Denise L. Majette

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time and for her leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 1350, and I also rise to thank my colleagues and the leadership on both sides of the aisle, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) for their leadership.

I would like to thank the staff of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and for their hard work, as well as my staff, especially Dr. Michael Goodman, Ms. Michaeleen Crowell and Mr. Will Thomas.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and I am very pleased to support this conference report, the result of more than 2 years of hard work and one of the first items that came up on the agenda when I became a Member of this august body.

I would also like to thank the hardworking Members of the Georgia delegation from the committee, Mr. Norwood, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Burns and Mr. Isakson, who I know will continue to serve the interests of the great State of Georgia and children across the country.

I know that each and every one of us has been working as hard as we can in this endeavor, and it has been my honor and privilege to serve. I will miss all of my colleagues, and I urge all of

them to continue to move towards full funding of IDEA.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be in attendance for a number of rollcall votes. Had I been present I would have cast my votes as follows: ``Yes'' on rollcall 487, ``yes'' on rollcall 488, ``yes'' on rollcall 489, ``no'' on rollcall 490, ``no'' on rollcall 491, ``no'' on rollcall 492, ``yes'' on rollcall 493, ``no'' on rollcall 494, ``yes'' on rollcall 495, ``yes'' on rollcall 496, ``yes'' on rollcall 497, ``no'' on rollcall 498, ``no'' on rollcall 499, ``yes'' on rollcall 502, ``yes'' on rollcall 503, ``yes'' on rollcall 504, ``yes'' on rollcall 505, ``no'' on rollcall 506, ``yes'' on rollcall 507, ``yes'' on rollcall 508, ``yes'' on rollcall 509, ``yes'' on rollcall 510, ``yes'' on rollcall 511, ``yes'' on rollcall 512, ``no'' on rollcall 513, ``no'' on rollcall 514, ``no'' on rollcall 515, ``no'' on rollcall 516, ``yes'' on rollcall 517, ``yes'' on rollcall 518, ``no'' on rollcall 519, ``yes'' on rollcall 520, ``yes'' on rollcall 521, ``yes'' on rollcall 522, and ``yes'' on rollcall 523.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be in attendance for a number of rollcall votes taken on October 8, 2004. Had I been present I would have cast my votes as follows:

``No'' on rollcall No. 524; ``yes'' on rollcall No. 525; and ``no'' on rollcall No. 526.

I was unable to be present for votes taken on October 9, 2004, however, I would have voted:

``Yes'' on final passage of conference report on H.R. 4200--Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005; ``yes'' on final passage of the conference report on H.R. 4837--Military Construction/Emergency Supplemental Appropriations; ``yes'' on the conference report on H.R. 4567--Homeland Security Appropriations; and ``no'' on the Adjournment Resolution, because the 108th Congress should complete its work before it adjourns. The Republican-led Congress has failed to address the needs of middle class families. Republicans have failed to create jobs, end outsourcing, improve national security, lower health care costs, improve education, or protect our environment.