in Iraq, but

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million, major infrastructure projects have been completed. All with a workforce that has been reduced by over 4,000 employees.

We still have a lot of work ahead of us when it comes to Amtrak. But we're starting $900 million dollars closer to our goal, and I know with the help of the American public, we can fully fund Amtrak at $1.6 Billion and keep Amtrak running long into the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to Mr. Veteran, Gillespie V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery, who died May 12.

He served for 30 years in the House and I was lucky enough to serve with him on the Veterans Committee.

When I was first elected to Congress in 1992, I knew that I wanted to serve on the Veterans Committee. I could think of no better way to serve my constituents or my country than to be on the committee that oversees the Department responsible for helping so many people. Sonny Montgomery was my inspiration.

I was a new member and introduced myself to the chairman. A more gracious and gentle man you could not meet.

I was walking down the hall with the former Speaker from the Florida legislature. Sonny made a comment that I was a pleasure to work with and how much he enjoyed my participation in the Committee. The former Florida Speaker said you don't know her very well, she'll cut your heart out.

He was deeply committed to the cause of veterans and worked in a bipartisan manner to get that done. He also started the Bipartisan Prayer Breakfast which still meets every week.

Everyone was Sonny's friend. He was blessed to be surrounded by so many caring friends.

``Let the work that I have done speak for me'' is a favorite line from a hymn. This line explains how Sonny lived his life.

God Bless Sonny Montgomery.

Mr. Chairman, I want to rise in support of the amendment. You know, I have been an elected official for 25 years, 14 years in the Congress. And I want to be clear that the people of Florida are united against any drilling in Florida. Now, when I listen to the people from Texas and other places, you know, I understand that Florida is the number one tourist destination in the world. The number one. And we shouldn't do anything that would be against the people of Florida and the people of the United States. People save their money to come to Florida.

And certainly we need a comprehensive energy policy. But someone said that the people in Florida in some surveys support drilling in Florida. That is definitely untrue. The people of Florida do not support drilling in Florida. And the people in Florida are united against any drilling in Florida.

Florida's coastline is a treasure not just for Floridians, but all Americans and the rest of the world. For years Florida's delegation has worked together to protect our coastline and natural resources. Even conducting an inventory of resources in the Gulf of Mexico will begin to destroy the efforts we have made as a state to preserve our sensitive lands. As long as there are rigs In the area, the potential for devastation to Florida's beaches persists. Florida's beaches are not something we can afford to compromise. This decision goes against everything that Floridians have worked for over so many years. Certainly, the people of Florida do not support off of our shores.

In fact, the impact of offshore drilling threatens irreversible scarring to the landscape, affecting thousands of species, each critical to the ecosystem. The great weather, pristine beaches, and I marine wildlife are the number one draws to our fine state. By moving forward with even a resources inventory, you risk a multi-billion dollar industry for only a few extra barrels of petroleum.

There are environmental risks associated with near-shore natural gas drilling despite claims to the contrary. Liquid hydrocarbon found with natural gas could float on top of the water and was up on Florida's beaches. Moreover, one huge problem with the plan is that the areas that are off limits to drilling now are not where the resources are. In fact, 80 percent of the Nation's undiscovered technically recoverable natural gas on the OCS is located in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska--where drilling is currently allowed and already underway.

Indisputably, allowing drilling would be harmful to tourism and risk Florida's $57 billion tourist economy. In fact, this policy would affect all U.S. coastlines from Alaska to Maine. Any drilling would also be visible from the beach and have no effect on oil prices, especially when natural gas prices are falling.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have failed millions of American seniors by choosing once again to rubber- stamp the harmful policy of the Bush administration. Despite the fact that recent polls show only 55 percent of seniors knew about the May 15 sign-up deadline for a private prescription drug plan, House Republicans refused to join us in extending the deadline until the end of the year.

Now, millions of seniors who have yet to sign up cannot until the end of the year. House Republicans and the Bush administration will also penalize them when they sign up with at least a 7 percent tax on their premium, a tax that they will be forced to pay every month for the rest of their lives.

Our seniors are not to blame for this complicated and confusing prescription drug law. It is so confusing that the people who are attempting to answer the seniors' questions about the different plans are giving out wrong information more than half of the time.

Once again, the House Republicans have failed American seniors.

Mr. Chairman, breaking news: 77 percent of the American people said that the Republicans are leading us in the wrong direction.

The CBC once again created a budget that truly meets the needs of the American people. This budget fully funds Leave No Child Behind; restores $70 million in cuts made to Medicare; adds $4.5 billion in benefits and services for veterans; provides increased funding for public transportation, the Coast Guard, and ports and rail security; closes corporate tax loopholes; and keeps U.S. companies from sending jobs overseas, all while balancing the budget by 2011 and saving $10.5 billion on national debt interest payments.

The CBC budget is the responsible budget that truly meets the needs of the American people. Shame on the Republican leadership for once again pushing a budget to help their country club friends and giving the hard-working American people the shaft. Vote for the CBC budget.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the 30- Something Group for their leadership.

I come to the floor to remind all of the seniors that Monday, May 15, is the drop-dead date for signing up for Medicare part D. I am very concerned that over 15 million Americans have not signed up.

Congressman Meek, may I ask you a question? Do you know why Monday, May 15, is the drop-dead date to sign up?

Mr. Speaker, Americans are going to be penalized. I have been elected for 25 years. And this is the first time I have ever heard of being penalized until the day you die. I mean, it is ludicrous that we, the House of Representatives passed a bill that was so complicated and confusing, and gave you a time period of less than 5 months to sign up. And then if you do not sign up, you are going to be penalized until death.

I know in Florida we have 41 different plans. And it is very confusing. Seniors should have an opportunity to take their time and to select a plan that best meets their needs.

Now, Mr. Meek, do you know why in the law the Secretary does not have the authority to negotiate the price of drugs? Do you know why Americans pay 50 percent more than people in Canada?

Mr. Speaker, you know in Florida, we have over 1 million people who have not signed up. And nationwide it is over 15 million people.

Now, I do not understand why the President with an executive order cannot be Presidential and extend the date or do away with the penalties.

People should not be held accountable for a program that is complicated and confusing. I have a cousin that is a Ph.D. graduate from the University of Miami, a principal for 30 years, and had to go to Social Security to get someone to help and assist to make the right decision because it is very, very complicated.

Mr. Speaker, I am asking seniors, please sign up--but there is no reason why this program, a program that is so needed, I voted against it because it was bloated, can you imagine, supposedly fiscally responsible Republicans coming up with a program that is billions of dollars, costing more than it needs to, and the money is going to the pharmaceutical companies.

The money is going to the industry, and not to the people that we need to be serving. It is a shame that in this people's House that we are not doing the work of the people.

Mr. Speaker, I am calling on the Members of this body and I am calling on the President so we can make it retroactive. Let us not punish seniors for our incompetency.