Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, tonight, as we sit here in this Chamber, all across America there are school superintendents, there are boards of education, there are boards of finance that are grappling with the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression. And as we know from press reports all over the country, hundreds of thousands of school teachers have been given layoff notices. Forty-four States are now in deficit; $95 billion for 2009 fiscal year, $145 billion for the 2010 fiscal year, as all these local officials, who have the responsibility of making sure that we have school programs that our children can have an opportunity to thrive and grow, are bracing themselves for Governors who inevitably are going to be reducing State support for education.

It is in that context, Mr. Speaker, that as we proceed as a Congress to take up the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on this Wednesday, that I think it's important to focus for a minute on the education spending which is included in this legislation.

Under this measure, under this recovery act that President Obama and the congressional leadership have voted on last week, over $145 billion will flow out directly to school districts across this country. For example, there will be $13 billion to pay for Title I, a Federally- mandated program which has been underfunded as part of the disgraceful unwillingness of the Federal Government to pay for the No Child Left Behind Act over the last 6 years. And $13 billion of additional funds will go out to pay for special education. Again, a disgraceful nonfunding by the Federal Government since 1975 when Gerald Ford signed the Special Education Act into law, mandating that all these local officials, again, who are trapped tonight, have to come up with the resources to pay for the special education needs of children all across the country.

And $14 billion to pay for school construction. Again, directly to local communities so that they will have the funds to modernize and retrofit schools all across the country and immediately putting to work the construction trades, which is the hardest hit sector in the American economy.

A $79 billion economic stabilization fund, which will flow directly into States through your education cost sharing formulas all across America to make up for the inevitable shortfall which Governors and State legislators are going to be forced to cut back on as they deal with, again, this historic economic downturn.

President Obama understands that we must act with this American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with funding for education; number one, to make sure that hundreds of thousands of teachers are not going to be laid off, along with staff, who, again, we entrust with making sure are children are going to be educated every single day across this country.

He also understands long term that the failure to step in and avoid larger class sizes, which will result in teacher layoffs, is going to ensure that our economy will grow not just in the short term, not just as we get through this economic crisis, but also to make sure that long term that America's competitiveness will be maintained.

We know what is happening across the world today. That there are countries which are beating us in science, in engineering, in math. And if we allow as a Congress to step back and leave local communities on their own, with declining property tax revenues and declining State support for public education across this country, we will damage not only this country in the short term, but we will damage it in terms of our long-term ability to compete and thrive and grow as a Nation.

This past Saturday, I sat down with school superintendents all across the Second Congressional District of eastern Connecticut to talk about the dilemma with which these school superintendents and boards of education find themselves in. Again, all of them are in the process of coming up with contingency plans to lay off staff and teachers across their district.

When I walked through with them the provisions of President Obama's recovery act in terms of the funds that they will get this year if we get this to the President's desk by President's Day, signed into law, the funds will flow by July 1 for this fiscal year, there was skepticism, and I don't blame them. The Federal Government has not funded Special Ed, has not funded No Child Left Behind.

But when I explain to them that this measure has passed the Appropriations Committee, the Ways and Means Committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee as of last week, and we are voting on it this coming Wednesday, after the stunned silence, the room burst into applause because these folks are feeling the pressure of this economic downturn just like people in the private sector are.

But what we need to do as a Nation is, again, to make sure that in terms of trying to deal with this short-term crisis that we are in, that we are not going to do long-term damage to the young people of this country who had no responsibility for the fiscal and economic idiocy of the last 8 years. And that is why it is so important, as a Congress, we must step forward and support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and make sure that America's public education will endure.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of eastern Connecticut's most dynamic leaders, Ruth Cole-Chu of Salem, who passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2009.

Ruth was born in Hweli, China where her parents were serving as Baptist Missionaries. After returning to the United States, Ruth attended Wheaton College in Illinois where she received her bachelor of arts in speech communications. She later attended Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco where she received her law degree.

Ruth was a devoted wife, mother, and public servant. She was also an attorney and an education consultant. As an active member of her community, she participated in various local boards and commissions. She served 6 years as a member of the Board of Education, including a term as chairwoman, where she fought tirelessly to expand opportunities for the students of Salem. While she began her career as an attorney, it was as an advocate for children that Ruth truly made her mark.

Ruth believed that school communities should be a place where children from all walks of life could grow and learn. She was an

unwavering advocate for multiculturalism and diversity, and it was with that in mind that she founded the Inter-district School for Arts and Communications, the ISAAC Charter School. Since 1997, the ISAAC school has offered a unique educational experience for students in southeastern Connecticut where they can learn about the importance of diversity and the value of community service.

Ruth's belief in compassion and open-mindedness is a message that she carried to all she met. It is a spirit that lives on in her own children, Emily, Hannah and Lily. While her compassion for all children marked her legacy, it was the love that she had for her own children that defined her life.

We in eastern Connecticut are blessed to have had such a dedicated public servant and those of us who knew her are blessed to have had such a friend. We will take solace in her memory and the example that she set for thousands of young people across our State. To Lee, her beloved husband, and the entire Cole-Chu family, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Robert ``Red'' McKeon on being inducted into the Connecticut Firefighters Hall of Fame. There is perhaps no one more worthy of such an honor than Red.

Red has been a leader in his community for over 60 years. In 1944, Red joined the Occum, Connecticut Volunteer Fire Department. Red served in various roles within the department before becoming fire chief in 1960, a position he held for 34 years. Red was not only an active and committed fireman, but he was also a pioneer. During Red's tenure, he ensured that Occum's department led the way in improving the life saving services which they provide to the people of eastern Connecticut. Occum was the first department in the state of Connecticut to employ two-way radio communication in fire trucks and other emergency service vehicles. Occum was also the first department that employed a computer to develop the skills of its first responders.

In 1970, Red founded the Occum volunteer ambulance service to provide the residents of Occum access to state-of-the-art emergency services. Red has also been a pioneer in taking care of his fellow first responders. Red led the charge for establishing a pension system for volunteer firefighters. Despite putting their lives in on the line every day, volunteer firefighters do not receive a pension in recognition of their service. Red worked with State and local leaders in Connecticut to establish a program that allows local communities like Occum to establish retirement programs for volunteer firefighters.

Red has demonstrated his commitment to our first responders at the State, national and even international levels. After serving in the Connecticut State Firemen's Association since 1944, he was elected State President by his fellow firemen in 1977 and 1978.

In 1991, Red became the national chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council, the largest volunteer firefighter organization in the country, and served in the post until 1994. His leadership within that organization and at home in Connecticut received further recognition when the Council chose him as the National Firefighter of the Year in October 1999. Along with this award, Red was presented with a certificate for $2000 from Scott Health and Safety. In keeping with his unselfish nature, Red announced that he would donate the proceeds to the North Carolina Relief Fund to help fire departments that were devastated by Hurricane Floyd.

Red has also been generous enough to share his talents and expertise with the world. Red served as a representative for the United States at the World Federation of Firefighters meetings in Argentina, Denmark, Indonesia and Japan and is an active member of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors.

After a lifetime of service to his community and his fellow first responders it should come as no surprise that Red would be chosen as an inductee to the Connecticut Firefighters' Hall of Fame. This latest recognition is one that is well deserved, and I applaud my friend Red for receiving this prestigious award. We in eastern Connecticut are lucky to have such a fine public servant.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob Munson and the employees of Munson's Chocolates which is headquartered in Bolton, Connecticut.

During the recent holiday season, I had the privilege of visiting Iraq and Afghanistan with a Congressional Delegation led by Representative Gene Taylor of Mississippi and witnessed first hand the important work being done by the men and women of our armed forces. Our group spent time meeting with civilian and military leaders serving on the ground in each country. The holidays are always a difficult time for the men and women of the armed forces as they are away from their loved ones. One of the things that they will tell you makes this time of year a little easier is to enjoy some of the comforts of home.

Thanks to Bob Munson, President of Munson's Chocolates of Bolton, the men and women of the 890th Engineer Battalion and the 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division currently serving in Baghdad were able to enjoy a sweet reminder of home. A few days before Christmas Congressman Taylor arranged for 2,000 pounds of shrimp gumbo to be served to the battalion and Munson's donated almost 600 Connecticut made chocolate bars for dessert. This gift is just another example of the generosity of the Munson family, who for generations has been active supporters of the military community.

The Munson family of employees is no stranger to the heartache families endure while their loved ones are serving overseas. During my visit to the Munson factory, I had the honor of meeting Kay Doherty. Kay's son Stephen recently returned from a tour in Iraq. As Kay can attest, the holidays are an extremely difficult and trying time for military families which is why this generous gift is so timely.

Madam Speaker, Carol Girard of Voluntown, Connecticut, is an inspiration to all of us. Last year a devastating fire forced Carol, her husband, Thomas, and family from their home and into a camper in the shadow of the home's charred remains. After that loss, Carol suffered the ultimate tragedy when her husband, Thomas, and their son, Marc, drowned in Connecticut's Green Falls Pond.

This week the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition answered Voluntown's call for help. Today, where her house once stood, a new home, a new life and restored hope have arisen for Carol and her surviving children, Lucas, Hannah, Jacqueline and Adam.

Hundreds upon hundreds of volunteers have poured on to the site this week making the construction of a new beautiful home possible. In particular, Home Designs by Bruno of Colchester, Connecticut, deserves America's thanks for coordinating this effort.

In honor of the great work of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and the Girard family, I join all of Eastern Connecticut in saying ``Move That Bus!''

Madam Speaker, for nearly 6 decades Thomas Wolff built a legacy in Connecticut that included a prolific business career, leadership in academic and political communities, authorship of countless books and articles, and extensive philanthropic endeavors. His legacy has touched countless lives and will continue to inspire generations to come. While his passing brings great sadness to our community, reflecting on the memories of this extraordinary man brings solace to those in mourning.

Thomas was born in New York City in 1928. In 1949. he moved to Vernon, Connecticut, and married his high school sweetheart, Bette. Following service in the Korean war, Thomas attended the University of Connecticut and graduated cum laude with a degree in economics. Shortly after, he would translate these studies and an uncanny business sense into a lifelong, successful business career.

In the late 1950s, he launched Wolf-Zachin and Associates, a successful insurance firm that has remained a fixture in Connecticut's business community. The firm, now called the Wolff Group, is currently headed by his three children, Gary and Greg Wolff and Debi Davis, as well as his grandson, Keith Wolff. In 1969, Thomas launched Vernon Publishing Services, Inc., a publishing company that created training manuals and presentation binders for professionals in the insurance industry.

His work in the insurance industry would define him as one of the most respected and knowledgeable leaders in the field. Highlights of his career include president of the Connecticut Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, president of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advsors, chairman of the board of Life Insurance Underwriters Training Council, and recipient of the International Insurance Society Gold Medal for Excellence.

Additionally, Thomas served on the Vernon Board of Education, UConn's University Foundation Board, and was a member of Vernon's Town Council. He also brought the Big Brothers and the YMCA to Vernon, was the president of the Rockville Rotary Club, and endowed countless UConn programs and campus amenities.

Beyond these numerous accolades, contributions, and achievements, Thomas was a devoted family man and friend to many in our community. His wife, Bette, whom he married in 1949, was his closest confidant for nearly 6 decades. The outpouring of love and support from his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family reflects the strong bond that they shared.

Thomas lived an extraordinary life, filled with personal and professional vigor and he will be greatly missed. I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in honoring his life and offering condolences to his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the exemplary history of public education in the town of Killingly, Connecticut.

This year, the town of Killingly celebrates the 300th anniversary since its incorporation in 1708. Equally inspiring, it celebrates the 150th anniversary of its public education system. The development of public education in Killingly has been a microcosm of the region, the state of Connecticut, and country as a whole--it is a model of progress.

From a time when providing free education to the public was a visionary innovation to a time when teacher shortages plagued the country when teachers were drafted to serve in World War II, Killingly's education system persevered and thrived.

The mission outlined by the town of Killingly for its school system includes as a high priority fostering citizenship in our Nation's next generation. Moreover, Killingly's contribution to citizenship is not confined to the classroom. I was proud to see pictures of the high school marching band in a Veterans' Day parade. Killingly's commitment to community and progress is certain to continue to energize its education system for another 150 years.

I am pleased to see Killingly's strong commitment to education, evolving over many generations. I know Connecticut will continue to benefit from Killingly's progress for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, Michael Tobin was an exceptional academic leader, a devoted and loving family man, and friend to many. While his passing brings great sadness, the memories of this extraordinary man bring solace to our community.

Early in life, Michael attended the University of Connecticut, where he was an active participant in ROTC. Following graduation, he entered the Air Force and served as a Second Lieutenant. He subsequently earned his PhD from the West Michigan University and would go on to teach at Southern Connecticut State University.

Between 1976 and 1992, Michael was a professor at Southern Connecticut State University. During his tenure, he taught educational leadership to students from our community and communities across the Nation and abroad. His professional work inspired countless students and instilled the qualities that we need in our future educational leaders.

Beyond these professional achievements, Michael was a devoted and loving family man. In his passing, the love shared by his extensive family reflects the strong bond that he shared with each.

Throughout these journeys, Michael called Vernon, Connecticut his home since 1963. He was an excellent neighbor and even better friend and his presence will certainly be missed. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and my constituents in honoring his life and offering condolences to his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding educator from my district, Norma Fisher-Doiron, Principal of Southeast Elementary School in Mansfield, Connecticut. This year, Norma has been recognized by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) with the 2008 National Distinguished Principals award.

Since 1984, the National Distinguished Principals Program has recognized educators from communities across this nation and abroad who are committed to academic excellence. To be eligible for this award, educators must incorporate of communal and parental involvement in student curriculum. Educators must also display the use of tailored educational programs that facilitate academic success for all students.

For 15 years, Norma has served as the Principal of Southeast Elementary School in Mansfeld Center, Connecticut. Although the Southeast Elementary School community is widespread, Norma was successful in reaching out to all comers of the area to win support from parents and community leaders to reinforce personal and academic success from Southeast Elementary students.

During her tenure, Norma has also prioritized with her students character building--including appreciation and respect of others--a positive attitude, and coping skills.

On October 16th and 17th, Norma will join 61 other honorees from across this nation and abroad, in Washington, D.C. to celebrate this recognition. While in Washington, the honorees will participate in a U.S. Department of State reception and a White House briefing.

Madam Speaker, the success of our education systems relies on the strength and passion of our academic leaders. Norma has exemplified these characteristics, and I remain confident that she will continue to contribute to successes in our public education system. I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing Norma's contributions and celebrating her award.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the career of Girard Bastien, an outstanding member of our eastern Connecticut community. After six decades of service in the Baltic Fire Department, in Baltic, Connecticut, Girard will commemorate his retirement with family and friends on October 25, 2008 with a celebratory dinner.

As a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Girard's commitment to public service began early in life. In August 1948, between service in WWII and the Korean War, Girard joined the Baltic Fire Department and launched a lifelong career that would span six decades. During his career, Girard achieved the rank of Deputy Chief, was a member of the New London County Fire Chiefs' Association, and served as the Sprague Tree Warden between 1954 and 1990. Additionally, Girard was the head of the Baltic Fire Department kitchen and orchestrated weekly bingo event in recent years.

Support from his wife of 62 years, Jeanette, as well as his sons, Dennis and Edward have made his career a long and fruitful one.

Madam Speaker, Girard's lifetime of public service has and will continue to inspire our eastern Connecticut community, and I ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing and celebrating this service.

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to recognize the outstanding military service and contributions to our country of Commander Gerald Nereus Miranda, Jr., U.S. Navy--known to us all as Jerry--on the occasion of the completion of his assignment as Deputy Director of the Navy Congressional Liaison Office for the U.S. House of Representatives.

A native of San Diego, California, Commander Miranda is a 1990 graduate of the University of California at San Diego. He received his commission at the Navy's Officer Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island that November. After completing his initial submarine training, he earned his submarine ``gold dolphins'' in 1993. He served aboard USS Portsmouth (SSN 707), USS Florida (SSBN 728), and as Executive Officer aboard USS Key West (SSN 722). He also served with Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and was a key member of a Joint Special Operations Task Force battle staff while stationed in Iraq, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following his Executive Officer tour, Commander Miranda was selected to serve as Deputy Director, Navy House Liaison in February 2006. In this highly visible tour, he assisted in the passage of vital Navy budget legislation during the 109th and 110th Congresses. Additionally, he planned, executed, and led 42 congressional and staff delegations across the globe that included meetings with various world leaders in support of America's national security policy.

Over the past two years, Commander Miranda has been a fixture in my office. His expansive knowledge of the Navy's policies and priorities, especially his experience in the submarine force, has helped me advocate for the needs of my constituents and my district. Whether it was answering questions from my staff about submarine policy, coordinating congressional delegation trips to Groton or simply taking the time to stop by the office to check in, Commander Miranda has always been a ready and accessible resource. His professionalism, resourcefulness and dedication to the Navy and our Nation has proved invaluable to me and my colleagues, and he has

truly set a high bar for those who follow in his position.

I am proud to say that Commander Miranda has become a valued friend to me and my staff, and we will miss having his counsel and support here in Congress. As Commander Miranda prepares to leave Capitol Hill to serve as a commanding officer of a United States Submarine, I ask all my colleagues to join me in thanking Commander Miranda and his family for their tireless contributions to a grateful nation and in wishing them the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, stigmas surrounding mental health illness have negatively impacted disease acceptance, and in turn, access to quality care and treatment. For too long, members of our eastern Connecticut community and Americans across our nation have suffered the consequences of these inequalities in our health care system. Today, we have the opportunity to ease access to quality care and treatments for those with mental illness by passing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (H.R. 6983).

In 1996, the Mental Health Parity Act codified the first national mental health parity requirements, mandating that annual and lifetime dollar limits on coverage for mental health treatment be no less than those for physical illness. While this legislation marked a monumental achievement with improving access to mental health care and treatments, more must be done.

Throughout the 110th Congress, the House and Senate have worked on mental health parity legislation that will extend coverage requirements beyond those established in the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996. The Mental Health Parity Act (S. 558) introduced in the Senate and the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (H.R. 1424), which I cosponsored in the House, both extend coverage mandates to include equity in copayments, deductibles, as well as in- and out-of- network coverage. On March 5, 2008 and September 17, 2007, the House and Senate respectively passed H.R. 1424 and S. 558 with bipartisan support. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act reflects a compromise between the House and Senate bills, and more broadly, an equitable standard for mental health care coverage.

Mr. Speaker, nearly one in four Americans suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder. By passing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act we recognize the prevalence and seriousness of mental health illness as well as the need for expanded coverage. I ask my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Chairman Peterson's bill, which is a logical follow-on to Tuesday's energy bill that had two goals: number one, to bring immediate relief to consumers; and, two, to bring long-term solutions to America's energy challenges. This bill will go a long way to bring accountability to the price of a critical commodity, oil, which is the lifeblood of our economy.

The facts are clear, before energy commodities trading was exempted from CFTC oversight, about 70 percent of the energy futures trading was done by energy companies, 30 percent was done by speculators. Today those numbers are reversed, and the trading volume has increased sixfold.

As an old friend of mine, who has been in the scrap metal business in Willimantic, Connecticut, for 30 years said, commodity markets were never intended to be investment markets. Yet that is what they have become, and consumers and small businesses cannot keep up with the huge price swings occurring every day with no apparent connection to supply and demand.

These huge price swings have a direct result on my constituents in eastern Connecticut who are facing dire circumstances if home heating oil remains at high and unstable prices this fall and winter. It is time that Congress took additional steps to make sure that all markets, including foreign boards of trade, operate with CFTC oversight. We must bring transparency and stability to energy trading.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chairman, this is the ultimate friendly amendment to this very solid bill, on which I commend the gentleman from Maryland for his leadership. Based on Mr. McKeon's positive comments earlier, I should probably make this very short and sweet.

In a nutshell, what this amendment does is it encourages organizations that apply for this environmental education grant program to describe on their application for Federal grants how they have partnered or how they intend to partner with a State or with a local park and recreation department.

As was mentioned in the earlier colloquy, Park and Recreation Departments all over the country already are very involved in environmental education programs, and that certainly holds true also for State park systems.

In Connecticut, we actually have a program, by coincidence, called the No Child Left Inside Program, which was instituted in 2006 by the Republican Governor of Connecticut, Jodi Rell, and by her outstanding commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, which again is following exactly the same mission that Mr. Sarbanes' bill is following, to encourage children to get outside, to experience nature, to learn about nature, and to hopefully stimulate an interest in environmental science, which again, as has been said many times here during the earlier debate, is an important way to make sure that we get children engaged and involved in science, technology, engineering, and math, which the education committee has spent many hours wrestling with because we clearly have an educational system which is not producing enough scientists and engineers to meet the workforce challenges of our country.

The Connecticut program utilizes State park systems which, again, are perfectly established right now to provide trained personnel, transportation equipment and programs funding to again provide a very solid and an enriching experience in nature. They work together with school systems in a variety of programs.

The Appalachian Connection program, which again uses the Appalachian Trail which goes through Connecticut, works collaboratively with school systems to bring children out to the Appalachian Trail. It's just an extraordinary part of Connecticut's environment.

In Bolton, Connecticut, they have the geography in October program. In Preston, Connecticut, there is a recycling program, which again is operated through the No Child Left Inside Program.

There are many examples of where working in collaboration between the State's park system and local school boards has really, again, provided a perfect model and an example of what this legislation seeks to achieve.

The National Recreation and Park Association and local parks departments all over the country have endorsed this amendment. It's a ``may'' not ``shall'' amendment, so it is purely voluntary in terms of encouraging local school districts to participate.

In conclusion, I just wanted to comment on some of the prior discussion regarding the energy needs of this country and how come we are taking up a bill like this.

In my State, where we have an active nuclear power plant that provides 40 percent of the power of the State, we build nuclear submarines in my district, if you talk to people in the industry, an industry which in America has not built a nuclear reactor since 1973, in fact the biggest challenge is not financing or national energy policy, because we have over 20 new applications for new nuclear reactors before the NRC today. If you talk to the people in the industry, their biggest challenge is human capital, that the average age of a nuclear engineer in this country is over age 55.

Because of that gap, which has existed because for a million different reasons, if we are really serious about promoting nuclear power as an avenue in the future, and with the cap and trade debate that is looming on the horizon in the future I believe it is going to be part our energy portfolio, the fact of the matter is we have to get serious about getting kids engaged and involved in science and engineering. And Mr. Sarbanes' legislation is all about that. It is exactly focused on the real energy needs that we have in this country, which is to create the scientists and engineers that are going to provide the solutions in all of the above avenues.

Madam Chairman, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in December, Senator McCain admitted that he is not an economic expert when he stated ``The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should.'' He went on to say, though, that he had Alan Greenspan's book. Well, clearly, Senator McCain should listen to Greenspan, who called this week's financial news a once-in-a-century type of financial crisis. Unfortunately, Senator McCain was not listening because his response to the catastrophic economic events of this week was ``the fundamentals of our economy are strong,'' and he called for the oldest, lamest Washington trick in the book--the creation of a study commission.

We don't need a commission to know that 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs in the last year, that the median income for working Americans has fallen over $2,000 a year over the last 8 years. Those are not strong fundamentals.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when every economic expert agrees that our economy is in crisis, we need someone in the White House who is ready and willing to act now to fix it, and clearly, that person is not Senator McCain.