Floor Statements

Thank you, Congresswoman.

I think that what Congressman Bobby Scott just said has to be echoed. And as is often said on the floor in this august Chamber is that I would like to associate myself with the comments of the previous speaker.

Congresswoman Donna Christensen has led the discussion on this vital issue that we will not be silent about. Mr. Speaker, in my real life as an ordained United Methodist pastor, I say to our congregation and congregations where I speak that if you want to know what a person is really like, if you want to know who a person really is, look through their checkbook. The checkbook will reveal quite clearly what a person believes in.

The same thing is true of a corporation and a nation, and the budget of the United States is a bold statement about who we are as a Nation. It says clearly what we believe in and the things we don't believe in. It is a statement that paints a picture of the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, the picture that is being painted now is a picture that could be used on the chiller channel. It is a picture of a nation that would prefer to move toward deficit and debt reduction by unduly placing pain on the poor or, most appropriately and significantly, on the men and women of this country who are now pushed aside.

Normally, when we talk about the poor, in people's minds they see minorities and the people who are lazy and shiftless and who don't want to work. We are experiencing the greatest economic crisis since October 1929, and the people who we are looking at as being available to be discarded are police officers and teachers and State employees and municipal workers who have been laid off.

Every State in the Union is having financial problems. Every State in the Union is laying off employees. In my hometown, Kansas City, Missouri, we have a $60 million shortfall. The State government has a $200 million shortfall, and so State workers are being laid off. What we are saying now is that the people who are already experiencing pain should get ready to experience some additional pain.

And I have heard over and over and over again, well, everybody must share in the pain. The question that I have asked that nobody has answered, I asked this in our committee last week: Why? Why should everybody end up suffering? Because everybody didn't contribute to this problem, number one. And, on top of that, the individuals who were hurt as a result of the recession we are asking to receive some additional pain. And that is simply not the way I think we want to project ourselves to ourselves, and certainly to the international community.

As Congressman Scott mentioned, we had a tax cut and made some major decisions before we went home for Christmas, and nobody stood on the floor and repeatedly asked the question: How are we going to pay for it? Well, now we are going to pay for it by equally, as we like to say, trying to place the pain on everyone.

We are not talking about getting rid of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. And the amazing thing is that the people, Wall Street, who caused much of the problems, are now being rewarded for causing the problems. We are going to say, okay, we're going to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We're going to do all kinds of things that would accommodate the Wall Street barons who helped cause the crisis.

And the poorest people in this country are going to end up suffering even more so. We even had to fight to continue unemployment benefits. We had a battle on this floor to continue the unemployment benefits for people who, through no fault of their own, lost their jobs, such as police officers and firefighters.

Then we come out with this budget. This budget that we are about to debate is a nervous breakdown on paper. It is not something that we can be proud of as people of the United States, because it shows that we don't think in terms of trying to minimize the pain on the least of these.

Now, to be sure, the United States faces a painful and profound problem with our deficit and our debt. It has to be dealt with. I am on the Financial Services Committee. I asked this question in the committee last week: Are we serious about cutting the debt, when we say we are not going to talk about the entitlements?

We are not going to talk about Social Security, we are not going to talk about Medicare or Medicaid, and we certainly can't do anything with the annual debt service, which is a part of the budget that we can't make decisions on. We have to pay it. So, if we are not seriously trying to reduce the deficit by dealing with the entitlements, then what we are saying is we are going to play with the American public, tell them we are trying to be serious about the debt, when we know we are not.

This is not going to make any kind of substantial reduction in our deficit over the long term. We have got to seriously deal with this problem, and we are not doing it. We are absolutely not dealing with it. Nobody wants to talk about the Social Security issue, because they are thinking about reelection. Not because it shouldn't be dealt with, but they are thinking reelection.

There is criticism, well, the President should have lead the discussion on changing the retirement age on Social Security to a higher number, or somehow creating a new system whereby we have a means test, where individuals who are making $500,000 a year simply can't also draw their Social Security. We are not even talking about that. And there is nobody on this Hill who can stand up and say we can address this problem very seriously without dealing with the entitlements.

So I am sorry that we are going to hurt so many people in the process of just kind of tinkering around the edges of what is a very serious problem.

My final comment, Congresswoman Christensen, is there are a lot of people who ran for office and said we are going to deal with this deficit. But even they are not talking about the only way in which we can change this problem that we are having. Every economist will tell you that that is the only way we are going to deal with the deficit. There is not a single economist who is credible who will say we can deal with this in any other way, yet we are not dealing with it, and it is really a great tragedy.

I do think, as I conclude my comments, Mrs. Christensen, that the whole issue of what we are doing is so painful that even Ben Bernanke is saying, yes, we have to make cuts. But he is also saying you have to be careful. Look, the United States is the only entity putting money into the economy in any serious way right now, and if we withdraw it there could be economic consequences of withdrawing the kind of money we are talking about withdrawing.

Some of us are going to challenge it at every opportunity, because it is the wrong thing to do.

Madam Speaker, I, like all 434 other Members of this body, was elected to the 112th Congress. Shortly after arriving, I was told that the number one responsibility we had was to create jobs. So far, that has not been the case. We have given attention to health care, which I understood to have been one issue that we gave too much attention to. So my question today is, What about the jobs? When are we going to talk about jobs? I would like for somebody, anybody, to talk about jobs. When are we going to do the job of creating jobs? If we do our jobs, then we might be able to create some jobs; if we don't, nothing will happen.

Madam Speaker, I am urging the Members of this body, particularly those who are now in charge, to begin to deal with jobs.

Mr. Speaker, today I have the great pleasure of recognizing the remarkable achievements of Reverend Doctor Nelson ``Fuzzy'' Thompson. Rev. Thompson is a minister, community activist, humanitarian, and resident of the Fifth District of Missouri, which I proudly represent.

Rev. Thompson graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, with a Bachelor of Science in Education, and received a Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry at St. Paul School of Theology.

``Fuzzy,'' as he is affectionately known, has represented the Fifth District of Missouri in an exemplary manner locally and nationally. In service to our community, Fuzzy was an original Board Member of Black Adoption Program and a member of the Executive Committee of the Kansas Children's Service League, showing a commitment to our community's youth. During my term as Mayor, he also served as member and chair of the Human Rights Commission. ``Fuzzy'' now serves as President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City.

Politically, Rev. Thompson served as a Regional Coordinator for Rev. Jesse Jackson's Presidential Campaign in 1984 and Missouri State Coordinator for Rev. Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign. Furthermore, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from 1984-2000.

Reverend Thompson has also represented our nation on an international platform. At the request of Bishop Desmond Tutu, President Nelson Mandela, and the South African Council of Churches, he was one of 22 U.S. ministers that traveled to South Africa on a fact-finding educational exchange. Reverend Thompson traveled to South Africa a second time as an official observer for the first election held in South Africa granting the right to vote to all races. He called the experience humbling, as he watched people line up for blocks in order to exercise their right to vote for the first time. He was also one of three U.S. ministers to conduct Easter services for hostages being held in Tehran, Iran.

As well as a strong advocate for human rights around the globe, he is just as strong an advocate for civil rights and economic rights within our community. When South Africa was a nation which practiced apartheid, Dr. Thompson helped organize a protest against a Frank Sinatra concert. The purpose was to draw attention to American celebrities who performed in racially exclusive venues. He has organized pickets in opposition to monies from the local school district awarded to contractors who had failed to include minority contractors.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in expressing our appreciation to Reverend Dr. Nelson ``Fuzzy'' Thompson for serving the State of Missouri and our nation. He is a true role model to the citizens of our country and his successes serve as a stepping stone for many others eager to serve. I offer this small token of appreciation to an exceptional civil servant for all of the work he has done, taking strength from the many lives he has touched throughout our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise on behalf of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, to take this opportunity to recognize the Honorable Michael L. Midyett, Associate Judge, Chariton County, Missouri. I would like to thank him for his service to his community and to congratulate him upon his upcoming retirement from the bench. I am so pleased Judge Midyett's community is honoring him by recognizing his many years of service on the bench, but especially for his dedication to and caring about the citizens of his community. Only a special person would provide the years of judicial and legal service Judge Midyett has provided through his 21 years of service as the second longest serving Associate Circuit Judge of Chariton county; for over 29 years as an elected official serving the State of Missouri in the Judicial System first as a Prosecuting attorney then as a Judge. Including his years as a practicing attorney, Judge Midyett has served the citizens of Missouri for 39 years in the Judicial system.

It is my understanding that Judge Midyett is best known for his penchant for jury trials and for being hard but fair on criminals. During his tenure as a Chariton County Prosecuting Attorney, Judge Midyett had at least one jury trial each month. For a rural county with a small population, that is a fair amount which proves justice is being served. He believes that all citizens should uphold the law and that no one is above the law. The citizens of Chariton County have known him to be extremely fair and honest. He has upheld the law through his knowledge of the law and his years of experience. Through Judge Midyett's example, others are reminded that Chariton County can only thrive within a strong and just community.

Judge Midyett is a well respected judge in his community. Judge Midyett upholds the traditions and honors of the Judicial Branch of Missouri government. His accomplishments include: Appointments by the Missouri Supreme Court for the Civil Rules Committee; the Judicial Weighted Workload Steering Committee 2006-2008; Board of Directors of the Missouri associate Probate Associate Circuit Judges 2005-2009; former President of the 9th Circuit Bar; past member of Missouri Prosecuting Attorney Associations; past member of National District Attorneys' Association; Associate of Trial Lawyers of America; Association of Lawyers for Pilots Association; City Attorney for Keytesville 1974-1985.

Service to the Keytesville community is a hallmark of Judge Midyett's character. His friends and colleagues honoring him are but a few of the organizations that have grown from his leadership. The Judge has been extremely active in local and civic activities including: Board of Directors of Keytesville Lions Club; former President of Keytesville Lions Club; former President of Keytesville Chamber of Commerce; member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Salisbury; philosophically and in real terms, Judge Midyett is a proud member of the Chariton County Democratic party.

Foremost among the Judge's many accomplishments has been his recent work obtaining pictures of former Chariton County judges for the Courthouse. Judge Midyett has searched extensively for pictures of the past judges and done an amazing amount of research on the lives of these judges and the times they lived in. What a wonderful legacy to leave your community. Your personal commitment to the legal and judicial system in Keytesville and Chariton County serves as a model for what it means to give back to our communities.

Madam Speaker, once again, I want to share my sincerest congratulations to Judge Midyett as he receives our well deserved recognition. I wish the Judge the best in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, in 2003 I was teaching at the Bloch School of Business at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, serving as a talk radio show host on NPR and pastoring a congregation.

I received a phone call from Congressman Ike Skelton, who began the request for me to give up my peaceful and loving life to run for Congress as my predecessor, Karen McCarthy, had decided not to seek reelection. I chose, in large part, to pursue this office at the request of Congressman Ike Skelton.

Mr. Chairman, I have three sisters whom I love dearly. From the age of about 3 to about 7, I made requests repeatedly to my parents for a brother. I'm not even sure I knew how that brother could come into existence, but I made the request nonetheless. That never happened, but I can say here in this Chamber, Mr. Speaker, that, if I had had a brother, I would have liked for his name to have been Ike. If I had had a brother, I would have liked for him to have had the patience, the intellect, and the spirit of Ike Skelton.

There is very little secret around our home as to who is the favorite Congressman for my 7-year-old grandson, Isaac Cleaver. One of the great delights of his life--and probably the older he gets the more significant it will be--is already having been introduced to Congressman Ike Skelton at an event at Royals Stadium. In that introduction, he said that Ike Skelton was named after him. So, in our household, from my wife, Dianne, all the way to Little Ike, we all have great admiration and love for Ike Skelton and his family.

It will be difficult to roam these Halls and not see Ike Skelton or to come into this hallowed room and not look at the seat where he usually sat and where the Missouri delegation would, from time to time, gather around him. I have said to him and to others in his presence that this man has the ability to walk with kings and Presidents and not to lose the common touch.

As chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Ike Skelton was one of the most influential human beings, not only in this country but in the world--the most revered Member of Congress by the military of the United States of America. Yet any Member of Congress, frankly, from either side of the aisle, could stop Ike Skelton and hold a conversation. He never lost the common touch.

It will be difficult for me not to see him in this place. I speak of the man Ike Skelton from Lexington, Missouri; and I speak of a man whose career in this body will be recorded by historians as a majestic moment for the military of the United States of America.

I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker, because I think Ike Skelton deserves far more eloquence than I can present. Hopefully, a combination of everything we say will match, in some small way, the elegance with which he served this Congress.

I would like to submit the following article:

[From the Lexington News, Nov. 10, 2010]

Editorial--Highlights From Capitol Hill

(By Joe Aull, State Representative 26th District)

An era in political history came to an end this past

Tuesday when Congressman Skelton lost his bid for re-election

to an 18th term in the United States Congress.

I believe that we all owe Congressman Skelton a huge thank

you for exemplary service for the past 34 year. Ike has

worked extremely hard and he has been responsible for so many

good things that have happened in our area, our state and our

country.

I could say many positive things about my good friend, Ike,

but I can think of three issues that really jump out at me.

First of all, I was always so impressed with how well that

Ike stayed in contact and in touch with the people in his

district. I have never seen anyone work any harder and put in

any more miles in traveling from city to city to meet and

listen to the people who he represented.

I mentioned the word listen, and I continually saw Ike

listening to what was on the minds of his constituents and I

believe that he voted for what he thought was right for his

people. I always believed that he truly cared about the

welfare of the folks that he represented and he put that

ahead of everything else.

Secondly, I was very impressed with the leadership that Ike

provided as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. I

don't know any Congressman that has been more committed to

the well being of our service men and women, our veterans and

military in general.

I know that Ike has spent much of his free time abroad

visiting first hand with our troops and I always felt good

knowing that a man of his military knowledge and total

commitment was the head of one of the most important

committees in Congress, especially in time of a difficult

war.

The third and final thing that I would like to emphasize

was the fact that Ike was always a true statesman and a

positive role model as a Congressman. In a day when you hear

of legislative scandals and the legislators who sell out to a

particular interest group, I always believed that Ike was

honest, trustworthy and a person with strong character, who

always conducted himself admirably and in a very professional

manner.

He always worked across the aisle with the other party, and

he was a master of compromise and this helped him get many

things accomplished for the good of his people. Ike was

always the kind of person that I admired and trusted, and one

who always tried to do things the right way.

I could go on and on, but let's suffice it to say thank you

Ike for all that you have done for so many of us, for always

going the extra mile and for truly caring for those of us

whom you represented.

I will always be proud to say that you were my Congressman

and I am deeply honored to call you my good friend.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 90th Anniversary of the Independence, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, located in my District. History reveals how Independence, the county seat, grew from a village, to a town, to the fourth largest city in Missouri. Civic leaders joined together to create a forum for the maintenance, growth and economic stability of the city. The Chamber has played a vital role in providing vision which helped to tackle the hard economic problems of the day. Today's Chamber is comprised of a ``. . . partnership of more than 1,200 business and professional people committed to making a difference in the community.''

Following its founding in 1920, the Chamber constitution encouraged its members ``to promote the civic, economic, and social welfare of the people of Independence and vicinity'' with membership open to all interested people. Colonel William Southern, Jr., who began publishing the Jackson Examiner in 1898, served on the original Board of Directors and holds the honor of being the first Board President of the Chamber. Due to the continued quality of leadership, the Chamber's involvement is respected on every issue from legislative initiatives to promoting pride in the city.

Throughout its 90 year history, the Chamber has initiated and supported local programs for economic development, public education, and general community quality of life. Working as a cohesive body with its Board, staff and members, the Chamber strives to provide a better quality of life for its citizens. Historically, they have campaigned to improve infrastructure, stimulate economic growth, annexation, transportation, parks, education and tourism. Through a variety of methods, they have achieved their objectives through bonds, fundraisers or by launching programs to benefit the citizens of Independence. ``Put Us to Work'' was one program initiated during the depression to coordinate all civic relief efforts and employment assistance for its citizens. We should recognize organizations like the Chamber of Independence as they help our communities find solutions to our current economic challenges.

When Harry S. Truman came home from serving in World War I, he came home to Independence, Missouri. When he was contemplating a run for Eastern District Judge, he went to Col. Southern for support. After serving as President, he once again returned to Independence. The Chamber honored him as a lifetime member of the Independence Chamber in 1945. Later, out of respect and admiration, the Chamber proudly supported fundraising efforts for the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Madam Speaker, please join me in extending my warmest congratulations to Dr. Patty Schumacher, Chair of the Board, and Rick Hemmingsen, Chamber President, for the many accomplishments of the Independence Chamber of Commerce on this, their 90th Anniversary. The Chamber's work and dedication on behalf of the City of Independence has truly bettered our community. I urge my colleagues to join me in showing our appreciation to all its members, past and present.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the achievements of Rev. Doctor Samuel E. Mann, an individual who has dedicated his life to helping the underserved in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri, the District that I am honored to represent. This weekend, Reverend Mann is retiring, after 40 years as Pastor Administrator of St. Mark Union Church and executive director of United Inner City Services. In that capacity, he oversaw a budget of $1.5 million annually, a sixty-two member staff and programs that included: child and family development, social services, and community development and street organizations and violence prevention.

He is a native of Eufaula, Alabama and a graduate of Birmingham Southern College, BA; Duke Divinity School, M. Div., and St. Paul School of Theology, D. Min. He is married to Dr. Beverlye J. Brown, and is the father of three children and grandfather of seven.

Remarkably, Rev. Mann was a local preacher at the age of 15 years old at the First Methodist Church of Eufaula, Alabama; he was later the Associate Pastor of St. John United Methodist Church of Kansas City, Missouri, and sometime later, the Pastor of the First Methodist Church of Peculiar, MO, and Director of the Young Adult Projects, Inc. Rev. Mann was dismissed from both churches because of his views on race and peace.

As a long-time civil rights activist, Rev. Mann marched in numerous demonstrations, including the march for the garbage workers in Memphis, Tennessee, the march against the war in Vietnam, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and was part of the U.S. delegation that visited with South Africa ANC leader Dr. Nelson Mandela shortly after his release from prison. Dr. Mann has also been jailed on several occasions for his participation in these activities. He served as a key participant in the national effort to respond to the burning of black churches in America. He has traveled to Nicaragua and China for various humanitarian efforts.

Rev. Mann was instrumental in the formation of Operation Break and Build, a street outreach organization that evolved out of the Urban Peace and Justice Summit in 1994. Its purpose was to assist street organizations, gangs, with transforming their lives via crisis intervention, education, economic development, addressing women's issues, and criminal justice.

He has been the recipient of many awards, including the NAACP Harold Holiday Award; the John M. Swomley Human Rights Award, the Elder Statesmen of Kansas City award, the MO Jazz award, the Sam Eason Award presented by Niles Home; the Black Archives of Mid-America award; the Beta Omega PSI PHI Fraternity Inc.'s Citizen of the Year Award; and many, many more. He is co-founder of the project ``Reframing the Dialogue on Race in America.'' Through this national project, he attempts to address the problem of race by focusing on the issues of white supremacy and white privilege. Through training, he seeks to inspire ministries to address racism in their congregations.

His most recent project was the building of the $4 million child care center, the St. Mark Child & Family Development Center, located at 2008 E. 12th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. St. Mark's is a state of the art child care facility that annually serves approximately 225 low- income families through its early childhood education program, before- and after-school program, and summer camp. Nearly 100 percent of the children are African American, with many living in single parent households in one of Kansas City, Missouri's poorest neighborhoods.

Rev. Mann is presently a leader working in concert with other agencies in making Kansas City a Zone Seven site to provide additional services in the urban core for the education of children. I am proud of the federal funding I helped secure for St. Mark.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor and privilege for me to recognize my friend, and colleague, the Reverend Doctor Sam Mann for his efforts to improve the education and quality of life in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. It is with great pride that we honor Reverend Doctor Mann today for his commitment to the residents of Missouri. On behalf of the people of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, I wish this thunderous preacher and fearless prophet a well-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, back in May I filed an amendment in committee hoping that I could work with the administration between then and now, floor consideration, to develop a meaningful way for community development loan funds to participate

in this legislative proposal. I want to take this opportunity to boast about it being included in this final version and discuss the urgent need to assist community development loan funds, who have been left behind in too many programs, that help small business and institutions.

Since its inception, the Treasury's CDFI fund has certified over 1,200 CDFIs in banks, credit unions, loan funds, and venture capital funds. CDFI banks, credit unions, and loan funds have been historically well managed. It is without a doubt that CDFIs are critical to the development of minority and underserved populations, especially nonprofit loan funds that have traditionally served the more economically and racially diverse communities. Seventy percent of CDFI recipients are low income, and over 50 percent are minority and majority female. Furthermore, microlending and small business lending represent 45 percent of CDFI loans.

I commend the administration's and Mr. Frank's leadership in recent proposals to increase CDFI fund investments and the launch of two new initiatives within the CDFI program to improve the health and economic viability of low-income communities. However, nonprofit loan funds that serve credit-starved communities were left out of many of these initiatives. This bill was my attempt to right that wrong.

I look forward to working together to ensure that nonprofit community development loan funds are provided an adequate opportunity to participate.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the achievements of Mr. Clyde McQueen, an individual who has dedicated his life to economic development and job training initiatives in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri, the district that I am honored to represent. This week, during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, Mr. McQueen will be inducted into the Missouri Walk of Fame, an annual occasion held to honor the achievements of African Americans who have made significant contributions to Missouri.

Mr. McQueen serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Full Employment Council--Missouri Career Center, a center that works to promote job training and placement in the Kansas City, Missouri and the surrounding areas. The Full Employment Council is a nonprofit organization tasked with providing career employment and training for the unemployed and the underemployed. In this position, Mr. McQueen, administers and directs funding towards job training, education, and economic development. The Full Employment Council is responsible for program activities that work to develop employment training programs in rural, urban, and suburban areas.

Mr. McQueen has served in this role for over 23 years, and has assisted over a half a million people during his tenure. While in this position, Mr. McQueen's commitment to unemployment has been recognized by a proclamation from the Missouri House and Senate, as well as from a letter of appreciation from former President Bill Clinton in recognition of support offered to the President during his 1996 visit to Kansas City. Prior to serving as President and CEO of the Full Employment Council, Mr. McQueen served as Division Director of Training and Employment Development for the Texas Department of Community Affairs. In this role, Mr. McQueen was responsible for directing the budget to fund units of government, business organizations, and community based groups for job training and employment initiatives.

Mr. McQueen received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Speech Communication and Political Science from the Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Currently, he is a board member of the U.S. Conference of Mayor's Workforce Development Council, and was appointed to the Missouri Automobile Task Force by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. Mr. McQueen has been

awarded the ``Professional of the Year'' award by the Missouri Association of Workforce Development and a ``Local Hero'' award by Ingram's Magazine.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor and privilege for me to recognize Mr. Clyde McQueen for his efforts to improve the workforce and advance job training in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. I know that Mr. McQueen will continue to fight for both the unemployed and underemployed in my district, and in this time when unemployed rates have plummeted, I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of Mr. McQueen. It is with great pride that we honor Mr. McQueen today for his commitment to the residents of Missouri.

There are a number of issues that fail to make it to the floor, but there's one issue that I absolutely feel strongly about and believe that the people of this Congress and the people of the Nation need to know, and that is the subminimum wage for people with disabilities.

Inclusion is a birthright. This is a civil right. And there is a rule in the Department of Labor called 14(c). It's a certificate from the United States Department of Labor which says that people with disabilities can get paid less than subminimum wage. But it is not subminimum wage for all of them--it is hardly a wage at all. Some of these people who are on disability are making 45 cents an hour or less in sheltered workshops.

So I am suggesting that this issue is so important that it needs to be brought to the floor of the United States Congress. This is a civil right, and we need to make it something that is a priority of this Congress as soon as possible.

Madam Speaker, I came to the floor today to talk about Social Security, but having spent most of last evening watching the news on a variety of stations and reading several newspapers this morning, I decided I just wanted to speak about what I am seeing.

This body has gone from ``states craft'' to demagoguery and witchcraft. The Hill has become a sick setting for everything wrong and ugly about politics. We're not about a way to fix. We're about pure nasty politics. We can be partisan without being poisonous.

And when I look back at our young pages, young Americans who are gifted, I cannot help but wonder whether we are teaching them through our actions to become peace sowers or bomb throwers. We make the choice.

We can be partisan without being poisonous, and on this day, July 21, 2010, we are poisonous.

Mr. Speaker, last evening I received a phone call from a friend from my congressional district who now lives here in the District. We spoke extensively, but painfully, about the pitiful action taken in this body yesterday.

We denied unemployment benefits to American citizens who, through no fault of their own, became victims of the worst recession in U.S. history. They lost their jobs.

This, for me, was a very, very low point. The Senate has failed to approve summer jobs for youth, as well as emergency TANF relief, temporary assistance for families in need.

Mr. Speaker, when I came to the Congress, I didn't sign up to make a mess but to make a difference. We are damaging the lives of men and women and, painfully, it is for political reasons. I went home last night ashamed of being in this body.

Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to pay tribute to Mayor Karen Messerli, who has graciously served the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, for twenty-one years as an elected official.

Karen Rose Messerli was elected Mayor on April 4, 1994, becoming the first woman to hold that office in the history of Lee's Summit, a fast- growing community of over 93,000 residents, in the Metropolitan Kansas City Area. This year, Mayor Messerli completed sixteen years of dedicated service as Mayor, a tenure which has been prolific for Lee's Summit as well as Missouri's Fifth Congressional District.

Mayor Messerli is widely recognized as an active leader in the metropolitan area on a variety of regional issues. She was a founding member of the Tri City Mayors Coalition, a coalition of mayors from three major cities in Eastern Jackson County. She also served as a member of the Eastern Jackson County Betterment Council, and worked on the successful campaign for the Bi-State Cultural Tax to renovate Kansas City's Union Station. In October 2000, Mayor Messerli was elected as President of the Missouri Municipal League, an organization of over 610 municipalities in Missouri. Prior to this, she served as Vice President and on the Board of Directors. She has also been extremely active in her support of Hope House, an organization serving battered women, as a member of the Board of Directors and serving as co-chair for the Capital Campaign to build a domestic violence shelter in Lee's Summit.

Mayor Messerli has received numerous awards, including being named the Woman of the Year by the State of Missouri Business and Professional Women Organization in 1998. In 2002, she was one of sixty women featured in the book, ``A Power of Her Own'' by Kathryn Sommer, a collection of stories about women from the Kansas City area who were the first to make significant strides for women. She was also the recipient of the 2004 Missouri Parks and Recreation Association Public Official Achievement Award. In 2009, she received the Dick King Award from the Missouri Economic Development Financing Association to honor her commitment to economic development and community betterment.

The citizens of Lee's Summit know Mayor Messerli as a respected leader whose integrity has brought trust to the city government. To her family, she is a loving wife, a caring mother of two, and an adoring grandmother of three. In addition to her achievements as a public official, Mayor Messerli is also an accomplished equestrian and has won many awards showing Arabian and national show horses in local, regional, and national circuits.

I first met Karen when I was serving as Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, and we developed a friendship that has lasted long past my mayoral terms. One of my greatest memories is attending a concert that featured musical legends such as Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder with Mayor Messerli while she was visiting Washington, D.C.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues in the House join me in saluting the former Mayor of Lee's Summit, Karen Messerli, for her leadership and many accomplishments for the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri. We wish her the very best as she leaves public office and pursues other endeavors. Thank you to Karen Messerli for choosing to serve. Her time as Mayor not only enriched the community and residents of Lee's Summit, Missouri, but also the entire Fifth Congressional District.