Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President visited the Bureau of Public Debt and promptly announced ``There is no Social Security trust fund, just a bunch of IOUs stacked in an old filing cabinet.''

Well, that may be an old filing cabinet to you, Mr. President; but to middle-class Americans that is their lifetime retirement savings. It may be filled with just IOUs to you, but when you borrowed $700 billion from that trust fund, it was a very opportune filing cabinet because you stuck your hand in there and took $700 billion from the Social Security trust fund to use. It was not an old filing cabinet. It was not just a bunch of IOUs.

Those are the taxes that Americans put away; the resources they put away for their life savings, and that is how every President and every Congress has treated it. It is the obligation of this Congress to strengthen Social Security, not to weaken it.

For middle-class Americans and for everybody who is saving for their retirement, it is high time we begin to strengthen Social Security by paying back the $700 billion you have borrowed from it. And if you want to talk about IOUs, the IOUs we have run up, which is nearly $2 trillion in debt that now Communist China and Japan own and are our bankers, that would be a good place to see where the IOUs are.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 188, which honors our nation's firefighters for the lifesaving work they do every day to keep our families safe and secure. All too often we take for granted the heroic efforts of these dedicated public servants, and I am pleased to join my colleagues in taking a moment to say thank you.

On Chicago's North Side, there is a large mural dedicated to the memory of fallen firefighters. It depicts several events where these brave men and women answered the call to rescue their fellow citizens. The events pictured range from the tragic 1958 fire at Our Lady of the Angels school in Chicago to the events of September 11th, 2001. In each of these emergencies, firefighters have selflessly risked their lives so that others may live. The words in the center of the mural say it all: ``First Ones In, Last Ones Out.''

On December 7th last year, a fire broke out in Chicago's LaSalle Bank Building, a landmark skyscraper built in 1934. As flames and heavy smoke poured out of the 29th floor windows, dozens of Chicago firefighters entered the building. These heroes showed exceptional professionalism and valor as they evacuated all 45 stories of the building and extinguished the fire. Of the 37 people injured in the fire, 22 were Chicago firefighters. As a direct result of their swift response and expertise, no lives were lost in one of the city's worst fires in recent memory.

Chicago firefighters receive a great deal of attention when handling major events such as the LaSalle Bank fire, but perhaps their greatest achievement is in the quiet work of prevention, inspection and education. Fire-related fatalities in Chicago are at a 25-year low, thanks to improvements in building safety and community outreach efforts by local firehouses to schools, senior centers and neighborhood associations. Chicago's citizens are now better informed about how to prevent and handle emergency situations, and they view their local firehouse as an important and valuable resource in the neighborhood.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues calling up this important resolution today, and I look forward to working with them to provide America's firefighters with the support and resources they need to continue their heroic work.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of nearly six thousand Scottish-Americans who live in my district, I rise today as a proud cosponsor and in strong support of H. Res. 41. This bipartisan resolution supports the establishment of a `National Tartan Day' to recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish-Americans throughout our nation's history.

In America's early history, many colonists pursued higher education at universities founded by Scottish settlers. Many of the non-Anglican students who were prohibited from enrolling at other institutions attended these universities where the Scottish-American ideals of universal education, religious freedom and law flourished and became significant influences on the development of our Nation.

In fact, our nation's Declaration of Independence was modeled largely on Scotland's Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of Arbroath, which was signed four and a half centuries earlier. An often overlooked fact is that nearly half the signers of our Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent.

Throughout our Nation's history Scottish-Americans contributed to diverse areas of American life such as science, technology, medicine, government, politics, economics, architecture, literature, media, and visual and performing arts. President Woodrow Wilson and Andrew Carnegie are two examples of notable Scottish-Americans who excelled in these fields.

These contributions and achievements are celebrated by more than 200 cultural organizations throughout the United States. One of these organizations, the Illinois Saint Andrew Society serves the city and suburbs of Chicago, Illinois by honoring the culture and traditions of Scotland and Scottish-Americans. These organizations provide a valuable service by educating all Americans about the time-honored values and ideals of the Scottish culture.

Madam Speaker, I thank the Scottish cultural organizations for documenting and promoting these contributions, and I am proud to be a cosponsor and support this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, during roll call vote number 74 on H.R. 1268, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``yes.'' I ask unanimous consent that my statement appear in the record immediately following roll call vote number 74.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday while testifying before a Senate committee, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on the tax cuts, ``It turns out we were all wrong'' about President Bush's tax cuts.

In his book, Ron Suskind quotes the Fed Chairman as telling Secretary O'Neill, ``Without the triggers, that tax cut is irresponsible fiscal policy.''

Despite his private views, Chairman Greenspan publicly supported the tax cuts without reservation. I only wish he had expressed publicly what he knew privately.

Mr. Greenspan went on to say that he wanted to use the tax cuts to eliminate the budget surplus. Well, he succeeded beyond his wildest imagination. We now have $2 trillion in additional debt because of those tax cuts. Now where do we send that bill, Mr. Greenspan?

The Fed Chairman would have us believe that no one could have seen this coming, that it was an honest mistake. I know something about spin. Mr. Greenspan, that is spin. Now, Mr. Greenspan advocates making tax cuts for millionaires permanent while advocating a cut in Social Security benefits for the middle class, all the while bemoaning the rising deficits this country has seen and $2 trillion of additional debt.

Thank you very much for that independent analysis, Mr. Greenspan. Mr. Greenspan, you know better.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the budget resolution and in support of the Democratic substitute. In the last 3 years, the Republican Congress has enacted three tax cuts, resulting in the three largest deficits in history, all the while on top of the record $400- plus billion deficits and $2.4 trillion of additional debt. This budget does not account for the $300 billion of the Iraqi-Afghanistan war, the $800 billion for the prescription drug benefit they passed, and the $1.9 trillion needed to privatize Social Security.

If this is an example of what a conservative philosophy is, we cannot afford this fiscal mess any more, and the one thing we can always say about the Republican budget is we will be forever in your debt.

The CBO, the Congressional Budget Office, has attested to all of these figures, but none of them are honestly reflected in this resolution.

But while leaving a sea of red ink for future generations, what does this budget do to the middle class, who are facing rises costs in health care and college tuition? This budget makes it all the more difficult for the middle class to afford their health care and college education. This budget cuts the health care professional training by $300 million, it cuts community health by $289 million, it cuts extended health care facilities for veterans by $105 million, and it eliminates the Preventive Health Care Block Grants. It also underfunds the National Institutes of Health and Maternal and Child Health Care Block Grants.

It is a fascinating approach to investing in America's future. Who knew when George Bush declared he was against nation building, it was America he was talking about?

We need a new direction and a new set of economic policies to put the middle class families and their economic interests at the heart of our economic policies. To think that the policies or the stewardship of the Republican Congress over the last 4 years has led to $2.4 trillion in additional debt, three consecutive years of the largest deficits in the history of the country, and all under the rubric of being a conservative, it is a fascinating approach, and all the while we are cutting health care, investments in America, cutting college tuition assistance to middle class families, opening doors to their future, it is a fascinating approach nobody has ever really thought of as a way to build America's future as one that is brighter.

Mr. Speaker, at a hearing last week the GAO Comptroller General David Walker, a former Social Security trustee, said Social Security privatization would ``exacerbate the solvency problem.''

It would exacerbate the problem by eliminating the Social Security Trust Fund surplus and fail to increase the Nation's savings rate.

In today's economy families are taking on more and more risk. They face uncertain jobs, the loss of health care, jittery financial markets, rising costs of college education. Their retirements are less secure than ever.

Folks like the security that comes with Social Security. This debate is about choosing between privatization and the dismantling of Social Security as we know it or strengthening the guaranteed benefit that comes with Social Security. Rather than dismantling one of the most effective retirement programs in American history, we should be working together to strengthen Social Security for future generations.

In these uncertain times we should be helping American families, not exacerbating the risks that come with retirement. Privatization is simply the wrong direction.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my Special Order at this time.

Mr. Speaker, as the House takes up the bankruptcy legislation, a glaring loophole remains untouched in this so-called reform bill. It is known as the Millionaire's Loophole. It is a proven windfall for the very wealthy and the very well connected. It was created by five States that passed laws exempting asset protection trusts from the Federal bankruptcy code.

These trusts allow wealthy individuals to stash funds, often in offshore accounts, for the purpose of hiding their assets from creditors after they declare bankruptcy.

What we are, in fact, doing in this bill is creating two bankruptcy laws, one for the well-connected and one for middle class families. Middle class families, over half of them who declare bankruptcy, do it because of health care costs, and they are forced because of higher hospital costs or other type of health care expenses they did not expect and they do not have coverage, they seek bankruptcy protection. The wealthy, they have a special loophole here that protects their assets, wherever they may be, and sometimes in foreign accounts, and therefore, they have a bankruptcy law, one that treats them and all of their assets with a certain standard and another one that treats middle class families who are usually facing a health care crisis. That is not the way this legislation should be drafted.

We should have one bankruptcy bill for every American, not two bankruptcy bills, one for the very wealthy and connected and one for middle class families struggling with health care costs.

Whether the assets are villas, yachts, investments or a suitcase full of cash, they are untouchable in bankruptcy reorganizations for the well-to-do. Neither creditors nor the courts can reach into the asset protection trusts.

As one bankruptcy expert observed in the Wall Street Journal, ``With this loophole, the rich won't need to buy houses in Florida or Texas to keep their millions.''

What is ironic here is the bankruptcy bill is titled The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. If this loophole is not abuse, what is? While the bill keeps asset protection trusts in place, it makes it very hard for those who fall behind to work themselves out of the financial trouble they face.

More than half of all the bankruptcies in America are the result of catastrophic medical bills. Middle class families cannot pay. Rather than dealing with the health care crisis of uncontrollable costs, of lack of coverage, what has the infinite wisdom of this Congress done? Decided to come up with a bankruptcy piece of legislation that treats the wealthy one way and with one standard of protection and throws the middle class in front of the train, but if you can afford a high priced lawyer to set up an offshore trust, you are better off in bankruptcy court than if you are a middle class family trying to pay off of a massive hospital bill.

The right way to address this problem is to have bankruptcy legislation that treats every American the same, regardless of circumstance, regardless of income. That is not what this legislation does.

My colleague and I, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) are offering an amendment to deal with this in the Committee on the Judiciary and to address this discrepancy in the law, but by preserving the asset protection trust loophole, the bankruptcy bill is protecting wealthy deadbeats from the same punishment, the same standards, the same rule of law that the legislation imposes upon every American, regardless of income.

Regrettably, the Senate voted down an amendment to close this loophole. We are going to be offering this amendment both in the Committee on the Judiciary as well as in the full House. I am glad that my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt), has joined me in this effort.

Our legislation would force the wealthy individuals and well- connected who are trying to cheat the system to limit the funds they can protect to a maximum of $125,000, and importantly, this amendment does not affect retired Americans or take anything away from their nest egg and retirement security. It specifically carves out an exemption for retirees. It also protects charitable, educational and other trusts set aside for legitimate purposes.

Mr. Speaker, what kind of values does our bankruptcy code reflect when the abuses of the wealthy deserve more leeway than middle class families struggling with health care costs? We must address this discrepancy and these double standards continuously. We have it in our tax code. We have it in our educational system. We have it in our laws which allow our American corporations to set up in Bermuda and avoid taxes here in the country while middle class families struggle. We should not have bankruptcy legislation pass the United States Congress that sets up two laws, one that can afford lawyers and accountants to protect them and another one that is struggling and middle class families that are struggling to pay health care costs.

We can do better. It is time that this Congress show the wisdom to understand that every American will have the same laws applied to itself regardless of income.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the 80th birthday of Bob Lanier, former Mayor of Houston and a dedicated public servant. Bob may not have entered politics until after his 66th birthday, but he certainly made up for lost time in the 14 years that followed.

Bob had a distinguished career before he ran for Mayor of Houston. He served in the Navy during World War II, graduated from the University of Texas Law School with high honors, and chaired the Texas Highway Commission and Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Bob has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Hubert Humphrey Civil Rights Award, the Bond Market Association's Distinguished Public Service Award, and a place in the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor.

Respected and admired by Americans on both sides of the aisle, Bob served the people of Houston exceptionally well during his three terms. They returned him to office in 1993 with over 91 percent of the vote, and he left office with a remarkable 78 percent approval rating.

Within his first 90 days in office, ``Mayor Bob,'' as he was affectionately known, added 655 police officers, leading to a dramatic reduction in the city's crime rate. He was also known for revitalizing several areas of Houston, transforming them into vibrant engines of the city's economy.

Further, he made tremendous strides in environmental preservation. He and his wonderful wife Elyse won two national awards for clean up and beautification of the city. President Clinton summed up Bob's contributions to the city when he said, ``He was a magnificent mayor.''

Bob received many accolades during his six years as mayor, but perhaps most fitting was when Texas Monthly named him one of three top Texas mayors of the 20th century.

Bob and Elyse are enjoying their retirement, and I am sure that their seven children and ten grandchildren will be a big part of helping them continue to enjoy it.

Mr. Speaker, I wish Bob a very happy 80th birthday, and I hope that I can share in the celebration of many happy returns.

Mr. Speaker, we are now running structural deficits on average of a little over $400 billion a year. In 4 short years, we have added $2 trillion to the Nation's debt and have a continuing plan to do that.

How did we get here? Partly as a result of last year's corporate tax cut bill which spent $150 billion on an $8 billion problem. Today's Wall Street Journal reports how this legislation has led to greater job loss. That is an interesting economic strategy, given it intended to create jobs.

For instance, Colgate-Palmolive said that while the corporate tax bill will allow it to repatriate half a billion dollars in profits, the company will actually shut down a third of its factories and lay off 4,400 employees.

Sun Microsystems, $1 billion in new profits during the so-called corporate tax ``holiday,'' will be repatriated, but plans to lay off 3,600 employees.

DuPont Photomasks is repatriating $24 million, but laying off 100 employees, while expanding its Singapore factory at the same time.

While the corporate suites enjoy the fruits of this tax cut, Americans are left with less jobs and more of a burden for the Nation's debt: $30,000 for every man, woman, and child.

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the corporate tax cut bill, we can expect that share of the debt to keep growing for Americans.

Madam Speaker, on March 19 we will begin our third year in Iraq. The brave men and women of our armed forces have fought proudly, and have served proudly.

After extended tours of duty, many are finally coming home to their families. Following every major war, every Congress has compensated its returning service men and women with the resources to begin their lives. Now is our chance, the 109th Congress, to honor a new generation of American heroes.

The Welcome Home GI Bill is a bold new direction in helping our veterans achieve the success they have earned and deserve. It provides health care for up to 5 years through the TRICARE program for service men and women and their families who do not have health care with their place of employment or have lost it.

The Welcome Home GI Bill includes $75,000 for college education and waives the $1,800 fee for getting that education and a down payment on their home. Most importantly, under the plan, all returning veterans, regardless of service, National Guard, State Guard, or Reservists, including our active duty, get this benefit. It is what a grateful Nation should do and has always done. We do not owe these returning veterans a favor but must repay one.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my sincere sympathy to Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow and her entire family after the tragic deaths of her husband, Michael F. Lefkow, and her mother, Donna Grace Humphrey.

The city of Chicago and the entire nation have been shaken by these horrific murders. While we watched the headlines every day this week, we ask ourselves how such terrible crimes could have taken place, and we hope those answers come sooner than later.

Michael Lefkow spent his life fighting to protect civil rights for all Americans--marching with Martin Luther King, Jr., arguing cases before the Supreme Court, and representing the poor and underserved in his law practice. To all who knew and loved him, Michael was a dedicated family man and an active member of his church who used his time and his expertise to make life better for so many others.

Judge Lefkow is also a dedicated public servant, committed to her family and her community and with a reputation for fairness in her judicial decisions.

I want to particularly express sympathy to Michael Lefkow's daughter and Donna Humphrey's granddaughter, Laura, who attended high school on the northwest side of Chicago, won my district's entry in the Congressional Arts Contest in 2003, and volunteered in my Washington office during the summer of 2004.

Mr. Speaker, my prayers and thoughts are with Judge Lefkow, Laura, and the entire Lefkow family in this difficult hour.

Mr. Speaker, in every major war since the Revolution, the United States Congress has acknowledged our returning veterans for their service and sacrifice. In this proud tradition, last weekend I announced a Welcome Home G.I. Bill for the veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a bold new direction in helping our veterans achieve the success they so rightly deserve and earned.

The Welcome Home bill provides health care for up to 5 years for that member and their family if they cannot get it from their employer or lost it when they were overseas. The Welcome Home bill includes $75,000 for college education and waives the $1,800 fee required for the benefit. And, finally, it will offer them a tax-free $5,000 down payment on a home.

Most importantly, under the plan all returning veterans are treated equally whether they served in active duty, National Guard, or Reserve. Because their experience over there was the same, their benefit over here should be the same.

The Welcome Home Package is a small token for our appreciation for the debt of gratitude we can never fully repay.

Mr. Speaker, we do not owe our newest veterans a favor. We must repay one.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the 75th Anniversary of St. Celestine Parish in Elmwood Park, Illinois. I am proud of the continuous support and inspiration this parish has provided to the people of Elmwood Park for the past 75 years, and I would like to thank the parishioners of St. Celestine's for their dedicated service.

St. Celestine's has served as an essential part of the surrounding community since 1929, when construction on the Parish church first began. Despite the daunting conditions of the time, construction was completed in 1930, and out of the despair and poverty of the Great Depression, a new beacon of hope emerged for the people of Elmwood Park.

Today, St. Celestine's continues to be an inspiration to the Elmwood Park community. This parish provides a prime example of what can be accomplished when we work together for the common good. The parishioners of St. Celestine's have an impressive history of giving their time, talent, and resources to their community.

What truly makes this parish special are the people of Elmwood Park and its surrounding communities. Week after week, the 3,000 registered families come to St. Celestine's with smiles on their faces and a warm welcome for any and all new parishioners.

Now as St. Celestine's celebrates their 75th anniversary, I ask you all to take a moment and recognize the importance of places like St. Celestine's in communities all across America.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing St. Celestine church and all of its parishioners for their 75 years of dedication and service to their community.