Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my opposition to the passage of S. 193, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act. I object to the passage of this bill because of my strong belief that in any legislative attempt to express disapproval of what some consider to be objectionable speech or acts, we must be careful not to infringe upon the Constitutionally-protected right to free speech. This legislation is an overreaction to the 2004 Janet Jackson ``wardrobe malfunction.''

I am a grandmother of four and I am concerned about what is making it onto the airwaves. I understand that many find the content and language used in some programs intolerable, especially for children. However, because I am also a strong proponent of the First Amendment and oppose inappropriate restrictions on free speech, I must weigh concerns about questionable content against the need to protect free speech.

I think we also need to be careful about passing a bill that gives ``Big Brother'' a heavy hammer to punish those who violate his notion of decency. I believe that increasing fines to $325,000 per incident would have a chilling effect on creativity, lead to second-guessing of material, pulling programs, and other forms of censorship. As I have said before, we run a great risk when our legislation threatens to undermine both our Constitution and our creativity.

If we are serious about improving broadcast content, which is what I think people really want to do, then we need to address the fact that large media conglomerates are allowed to gobble up independent stations that are much more sensitive to the communities they serve. Large media conglomerates are the main sources of indecent programming. Since 1999, 80 percent of the indecency findings have been against two media giants: Clear Channel and Viacom.

Not only do they lack knowledge of local community standards, but they also drown out the diversity of voices and viewpoints. Our constituents would be better served if we were voting to limit the over-concentration of media ownership, not to increase fines.

While I do not support S. 193, I am glad that my colleagues agree that the even more problematic H.R. 310 is not the route to take. Censoring artists with outrageous fines and threatening broadcasters' licenses should something ``indecent'' make it on the airwaves would have caused even more damage to our First Amendment than the bill before us today. Regardless, I think S. 193 opens the door to future attacks at one of our Nation's fundamental freedoms and I urge my colleagues to vote no.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan McGovern amendment which I am also proud to cosponsor.

That passionate speech against liberals and against this piece of legislation might be interesting, but it is absolutely wrong. The fact that we have spent billions and billions of dollars in Colombia, and the gentleman talked about success and failure, and all of the evidence, the objective evidence, shows that this policy of fumigation and drug eradication unfortunately has been an abject failure. As far as ending violence in Colombia, I want to just give a couple of facts that the gentleman from Massachusetts mentioned.

On May 22 of this year, soldiers of the Army's Third Brigade killed 10 members of Colombia's most elite police unit against narco- trafficking, trained by the DEA, in what evidence shows was a premeditated ambush. The police unit members who were killed had captured 205 drug traffickers, 23 of whom had been sent to the United States for trial. Armed Forces chief Mario Montoya initially called the killings a case of friendly fire.

On June 1, two officers and six soldiers were arrested for the massacre. Colombian Attorney General Mario Iguaran said in announcing the arrests: ``It was not a mistake. It was an ambush planned as a favor to the drug traffickers.'' The Army officers apparently were working for the mafia.

The International Committee of the Red Cross found that 13.6 percent increase in forced disappearances between 2004 and 2005. According to CODHES, the Colombian nongovernment organization that maintains data on forced displacement, the number of people forced from their homes by violence increased by 8 percent from 2004 to 2005.

But you know what, we are not really having a debate about that because the modest offsets that we are talking about still leaves the accounts for drug eradication at $9 million above the President's request, but let us look at how that money has been spent.

In Colombia and in the Andean region, as I said, the U.S. has invested billions of dollars, hundreds of millions year after year of our taxpayers dollars, and what have we gotten? Plan Colombia was supposed to reduce Colombia's cultivation and distribution of drugs by 50 percent, but 6 years and $4.7 billion later, the drug control results are meager at best. If you look at the U.S. government data, our own data, there is as much coca today in Colombia and as much cocaine in the United States as there was 6 years ago.

But I want to get back to the point. What we are trying to do is to have a commonsense and compassionate effort to produce modest additional resources to help President Bush alleviate some of the world's most dire humanitarian crises. There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help. That is what this is about.

I have travelled to places like Colombia and places where people are suffering. We are asking for a modest amount of money to be transferred out of this account, and the simple choice is should we overfund our efforts in Colombia by a lot or a little or should we do all we can to maximize the President's power to help the powerless suffering as a result of genocide and other crises.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the McGovern-Lewis amendment to cut funds for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, WHINSEC, the successor organization to the U.S. Army School of the Americas.

Sadly, despite a shameful history of training and support from some of our hemisphere's worst known human rights abusers, the only thing that has changed is the name. Funding an institution that has been directly responsible for the training of foreign soldiers who have perpetrated horrific atrocities against civilian populations is not the way to accomplish our foreign policy goals or more security in the region. Besides, enrollment has declined by 40 percent at WHINSEC, yet our funding for it remains constant, and the cost to maintain operations at the institute have gone up year after year.

I traveled with Mr. McGovern to Colombia in 2001. We visited the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado. We talked to community leaders, the families and children. They just wanted to live in peace, free from conflict and arms. We also met with military forces in the area, and they denied any involvement in past atrocities.

On February 21 and 22, eight members of the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community, including three young children, were brutally massacred. Witnesses identified the killers as members of the Colombian military. And peace community members saw the army's 17th Brigade in the area at the time of the murders.

General Hector Jaime Fandino Rincon is the commander of the 17th Brigade of the Colombian Army, the unit implicated in the massacre. This man received training and planning in conducting what they call ``small unit tactical operations'' at the institute, at WHINSEC.

In December of 2004, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Since the massacre, the Colombian administration of Alvaro Uribe has done little to investigate the murders. Sadly, this is not an isolated matter. It is an unacceptable record at WHINSEC, an unacceptable legacy, and a shameful policy. We should all support this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, I am proud to pay tribute to Dr. Allan Alson upon his retirement as Superintendent of Evanston Township High School (ETHS). Over the past 16 years at ETHS, two as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and 14 as Superintendent, Dr. Alson has served the Evanston community with honor and distinction.

Dr. Alson's vision, courage, and commitment to give each young person the gift of a quality education has helped make Evanston a more unified, respectful, and tolerant community. Under Dr. Alson's leadership, Evanston Township High School has advanced its reputation as one of the very best high schools in America. In addition to promoting academic success, Dr. Alson's long list of accomplishments also includes improvements in the arts, athletics and extracurricular programs.

Dr. Alson has helped unite community resources and build diverse partnerships to solve community problems and enhance the educational experience of ETHS students. During Dr. Alson's service, Evanston Township High School has forged partnerships with the city of Evanston, its business and health-

care communities, and Northwestern and National-Louis Universities. Examples of effective collaborations spearheaded by Dr. Alson's administration include an award-winning School Based Health Center, student workforce training, and an interagency consortium for youth advocacy.

Throughout his tenure as Superintendent of Evanston Township High School, Dr. Alson has made the achievement of students of color an essential goal. In 1999, Dr. Alson founded the Minority Student Achievement Network, a national consortium of 25 urban-suburban districts devoted to improving the academic achievement of students of color. Dr. Alson has helped foster a culture of excellence and a climate of high expectations for all students. While more work remains to be done, Evanston Township High School has seen the rate of college attendance for students of color rise from 65 percent to almost 80 percent.

Dr. Alson will long be remembered with gratitude for his tireless efforts to promote academic excellence and social justice. However, most importantly, he can look about the community and see a legacy made of the thousands of young people, parents, teachers, administrators and community members whose lives he has touched. It is a legacy for which he can be immensely proud.

In honor of his legacy of service, I offer Dr. Alson this United States flag as a symbol of appreciation, esteem and good wishes. This flag was flown over the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC in honor of an outstanding educator, advocate, true public servant, and my valued personal friend.

On behalf of the community to which he has given so much, I congratulate Dr. Alson and offer him my best wishes for many years of health, happiness, and continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be withdrawn as a cosponsor of H.R. 2048, the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act.

Mr. Speaker, the do-nothing Republican Congress continues to move along at a snail's pace, refusing to address any of the tough decisions that Americans so desperately want this Congress to tackle. Today is the 160th day of the year, but only the 40th voting day here in the House. Imagine that. It is no wonder that the American people have lost faith in Washington.

The House Republican leadership has simply run out of ideas. Rather than proposing a forward-looking energy initiative, House Republicans continue to push Big Oil's tired old ideas, ideas that will do absolutely nothing to lower gas prices for the American consumer.

Rather than explore ways to help Americans better afford ever- increasing health care premiums, House Republicans will once again follow the playbook of the insurance industry when, later this month, they will propose health care bills that only help enrich insurance companies.

Mr. Speaker, time is running out for the House Republican do-nothing Congress to actually provide some real

leadership and some new ideas. The American people are waiting.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to congratulate and honor two outstanding police officers, detectives Brian Fennelly and Robert Zielinski for the recognition they received last week by the National Association of Police Officers (NAPO).

On May 12, 2006 Detectives Fennelly and Zielinski, officers with the Morton Grove Police Department, were awarded NAPO's ``Top Cops'' award for their heroic service in the line of duty. On January 21, 2005, with the assistance of Chicago Police Sergeant Richard J. Plotke (also awarded a Top Cops honor) the officers tracked down two suspects who had forcefully entered a home in Morton Grove and held hostage, robbed and brutalized the woman residing at that property.

While attempting to serve a warrant at the suspects' apartment, all three officers came under heavy gunfire. Despite the violent onslaught, and injuries sustained during the suspects' violent attack, the three officers relied on their skills and training to successfully disarm and render the assailants harmless.

By successfully tracking down those dangerous criminals, putting themselves in the line of fire and ultimately disarming the assailants, Detectives Brian Fennelly and Robert Zielinski (and Sergeant Plotke) prevented the serious threat posed to their fellow law enforcement professionals and to the entire community. Their heroic demonstration of bravery, team work and public service certainly makes them Top Cops in my book and in the eyes of their peers.

On behalf of the entire 9th Congressional District and along with Morton Grove's Police Chief, Paul Tasch, Jr. and Mayor, Richard Krier, I want to commend and thank our Top Cops Detective Brian Fennelly and Detective Robert Zielinski for their heroic service to our community. I urge all members of the House to recognize their outstanding service and the service of all public safety and law enforcement personnel throughout the country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in solidarity with Jewish Americans from Maine to Hawaii to celebrate the designation of this May as the first ever Jewish American Heritage Month.

On Thursday April 20th, President Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month. I was a proud cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 315 when it unanimously passed the House of Representatives on December 15th, 2005, urging the President to do just that. Now for the first time there will be a national month recognizing the 352-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture.

As a first generation Jewish American, I have witnessed firsthand Jewish immigrants who have come to this Nation in order to create a better life for themselves, their families, and future generations. Since the first Jews settled here over 300 years ago, Jewish Americans have made endless contributions to our country through technology, the economy, entertainment, academia, politics, art, medicine, military service, and more. Like other important immigrant communities, the Jewish experience in the United States represents the ideal of freedom and the promise and opportunity of America.

Through educational programming, Jewish American History Month will help raise the awareness of a people, their history and contributions. It will help combat anti-Semitism, a phenomenon that is on the rise and that unfortunately still exists in our Nation. At no time in recent history has the need for this observance been greater. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) most recent Hate Crimes Statistics, 67.8 percent of criminal incidents motivated by religions bias stemmed from anti-Jewish prejudice.

The 1essons from the Holocaust have taught Jewish Americans that we must never turn a blind eye to terror or discrimination. It is necessary to combat hate wherever it exists. As a Jew I cannot sit idle while genocidal atrocities continue to unfold in Darfur, Sudan. I was proud to witness American Jewish organizations found the Save Darfur Coalition in June 2004 to mobilize a coordinated interfaith response to the ongoing humanitarian disaster. I hope every American will lend their support to this critical effort.

I look forward to the celebrations that will take place each May for years to come and I encourage everyone to help make this inaugural year's observance memorable by developing educational and celebratory programs in your communities.

And I wish you a happy Jewish American Heritage Month.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Republican budget resolution. The Republican's 2007 budget--and the signing of tax cuts for millionaires today--reflects priorities that are not in line with what our country stands for or the values in which most Americans believe. In keeping with an unfortunate tradition, the Republicans have once again put tax cuts for the wealthy ahead of national security, investing in our economic competitiveness, and meeting the needs of seniors, families, and students. This budget puts K Street ahead of the needs of Main Street.

The Republicans claim that this budget will decrease the massive Bush-era deficit. However, even with all the cruel cuts they make to medical research, health care, and nutrition assistance, their tax cuts add another $1.1 trillion to the deficit. Is that responsible?

The Republicans claim to have our country's best interests in mind. Yet, they slash funding for education and job training by $4.6 billion. Is that in our best interest?

The Republicans allege that their fiscal policies spark economic growth and prosperity. In reality, income is dropping, poverty has increased over the last several years, and 7.1 million Americans remain unemployed. Is that growth and prosperity?

What is responsible is funding vocational education to train our future workers, as the Democratic alternative to this budget would do. It is in our country's best interest to fund port security and homeland security. The Democratic budget recognizes that by providing $6.5 billion more than Republican budget does for homeland and port security. What would spur economic growth is funding initiatives like the Community Development Block Grants program, not cutting it by $736 million as the Republicans do. That money would help revitalize our dilapidated neighborhoods.

As I have said time and time again, budgets reflect what we value and what is important to us as a country. I value senior citizens--and that is why I cannot support a Republican budget that cuts their housing assistance by 26 percent. I believe it is important to prepare for our future so I cannot support a plan that cuts 42 education programs. I support our troops and refuse to support any budget that would cut veterans' health care by $8.6 billion even as new veterans, many severely wounded, are returning home every day. But that's what the Republican budget does.

I urge my colleagues to vote with our common American values and dreams in mind and support the Democratic and Congressional Black Caucus budgets and oppose the Republican budget that sells out the needs of the majority of Americans to make room for tax cuts for millionaires and K Street interests.

Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago this week Vice President Cheney convened his secret energy task force, bringing Big Oil and energy lobbyists together to craft the Bush administration energy agenda. Last year House Republicans rubber-stamped that agenda, and the administration happily signed the legislation into law.

Today, the results are in. Big Oil is laughing all the way to the bank. During the first quarter of this year, the big five oil companies reported profits of $32.8 billion. These profits are a direct result of those secret Cheney meetings. Big Oil has experienced record profits because Washington Republicans chose to shower Big Oil with more than $20 billion in gifts.

While Big Oil is prospering, the decisions made in those secret Cheney meetings are not paying off for the American consumer. Over the past 5 years the average American family is paying $2,000 more a year in gas, home heating and electrical bills.

Washington Republicans continue to hurt everyday Americans by cozying up to Big Oil. Is it any wonder that Americans are demanding change? Democrats will end Big Oil price gouging and rapidly move our country to energy independence and a renewable, clean energy future.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I want to begin by thanking Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton and their Armed Service Committee staffs for working with me to bring this amendment dealing with private military contractors to the floor. I really appreciate your help and that of your staff.

My amendment would provide for additional oversight and accountability of the Defense Department contractors deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Contractors compose the second largest force in Iraq after the U.S. military. This amendment does not attempt to make any statement on the decision to use contractors or about the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Now that we are more than 3 years into the war in Iraq, this amendment is intended to give Members of Congress new tools so that we can exercise our oversight responsibilities on what has become a major component of our military and to clarify the role of contractors. We can all acknowledge that military contractors should require the same stringent accountability and oversight standards as the U.S. military. After all, private contractors often served side by side with our brave troops, and these same United States troops are often tasked to protect our contractors who are paid with billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars.

This amendment would help to provide increased accountability and oversight for our Defense Department contractors by, first, implementing a policy for conducting comprehensive background checks on foreign nationals hired by our contractors. We want to know who these individuals are and what their backgrounds are and if they are suitable for that role. It also prohibits the hiring of any person that has been convicted of a violent crime or a human rights violation.

Second, this amendment makes retroactive new Department of Defense rules for contractors on contracts that are already in existence or on any contract extension. For example, it makes perfectly clear that combatant commanders are in charge. It outlines carefully that relationship between combatant commanders and contractors so that there is a structure of command or part of the chain of command. The combatant commander decides whether or not they carry a gun, what uniform they would wear and that they have to respond to the combatant commander.

It also would say that anyone that is a contractor or an employee of a contractor must obey the laws of the host country, of international law and U.S. law.

Third, it requires a Department of Defense Inspector General report on contractor overcharges, requires that there are sufficient contracting officers assigned to monitor contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I hope that in the future I can continue to work with Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton to address additional oversight issues regarding the use of military contractors. I also hope we will continue to consider the impact that utilizing contractors has on our military. And I would also like to consider additional means to make it easier for Members of Congress to see Defense Department contracts so we can better monitor them for signs of waste, fraud and abuse.

Again, I thank Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton. I appreciate your support and attention to this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, there are times that I wonder whether my colleagues on the other side of the aisle live in a different reality from the rest of us. This resolution encourages senior citizens and persons with disabilities to carefully review all the part D private plan options before them and determine whether to purchase a policy.

We all want senior citizens and disabled people to make informed choices, and we have been helping them, but the reality is there is no way that the millions of beneficiaries who have not enrolled are going to be able to do that in the next 5 days.

The Republican resolution completely ignores the complicated mess that the Republican Congress created in part D. It ignores the fact that current HHS Secretary Leavitt's parents, who he helped, got it wrong and had to change plans.

It ignores the Kaiser Family Foundation report that nearly half of all citizens don't know about the May 15 deadline or the lifetime financial punishment they will face if they miss it, permanent higher premiums as long as they live.

It ignores the GAO report that the Medicare hotline gave inaccurate or inadequate information on which was the best plan to 60 percent of the callers.

It ignores the fact that independent counselors are inundated and unable to provide unbiased advice to sort out the dozens of private plans available.

It ignores the Family USA Report that three out of four low income seniors have not signed up.

It ignores the fact that half of the seniors who didn't have drug coverage last year still don't have it today. That is 10 million people.

It ignores the fact that yesterday's CNN poll said that 47 percent of seniors said the part D program isn't working.

As hard as the Republicans may work to ignore reality, the real reality out there for most people, it won't go away. And the pressure should not be on older and disabled Americans to act over the next 5 days. It should be on the Republican majority to extend the deadline and fix this mess.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidity with Jews across this nation and around the world to pay tribute to those who perished at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust. Today in the Nation's Capital, we gather to pay our respects at the National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance. I would like to thank the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for arranging this important and emotional event.

My district, the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, is home to perhaps the largest concentration of survivors in the country and certainly in the state, and this day holds deep meaning for those individuals and the entire community.

Recent events in the Middle East and around the world underscore the importance of this day. Anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric and demonstrations continue in numerous countries. And the President of one these countries, Iran, has threatened to use nuclear weapons to wipe Israel off the face of the map.

With anti-Semitism on the rise we must be reminded that ``Never Again'' is not a guarantee, but a pledge that we must uphold through education, dialogue, and determination. It also reminds us that we must continue to strengthen the U.S. commitment to the security of Israel. Moreover, we must redouble our efforts to bring lasting peace to the Middle East.

``Never Again'' means that we must combat hate wherever it exists. While the Holocaust was a unique incident, a genocide is taking place right in front of our eyes in the Darfur region of Sudan. I recently traveled to Darfur where President Bush and the U.S. Congress have officially acknowledged ``genocide'' is taking place. According to official estimates, out of an estimated pre-conflict population of 7 million in Darfur, anywhere between 180,000 and 400,000 Darfurians have already died and over 2 million have been displaced. The conflict has spilled across international borders and hundreds of thousands have fled into Chad. The window to provide security and hope is narrowing. According to the Commander of the African Union forces who briefed the participants of my Congressional Delegation in Darfur, ``There is no sense of urgency outside.''

As a Jew I cannot sit idle while these atrocities continue to unfold in Darfur. The lessons from the Holocaust have taught us that we must never turn a blind eye to terror or discrimination. We must demand that our government hold those who carry out acts of needless brutality accountable. I believe that everyone should take a moment today to consider the role of the U.S. in the prevention and prosecution of genocide.

We must honor those who were lost during the Holocaust by carrying on and living honorable and productive lives. At the same time we must also honor them by carrying out measures to bring to justice those who were implicated and who profited from their suffering. And we must do everything within our power to provide the utmost measure of restitution for those who survived the Nazi's evil plan.

The Holocaust was the most horrific human atrocity the world saw during the last century and perhaps in the history of the planet. Millions of Jews and others were brutalized, raped, beaten, dehumanized, enslaved, robbed, and murdered. While it is hard to grasp how terrible those events must have been, what all of our children, and us must do is to listen to the stories of those few remaining survivors of the Holocaust and ensure that their stories and their suffering are a permanent part of history.

Today we honor and mourn those who perished. We vow to live our lives in a way that pays tribute to their memory and ensures others will not suffer their fate.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 282, the Iran Freedom Support Act, which has 360 bipartisan cosponsors who represent approximately 216 million Americans.

Following continued Iranian threats to develop and deploy nuclear weapons, increasing evidence that Tehran is interfering with stabilization efforts in Iraq, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust and comments that Israel should be wiped off the map, and ongoing Iranian support of international terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, it is time for the United States to take concrete steps to hold Iran accountable for its actions.

I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 282 because I feel it is a priority to ensure that Iran is not abusing the basic rights of its people, endangering the well-being of its neighbors, or destabilizing the region. H.R. 282 strengthens existing United States sanctions against Iran, authorizes support to democratic reformers within Iran, and calls for American investors to divest their holdings of companies invested in Iran's energy sector. The legislation is designed to deny Iran the necessary funds to advance its quest for nuclear weapons.

Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has foresworn acquiring nuclear weapons. Yet, it operated a clandestine nuclear program for nearly two decades before it was exposed in 2002.

Iran's continued behavior has led to the decision by the International Atomic Energy Agency to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council. Late last month, the Security Council issued a unanimous statement reiterating calls by the IAEA and members of the international community for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment efforts and permit U.N. inspectors to reenter Iranian nuclear facilities. Now the United States Congress must use every diplomatic and economic tool at its disposal to address this situation.

While Iran must be held accountable for its actions, I will be demanding that the President of the United States seek the consent of Congress before any military plans are considered. There is no military solution to resolving this conflict. The only solution is to use diplomacy, work with the international community, and promote change in Iran from within.

Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons threatens the stability of the entire Middle East and could spark a dangerous and unprecedented nuclear arms race. I urge all of my colleagues to act now and support

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan for his great leadership to try and help consumers to bring the price of gasoline down.

Mr. Speaker, gasoline prices have doubled since the Bush administration took office. On Sunday, Secretary Bodman declared there was an energy crisis in this country, and the Republicans are scrambling to play catch- up.

Since last September, Speaker Hastert has blocked action on Congressman Stupak's bill, which would impose tough criminal penalties on oil and gas companies that engage in price gouging. Congressional Republicans have consistently voted down efforts to give the FTC new authority to prosecute companies that price gouge. Instead, Republicans passed an energy bill which the Energy Information Administration said would raise gasoline prices, and it has.

Last Tuesday, President Bush called on his administration to investigate possible price gouging, even though the FTC was completing a report on price gouging that Congress requested last year. Then, on Friday, the President said, ``I have no evidence that there's any rip- off taking place.'' Think back to the investigation.

Is it any wonder, Mr. President, that Americans are skeptical that you are serious about investigating your Big Oil buddies? On Friday you said, ``It's the role of the FTC to assure me that my inclinations and instincts are right.''

Was that an order for a rubber stamp, Mr. President? No wonder the American people are a bit skeptical, Mr. President, that your oil- dominated administration will work to protect them or, once again, to protect the oil and gas companies, but we need to begin with a serious investigation of those oil companies. I hope that you are really serious.

Madam Speaker, when are House Republicans going to stop being a rubber stamp for President Bush and join us in being on the side of seniors and the disabled instead of the pharmaceutical companies?

House Republicans don't have too much time left to make the right decision. As this calendar shows, Congress has only 19 days left to act on behalf of millions of American senior citizens who have still not chosen a drug plan. Despite a multimillion-dollar campaign and months of heavy promotion by the administration, only 8 million uninsured Medicare beneficiaries have voluntarily signed up so far for a private drug plan, leaving 14 million seniors still without any drug coverage.

Well, some of these seniors have simply determined that the new prescription drug plan will not help them and their prescription drug bills. Others are still navigating through dozens of different plans hoping to find one that will help them. House Republicans should not add to this pressure by supporting the President's unreasonable May 15 deadline.

House Republicans should join the Democrats in extending the deadline until the end of the year. As we mark off another day, the countdown continues.