Floor Statements

Madam Speaker and Members of Congress, as a Member of Congress, I am moved by Ms. Joyce Hamlett's trust in patience, trust in truth and trust that God has planned a great path for her life. I rise to ask you to join me in recognizing the excellent service and continued professional success of Ms. Joyce Hamlett, newly appointed Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Congressional business begins when the Mace is set, and ends when it is lifted. There is one woman with the great responsibility to ensure that the Mace is available for this historical purpose. And, in times of emergency, one woman guards the Mace and preserves its protection.

Ms. Joyce Hamlett is the first African American woman to serve as the Keeper of the Mace. Her moral upbringing prepared her for this honorable position. Ms. Hamlett was raised by her grandfather in a church community that fostered the importance of honesty and faith. Indeed, Ms. Hamlett's strong heritage has served as the guiding force throughout her career on Capitol Hill.

In the early 1980s, Ms. Hamlett departed Broadway, North Carolina and began her successful professional journey alongside her mother, Betty Pearson, at the Capitol Cafe. Within five years, Ms. Hamlett rose to cook for lawmakers upstairs in the Capitol Hill restaurant.

Her respectable interaction with lawmakers continued when she went on to serve as elevator operator under the Architect of the Capitol. During that time, she formed long-lasting friendships with many Members of Congress.

In the early 1990s, Ms. Hamlett interviewed for the position of chamber security, and soon after began to firmly enforce House rules on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. As chamber security, she was well-known as one who worked hard to safeguard the principles and rich tradition of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Because of her excellent service, Ms. Hamlett was promoted to her current position as Keeper of the Mace. Ms. Hamlett is not only Keeper of the Mace, but she is also keeper of a strong moral foundation and keeper of the wisdom and principle represented by the Mace's solid- silver eagle.

Madam Speaker and Members of Congress, I congratulate Ms. Joyce Hamlett, a woman that continues to blaze new trails with distinction as Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give honor to one of our great House employees here that works in this Chamber every day, and that's Joyce Hamlett.

Joyce has had the opportunity to be appointed as Assistant Sergeant at Arms in charge of the mace of the House of Representatives. I think this is a very high accomplishment for someone like Ms. Hamlett who has a meek-like spirit and very nice lady, and I've been working with her, and she's been working not only with me but my mother and other Members that have served here in the House.

She's the first African American woman to serve as keeper of the mace. Her high moral upbringing prepares her for this honorable position.

Mr. Speaker, I can go further, and I do as it relates to my Congressional Record statement, but we honor not only her presence here, but we honor the fact that she gives God all of the grace and the glory for her accomplishments here in the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress, as a Member of Congress, I am moved by Ms. Joyce Hamlett's trust in patience, trust in truth and trust that God has planned a great path for her life.

I rise to ask you to join me in recognizing the excellent service and continued professional success of Ms. Joyce Hamlett, newly appointed Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Congressional business begins when the Mace is set, and ends when it is lifted.

There is one woman with the great responsibility to ensure that the Mace is available for this historical purpose.

And, in times of emergency, one woman guards the Mace and preserves its protection.

Ms. Joyce Hamlett is the first African American woman to serve as the Keeper of the Mace. Her moral upbringing prepared her for this honorable position.

Ms. Hamlett was raised by her grandfather in a church community that fostered the importance of honesty and faith.

Indeed, Ms. Hamlett's strong heritage has served as the guiding force throughout her career on Capitol Hill.

In the early 1980s, Ms. Hamlett departed Broadway, North Carolina and began her successful professional journey alongside her mother, Betty Pearson, at the Capitol Cafe.

Within five years, Ms. Hamlett rose to cook for lawmakers upstairs in the Capitol Hill restaurant.

Her respectable interaction with lawmakers continued when she went on to serve as elevator operator under the Architect of the Capitol. During that time, she formed long-lasting friendships with many Members of Congress.

In the early 1990s, Ms. Hamlett interviewed for the position of chamber security, and soon after began to firmly enforce House rules on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

As chamber security, she was well-known as one who worked hard to safeguard the principles and rich tradition of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Because of her excellent service, Ms. Hamlett was promoted to her current position as Keeper of the Mace.

Ms. Hamlett is not only Keeper of the Mace, but she is also keeper of a strong moral foundation and keeper of the wisdom and principle represented by the Mace's solid-silver eagle.

Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress, I congratulate Ms. Joyce Hamlett, a woman that continues to blaze new trails with distinction as Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Thank you Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor to be before the House once again. Last night we didn't know when we would end today, and we did a lot of thank-yous and good-byes and seeing the good people that we work with here in the Capitol next year. But we wanted to come to the floor, and I know that Mr. Ryan and Ms. Wasserman Schultz and Mr. Altmire and others will be coming down to give their closing comments. But, Madam Speaker, I think it is important for us to shed light on the actions of not only today, but the last 24 hours, what has happened, what will happen in the upcoming year, and all of the things that this first historic session of the 110th Congress and this New Direction Congress has accomplished.

Many times I have been on the floor and we talked about the difference between the glory and the story. And whenever there is glory, there is a story that is untold, and very few know about the story part. I think it is important, especially as we start to look at this point and look at where we are now as a country and where we are getting ready to go and where we have been in the recent past.

Two wars going on, an economic downturn, Americans losing their homes as it relates to mortgages. Also, issues that our servicemen and women have to face of not being with their family members at this very holy time of the year. And, Madam Speaker, if I can, I want to not only read into the Record but also share with the Members some of the things that we have done this past year in a bipartisan way, in my opinion, in many cases major pieces of legislation, and some we still have impasse on and we are going to have to work on it the next session.

I think it is important when we start looking at what this Congress accomplished, because we started out with saying that we had a Six in '06 agenda within the first 100 hours of this Congress. And if you listened to the President, the President may say, well, the Congress is not doing much. That is his opinion. Well, that is very interesting, because I remember being a part of Congress when we came in on Tuesday night and we left mid-day Thursday and got very little done. This Congress did everything but sit around and not respond to the needs of the American people.

We actually came here and we made America safer by passing the 9/11 Commission recommendations to protect America from terrorism. We also brought the largest veterans health care funding increase in the history of the VA. And I think that is important. You hear me speak very passionately about those that have laid it down, those that have put everything on the line so that we can salute one flag today.

We also passed an energy package which is historic, that is putting forth standards, increasing fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2010, slash U.S. oil consumption by more than 4 million barrels per day by

2030. These are benchmarks that we want to meet as a country so that we can protect this earth for future generations and for the present generation. Also, expanding American-grown biofuels to 35 billion gallons by 2020, creating American jobs while we are doing it.

I think it is important for us to point back at the largest college aid expansion since the GI Bill in 1944, that cut interest rates in half on behalf of families that are trying to afford to educate their children and young people that are borrowing money to be able to educate themselves in many cases.

The first increase in the minimum wage in a decade.

I mean, the things that I am mentioning here, Madam Speaker, are accomplishments that I think far surpass my first two terms in Congress under Republican control. We did a lot of things for a lot of super- wealthy people. We carried out acts on behalf of special interests that the average American would never have an opportunity to enjoy. Here on this floor, we spent 4 years talking about what we would do if we got the opportunity, and that we have done it and we are still doing it. And it is not over and we are still in this story mode.

Our innovation agenda, promoting 21st century jobs for a global economy, is another accomplishment of this Congress. Aid to the Gulf Coast recovering from Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Waiving the Stafford Act requirements, the matching dollars, so that those communities and that gulf area will be able to recover. Just like Miami, just like your City of New York after 9/11, just like San Francisco had that waiver, we made sure that those gulf states and also those Americans down there that were struggling, that their cities are able to come back and their parishes are able to come back.

I think it is also important for us to look at the tax cut that passed this floor today for 19 million middle-class Americans that were facing an AMT hike because every year Republicans have treated it as though it is some sort of new thing by borrowing the money. Now, today there was legislation that came over from the Senate that we ended up voting and paying for because we wanted to make sure that firefighters and everyday first responders and those that are teachers that fall within that AMT that we call it, alternative minimum tax, make sure that they don't have to pay a higher tax.

Personally, Madam Speaker, because so many times here on this floor we talk about balancing the budget, making sure that we don't borrow on the backs of our children, I am committed that we are going to work out a way that we can vote for something that is paid for and that we can make sure that we make it happen without shutting the whole tax process down. I personally voted against paying for it with borrowed money, but I think that so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that voted for it, to borrow the money today because we are in a crisis situation, we are going to be facing tough votes in the future. As we borrow from China, as we borrow from these other nations that not necessarily have our best interests at heart, I think it is important that we pay attention to that.

We worked very hard, this is a part of this story, we are not quite there yet, on the whole SCHIP legislation, which is the health care for 10 million children. We did reauthorize the existing program at the existing numbers so that we would not have crisis in the States where kids are depending on this health care. These are things that we have to do because we have to do them for now. But I can tell you, and I hope that the American people are paying very close attention, about the effort that this Congress has put forth, Mr. Altmire, to make sure that we keep this government functional, that we try to run the government in a fiscal way, that we try to make sure that those that have been literally cut off from Federal assistance, that we are able to bring that assistance back to not only build States but also build communities and make sure that the U.S. taxpayers get what they deserve.

A couple of other points. I think it is also important that we look at restoring accountability, earmark lobbying, ethics reform. We have done all of that. It is all transparent and it is all there to make sure that integrity of the government is here. And we passed the pay- as-you-go rule that was adopted.

A number of other initiatives have passed this floor, and more rollcall votes have been taken in this first session of Congress. So really what we have done as Democrats and especially, Madam Speaker, you and Mr. Altmire and others who have joined this Congress in this session, should be very proud going back home talking about the new day and the new direction that you ran for, that you played a role in moving this Congress into a new direction, and that is what we have done.

I just want to let you know, it ain't over yet.

We have a lot more work to do, and we are monitoring all of the things that we have to do and those that were not accomplished----

We are going to plow through them and make sure that all of this happens. We are going to know those bills that made it through the process. We are going to know that those bills that made it halfway through the process. We are going to understand the pieces of legislation that misbehaved along the way, and we are going to make sure that we get it right.

I want to say something before the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) says something. We are going back to our neighboring districts down in Florida. I hate to talk about it in front of all of my good friends in the Clerk's Office about Florida and the sun and all of those things, but I want you to pay attention. You have to look at one another and pay attention to what is happening here.

This is the last night of Congress of the first session. The 30- Something Working Group is going to get an opportunity to adjourn the House for the year. We are all in the majority. We all serve on substantial committees. We all have families to go home to and do the things that we have to do. But we care enough, Madam Speaker, the commitment that we made to the American people that we were going to do what we said we were going to do, and we want to make sure that Independents, Republicans, Democrats, new voters, those thinking about voting, know that we have their back.

We don't have to be here tonight. That is the reason we are going to finish at 7:30. These people have commitments, too, and are ready to go home. But we are going to make sure that this goes into the Record so when the historians look at this time in this first session and all of the things that we tried to do to balance the budget and do all the things that we told them we would do in this first session, that we meant it and we held our own feet to the fire on this issue.

Ms. Wasserman Schultz.

I know we have time, but I made a commitment to the people that are nice to us here in the Chamber that they will be getting to be reunited with their families pretty soon. So I guess we can kind of make our closing comments, or what have you. We said 35 minutes. We have until, maybe until at least 35 after, so don't feel rushed.

Well, we gave a lot of shout-outs to folks last night on how much we appreciate all of the staff and everyone that has made the 30-Something Working Group possible: our good friends from the Clerk's office who have been watching us for the last 5 years, also Mr. Michael here. I don't want to give out last names because Mr. Tom, you know, and others that help us.

Yes, all kind of stuff. These guys are rock stars.

But I just want to say in closing that what we do here is very serious work, but we do bring kind of a human element to it. I'm glad that we do, because Americans understand what we are talking about. Members understand what we're talking about. And Madam Speaker, I mean, it's really a high honor for me to yield back this time, but I would also like for your freshman class brother, Mr. Altmire, to close our first session officially.

Mr. Speaker, it's an honor to be here before the House once again. And a lot has been done and I'm so glad that we're here and 30-something, once again, may be our last opportunity in this year of 2007. We appreciate the courage and the commitment by those of us that are in the majority. And we talked about a number of things that we would do and that has actually happened, Mr. Speaker. And a lot has happened this year, and, Mr. Speaker, I know that your constituents and others as it relates to Minnesota and what has taken place there and the tragedies that y'all have dealt with and how this Congress has responded to that tragedy of the bridge falling, and so many of your constituents are in recovery as we speak, and being from south Florida, hurricane ravaged area, we know what recovery means. And it's important for us to respond in a bipartisan way.

But I can tell you, some of my colleagues that were on the floor just prior to me hitting the floor talking about earmarks, it's very interesting. I am, you know, it's one of those days, and I'm glad that I was able to make it to the floor and that we were able to take this hour, and we want to thank the majority leader and also the Speaker and the majority whip and our leadership as it relates to the Democratic Caucus and our vice Chair for getting here, because to talk about earmarks, it's very interesting because we've reduced earmarks by 40 percent. I mean, that is something that the Republicans did not do over a number of years. You wouldn't even know who put an earmark in if it wasn't for the transparency that the Democratic Congress brought to this process.

Now, I'm going to tell you right now, I'm very happy that I was elected to come to Congress and that I'm going to get the opportunity to go home and tell my constituents what I've done for them in Congress. That's what it's all about. Why are we here representing 600, 700,000 individuals, Americans? To not only represent them here in Congress, but to also, quote, unquote, bring home the bacon on behalf of your constituency, to make sure that they have what they need, to make sure when a county commissioner or someone that sits on a parish board has an opportunity to come to their Member of Congress and say we need something from the Federal Government, meanwhile back here in Washington, DC, we have Republicans that have voted in the last five, or four Congresses for tax breaks for billionaires. Their name's not attached to it. We come here, we bring transparency, we bring accountability. We bring accountability to this process. And then they come to the floor with the audacity to say, well, you know, oh, these earmarks. Well, you know, I don't know, but I'm pretty proud of the fact that the city of Pembroke Park is able to do something about the water treatment that they've been yearning for, struggling city. I'm very proud that the city of Miami is able to say thank you Congressman for representing us in the U.S. Congress.

Meanwhile, the Republicans, for years and years and years, have been able, Mr. Ryan, to give tax breaks to

the billionaires and gazillionaires. Here we are bringing government back to the people and being criticized by the other side of the aisle. So, Mr. Ryan, there's a lot that we have to talk about. This is a historic day. We passed energy independence and security act. That's a historic piece of legislation. And all our colleagues have in the minority to talk about, earmarks that have been reduced by 40 percent and have been highlighted by this Congress.

Mr. Murphy was running for office a year and some change ago, talking about if he gets to Congress what he would do for his constituents, that he would provide the kind of representation that they deserve, turn this saga of Iraq and that other issue of Iraq back to domestic priorities, bring home the bacon on behalf of the district and his constituents.

I'm so glad that he's here tonight because we've been here three times. This is his first time. I'm glad that he's here because I want to know what's wrong. I mean, I just, Mr. Speaker, I personally want to know what's wrong with coming to Washington, DC, representing your constituents, and doing what you said you would do.

Mr. Speaker, this is one of these moments at the end

of the session, I mean we're like days from Christmas. We're still here in Washington, D.C. We've already started Hanukkah; Kwanzaa's on its way.

I think it's very, very important for us to point at the fact that this Congress has worked harder than any other Congress in the history of the Republic. I mean, I'm not talking about coming in number two or coming in number three or coming in number four, but we've taken more rollcall votes in the history of the Republic.

I think it's also very important, and I feel goose bumps by this whole thing. I pay attention to history. I also pay very close attention to the present. We're looking at a President right now that has made more veto threats than he's made in the last 5 years or 4 years, what have you, that he's been President of the United States to this Democratic Congress. We're looking at the AMT. We're talking about individuals being able to file their taxes, and we said that we were going to pay for it. This President is saying that he doesn't want to pay for it, that he wants to borrow the money. But the bottom line is that we're going to be here to make sure that we pay for it in the long run, in the second half of this Congress.

We're not going to allow the President to play this Congress as a fiddle. This President is talking about, Oh, well, I want Iraq funding a part of the appropriations bill that's going to pass and all. He has the veto pen. He also has 40 Republicans here in this Chamber to make sure that we don't override him on this issue of Iraq. We voted for appropriations for Afghanistan, and we had a number of Republicans that voted against it, some 200-plus. I don't feel in any way bad about the position that we've taken.

I'm so glad Mr. Manatos is on our side. You know, our colleagues who came to the floor right before our hour. I sent upstairs for this chart to make sure that we enter this chart into the Record one more time. I think it's important that we look at the 42 Presidents before this President were only able to borrow $1.01 trillion. We're talking about the Great Depression. We're talking about World War I. We're talking about World War II. We're talking about Korea. We're talking about Vietnam. We're talking about Grenada; that's new. We're talking about a number of conflicts that have taken place. We're talking about economic downturns. We're talking about the S&L scandal. We're talking about a number of issues that have faced Americans over the years.

This President, President Bush, along with his Republican minority, thank God, but enough to be able to cause trouble over in the Senate with this 60-vote phenomena that we've learned about in this 110th Congress with Republicans saying, Well, you know, we're going to use procedural rules to be able to hold up what the Democratic Congress would like to do in this Congress.

This President was able to borrow $1.19 trillion. That number is higher now. This chart is not updated, but I think it's important for our Democrats, Independents, Republicans to know that we believe in fiscal responsibility here on this floor. We believe in the American way.

We used to talk about our children paying this bill, but now we're talking about we are paying this bill, countries like China and others.

So I know Mr. Ryan is trying to get in the middle of this. He's always trying to get in the middle, and I'm just trying to make my point. I don't want you to take it personal. I'm just trying to make my point.

Thank you so very much.

I think it's important, and I kind of feel like a Baptist preacher on the first Sunday. You want to be able to make your point, and you want to be able to climax, but Mr. Ryan comes in and gets in the way, but it's okay. He has a good point. He's a great American.

I think it's important that we look at our responsibility right now and in the present for being able to stand up for those that have elected, woke up early one Tuesday for us, voting for representation, that we give voice to their cause and their need.

I think it's also important, especially as it relates to the diversity of our caucus, need it be Blue Dogs, need it be moderate, need it be to the left or whatever the case may be, it represents America.

I think the reason why Republicans voted for Democrats last time, Independents voted for Democrats last time, Democrats voted for Democrats last time is because they're looking for change. We're here to provide that kind of change, but we start looking at obstructionists here in Congress using procedural, using the rules of the House, using the rules of the Senate. The minority is protected in this process, standing in the schoolhouse door, if I may use that, of allowing us to stop from the report that we got today, November 13, or yesterday, November 13, total deaths in Iraq, 3,888; total numbers wounded in action and returned to duty, 15,832; total numbers wounded in action and not returning to duty, 12,829.

We pay attention to those numbers in the 30-something group because the American people are paying attention to those numbers, and I think it's very important, Mr. Speaker, that we continue to lift this issue up.

So as we look at what we are facing right now, Members, there's nothing wrong with us representing our districts and being able to bring dollars back because this is something that has not happened over the years. We have been borrowing the money to be able to continue the war in Iraq. We have been borrowing the money as it relates to going after Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. We have been doing the things we need to do. But I think it's very important, Members, that we tell our story.

Today a very historic piece of legislation passed this floor when we look at the Energy Independence and Security Act. And I think we should not allow this day to pass without talking about the courage of Democrats and Republicans passing this bill.

I yield to Mr. Altmire.

Mr. Altmire, I think you just hit a point there.

Mr. Ryan, the 30-something Working Group, I can say, gentlemen, that we do our homework. As we talked about our colleagues on the minority side criticizing earmarks on the majority side, Mr. Ryan, would you please share with our illustrious support staff that we have here?

Mr. Speaker, this is the reason why the 30-something group exists, so that we can, some may say, push back. We say tell the truth.

I yield to Mr. Ryan.

Bill Thomas that used to be the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

So I think it's important, Mr. Speaker, for us to note that that's the case.

And, Mr. Ryan, I am going to kick it back to you and Mr. Murphy was very kind because it was his turn, but I am going to tell you Mr. Thomas ran the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Altmire, and meanwhile had something named after him. And for Members on the minority side to come to the floor and talk about present Members that are bringing home the resources on behalf of their constituents, I can see if one did not put in a request.

I will yield, Mr. Ryan.

I yield to the gentleman from Connecticut.

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Altmire, I want to thank you first.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me just say this: let me tell you, as I was walking to the Chamber, I saw that the Speaker's vehicle was still here in the Capitol. I saw that the majority leader's vehicle was still here at the Capitol. This is now a little bit before 10 p.m. within the closing days of Congress. We have worked day in and day out. We are here away from our families, many of you away from your families, days before Christmas, to be able to work on behalf of the American people.

I think it's important for us to understand that we would not even be having the discussion about who got what if it wasn't for the transparency that this Democratic Congress brought to this process first. So for Republicans to come to the floor and start talking about who got what, it never would have happened, Mr. Murphy, if it wasn't for what we have done. It never would have happened if it wasn't for your class and Mr. Altmire's class coming and saying we want transparency, that we want the American people to see what we are doing, that we want to take more rollcall votes than any other Congress in the history of the United States. We want ethics; we want responsibility; we want fiscal responsibility; we want to make sure that the Veterans Affairs get more money than they have ever had in history, the veterans health care system, in the history of the Republic.

We want accountability as it relates to Iraq, and we want this President to know that this is not a rubber-stamp Congress. If it was not for you, Mr. Speaker, including yourself, asking for the kind of accountability the American people have been calling for, that have been yearning for, voting for and they finally got it, for the minority party to come to the floor and start criticizing things, where they make over 20-plus earmarks, to come to the floor and criticize, that's why I'm so glad, Tom and Tasha and Michael, that we are here tonight, Mr. Speaker, to make sure that we set the record straight.

We talked about the hypocrisy of the democracy. This is a perfect example of what happens when things go unchecked. I am so glad that we exist. I'm so glad we have air within our bodies to be able to come to the floor.

I yield to Mr. Altmire.

Well, Mr. Ryan, I want to thank you and Mr. Altmire, and also Mr. Murphy and Ms. Wasserman Schultz and others who have been very active in our 30-Something over the year. I want to thank those that are involved in preparing not only material that we meet on on a weekly basis, but also what we bring to the floor.

I want to thank all of the staff and those that are involved, the Speaker's office, the majority leader and the whip's office, the majority whip and the Democratic leader, and also the Vice Chair for everything you do to make our 30-Something hour possible.

I don't know if we'll have the opportunity to come to the floor tomorrow, which some project may be our last night on the floor, but we want to thank Mr. Michael and also Mr. Tom, Ms. Natasha and Mr. Adam and so many others that have spent time on this.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot done this Congress. We're going to be talking about it more. And like Mr. Ryan said, go onto www.speaker.gov to get information on 30-Something.

I want to commend those Members of the minority party that voted with the majority party to be able to make it so for many of the things that Mr. Ryan has talked about.

We look forward to the President's State of the Union that will be coming up in January. Many of, I'm pretty sure, his talking points will come from what has already been accomplished by this Democratic Congress or has been brought to the President by force because of the vote that we have here and the will of the American people.

We know that this is the holiday time of the year, and we would like to also recognize not only the contributions of our religious communities out there, but also those that work within our charities that have made it so for those to be able to not only have warm meals, but also to have gifts at this time of year.

Also recognizing those Members that served in the first half of this Congress that did not make it to the second half of this Congress, those Members of this House and also the Senate that have moved on to a higher place. We ask for blessings for their families, and also for their loved ones that have been left behind. We try to provide the kind of representation that they tried to put forth on the Democratic and also the Republican side of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful, and all of us in the 30-Something are very grateful for coming to the floor.

Well, Mr. Murphy, we definitely appreciate it. And I'm going to take that part of the Congressional Record and put it in the foyer of my office here in Washington, also the large brains part, put it in the foyer. But if it wasn't for the support of our leadership allowing us to come to the floor. But also, I think, Mr. Speaker, those individuals that are in harm's way and their families, two wars going on, we appreciate their contributions.

We appreciate those veterans, since we're giving what we call ``shout-

outs,'' giving those veterans that allow us to salute one flag, we appreciate them, those folks that put it on the line and some that did not make it.

But we look forward to coming back in the second half of this Congress and finish the unfinished business. We want the American people to have faith in this House, have faith in this Senate, and also a level of respect for the Commander in Chief, that we're going to work this thing out here in Washington, D.C., on behalf of those that have sent us up here to represent them.

I look forward to the second half of the Congress. I want to thank the staff, thank the folks in the Clerk's office for doing all that they've done, even the staff over in the minority office for sticking in there over many hours in this first half, because we have not only made history, but we have also put in more hours than any other Congress in the history of the Republic.

With that, Mr. Speaker, we encourage people to go to www.speaker.gov, and we yield back the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker and members of Congress, I rise to ask you to join me in recognizing the excellent service of someone many of the residents of the Longworth Building are familiar with--Mr. Ben Solomon, store manager in the House of Representatives.

For the residents of Longworth, Mr. Solomon was the quiet, unassuming friend who greeted us when we made a pit-stop to the store for an afternoon snack to get us through the rest of the day.

Mr. Solomon and his loyal co-workers, Jason and Veronica, took extra care to stock the store with the favorites of those who frequented the establishment.

I ask you to join me in extending our sincerest gratitude to Mr. Ben Solomon for his first-class service.

We are saying farewell on Friday, December 14, 2007 to a peaceful man, one who has not only dedicated his extraordinary service to us, but to his wife, three children and family members in Ethiopia.

Born on June 16, 1965 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr. Solomon made his journey to the United States of America in 1982 for his quest to study and work to support his family.

Mr. Solomon studied engineering at the District of Columbia and the University of Maryland, College Park.

As one of his regular customers, I am honored to take this time to celebrate Mr. Solomon for his kind spirit and twenty years of dedication to guest services.

One of his employees said it best, when she said that Mr. Solomon will truly be remembered as ``A person who gets along with everyone.''

Madam Speaker and members of Congress I congratulate Mr. Ben Solomon for his outstanding service and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, with great sadness, I come to the floor today to honor a great American by the name of Sally Smith who passed away just days ago.

Sally Smith, during her time here amongst us, was a great American and left a footprint on this country in the area of education like no other in the past.

Sally Smith ran and actually founded with her husband the Lab School of Washington. And for someone who has been not only involved in the Lab School, but has a daughter that attends the Lab School, I had an opportunity to learn more about Mrs. Sally Smith and what she did in the very early days at the Washington Lab School.

Mrs. Smith and the faculty at the Lab School have done an excellent job in protecting and nurturing all of the young people with learning differences at the Lab School, here in Washington and in Baltimore.

On Saturday, December 1, 2007, Mrs. Smith died at the age of 78. Born on May 7, 1929, Mrs. Smith was a native of

New York City and one of four daughters born to Isaac and Bertha Liberman. She graduated in 1950 from Bennington College and earned a master's degree in education from New York University in 1955.

In 1976, Mrs. Smith became a professor in the School of Education at American University, where she led the master's degree program specializing in learning disabilities.

Tonight, I ask Members of Congress to join me in honoring her life and the gifts that she bestowed upon the world of education. Mrs. Smith's empathy, experience, and creative expression prompted her to create the internationally acclaimed Lab School in Washington, D.C. in 1967.

The Lab School is one of the Nation's premier places for students with learning disabilities and an institution that uses arts as a central component to the school's education process. In fact, the Lab School students spend half of the day in highly specialized, individualized classrooms and offer the other half in the arts.

Inspired by her pursuit to assure that her youngest son received a quality education, Mrs. Smith created a school designed to educate students diagnosed with one or more learning disabilities. Relying on her intuition and creativity, Mrs. Smith developed the ``academic method,'' which serves as the core of the Lab School's curriculum. The academic method is a nontraditional academic approach founded on the belief that a child's future to learn means that the teacher has not yet found a way to help him.

Not only did her academic method lead to her youngest son's academic and professional success, but it has also left behind a gift that has enriched the lives of so many. Her great legacy will continue to live through the success of the current students and adults that attend the Lab School of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia. In addition, her excellence will live on through her literary works, many of which have earned her recognition.

Mrs. Smith was well accomplished in academia and also accomplished in awards, advisory board appointments, and was even highlighted by NBC's Today Show.

Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that the Members understand that there are many Americans, including myself and including many others, that have been honored by the Lab School of Washington. Those of us that have learning disabilities, auditory processing, dyslexia, what have you, Mrs. Smith gave young people the inspiration and adults the inspiration to pursue beyond their disabilities. Those have been honored by the Lab School because Sally was a part of lifting the hopes and the dreams not only of the students but the parents, people like Magic Johnson, James Earl Jones, and also Danny Glover and Charles Schwab have been honored by the Lab School.

We will miss Mrs. Smith, but we know that her legacy and memory will continue.

Madam Speaker, the poem below was written by poet and Capitol guide Albert Carey Caswell in honor of Sean Taylor, a Miami native and professional football player for the Washington Redskins. I rise with a heavy heart in mourning the tragic passing of Sean Taylor, a man with a bright future who left behind a loving family and scores of adoring football supporters and admirers. We pray for the Taylor family during this difficult and wrenching time. I hope these words provide some comfort to a grieving family. I humbly submit the following poem into the Record:

Taylor Made

God Is Good, God Is Great!

All in his image, in what he has made . . . All in what he

creates!

To give to this world, in what we do . . . in how we act . .

. in all we say, to leave behind to view!

Into our lives as sent . . .

Messages from our Lord, Taylor Made for all of us of what

life is meant . . .

To reach us, To teach us, To beseech us by people, who in our

time with us is spent . . .

Taylor Made . . .

Beauty and The Beast!

As was Sean Taylor, number ``21'' . . . was such a fine work

of art to say the least!

For Sean Taylor, was Born To Run . . .

Upon, football fields of green . . . in Sunday suns . . . in

The NFL, as was this his father's fine son!

As what our Lord had so begun . . .

A quiet and caring man, with but a calm and steady hand!

Who high above all others, did stand . . . as to his

teammates' hearts and souls, he ran!

Who on fields of green, brought forth such roars throughout

the stands . . .

A Man of passion . . .

Who to all hearts and souls, would so inspire . . . as he

would fashion!

A man of heart and soul, body and mind . . . all in his short

lifetime, so portrayed in all his actions . . .

Not a hole but left by him!

But, perhaps a Void . . . that which may never so be filled

again?

For only such things in life, as left . . . by those hearts

who bring such inspiration all in their short breaths!

A humble, quiet caring man . . .

Who in the spotlight, did not so wish to stand . . . a family

man!

Who upon fields of green, would turn into a machine . . .

creating one of The NFL's greatest scenes!

For all that which is Good and Great! For all that which our

Lord so makes . . .

By his hand, Taylor Made . . . he creates . . . Will not run,

and Will not lie . . . with hearts of gold, will so

rise!

All in that moment of truth, of which now so lies . . . but

for their loved ones, will so die!

Only, The Good Die Young! Now, in Heaven Sean you run!

As so too have you, Sean our fine son . . . now with all of

those Angels, too among!

As you are, but with all of those who have flown, Up To

heaven . . . with our Lord, where you belong!

And in the coming years, on Sunday mornings here . . .

Whenever, we think of you Sean . . . we'll hear your voice

beyond . . . all in our tears!

Remembering how you lived life, remembering how your soul

burned bright . . . as with you, we'll be near!

And what God has Taylor Made!

Hush . . . hush!

Hush . . . Little baby, Don't You Cry!

Because, one day up in heaven . . . once again, you will gaze

into your fine father's eyes!

Mr. Speaker, I am honored and I want to thank Members of Congress for allowing me to make this statement. This is concerning the death of a very dear friend of mine and a great American that has served our country, Marianne Russo. On November 12, 2007, Ms. Russo died at the age of 71 in her home in Elkdale House in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.

Ms. Russo was born on May 7, 1936, in New Canaan, Connecticut. She graduated from Little Red Schoolhouse, New Canaan Country Day School, the Baldwin School and Mount Holyoke College.

She earned a master's degree in history at Columbia University and a master's in linguistics at the University of Delaware. During the peak of the civil rights movement, Ms. Russo and her husband, the late Paul Anthony Russo, made a significant contribution to history by teaching at Lincoln University, a historically black institution.

Ms. Russo's passion for teaching and writing prompted her to organize a local writers' group and participated in the Key West Literary Seminar, which created the Marianne Russo scholarship for inspiring writers.

In addition to this achieving excellence as a teacher and a writer, Ms. Russo coordinated grass-roots efforts to elect progressive Democratic candidates to serve on local, State and Federal Government levels. In fact, she was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the OxGrove Democratic Committee.

Today I ask Members of Congress to take time to honor Ms. Russo who is not only a patriot but a great American. Ms. Russo dedicated her life to serving others as a teacher and a published writer.

As an accomplished author, teacher, political activist, and recipient of numerous awards and honors, Ms. Russo has truly left behind an excellent legacy. Her excellence will continue to shine through her four children and four grandchildren, all of the individuals she enriched in her classrooms, organizations and literary works.

As a member of the Congressional District 17 in Miami, Florida, I have the honor to be the Congressman for her daughter, Monica Russo, President of SEIU Healthcare Florida, and also serves on the international board of SEIU.

In addition, I have the opportunity and great honor and the blessed privilege to be the godfather for her granddaughter, Giovanna, who I love and appreciate, and I know that she will continue the family legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we recognize Americans like Ms. Russo and her husband, Mr. Russo. They are in a better place now. And what they have left here in this country and here in the United States of America is a sense of pride, a sense of activism, and a sense of love.

I would also like to state into the Record that a memorial and celebration in her honor celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at Penns Grove School Auditorium, 301 South Fifth Street, Oxford, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to furthermore say that many times Members come to the floor to share with the Members of Congress the great contributions of Americans that have moved on to a greater place, some on the battlefield in an area of war, some that were patriots here teaching and pushing Americans to take part in this democracy. I am very proud of Ms. Russo's accomplishments. I know that her spirit will continue to live in this country, and I know there are other Ms. Russos that are out there that are going to carry the spirit at the grassroots level.

I say to the Russo family that is gathered at the family home to celebrate her life, celebrate her life as though she is still here, because she is. And she will live within you and live within me and live within other Americans that appreciate Americans like her.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great honor, before we go on this Thanksgiving break when we surround ourselves with family and friends, to let you know that sometimes we have to cry, sometimes we have to pray, and sometimes we even have joy. I ask during the holiday season, and especially for the Russo family, to live within the joy that you remember in your heart and your mind of her contributions to your family and to our country.

Thank you so very much, Mr. Ryan, and I want to thank the Members and Mr. Altmire for hosting this hour and anchoring this hour for us. It is always good to see Ms. Wasserman Schultz. She has been busy. There are a lot of appropriations bills coming through the floor. And Mr. Murphy has so much to offer to this 30-something.

Mr. Ryan, I appreciate the fact that you took us down Memory Lane, especially what this administration has done. Being one that pays attention to history and appreciates those that have contributed to this country, whether it be in battle or service in the military and those families that are waiting for their loved ones to come home, whether it be a son or a daughter or a sister or a brother or a mother, waiting, I think it is important for us to recognize right here in the moment, I can't help but think and reflect on the contributions of those Americans before me, the sacrifices that they have made that was just regular order that we call here in Congress, it was just another day. But these were heroes and sheroes that stood on behalf of this country and wanted to carry out the will of the American people. Sometimes we get caught up here in Washington about what we think. I think it's important to note that seven out of 10 Americans have a bad feeling about what is going on in Iraq, the direction that we are going in. This New Direction Congress has tried to steer this administration in the right direction, but I'm just going to put it on the lap of those that are in Congress. The President is not running again.

I actually got up pretty early this morning and had a chance to go down to Morning Journal and have a chance to sit there and take calls from the American people. As you know, you get a cross section of Democrats, Republicans, independents, what have you.

But I think it is very, very important for us to realize, four Republicans tonight voted in the affirmative on H.R. 4156, which is the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act of 2008. I think it is important that people note that in that bill, it put forth $50 billion under the $200 billion that the President called for. And the veto that you were talking about a little earlier as it relates to the health centers, as it relates to the research that has to take place dealing with the illness that many Americans are facing, family members that have cancer right now that need that research, need those dollars. The President vetoes those dollars.

So I think it is important for the Members here on the floor and the Members that are listening to what we are saying here on the floor and the staff members that are listening and the Americans that are listening that we pay very close attention. Everyone has to be a part of this paradigm shift in Washington, DC. It just can't be the majority we have here in the House and the one majority we have in the Senate, because if we had 60 votes, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, we would be able to move the agenda that the American people call for.

So my contribution tonight would be to, well, one, to our Republican friends on the other side of the aisle that don't allow us to have enough votes to be able to override the President, that the American people will hold them in judgment. To the Members in the Senate that feel that whatever the reason may be to not allow us to override the President, because the President is not running again, but you are, that the American people, independent, Republican, Democrat, first-time voter will let their voice be heard in 2008. That's the good thing about this whole thing, the fact that I know in this democracy that people are paying attention to what is going on.

You cannot justify, ladies and gentlemen, when you look in the face of 10 million children that have to receive health care and say that, well, it's okay for the President to veto and for me to stand by the President and not by those children, it's okay for us to continue on in a war with no accountability, and then we have the Blackwater incident, and then we have other incidents that are there. So the only thing that I am excited about is the fact that the American people are paying attention. But if it was about politics, I would just sit in my office and allow the President to do what he does and a very small majority as it relates to Republicans standing by the President because I know one day the Americans will rise up and the American spirit will rise up and we will see a different America. That is what I am praying for and I am hoping for very soon.

Mr. Ryan, I think you are 110 percent right. I think we need to remind the Members of the past. We need to make sure that we recognize those Members that were once Members of Congress but decided to follow the President, and the American people took them out of office, and as far as I am concerned, if you don't want to stand on behalf of those that sent us here, then you are making a career decision. The bottom line is we have men and women in harm's way right now.

Will the gentleman yield for a second? I know you're an appropriator and we are talking about appropriations. You and Mr. Murphy are kind of throwing around these big words tonight. Let it be known that some of us in the room just want to break it down a little bit here in this Chamber.

I can't go back to my district and tell Ms. Johnson and Ms. Rodriguez or Ms. Jones who worked their entire lives that because the President decides to veto the Labor-Health bill, and I think it's important that we share this with the Members, we can't tell those individuals to suck it up. I am sorry that you weren't in the Defense bill. I am sorry that it had nothing to do with Iraq and Afghanistan, that we can't be for you.

One thing I can say here in this House is that we are for them and that we are standing for those individuals, and they are Republicans and they are Independents and they are Democrats and they are nonvoters and individuals thinking about voting for the first time. They are the sick and shut-in on that sick and shut-in list when people go to wherever they worship, or whatever the case may be. They are the individuals counting on this Congress to stand for them.

The Congress is doing what we are supposed to do, Mr. Altmire. But the bottom line is that the President has to do what he has to do, and he has to be the President of the United States of America, not just to secure the issue in Iraq. We have Americans here right now that need our support and our help.

I am glad that we are here and I am glad that we are putting the pressure on the minority party to do the right thing on behalf of their constituents and the American people.

Mr. Altmire.

Madam Chairman, I want to thank you for allowing me to have 3 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I am in support of the rule, and I encourage all of the Members to do so. As a sitting 5-year member on the Armed Services Committee, having an opportunity to look not only over this bill but being a part of the voting for Defense bills or Defense appropriations bills in the past, I am proud of it.

We have the responsibility here in Congress not only to make sure they

have up-armor, bullets, what have you, meals, the things they need in the field, but we also have to make sure that their families are okay too. I asked for a couple of minutes because I couldn't help but witness the passion that the whip had when he came to the floor about making sure that military families have the same opportunities as those who are not in the military.

I think it's important for us to realize, Members, that there are some individuals that are privileged, there are some people that have the opportunity to be with their sons and daughters, but we also have people who are in harm's way. In a time of war, we have to make sure that life doesn't stop for those families that are left behind.

I just want to add, so that we start looking at this issue, not to make it a debate, because it was debated earlier today, but this bill is doing some of the great things as it relates to the MRAP vehicles we have in Iraq. I was just in Fallujah a couple of months ago. It was my third trip to Iraq. I am proud to see some of the work that is starting to take place there as it relates to the equipment getting to the men and women. But I can say that this issue of making sure that families have what they need when we have men and women in harm's way is not a new issue.

I can tell you a former Member of the House, Mr. DeLay, had a $1 million FY03 Labor-HHS appropriations to the First Tee program, and these are for civilians. The program also received $2 million in FY04 Labor-HHS appropriations bill, and $1 million in the State-Justice appropriations bill. I think it's important that Members realize that when we look at these military families, they have to have the same kind of attention and appreciation that we give our men and women in harm's way.

I have my son here on the floor with me today; he is out of school. As Members know, we play golf together. But, guess what? I am here to play golf with him. The First Tee program has instructors to be able to work with young people when their mothers or their fathers are not there to play that role. So let's make sure that we do the right thing.

Madam Chairman, I want to thank you for bringing the rule to the floor. I want to thank those who are in support of the rule, but I think it's very, very important that I expect to vote in an affirmative for the rule, to make sure that we do for military families what we do for men and women in harm's way.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate James P. Cheever, who will be celebrating his 100th birthday on Sunday, November 4, 2007, at Tony Reception Palace, in Hialeah, FL. Many of his family, friends, and church friends will be in attendance to celebrate this momentous occasion. He was born on November 7, 1907, in Sylvania, Georgia. He is the middle child of six siblings, with one remaining sister, Ruby Cheever.

He was educated in the Sylvania school system. At the age of 22, he met and married Edna Mae Striggles. They were married on December 22, 1929. They shared 58 years of marriage until her death in 1987. Their union was blessed with four children, James P. Cheever, Jr., Henry Richmond Cheever, and Margie Beatrice Mayes. Their daughter Fronita Cheever, died at a very young age.

He has 10 grandchildren, Gregory Cheever, Gail Washington, Glenda Jimeson, Anthony Cheever, Aundrea Mayes, Carey Cheever, LaEatrice McMurray, Laketia Cheever, Vincent Cheever and Tonya Linde. He has 25 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.

As many others did during the early 1900s, he earned a living by farming land in Georgia. Although farming provided a modest living, he and his wife wanted a better quality of life for their family. In November of 1947, he moved his family to Miami, Florida.

After arriving in Miami, he worked several odd jobs to support his family and he started working for a major construction firm, Benidick and Jordan Construction Company, in 1950. He was the only African- American man hired at that time to tie steel for the company and became the top man for the construction company.

In 1962, he left the construction field to work for the Dade County Public School system. During his employment with DCPS, he worked as Lead Custodian at Brownsville Junior High School and Carol City Elementary. He retired from DCPS in June of 1973. After retirement, he launched his own Lawn Service and was known by many for the meticulous lawn care he provided his customers.

James is a God-fearing man who dedicated is life to the Lord at a very young age. While living in Georgia he was a member of Lawton Grove Missionary Baptist Church. When he relocated to Miami, he moved his membership to New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Liberty City, where he became a deacon on January 14, 1954, under the leadership of Rev. James E. Brown.

Several years later he moved his membership to become a founding member of Greater New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, located in Brownsville, under Pastor Rosco Jackson. He still attends services regularly and currently serves as the oldest deacon on the deacon board, under the leadership of Rev. Sherman Mungin.

James and his wife bought their first home in Florida, in what was known as Brownsville, in 1956. The property was acquired by the County, to build a public park, in 1969. They

then bought and moved to the home in which he still resides, located at 3801 N.W. 186th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida.

As the patriarch of his family, he loves attending family functions to see the four generations of his children. He is still very active, he enjoys fishing at the lake, vegetable gardening and watching baseball games. He always has a quick smile and something witty to say. He is a man of good report, full of spirit and the wisdom of years.

Madam Speaker and my colleagues, I ask that you join me in honoring James P. Cheever today. I hope we all have the good fortune to live such a full life as he has. He is a great man and his family and friends are very proud of all of these achievements.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor being here to address this piece of legislation, TAA legislation especially, better known as the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act. It is very, very important to the progress of trade. Also, it is important to many States out there in the Union. I think it is important. I stand to oppose the Republican amendment to this great piece of legislation, because if you adopt their amendment, you're doing less than what we would like to do in the present legislation that is on the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes down to training funds, this bill doubles the current training funding cap from $220 million to $440 million and increases it to $660 million by 2010. This is music to the ears of so many States and especially individuals that have lost their jobs because of trade, because of globalization.

So we are here on the floor, especially with me being a member of the Subcommittee on Trade, we are here on the floor to promote not only training, but also assisting those States that are led by Democrat and Republican Governors. So I share with all of my colleagues here on the floor: Do what is right. To say that we can cut things in half or keep things at status quo and still do a good job by allowing individuals that have lost their jobs the assistance that they need as relates to training, as it relates to health care, is just not living in the real world.

I encourage the Members to vote against the Republican amendment, oppose it, and support the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act that is brought by the majority. I know that it will be a bipartisan vote in the final analysis.

Thank you so very much, Mr. Altmire. I was very pleased to have had the first half of this hour to trick-or-treat with my kids. We had a great time. And my daughter was some very scary--I don't know what her, she couldn't quite explain to me what she was, but I asked what, I mean, What are you? She said, I'm your daughter. So that was like, okay, I won't ask any more questions. My son was a Secret Service Agent, so I was well protected.

Let me just say, gentlemen, and I think it's important for the Members to pay very close attention to what we've shared with them, and I'm so glad that we are heading towards safer toys, safer food, safer medicine. Too many times in the news we hear about how loose we are with other countries being able to not have standards and quality control in place, and it ends up affecting everyday Americans, and it disrupts business. We have rumors about things being unsafe, and it's making Americans feel more uneasy about it. And Mr. Altmire, I'm not one to make a, you know, start fire alarms and carrying on and scaring people, but it is pretty scary, the fact that we do have, in some cases, as it relates to those that certify the toys that can come in and out the United States of America as relates to safety and setting requirements for children, it's just one person running that office. And we're the biggest democracy or one of the superpowers of the world, one of the biggest democracies. And I think it's important that we shed light on this. The people count on this Congress to govern. I think the reason why it hasn't happened to this point, of the cozy relationship that the previous

Congress has had with the business community, even when those that are in the business community will fare far better if we were to have the kind of standards and controls as it relates to the importation of toys and food and medicine. I look forward to the debate.

It's very unfortunate, and let me just say something, because I know Mr. Murphy said something a little earlier about, you know, now we're moving in this direction, we're hearing some push back from the administration. I'm not a black man with a conspiracy theory, but I will say that there's, I think there's a push out of the administration to see the Democratic Congress not be as successful and not heading in a new direction as the American people voted for. I think some politics has something to do with this. It's very unfortunate, especially when we're looking at this kind of legislation, Mr. Altmire and Mr. Ryan. I think it's important that everyone pay very close attention to the new direction agenda, that this card continues to get more and more on it as it relates to accomplishment. And, Mr. Speaker, it's a bipartisan accomplishment. That's the good thing about it. We have Republicans voting for Democratic bills. They would have voted for it all along if the Republican leadership allowed that legislation to come to the floor.

So I think it's important, Members, that we continue to push on, that we continue to encourage our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in accomplishing what the American people wanted us to accomplish. Independent voters, Republican voters, Democratic voters, reform party, what have you, they're looking for results. They're not looking for back-and-forth on my idea is better than yours and nothing ever happens. So I'm just honored to be down on the floor with you Members here.

Mr. Ryan, I'm honored always to be here with you, sir. I mean, a very important member of the Appropriations Committee, he had a couple of bills pass off the floor today. It's great.

I'm sorry. Will the gentleman yield real quick?

You know, Mr. Ryan, again, I don't have a conspiracy theory, but, hold that chart. Don't do away with that chart. You can pass it over here. I just want to make a point here.

It's interesting that everything seems to have happened in 2000. Look where it was in 2000 and look what happened since then. I wonder who's been in charge of the country starting in 2000. I mean, we're not speaking, I'm not, you know, I'm not trying to say anything. I'm not talking about anybody. I'm just talking about what I'm talking about. And the real issue here is the fact that, I said that, it made as much sense as this chart is making sense right now, but the real issue is that it's been an ongoing issue. A lack of regulation, a lack of, I mean, more freedom as it relates to China doing what it wants, what it would like to do.

The TAA bill passed off the floor today to give U.S. workers an opportunity to be retrained, which was very, very important. It was important to the States, and it's important that we bring some sort of balance back to this. It's nothing wrong with a global economy. But it's everything wrong when we allow other countries to have the upper hand on U.S. companies and also U.S. workers, and we have to have the standards in place.

But thank you, sir. This wasn't my idea to do this chart. I will not take credit for it. But I just wanted to let you know.

I have a lot of great ideas.

Thank you, Mr. Ryan. Personally, I'm just kind of glad that the President's criticizing the Congress for doing what we should do. The American people voted for a new direction. We have the fruits of the new direction here in these very new Members of Congress as it relates to the majority makers giving us, empowering those of us that have been here, and they're bringing ideas to the table as it relates to moving in a new direction. If I was the President, I would try to, you know, shut off the light bill over here at the Capitol so that we can stop working so that we can stop uncovering half of what's going on.

I mean, Mr. Ryan, you gave one, you have one of the best clips on YouTube saying this is the same administration, and he goes down the line because someone on the floor, I think, last year or the year before last criticized Democrats for questioning the President. And Mr. Ryan said, I'm sorry, but this is the same administration that told us that we had to go to war, weapons of mass destruction. This is the same administration that outed a CIA agent. I mean, this is proven stuff. This is not fiction. This is fact. And I always say, gentlemen and ladies, that when people look back on this period, they're going to see who was actually about the solution and who was actually validating what the administration has been doing. And I think that it's important for us to have this balance. And I think it's important for us because we, the four of us here on this floor right now, we're just like every other Joe and Sue out there. I mean, I was a skycap once upon a time and a State trooper. And you know, I carried luggage, ``Yes, sir,'' ``No, sir.'' I went out and patrolled the highways and byways in the State of Florida and offered myself to be a State Representative.

I had a district office right there and went to Tallahassee and did what I had to do. Many of you, the same track as it relates to the State legislature or local elected officials, and we heard this. So now we're the same old Joe that left our local districts. Now we are in Congress, and we are going to ask the questions that the people that we represent will ask us. When I go home and I go to the grocery store, people ask me, What is going on? What do you mean? The President doesn't want it to happen. I said, it's not about the President's standing against children's health care insurance; it's about enough Republicans on the other side of the aisle that are standing with him, and that's what it's about.

And so I think it's important, gentlemen, that we look at it from that standpoint. The President is not running for reelection, but there are Members of Congress that are running for reelection. And it should not be a secret that come next November on a Tuesday morning or before as it relates to early voting, absentee voting, people will be able to stand in judgment of the individuals that are validating what the President is saying.

So it's really like which side of the ball are you on? Are you on the side of fiction or are you on the side of fact? The fact is about accomplishing things with the Democratic majority and some Republicans joining us in that effort, which I enjoy because we talk about bipartisanship and we are actually doing it, or those that are saying we have to stand in the way because we can't allow the American people to see a Congress that's functioning and questioning the executive branch.

In the House.

If the gentleman will yield, I wear a size 15. I don't think that you probably can stand in my shoes with your shoes on.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce H.R. 3961, which would increase from $1,000 to $5,000 the maximum amount of the child tax credit allowed under section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code for those widows and widowers with children of the members of our Armed Forces who have been killed in combat in Iraq and in and around Afghanistan. The bill would also eliminate the income limits for our soldiers' families that have paid this ultimate sacrifice.

Madam Speaker, we can and should do everything we can to help out those families of our brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Those families have borne the brunt of this war--and all of us owe them a debt of our gratitude. Mothers are being forced to have tough conversations with their sons on why daddy is not coming home. Fathers are being forced to have tough conversations with their daughters on what happened to mommy. Families are being put in position where they have to struggle both emotionally and economically because of the stress a loss of a loved one places on them. Congress has a duty to do what we can to help these families in their time of need.

While nothing can make up for the loss of these precious lives, at least we can provide some tax relief for these families. These families now have a financial burden to face from the loss of a spouse's income. In many instances, the spouse that was killed in combat was the main breadwinner for the family. Increasing the child tax credit and eliminating the income limits will at least provide some tax relief.

This will provide real relief for almost 2,000 families. Of the troops killed in Iraq and in and around Afghanistan, many were married with

children. According to a report from the Military Homefront for the Department of Defense, 37.8 percent of active duty troops are married with children. The Department of Defense reports that as of October 22, 2007, the total number of military fatalities in Iraq and in and around Afghanistan totaled 4,273 for both conflicts. Based on this data, the Congressional Research Service has estimated that 1,615 troops who were married and had children have died.

Single parents have also been killed in defending our country. The Military Homefront states that 5.4 percent of active duty American troops are single parents. Using this data, CRS has estimated that 231 troops who were single parents have died.

Madam Speaker, we need to provide all of the help we can to these families of our fallen military. H.R. 3961 is a small way to assist those families who have lost a spouse and a parent to their children.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to address the House once again.

I share the sentiment of my colleague in recognizing Senator Wellstone. He was definitely a cornerstone here in this building for public service and really was a student of many of our great leaders of the past and gave voice to health care in a way that no other can do it.

As you know, in the 30-Something working group, we come to the floor every day, or just about every day we are in session, to share with the Members the things that we have to continue to work on here in the House in a bipartisan way and also share with the Members the importance of making sure that we stand up on behalf of those Americans that need our assistance.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to my colleague to address the House for as long as he would wish to do so.

I am just very pleased that you came down at the time that you did come down and share with us about how important the NASA program is, especially to not only the development of the country but to our young people and those that have contributed and dedicated their lives to helping us along the way in the sciences, not to compete against States but to compete against other countries as it relates to the forward lean that we have to have.

We are going to talk about children's health care and a number of other issues, but we are glad that we kicked off with the NASA program.

You're 110 percent right. And being from Florida, as you know, we have a number of NASA assets in Florida. And even when I was

in the Florida legislature, we were very supportive of programs that gave kids a jump start in the math and sciences to be eligible for NASA programs and other private programs that are out there as it relates to innovation and space.

Thank you so very much. And as we speak, there are those in the Capitol dome trying to make sure that children's health care gets its fair share from this country of ours.

I would just like to share with the Members some of the good things that are happening under the Capitol dome.

We have passed, Mr. Speaker, a number of measures that have been bipartisan and major as it relates to legislation. The 9/11 Commission recommendations are something that the House and Senate both passed, and that was signed into law. The largest college aid expansion since the 1944 GI Bill saved, on average for every student, I would say almost every American because, as it relates to college loans and student loans, the responsibility for paying many of those loans back fall back on parents and grandparents. So that's $4,400 in interest that the American people don't have to pay.

The first minimum wage increase in a very long time, double-digit years, was passed by this Congress. And it was because of the Democratic leadership and some of our friends on the Republican side that voted for the passage of that bill that we now have an increase in the minimum wage.

Innovation Agenda to promote 21st century jobs, passed by this House, signed into law. The Reconstruction Assistance Program for gulf coast disasters and hurricanes was passed and signed into law. The largest veterans health care increase in the 77-year history of the VA passed off of this floor and is still in a holding pattern as it relates to that becoming law or empowered by not only the President but the legislative process. Also, the landmark Energy Independence and Global Warming Initiative that was passed by this Congress.

Now, I think it's important that we look at the record-breaking roll call votes that have been taken thus far by this Congress and the work philosophy that we have in the 110th Congress versus previous Congresses. And you know that two of the initiatives that have passed on a bipartisan vote that I did not mention that the President has vetoed was the expansion of the life-saving medical research on stem cells that passed in a bipartisan way by this House and by the Senate and was vetoed by the President. And the most recent veto is the one that's dealing with health care for 10 million children and working families that passed off this floor on a bipartisan vote, came 13 votes shy last week of overriding the President's bad veto, had the votes in the Senate to do so, but it's something that we're working on right now, Mr. Speaker. And that's one of the reasons why I came to the floor today, and my other colleagues that will be joining me a little later on, to talk about the SCHIP plan.

I can tell you, as we stand here, Mr. Speaker, to address these issues dealing with children's health care, one said, when I was on the floor last week, well, the Congressman is talking about health care. The CHAMP, or SCHIP, bill is dealing with insurance. Well, I can tell you, when you're talking about insurance, you're talking about health care. If you don't have insurance, you're not going to be able to afford health care, especially the preventive care that the CHAMP bill or the SCHIP bill calls for. So, if you take the opportunity to go meet the average American that has a child that is not covered under health insurance, you're going to find an individual who will share with you that, without it, they can't go to many of the doctors offices where they can at least pay a small fraction or at least afford preventive care and the annual checkups that children need.

We're in a situation right now, Mr. Speaker, that we have children, if this SCHIP bill or CHAMP bill is not reauthorized, we're going to have children without health care, without health insurance. Whichever way you cut the cookie, they're going to need a way to pay for health care or you might as well look forward to parents going down the drugstore aisle trying to correct the sniffles and trying to head off fever and trying to head off other situations that young children run into. But those are just the minor issues. What about the bigger issues that, if detected early, can be prevented if we have the kind of health insurance that would be helpful for children?

As we start to look at a re-approach on this bill after the President's veto, I know that the Speaker and others, and in reading through not only the newspapers but also in meetings that have taken place, we are still holding hard on the 10 million children insured. Now, I think that's very, very important that we head in that direction and that we stand firm on the 10 million.

Last week, I was sharing with many of my Republican colleagues on the other side of the aisle, those of whom were in the 13, because there are some that are saying that they are with the American people, they don't necessarily have to be with the Democratic Caucus because this is not about the Republican Conference or the Democratic Caucus, this is about children having an opportunity to have health insurance to be able to have quality health care, and that's what it's about. And I want to commend my colleagues that are on the other side that have voted on behalf of not only their districts but young people in America and their families.

So, now we're down to correcting a wrong. Last week, I talked about the story, Mr. Speaker. In all great pieces of legislation and every initiative there is always a story before you get to the glory, and we're still writing the story. And I think, as we go into the final chapters of this SCHIP debate here in the House of Representatives and the Senate and we deliver another product to the President of the United States, I think it's important for those who voted against overriding the President on this issue, think about what you have done. You might not have felt the full brunt of the displeasure of the American people for the Congress, where many of our children are insured because we have health insurance and we have the kind of insurance that will cover our children, and that there are families that don't celebrate the same thing that we do, that there is going to be a great level of displeasure out there. And I want to say that out loud because I want to make sure that Members understand exactly what they're doing.

No one came to Congress to vote against health care for children. I don't think anyone jumped up and said at any political forum or debate, when they were debating, need it be a Republican primary or a Democratic primary, to say, ``You know, one of my goals when I get to Congress is that I'm going to vote against children's health care.'' I think they wouldn't have even made it to the Halls of Congress. I'm speaking to that individual Member that decided not to, whatever the situation may be.

I haven't seen, in my 14 years of public service, Mr. Speaker, a bill that I am 110 percent in support of and agree with every section in that bill. When we put together legislation, there is always something in the bill that you wish you could have more of or not have at all in the bill. And it's very unfortunate, especially when we're in a body of compromise, when we're talking about children that will become uninsured if we don't pass this bill, I think it's important for us to realize our place in this debate. I commend those that voted. You were supposed to vote for that. I'm glad you did. I'm glad you voted for the SCHIP program.

Let me just run some numbers. One may say, well, we're concerned about cost as it relates to providing insurance for children to have health care. Well, one day we're going to compare this as it relates to war, because a lot of folks get into the chest-beating posture or session when it comes down to the war in Iraq. And we're concerned about what happens with children tens

of thousands of miles from the United States of America. I'm concerned, also. But I'm really concerned about what is happening with children here in the United States. And I think it's something that we all should pay very, very close attention to.

One day in Iraq costs $330 million. That will cover 270,000 kids. One week in Iraq costs $2.3 billion. That's 1.8 million kids who can be covered under the children's health care bill. One month in Iraq is $10 billion. That's one month that can cover 8.1 million children as it relates to health care. And the cost of 40 days in Iraq is $12.2 billion. That will cover 10 million kids' health care. I think it's important to look at just over one month that will cover a full year of health care for 10 million children. Just a couple of days over the average month will cover 10 million children.

So, when we start lining our priorities up of where we stand as a Congress, and I'm talking to the real minority here because there are very few Members of this House that are voting opposite of where the American people want us to be, and that's providing health care. Polls have shown here in the United States over 80 percent of Americans are saying that it's important for us to have children's health care. So, you have a very small percentage saying that they don't agree with this, and maybe they need more information.

But when you have Members of Congress, and we're talking about lights on, lights off, health care for 10 million children or not, that's a simple decision for one to make. If you have issues with the application of it, it has to be better than what we will not have if we don't reauthorize it and reauthorize it for 10 million children.

I think it's important that you understand a number of the coalitions that are here. And I'm spending the time on the floor, Mr. Speaker, to share this with the Members because this is, A, what do we look for in legislation? We look for bipartisanship. That's what the American people always say. They would love for Democrats and Republicans to work together. You have that in this bill. I mean, for this to be a partisan body, you have to look at the significance of having a bipartisan piece of legislation with major Democrats and major Republicans that are on board on the legislation.

You also have to look at the second issue that I think is very, very important; the fact that it passed both House and Senate overwhelmingly. And you have to look at that as a component and a proof to the leadership and the reason why we have to insure children, 10 million children in the United States of America. That's very, very significant. Don't let anyone belittle the work that has happened on both sides of the aisle with Democrats and Republicans sending a bill to the President.

I would also add on to that point the fact that the President vetoed the bill. And you had a commitment from the Senate, the United States Senate, that they would override the President of the United States on this issue because he's wrong. That's what is so good about our democracy. That goes back, not just a bill on Capitol Hill, it goes back to those days that used to come on Saturday morning to let young Americans know how this process worked. And then in the House we took the vote and we fell 13 votes short of overriding the President. That's very, very significant.

I came last week and commended those groups, those nonpartisan, volunteer groups that are dealing with children's diabetes, that are dealing with a number of issues, polio, the doctors that came to Capitol Hill, the March of Dimes, all the different foundations that are out there doing good things and passing good information out and encouraging Members to sign on and get that vote. We couldn't have had the kind of vote that we had last week if it wasn't for those outside organizations and Americans and parents and grandparents and children saying we should have health care.

When they see the kind of numbers that I am reading off, spending $330 million in Iraq in 1 day, that's just 1 day. I can get down to $3,300 and change every second that we are spending in Iraq. And you have folks here that are mumbling and grumbling about the cost of an insurance bill that will provide health care to 10 million children, we have 40 plus Governors out there in the 50 States that are out there saying that we need this bill. I want to break this down because I want to make sure that the Members, I don't want to use a lot of acronyms, I don't want to get into a lot of programs and all of that because I'm on the Ways and Means Committee and there's enough acronyms there to talk about health care. I'm on the Armed Services Committee and there is a plethora of acronyms that we could use there and all kind of big words. I want to make sure that everyone understands what it comes down to. You are either with insuring 10 million children or you're not. Period. Dot. There is no in between. There is no ``maybe I need to take more consideration'' or ``maybe I need to look at this a little further.'' We have already taken one vote that has passed the House overwhelmingly. We have already taken a second vote that fell 13 votes short of a two-thirds vote to override the President of the United States. And now we're about to take another vote. So it's almost like three strikes and you're out.

Mr. Speaker, I have been on this floor now coming on 5 years, speaking not only to the Members but also making sure that staff and everyone else understands the significance of every vote that we take. And if this was about politics, I always say it, look in the Congressional Record time after time again, if it was about politics, I could just sit in my office and let just the electoral process take its course.

I do believe that Members who are not voting for children's health care are making a career decision. That's what they're doing. Now, if this is the last day of school for Members and they're retiring after this term that is a whole other thing. But for those who want to continue to serve not only their districts and the American people, they have to pay very close attention to the vote that they are taking here on this floor. Insuring 10 million kids is bigger, in my opinion, than winning some sort of, you know, one or two political races. I am not into that. I was sent here to Congress, and many of us were sent, all of us were sent here to represent the folks back home. And I guarantee you, the folks back home are not saying, ``Please don't insure children. Whatever you do, Congressman, make sure you don't insure 10 million children or 5 million children. Just make sure you don't do that, and you have my vote.'' There is not anyone back there saying that. And so I think it's important for us, when we get into this process, I think it's important for us to share with Members what we are here for. Like I said, once again, there are some things in the bill that I don't agree with, but when you start talking about the insurance for children that my children celebrate, I wasn't elected for me to have my children to have health care and I look at my constituents and say, ``Run for Congress one day and you can be like me.'' That's not what it's about. It's about us being able to stand for them.

I think it's also important to look at even with some of the media accounts about some of the things that are going on here in Washington that we are working hard on, the Democratic side of the aisle, because Americans voted for change, Mr. Speaker. They didn't vote for the status quo. Republicans had the majority last time. There were Democrats and Republicans and independents who said, You know something, we gave you an opportunity. My kids and my grandkids and the fiscal situation this country is in is more important than my party affiliation. And we have seen throughout the country, Republicans say, ``I'm going to vote for the Democrat this time because I want to see change.'' Now that change is here and I read off a list of bills that were passed in a bipartisan way. These are not just Democratic bills, we beat our chests and say, ``Not one Republican voted for it.'' Yes, there are one or two there. But the majority of the major bills that have passed have passed with some Republican votes, and that is important to the process.

USA Today, War Costs May Total $2.4 trillion. When you look at the cost of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, it could cost $2.4 trillion the next decade or nearly $8,000 per man, woman and child in this country according to the Congressional Budget Office that is

scheduled for release and that took place here today earlier. A previous Congressional Budget Office estimate put the war cost at more than $1.6 trillion. This one adds to the $705 in interest. And if you take into account, Mr. Speaker, as we continue to go on as it relates to the war in Iraq, as we look at the borrowing from foreign nations and then we turn around and we also bring a bill, I'm going to add to those points, we bring a bill that we show how we are going to pay for the bill so that we don't have to continue to borrow from foreign nations, so that we don't have to continue to see our kids having to pay some $8,000 per man, woman and child because of the decisions that were made here on this floor in previous Congresses.

So how do we have a paradigm shift? Well, we come about bringing about that paradigm shift through good policy and bipartisanship. So I am speaking to the 13 that voted against, helped us fall short of that, of overriding the President. It could have been a different day the following day after that vote, but it wasn't because we had some of our Republican friends not voting with us.

I am going to put a pin there, and I am going to allow my good friend from Ohio (Mr. Ryan). First of all, I just want to say, sir, that I'm sorry about your Indians. I'm really sorry. As you know, I e-mailed you and told you that I was with you. Being a Dolphins fan, I'm switching sports now, but I'm having a rough year, and I wanted someone to have some joy that I knew. And I know you, sir, and I know you're excited about your Cleveland Indians. And they fought hard. But I'm sorry, sir, that they didn't make it through the process.

Thank you, Mr. Altmire. The good thing about it, and Mr. Ryan and I were in a meeting the other day, and I think it is important, very important, and I was sharing a little earlier today about giving thanks to those out in the field. And when I say ``those out in the field,'' those Americans out there, because the President said he wasn't going to sign the College Interest Rate Reduction Act or what have you, the $4,400 that Mr. Ryan alluded to.

If it wasn't for the American people pushing for that, it wouldn't have happened. If it wasn't for the American people saying that we wanted a minimum wage after double-digit years of no minimum wage, it would not have happened. If it wasn't for the American people stepping up at the last given Tuesday when we had the election for this House saying that we wanted to move in a new direction, it would not have happened.

I think it is important for us to look at this American spirit rising up again on the children's health bill. When we look at health insurance and we look at health care for children, the American people are going to make that happen, because hopefully we will have an opportunity to vote on that bill again. Hopefully after taking the number one vote that was a bipartisan vote, sending a bill to the Senate, the Senate sent a bill to us, and we voted out the bill and sent it to the President, and the President, two votes that took place, overwhelmingly bipartisan, the President vetoes the bill, okay? And now you are going to have a real third opportunity to vote again.

I don't know if those that have voted against the previous bills, if they want to continue to do it, because their excuse is to say, Well, you know, there was something I didn't understand on that first vote. Congressman, you mean on the second vote you still didn't understand? And then on the third vote? Well, maybe you are not in the business of making sure that children have health insurance so they can have health care.

So I am hoping that we can come together in even a greater way in passing a children's health care bill that covers 10 million children. I think it is important. I agree with the Speaker. I am glad she has put her foot down and this Congress has put our foot down and said we are going to do this. Because at the end of the 110th Congress, there is not going to be a short list of accomplishments; there is going to be a long list, because there has been a drought for a very long time to bring the issues and concerns back to those who attended your town hall meeting.

Congressman, what are you doing for the district? What are you doing for us? Yes, it is wonderful about the war. We know that is going on. All of us share in making sure our men and women have what they need to have and all of those different things, but what are you doing domestically? How does this affect my children?

Mr. Ryan talked about someone is going to sit next to a child that doesn't have health care, and if that child is sick, you can have all the health care in the world. Your child is coming home and they are going to bring whatever that other child has into the household and then everyone is sick, and now we have employers without employees, and we can go on and on and on. It is a domino effect. I think it is important that we continue to highlight that.

But I appreciate the fact you all have brought light to all of this. Even Mr. Ryan was talking about a democracy. I think a democracy is a good thing. I think it is playing out well. Even though we fell on the short end, 13 votes short of overriding the President, a major accomplishment with having the Senate vote in an overwhelming way and having the votes to override the President, and having a supermajority vote here in this House based on the strong Democratic leadership of even bringing the issue to the floor in the first place.

So I am excited about it. I do have faith in the American spirit. I know it will rise up. Those that have sent us here, those that do not work in the Capitol, those counting on us to do the right thing.

We are out of time, Mr. Ryan. I want to thank Mr. Altmire and yourself.