Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to congratulate Mr. Thomas Hebel on his recent nomination for the Bucks County Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award in the area of Business Achievement. His success as the owner of Bucks Country Gardens and dedication to his community set him apart as an outstanding individual, and it is my pleasure to join in the recognition of his extraordinary career.

The great honor of this Lifetime Achievement Award is not one easily attained. The award takes into account both Mr. Hebel's remarkable success within his business venture and his commitment to his community. Mr. Hebel has been an exemplary model in both of these areas.

An accomplished landscaper, Mr. Hebel graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in landscaping, and was hired as a landscape designer at Tom Royer's Nursery and Greenhouses. He worked his way up to partner, and upon Mr. Royer's retirement, purchased the business, becoming the sole owner. He renamed the business Bucks Country Gardens, and in just thirteen years, the business grew from five employees to sixty-five employees.

Mr. Hebel and his staff donate time to volunteer in the community. His efforts include serving as President of the Bucks Beautiful program, the company's annual beautification of a Bucks County organization, working on the Bucks County Designer House and serving on various committees for the Pennsylvania State University.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Hebel embodies the true American spirit. He has risen from designer to business owner but never lost his passion for gardening or for helping his community. He has dedicated himself to his career and his community and I commend him today for his outstanding service.

Thank you to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. Speaker, there are 435 Members of Congress, and I know there are many people on the other side of the aisle who don't know who I am. I am Patrick Murphy, and I am from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Back home, my wife and my daughter Maggie are watching, probably on C-SPAN right now.

Over 13 years ago, I wore the United States Army uniform for the first time. I was able to live the American dream. I was able to rise through the ranks and become a captain and a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. We had a saying in the Army: Lead, follow or get out of the way.

Well, in the past 4 years, the Republican-led Congress followed. They had their chance, and they followed lockstep as this President led our country into an open-ended commitment refereeing a religious civil war.

For the last 4 years, this Republican Congress followed lockstep as my fellow soldiers continued to die in Iraq without a clear mission, without benchmarks to determine success, without a clear timeline for coming home. In the last 4 years, the Republican Congress followed this President as thousands of brave American soldiers returned home in coffins with our American flag. Nineteen of those coffins had soldiers that I served with in Iraq, 19 paratroopers.

Mr. Speaker, with this bill, with this vote, we mark the end of that error.

Many of the 49 new freshmen, both Democrats and Republicans, were elected a few months ago on the promise of new leadership, and that is what this bill does. It leads our way out of Iraq. It leads the way to rebuild our overextended Army, and leads the way to win the war on terror.

To those on the other side of the aisle who are opposed, I want to ask you the same questions that my gunner asked me when I was leading a convoy up and down Ambush Alley one day. He said, ``Sir, what are we doing over here? What's our mission? When are these Iraqis going to come off the sidelines and stand up for their own country?''

So to my colleagues across the aisle, your taunts about supporting our troops ring hollow if you are still unable to answer those questions now 4 years later.

Mr. Speaker, to vote ``no'' on this bill is to stand idly by, to let our commitment to Iraq remain open-ended and to let countless more American soldiers be killed in the sands of al-Anbar and the streets of Baghdad.

Short-term political peril may sidestep those who cast their vote for the status quo, but our children's history books will not treat them kindly, nor should they.

Mr. Speaker, the 110th Congress will be judged whether we have the political courage to put forth a plan to restore accountability and oversight, to bring our troops home from Iraq and, most importantly, to win the war on terror.

This is our opportunity. This is our chance to lead. For too long, the American people have been craving leadership, craving accountability and craving a new direction in Iraq. Let's give that to them today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of a new direction in Iraq.

For 4 years, Republican Congresses followed lock-step as this President led our country into an open-ended commitment refereeing a religious civil war on the streets of Baghdad and Iraq.

After the fall of Saddam Hussein, ensuring no weapons of mass destruction, and several elections, the Republican Congress still follows lock-step as my fellow soldiers continue to give the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq, without a clear mission, without benchmarks to determine success, and without a clear timeline for coming home. That ends in the 110th Congress. This is a defining moment.

Mr. Speaker, many of us were elected to Congress on the promise of new leadership. That is what the Iraq Accountability Act does. It leads the way out of Iraq, leads the way to rebuild our overextended Army, and leads the way to win the war on terror.

For too long the American people have been craving leadership, craving accountability and craving new direction in Iraq. Let's give them that with this piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the supplemental spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I also wish to register some deep reservations I have with the bill. While I applaud the bill for providing for our troops serving bravely in the field, the bill contains $20 billion for programs and projects not related to funding and equipping our troops. Making sure that our men and women in uniform are well equipped is too important for playing politics, and I am extremely disappointed that these extraneous provisions are included in the bill.

Madam Speaker, many projects funded in the bill have nothing to do with equipping our troops and nothing to do with fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, many projects in the bill simply don't belong. However, much of the extra non-defense spending in the bill is for important and vital programs and I find it sad that we have to use this supplemental spending bill to fund them. I say sad, Madam Speaker, because the fact that the bill includes things like $2.9 billion for Katrina recovery, $2.6 billion for homeland security, and $750 million for children's health care is a testament to the dereliction of duty exhibited by the rubber stamp 109th Congress. We have to fund these vital programs in this year's emergency spending bill because our predecessors left Washington last year without passing a budget and without doing their jobs. Madam Speaker, this is a disgrace and I am so pleased that there's now a Democratic Congress to clean up the mess that was left by the Republican Congress on its way out.

In prior years, the Republican controlled Congress was guilty of even more egregious earmarks and runaway spending, such as the now infamous ``Bridge to Nowhere'' in Alaska. Seeing Congress waste taxpayers dollars on such frivolous projects is one reason why I decided to run for Congress and it is why I have joined the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition.

A major reason that we have all of these extra projects in supplemental spending bills is because President Bush irresponsibly refuses to account for war spending in the regular budget process. This leads to war spending being brought up as so-called ``emergency'' spending bills, which Congress must pass in order to fund our troops. This fiscal recklessness when dealing with funding for our troops is unique to the Bush administration. The Korean War only had one supplemental spending bill, while the Vietnam War, which lasted eleven years, only had four.

Madam Speaker, I'm not the type of person who points out problems without proposing a solution. The people of the 8th district sent me here to lead, and that is exactly what I intend to do. For this reason, I have introduced H. Res. 97, a bill to provide for Operation Iraqi Freedom cost accountability. My bill, among other things, would require that funding for the war in Iraq go through the regular budgeting process, rather than be funded through an endless series of ``emergency'' spending bills. In my view, this would eliminate the ability to attach non-defense spending projects to a bill that should be about one thing and one thing only: Providing for our troops.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I do wish to say that there is a great deal to admire in this bill. It provides our troops with the funding they need to do their jobs. It provides for benchmarks for the Iraqis and a timeline for bringing our troops home. And it sends a message to President Bush that he no longer has a rubber stamp Congress that will keep funding this war without questioning him. I only wish we could have done all of this without these extra unrelated projects. Still, it is important that we not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and it is important to let the president know that it is time to start bringing our troops home.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Wendy Miller of Jamison, Pennsylvania for her dedication to our soldiers overseas. Her efforts have brought hope to many soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as here at home.

For the past three years, Ms. Miller, working through the program Anysoldier, has collected various supplies, clothes, and treats from family, friends, and neighbors. Each year she collects a thousand homemade valentines and hundreds of homemade cards and letters from area children. She then ships the packages to the units requesting supplies on anysoldier.com.

Ms. Miller has shipped 130 boxes already, and plans to ship another 100 in the next month. She has taken the initiative to organize volunteers in four other neighborhoods to help collect the donations. The project has been so successful that she plans to send at least 500 boxes by the end of the year.

Her hard work has not gone unappreciated. In fact, Madam Speaker, Ms. Miller has received letters from soldiers, thanking her for the supplies, for the hope each shipment gives them, and for the reminder that they are not forgotten. The generosity of the hundreds of residents who participate in this project is overwhelming, and the devotion of Ms. Miller is incredible.

One letter of thanks from a soldier serving in Afghanistan reads ``Your care package got our soldiers smiling after a long day.'' Madam Speaker, as a veteran of the Iraq war, I rise today on behalf of American soldiers to thank Wendy Miller and her neighbors for their unending dedication and generosity.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Pennsylvania Democrats for being named the ``2006 Chapter of the Year'' by the Pennsylvania Federation of College Democrats.

For those who say all young people are apathetic, I say, look at the Penn Democrats. They are inspiring proof to the contrary. Their hard work and dedication make them admirable examples--models not just to their fellow students or to other Democrats, but to all of us who seek to improve our communities through civic engagement and public service.

The Penn Democrats are to be commended for their continued outward focus. Not content to exist merely as a self-contained committee of like-minded people, they maintain an active presence on the University of Pennsylvania campus and work to encourage other students to become politically active. When voter turnout on campus grew by 280 percent between the 2000 and 2004 elections, the increase was due in large part to the efforts of the Penn Democrats, who ran a nonpartisan voter registration drive and successfully lobbied the City of Philadelphia to create six additional polling places convenient to the Penn campus. They ran a strong Get-Out-The-Vote effort in 2006 as well, and election day turnout among Penn students more than tripled that of the previous midterm elections, in 2002.

Their involvement in the larger community beyond the University is as laudable as their on-campus involvement, and is perhaps more extraordinary among college organizations. The Penn Democrats have worked hard to place students in local political offices. Through the organization's efforts in 2005, nine Penn students joined Philadelphia's 27th Ward Democratic Committee, and 20 more served as Inspectors or Judges of Elections.

The passion, energy, and focus of these students have made the Penn Democrats a respected institution on campus, in the local community, and in state and national politics. Politicians and candidates value invitations to speak at their events, not because they simply want good ``photo ops,'' but because they know that the Penn Democrats play a meaningful role in politics and in the community.

I applaud the University of Pennsylvania College Democrats for their well-deserved recognition as Chapter of the Year.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Margaret Dator for her leadership and guidance as Executive Director of the Free Clinic of Doylestown. Margaret--known to everyone as Peggy--is a tremendous community leader. This year, in recognition of her years of volunteer service, she will be honored with the Bucks County Women's History Month Award.

Peggy has worked with young people in Girl Scouts, her church, schools, and Doylestown Hospital. It is through her efforts with these organizations that she was prepared to serve on the board of A Woman's Place, the Bucks County Children and Youth Advisory Board and the Foundations Behavioral Health Board. Peggy has also worked with the League of Women Voters in the production of a series of videos for local cable television programs addressing problems such as teen alcohol use, pregnancy and health care. She continues to serve as a consultant for the League of Women Voters on health and children's services.

Madam Speaker, there are countless stories that show Peggy's limitless spirit for helping those in need. One time, when faced with a request for equipment for a dental mission in Kenya, Peggy--as always-- went above and beyond, joining the mission as a volunteer to provide a needs assessment for the community and work as a dental assistant. She is now financing an education for a Kenyan orphan.

While involved with the Warminster Collaborative, Peggy seized the opportunity to use a community gardening project to bring nutritional food to low-income homes. She has fulfilled a Spanish immersion course in order to improve bilingual assistance at the Free Clinic, and has recruited bilingual volunteers. Through her efforts, the clinic now also provides treatment for dental and mental health issues, and she has reinvigorated the help provided by A Woman's Place.

Madam Speaker, Peggy is admired for her unfailing generosity, strong leadership and advocacy for women, children, and vulnerable members of society. Peggy's efforts have improved many organizations and even more lives. Along the way, she has never failed to lose her vision of equality and justice. Her work, both in the community and around the world, is inspiring, and I am honored to recognize her for her many accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today because today marks the 4-year anniversary of the war in Iraq. I would like to offer a moment of silence for the 19 members of my unit that did not make it home from Iraq, and for the thousands of brave Americans that have fallen.

On this somber occasion, we must commit ourselves to honoring the memories of the fallen, and continue to do right by our troops still fighting.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldiers held captive by Hamas and Hezbollah. As a former soldier myself, my thoughts and prayers are with Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev and their families. Let them know that the strength and good wishes of this Congress and of our Nation are with them all.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution, which states in a clear, unequivocal voice that the United States stands with these brave soldiers and demands their immediate and unconditional release. The statement we make today is important not just for these three soldiers, but for the greater goal of achieving peace in the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution makes it abundantly clear that neither the U.S., nor Israel, nor any of our allies will bow to the will of terrorist organizations. We will fight them at

every turn, we will never retreat, and we will prevail because the cause of freedom is just and righteous. As one of my heroes, President John F. Kennedy, once said, ``Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.'' Today we renew this pledge.

This resolution also makes it clear that while we do not shrink from the fight against terrorism, we also recognize that this battle is one that cannot be won without diplomacy. While we declare that we will always support efforts to maintain Israel's identity as a Jewish state with secure borders, we also renew our commitment to achieving a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside of the State of Israel.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, we are here to speak in a united voice to support Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. We pray for their safety and we hope that they will return home soon. As we do this, we realize that the stories of these three brave soldiers are a part of a larger conflict that has taken thousands of lives and has ravaged an entire region of the world for far too long. With this resolution, we take another small step toward a future that is free of this conflict, where both Israelis and Palestinians have a place to call home and where no more lives are lost to a needless cycle of violence.

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to recognize the remarkable work of Dr. Regina M. Benjamin and Mr. Wendell W. Young III, recipients of the Saint Katharine

Drexel National Justice Award. These two outstanding individuals were recognized by The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for their dedication and commitment to the betterment of others.

Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, a graduate of Xavier University and Morehouse School of Medicine, has dedicated her life to caring for the health and social welfare needs of the people in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. She is committed to enhancing physician access and patient care through her work as a member of local, state and federal boards.

Mr. Wendell W. Young III, as President of the Retail Clerk International Association of Philadelphia Local Union, promoted and created equity and equality for workers. His life has been dedicated to Catholic social teachings.

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of the Feastday of Saint Katherine Drexel, March 3, 2007, we honor both recipients for their tireless efforts to bring peace and justice to their communities. The selfless work of both Mr. Young and Dr. Benjamin has been on the behalf of those in need, a calling that is truly noble. Madam Speaker, these two individuals have taken up the fight for equality, justice and the well- being of all Americans, and for that we are all grateful.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the Girl Scouts of the USA in celebrating their 95th anniversary. Since its founding in 1912, the Girl Scouts has become the world's preeminent organization for girls. Back then they had just 18 members, but today, there are 3.7 million Girl Scouts--2.7 million girl members and 928,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers.

Girl Scouting builds confidence, character, and leadership skills which allow girls to grow into young women who make positive contributions to the world around them. Each unique experience, be it reading to younger students or participating in a math competition, empowers girls and helps them reach their full potential.

On the national level, the Girl Scouts of the USA has been an advocate for girls' involvement in math, science and engineering; for violence prevention and for the health and safety of all girls. Through their many government and corporate partnerships, the Girl Scouts bring innovative programming to girls throughout the country and expand their reach to underserved communities where girls need it most.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the Girl Scouts of Freedom Valley, which serves my district, has over 21,000 members and 7,000 adult volunteers. I am proud to have such a wonderful team of volunteers dedicated to the leadership and character development of girls in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I know that all of us take pride knowing that each and every Girl Scout of today will be one of tomorrow's leaders.

I know the Girl Scouts of the USA will celebrate many more anniversaries and continue to be a positive influence on our Nation's girls and on our society for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Rev. Dennis M. Mooney of St. Mark Parish in Bristol, Pennsylvania for being named Grand Marshal of the 19th annual Bucks County St. Patrick's Day Parade. Father Mooney is the chaplain for all Bucks County divisions of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and he is being recognized as Grand Marshal for his contributions to the awareness of Irish culture and tradition.

Madam Speaker, all Bucks County residents look forward to the St. Patrick's Day Parade, especially those celebrating their Irish heritage. Being named Grand Marshal is a tremendous honor, reserved only for members of the community who are highly respected and revered. Father Mooney fits these criteria and as a member of the St. Mark congregation, I am proud to call Father Mooney my parish priest.

Father Mooney was born in the Kensington section of Philadelphia and graduated from Visitation B.V.M. School and Northeast Catholic High School. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1977, with his first assignment to St. Agnes Parish in West Chester, Pennsylvania. After 11 years at St. Hugh of Cluny Parish in West Kensington, Father Mooney returned to St. Mark and the community is better for it.

The 2007 parade, led by Father Mooney, will be held Saturday, March 10 and will embrace the theme, ``Ireland, Land of our Fathers.'' As always, the event will feature traditional Irish song and dance, the beauty and grace of the culture brought to this country by men and women from the Emerald Isle. Madam Speaker, by holding this celebration,

our community ensures that these customs live on, and for that we owe all the members of Bucks County St. Patrick's Day Committee a huge debt of gratitude.

The committee has chosen the right man, in Father Mooney, to lead a parade that brings such pride and joy to Bucks County. Father Mooney has endeared himself to us all and has always been willing and eager to give back to the community. Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate Father Mooney for being given the nonor of leading this parade, and thank him for his decades of service to the community.

Madame Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to remember Frank White, the president and former chief of the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad. I share the sadness felt by our entire community regarding Frank's recent passing, but his friends and family are surely proud of the legacy Frank leaves behind.

Frank was a staple of the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad from the day he joined in 1987 with his wife Marianne White, who also served as president. After leading the squad as its chief for 5 years, Frank was elected president of the organization. While performing many administrative and operational roles, Frank was the squad's strongest advocate in the community and at the municipal level, where he worked tirelessly. He was instrumental in bringing the organization a permanent home in Langhorne and was truly the voice of the squad in the community. Madame Speaker, his colleagues and those they serve are better for Frank's efforts and his dedication to the squad.

But outside of his work with Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad, Frank was the same approachable and caring man. Members of the community who were experiencing various problems would go to Frank for guidance and counsel and Frank always knew how to help. He had a unique desire to help others; he was welcoming to his friends and neighbors. People described him as the ``go-to-guy'' for almost anything. It was only natural when Frank decided to extend his public service to an official capacity by running for Middletown Township Supervisor. Those who asked him to run recognized in him the characteristics that had drawn people to him for years.

Frank's commitment to public service was truly noble and one colleague described Frank as one of the most selfless people he had ever known. This is among the highest compliments one can be paid in our society, and as a community, we all owe Frank a debt of gratitude for his years of work. He not only made us safer, but served as an advocate and an inspiration to many others who followed his example. This includes his daughter Jessica, who has joined the squad. She is his youngest daughter and one of five children Frank leaves behind. Madam Speaker, his memory will be one that his wife and children can be proud of. He will be remembered for his compassion, selflessness and devotion, a legacy we should all strive to achieve.

Thank you, Congressman Ross. I will make sure that when my wife and I retire today we will pray for your brother-in-law over in the Middle East. He is one of our heroes, and we are proud of his service to the country.

I rise today to bring an end to the pattern of systemic neglect from the White House. Last November, American families sent Democrats to Congress to bring about change. There are now 49 new Members in the House of Representatives. Five of those Members are veterans. Of those five, I am proud to say they are all Democrats. I am also proud to say that three of the five are from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Admiral Sestak, Commander Carney, and myself.

Change from the neglect our military veterans are currently experiencing, as they try to get the health care they deserve, Americans have seen now the past few days what is going on in Walter Reed. It is our opinion that this is criminal neglect.

But when the people voted for change in November, they voted to change from the strategy in Iraq that has American troops refereeing a civil war while too many Iraqis sit on the sidelines, and a change in the way we pay for the war in Iraq.

The American taxpayers have spent more than $400 billion in Iraq. If they were to see an invoice, just one invoice, taxpayers would see the widespread waste, fraud, and abuse. And that is why, as Blue Dogs, we stood together with the Iraqi Accountability Act. Fifty-eight Members of Congress agreed to this act. Congressmen Allen, Altmire, Arcuri, Baca, Baird, Barrow, Bean, Berry, Bishop, Boswell, Boyd, Boyda, Brady, Braley, Cardoza, Castor, Chandler, Costa, Davis, Donnelly, Ellsworth, Gillibrand, Gonzalez, Hare, Harman, Herseth, Hill, Hodes, Holden, Israel, Mahoney, Marshall, Matheson, McIntyre, McNerney, Melancon, Marchant, Miller, Mitchell, Dennis Moore, Gwen Moore, Peterson, Pomeroy, Ross, Salazar, Schwartz, Scott, Shuler, Tanner, Thompson, Welch, Filner, Walz, Clarke, Ellison, Sires, Holt, Reyes.

All of these Members, all 58 Members are cosponsors to the Iraq Accountability bill, and they signed on because they have seen what is really going on. They have seen that over the past 4 years families of my district of Bucks County, Pennsylvania and northeast Philadelphia and across the country have heard a lot of bad news from Iraq.

But we are also hearing about money lost and weapons missing. Recently here in Congress we heard from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. He spoke to the Armed Services Committee, and he told us about $9 billion that has simply vanished. But as many as 14,000 weapons have disappeared, weapons that could be in the enemy's hands right now. These are dollars and these are weapons that were sent to the Iraqis that have gone missing because of mismanagement and fraud. It is not just about the money, but it is also about the safety of our troops. Those missing weapons could arm an entire division of the Muqtada al-Sadr army, an entire division.

Mr. Speaker, it is long past time that we kept track of the money and the weapons that we are giving to the Iraqis and replace the fraud, waste, and abuse with proper oversight, responsibility, and accountability.

The legislation that the Blue Dogs are supporting addresses the glaring lack of oversight and accountability in Iraq and addresses how taxpayer dollars are spent on the war. It puts forward commonsense proposals that ensure that fewer resources are wasted and more resources get to the troops on the battlefield.

This legislation calls for transparency in how Iraq's war funds are spent. It urges the establishment of a Truman committee-type commission to track and curb the fraud, waste, and abuse. It calls for the Iraqi war to go through the normal budgeting process, not through emergency bills or supplementals. These are measures everyone should agree on regardless of the political party.

American families are frustrated with the war in Iraq. This legislation will go a long way toward providing the change that we all seek and the transparency that we all deserve. It is time for answers, Mr. Speaker, and it is time for accountability, and it is time to put an end to the pattern of neglect.

Madam Chairman, I rise today as an original cosponsor and strong supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Abraham Lincoln once said, ``If any man tells you he loves America yet hates labor, he is a liar.'' President Lincoln's words are no less true now then they were when he spoke them over a century ago.

Organized labor has played a critical role throughout our history. Without it we would never have witnessed the rise of the greatest middle class that the world has ever seen. But there is more to be done. Madam Chairman, over the last six years, our middle class families, including those in my district in Pennsylvania, have been squeezed by the anti-worker policies of this administration.

The late Senator Wellstone, a champion of organized labor used to tell this story about the great abolitionist Wendell Philips. One day Philips, in his usual fashion, gave a fiery speech, and said that slavery was unconscionable, an outrage and should be abolished. He finished speaking and a friend came up to him and said, ``Wendell, why are you so on fire?'' He turned to his friend and said ``Brother May, I'm on fire because I have mountains of ice before me to melt.''

We too have mountains of ice to melt. Madam Chairman, there is much to be done to strengthen our middle class and to make sure that they, like their parents, can ensure that their children will have more than they did. For middle class families, the Employee Free Choice Act is a good start down the path to greater prosperity.

Everywhere families turn they face ever increasing costs. Health care, education, gas, food, housing. Prices are up, wages are down and middle class families are struggling. People can sit around and argue all day about why the middle class is getting squeezed, but when I think about my friends and neighbors back home in Pennsylvania, it is clear that arguments are no longer good enough--we need to do something. Letting workers organize fairly is a good start.

Madam Chairman, I would like to use my time here to set the record straight. For too many years now and for far too many Americans, joining a union has been a risk, rather than a right. I don't think that it's too much to ask that if a majority of workers want to join a union, they should be free to do so. And they should be free to do so without coercion and without misinformation campaigns.