Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Americans have benefited significantly from medical advancements throughout the past 40 years, and Medicare must also evolve with the changing technology.

Today marks an historic date for the Medicare program. For the first time, America's seniors will have the opportunity to enroll in a voluntary prescription drug benefit that will meet their needs.

I would like to encourage all seniors to sign up for this valuable benefit. For more information on how to register, and this is a special exclusive surprise for biased ABC News, seniors can call 1-800-Medicare or visit www.medicare.gov. Seniors can also contact professional pharmacists in their communities for additional details about the program.

By strengthening Medicare, President Bush and Congress have delivered a program to ensure America's seniors live healthier, happier, and longer.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, as the son of a World War II veteran, as a 31-year veteran of military service and the father of three sons serving today in the military, Veterans Day is particularly meaningful to my family. America exists today only because of the courage of the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States military. Generations of American soldiers have turned impossible challenges into incredible victories, and they have earned our highest respect.

As troops continue to risk their lives in the war on terrorism, we are especially inspired by the bravery of America's 25 million veterans. By risking their lives to protect our freedoms, there is a greater spread of freedom today worldwide than ever in history. We will forever remain grateful for their service.

I would like to encourage all citizens to take time on Friday to personally express their sincere appreciation to the veterans of their communities.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11 or the terrorist attacks on Jordan.

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, it was reported that U.S. productivity grew at the fastest clip in more than a year, signaling a steady growth of the economy. Non-farm business productivity surged at a 4.1 percent annual rate. The increase exceeded economists' expectations and was almost twice that of the prior quarter.

This has caused a gauge of inflationary pressure to drop. When productivity rises smartly, employers can raise and boost wages without fueling inflation. Increasing productivity helps us compete with China so that we can export more to China.

I believe this success is due to the tax cuts enacted by President Bush. The Bush policies have caused the

gross domestic product to surge by 3.8 percent. It has created over 4 million jobs. The stock market has appreciated over $6 trillion. There is a record percentage of homeownership; and, for the first time ever, over 50 percent of minorities own their own homes.

I appreciate President Bush's leadership. I look forward to more successes.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, Americans were saddened over the weekend to see rioters spread fire and violence across France with nearly 5,000 vehicles burned, stretching into the heart of Paris. As a person of French heritage, I am particularly shocked that 34 police officers are injured, including 10 wounded by gunshots. This outburst of violence is a chilling reminder that appeasement is a failed course which leads to greater violence.

I am particularly disappointed France did not show resolve in the Cold War as defenders of freedom actively defeated Communism, and I am disappointed France has not shown resolve in the global war on terrorism, as we resist terrorists from London to Baghdad to Bali. But our hearts and our heritage are with France, which we treasure as America's first ally. With resolve we can stop extremism at its source; peace can be restored.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, our country has been built by innovative men and women who have devoted their lives to owning their homes and businesses. As a former real estate attorney, I know firsthand that ownership is an important component of the American dream.

In June, the rights of property owners recently came under attack when the Supreme Court issued a decision giving local governments the power to seize private property from one private party and give it to another. By valuing potential tax revenues and economic development over the private rights of American citizens, the court delivered a dangerous decision that misinterprets our Constitution and threatens our core values.

Led by sponsor Henry Bonilla and Chairman Bob Goodlatte, the House of Representatives acted last night to restore power to American citizens. By passing the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005, Congress voted to ensure property owners truly have control over their homes, businesses, and organizations. This legislation is an important victory for all Americans.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, over the last several years, Indonesia has entered a new era of democracy. At the national level, the Indonesian people voted freely in an open and fair 2004 Presidential election for the first time in that country's history. The election campaign was vigorous, with public debates and ample discussion of issues among the main candidates. There was no significant violence or attempts at voter intimidation. International election observers as well as domestic monitors reported that the election in Indonesia was conducted fairly. Voter turnout in the general election was very high, about 80 percent.

More recently, another major step forward in democracy is taking place in Indonesia. Regional and local elections have recently been held throughout this vast country of more than 17,000 islands. As before, in last year's presidential election, some observers predicted that local elections would lead to communal conflict. But they were wrong. Nationwide local elections conducted in June went off smoothly although there were tensions among ethnic and religious groups in a few districts. But the security forces maintained order and enforced fair elections. I am informed that of 166 regional districts, 116 succeeded in conducting orderly local elections. Although sporadic, minimal violence did occur in about 16 districts, it was brief and quickly controlled by the police. As in the presidential election last year, according to reports I have seen, voter participation in the local elections was very high, nearly 74 percent.

Indonesian officials recognized openly that there are some weaknesses to be fixed. One is the difficulty in quickly counting the votes in some districts. This case could and did give rise to allegations made by losing candidates, charging that the election was unfair and manipulated. The government intends to work with district officials to improve election procedures, especially voter tallies.

In West Papua there appears to have been no violence or conflicts during the local elections. Reports indicated that elections were successfully held in 14 districts in West Papua. People came out to vote for their candidates to regional councils and exercised their right to choose the local leaders they prefer. Regarding elections for a regional governor, I am told the West Papuans are waiting for the establishment of the People's Council of Papua before conducting the election. This council will be the highest representative body

of West Papua and will have authority to select the candidates for governor of Papua. But, even while awaiting the establishment of the council, the process to nominate some candidates to be governor of Papua is proceeding. I am informed that the Special Commission of the District Parliament of Papua is developing preparations for elections for regional governor. When those preparations are completed, the Commission will send a list of candidates to the People's Council of Papua to be selected to participate in the election.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the government and people of Indonesia for this new and highly important step in instituting democracy in this great country. Regardless of the difficulties encountered in conducting local elections throughout this vast nation, the Administration of President Yudhoyono and the regional authorities demonstrated determination to follow the path to democracy. Just as important, the Indonesian people responded by coming out to the polls in huge numbers. Indonesia deserves high praise for its remarkable accomplishments in breaking with a legacy of dictatorship, and ethnic and religious strife, to successfully implement democratic principles.

Madam Speaker, next week, President Bush will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Pusan, Korea, with representatives from 21 other member governments. His attendance at this forum will highlight the significance of the APEC region, which now accounts for nearly 40 percent of the world's population, over half of world trade, approximately 60 percent of the world's gross domestic product and creates millions of American jobs.

By discussing his efforts to maintain a robust trade, security and global health agenda, President Bush will strengthen our valuable partnership with APEC countries.

As co-chair of the Mongolia Caucus, I am particularly proud that President Bush will be the first American President ever to visit the 800-year-old nation of Mongolia, a true ally in the global war on terrorism. Mongolia has troops courageously serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The President's visit will be a fitting way to express our sincere appreciation for Mongolia's partnership for freedom.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, in October, our office attended numerous ribbon-cutting ceremonies at new businesses in the second district of South Carolina. These exciting events demonstrate economic growth in our community.

President Bush and House Republicans are dedicated to decreasing taxes and eliminating government regulations, and we continue to witness positive results from these economic policies. Last Friday, the Commerce Department reported that the economy grew 3.8 percent in the third quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations. Americans entrepreneurs have created more than 4.2 million new jobs over the last 28 months. Homeownership is the highest level in history. Today's unemployment rate is 5.1 percent, which is lower than the average rate of the last 3 decades.

As American families continue to profit from the Bush tax cuts, I am confident the economy will grow larger and new small businesses will continue to pop up in communities throughout our country.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, in the global war on terrorism, we continue to fight against an enemy that has no respect for the sanctity of human life. On Saturday, terrorists detonated three bombs in the busy streets of New Delhi, taking the lives of 62 innocent civilians and wounding over 200 people. By targeting shopping centers and a city bus, terrorists cowardly murdered innocent civilians. Over 60,000 Indians have been killed by terrorists. As these horrendous attacks continue throughout the globe, citizens of all free nations are at risk.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the serial blasts in Delhi and vowed that ``the government is determined to defeat nefarious designs of terrorist elements. The perpetrators of these heinous acts will be dealt with firmly.''

The United States stands with Prime Minister Singh, and we remain dedicated to defeating terrorists who attack our allies. Today our thoughts and prayers are with the Indian people, who are continuing to work with Pakistan for mutual benefit.

In conclusion, God bless our troops; and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, why do the evil acts of terrorists receive more attention in the media than the victories of American soldiers? Our men and women in uniform are skillfully tracking down and killing terrorists throughout Iraq, but we rarely read about their accomplishments in the media or hear about their successes on the nightly news.

As U.S. troops risk their lives daily to protect American families, their victories deserve our attention.

Earlier this week coalition forces killed Abu Zaid and Abu Hassan, two al Qaeda terrorists who personally assisted in beheadings and were responsible for attacking Iraqi and coalition security forces. Fortunately, these murderers have met the fate of leading al Qaeda terrorists in Algeria and Saudi Arabia.

By eliminating these monsters, coalition forces have saved the lives of countless Iraqis and Americans. The American people deserve to know about the triumphs of our troops and their efforts to protect American families.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to congratulate Akal Security, the second largest U.S-based security guard company, on its twenty-fifth anniversary. Since 1980, Akal Security has grown from just a handful of earnest entrepreneurs to almost 15,000 employees in 48 States and around the world.

Today, the company provides 80 percent of guards for the Department of Justice's Marshals Service and, through a subsidiary, 80 percent of cleared American guards for embassy construction. Akal's employees work in several Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, airports and military installations; Federal Protective Service operations; and local government and commercial properties.

Although the tremendous growth of this company is important, I am also impressed by the unique inspiration of its founders and their continued record of hiring disabled veterans.

Gurutej Khalsa and Daya Khalsa, the founders of Akal Security, incorporate the practices of Sikh Dharma into their day-to-day business lives. They describe Sikh Dharma as a peaceful, monotheistic religion brought to the West from India by Yogi Bhajan, who was only the fourth religious leader to receive a joint resolution of recognition from Congress.

Akal Security also has a distinguished history of hiring veterans of law enforcement and the military, including many decorated heroes and even a few U.S. Marshals. These veterans are patriotic, experienced, and committed to their jobs. This year, Akal Security received the Large Employer of the Year Award from the Disabled American Veterans organization for the company's continued commitment to serving disabled Veterans.

Today, I am pleased to congratulate Akal Security on its remarkable record of accomplishment over the past 25 years.

Madam Speaker, I am thrilled that President Bush has nominated a son of South Carolina to serve as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.

As a boy in Dillon, South Carolina, Ben Bernanke demonstrated his brilliance for economics at a young age. He

taught himself calculus, excelled at his SATs, and eventually received his doctorates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he specialized in monetary policy.

Throughout the course of his career, he has taught our Nation's top schools and been a leader of our economic institutions. As President Bush's economic adviser, he has played a pivotal role in sustaining economic growth in our country. Today Dr. Bernanke is respected as one of the world's most accomplished monetary economists.

As a successor to Chairman Alan Greenspan, Dr. Bernanke will certainly have big shoes to fill. With his background, I am confident that he has the knowledge, experience, and ability to serve as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita delivered disastrous blows to families and communities in the southern part of our country.

As the Federal Government fulfills its commitment on the gulf coast, Congress must make significant sacrifices in other parts of the Federal budget. House Republicans are proposing several commonsense reforms that will decrease the deficit and the size of the Federal Government.

Instead of considering our positive proposals, House Democrats continue to rely upon their tired tax-and-spend plans that ultimately force future generations to pay higher taxes. They have tried to increase Federal spending by billions of dollars at every stage of the legislative process. Earlier this year not a single Democratic House Member supported the lean budget that passed the Congress.

As our Nation continues to recover from these hurricanes, it is time for Democrats to work with Republicans on fresh reforms that will decrease the Federal deficit, strengthen the Federal Government, and help American families.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11.