Floor Statements

Mr. President, I am honored to recognize the life and accomplishments of Tom Mooney, the former president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers. Tom graduated from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH, then devoted himself to ensuring a quality education for the children of Ohio.

In his distinguished tenure as an educator and administrator, Tom served in a number of capacities. He started in 1974 as a high school government teacher. Later Tom would serve as president of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, as vice president of the American Federation of Teachers and finally as the president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, a post he held for six years until his passing.

Tom Mooney was a passionate advocate for teachers and public education. He worked tirelessly. He encouraged parental involvement in the education of their children and vehemently opposed efforts to privatize educational services, as he believed it would be detrimental to the vast majority of Ohio's public school students.

Tom exemplified dedication to--and true advocacy for--children and public education. I am honored to offer this resolution and pay tribute to a great Ohioan and a great American.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 25, submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record at the appropriate place.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 26, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I understand that H.R. 3 has been received from the House and is at the desk.

I ask for its first reading.

Mr. President, I ask for its second reading and object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Friday, January 12, after the reporting of S. 1, the Senate proceed to the consideration en bloc of amendments Nos. 1 and 10; and that the time until 9:50 a.m. run concurrently on both amendments, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees; that at 9:50 a.m., without further intervening action or debate, the Senate proceed to a vote on or in relation to amendment No. 1, to be followed by a vote on or in relation to amendment No. 10; that no amendments be in order to either amendment, and that there be 2 minutes of debate equally divided between the votes.

Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that when the Kerry amendment No. 1 is reported tomorrow, it then be modified with the changes at the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 9:30 a.m., Friday, January 12; that on Friday, following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and that the Senate then resume consideration of S. 1.

Tomorrow, Mr. President, we will have two rollcall votes beginning at 9:50 a.m. The first vote will be on a Kerry amendment relating to congressional pensions, and the second will be on a Vitter amendment regarding an increase in penalties.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Madam Speaker, 14 years ago I began my fight for social and economic justice in the House of Representatives on behalf of middle-class families in my State of Ohio. During those years, this Chamber saw at times heated, even acrimonious debate that often divided this room. At other times, the Nation, through C-SPAN, bore witness to bipartisan teamwork on behalf of families across our country. I treasure every moment as I prepare to leave the House and join the Senate.

I will be forever grateful to my House colleagues of both parties with whom I worked side by side on issues of great importance to middle-class families, to working families, on health care and trade and education. You are all too many in number to name, but so many played a significant role in making my time here in the House one of which I will be exceptionally proud.

I thank you all for that.

It was an arduous year for the country and an inspiring one. It served as a reminder that those of us blessed with the privilege of serving in this great institution do so always at the pleasure of the people in our great country.

This year showed something equally important: The time has come to put the fight for social and economic justice and progressive values into action on behalf of middle-class families and working families. It is time for Democrats and Republicans to work together to deliver upon promises made during stump speeches. It is time for the House and Senate to work together to raise the minimum wage, to build an alternative energy industry, to expand access to affordable health care, to lower the cost of tuition, to revamp our trade policy so we again create good-paying jobs in our communities.

It is time to unabashedly take up the fight for social and economic justice at every level of government and at every corner of our free market system. We are the world's leading superpower, and with that comes the responsibility to lead by example. It is time for Congress to lead by example and fight for justice for all Americans.

In a few short weeks, I will take that fight to the United States Senate. I will take with me the values that served me well during these past 14 years, values shared by so many of my colleagues in Washington, by families across Ohio, and by one very special friend.

It is often at the hardest times that the greatest truths are confirmed. Such was the case this week for my family and me.

We lost a dear friend, my best friend of 30 years, John Kleshinski, last Wednesday. He was only 55. John was not just a champion of social and economic justice, he was a hero to so many. A successful businessman, John was also a man of great faith, who felt his formidable professional accomplishments bestowed upon him a responsibility to give back to his community, to fight for justice for the weakest among us. A man who took up piano in his late forties, he had his first recital at 50 and became the board chairman of the local community organization and established scholarships for underprivileged children. He gave back in more ways than I can mention in 5 minutes.

But more important than the generosity of his time and money was his generosity of spirit. He was a man who found joy in the triumph of others, and in doing so he led by example showing us all the best we can be when we commit ourselves, neighbor to neighbor, Democrat to Republican. John left a legacy that will now be emulated by the thousands of lives he touched. We will all, in effect, pay it forward. Thank you, John, for that.

We are the legacy we create, each of us as husbands and fathers, as wives and mothers, as employees and workers, and, yes, as elected officials. It is the mission of the 110th Congress to create a legacy in which families thrive and our Nation is strengthened, social and economic justice, fair trade, affordable health care for all, quality education. They sound like campaign slogans, and for the last year across this country they were, but they are now our tasks at hand.

We have much work to do, the House and the Senate, Democrats and Republicans. It is our time to lead by example to chart a path that establishes a legacy of unparalleled productivity on behalf of middle- class families. It is time that social and economic justice takes its rightful place in the halls of Congress. It is time to get to work.

I wish the families of Ohio and this country a safe holiday season and a blessed 2007. I especially thank my family, my mother Emily, who has led the fight and education in our family for social and economic justice; my brother, Bob, and his wife, Catherine Scalon; and my brother Charlie, and his wife Anne Swanson; my daughter Emily and her husband Mike; my daughter Elizabeth; my daughter Caitlin; my son Andy and his fiance, Stina; and, more than anybody, my dear wife, Connie Schultz, who has stood and led and done so much to make the lives of our family so much better and the lives of people around my State better.

God bless you, John. We will all miss you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank the Rev. Thaddeus Swirski, pastor of St. Hedwig's Church, in Akron, Ohio, for his service to his parish, the community, and our nation.

A member of the faculty of the University of Akron, Rev. Swirski serves as Chaplain for ROTC Army and Air Force, and the Ohio Military Reserve in the rank of Colonel. He has received six distinguished medals for his military service.

Father Swirski grew up in German-occupied Poland. Born on April 26, 1930, and orphaned at age 3, he spent his first years in Warsaw and later in an orphanage near the Russian border. As an elementary school student, he became active in the Polish underground and joined the resistance against Nazi occupation. He was decorated for his participation in the resistance.

At age 14, Father Swirski joined the First Polish Army, which was organized in the former Polish territory then occupied by Russia. As a young soldier, he participated in the battlefield near Moscow, in Warsaw, then in Berlin, and the River Elba as well as in the Baltic region and Western Polish territory. He was highly decorated by the end of the war. After the collapse of communism in East Europe, Father Swirski was promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Though he was homeless at the end of the war, he became a full-time student, attending day, evening, and summer classes in order to finish high school, working to support himself as he studied. After completing high school,

he exchanged his rifle for the Chalice, Cross and Bible and entered the Seminary. He was ordained into the priesthood on June 29, 1954, in Warmia, Poland.

In August, 1962, he emigrated to the United States and subsequently earned his Master's degree from Case Western Reserve University. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Cleveland and taught Slavic languages and literature at Ursuline College. He also studied for his Ph.D. at the University of Ottawa, Canada. For seven years, Father Swirski hosted a religious program on Sunday mornings on WXEN FM in Cleveland. He is also the author of two novels and four books of poetry.

Father Swirski considers his priesthood his most important vocation and has worked diligently to keep St. Hedwig's Parish spiritually and financially viable. Though his parish is small, thanks to Father Swirski, St. Hedwig's has helped the needy through donations of food for many years. Father Swirski never refuses to help meet the spiritual needs of his parishioners, their families, and their relatives.

Father Swirski is the longest serving pastor of St. Hedwig's Parish, serving from July, 1974, to the present. I am grateful for his unfaltering and compassionate service to his parish and to the United States of America.

Thank you, Mr. Miller, for your terrific leadership fighting for workers. And to my hypocritical friends on the other side of the aisle, I actually plan to vote for the minimum wage.

I stand in honor of the millions of American workers trying to get by on a woefully inadequate minimum wage. On behalf of 500,000 Ohio workers and the Nation's 6 million workers, I will vote in favor of a minimum-wage increase tonight despite the dishonorable chicanery of the gentleman from Pennsylvania and his friends once again foisted on this Chamber by a Republican majority run amok.

For 10 years, Democrats have tried to increase the minimum wage.

I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Of course I did.

I voted for it then. I plan to vote for it now.

I reclaim my time.

For 10 years, Democrats have tried to increase the minimum wage and Republicans have blocked it. Yet during the 10 years with no minimum wage increase, Congress, under Republican leadership, has increased its own pay six times. The CEO of ExxonMobil is paid more than $17,000 an hour while a minimum-wage worker who fills her tank with ExxonMobil gas earns less than $11,000 a year. Yet this bill puts first millions of dollars in tax cuts for the ExxonMobil CEO.

Tonight it is clear why we need a change. That change is only 3 months away.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is the first anniversary of the House passage of the Bush energy bill.

Our Republican colleagues probably want to take a victory lap, but they just cannot afford the gas. Gas prices, you see, in that 1 year are 71 cents higher today than they were 12 months ago.

The Republican energy bill fails American consumers by design.

They moved it a year ago, even though they knew it would grow our dependence on foreign oil because it offered $85 billion in consumer subsidies to Big Oil and the other Republican corporate campaign donors.

It has paid off. Eighty-four percent of Big Oil's more than $10 million in political contributions for this November's elections have gone to Republicans, 84 percent. Is it any wonder who the Republican energy bill really serves?

Too many of my Republican colleagues are addicted to oil company campaign contributions.

We need to reject the failed policies of the past. We need to build a brighter future of greater energy independence by using energy smarter, investing in new, job-creating energy technologies and, for instance, making my State of Ohio the Silicon Valley of alternative energy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 449 honoring Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Feller.

Bursting onto the baseball scene in 1936, he immediately became the American League's dominant pitcher. A Cleveland Indian throughout his 18-year career, Feller broke record after record, including three no- hitters and 12 one-hitters, and he pitched on opening day a no-hitter.

My older brother Charlie heard a great story about Feller's blazing speed. Bob Feller and the Indians were playing the Yankees in the 1930s, and New York's Lefty Gomez was on deck. As he approached the plate, Gomez lit a match. The umpire said, Come on, Lefty, it's not too late. You can still see just fine. Gomez pointed to Feller and said, That's not what I'm worried about. I just want him to see me.

Feller's baseball career may have been even more stellar had he not been such a patriot. He was one of the first Major League players to enlist after Pearl Harbor, losing four seasons to war-time service as a combat sailor in the U.S. Navy. He never regretted that choice. Feller told a fan last year, The only win I wanted was to win World War II.

I join my colleagues in supporting House Concurrent Resolution 449, celebrating Bob Feller, a monumental figure in Ohio, a baseball icon and an American patriot.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take the place of the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) in the order.

Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago today, the House of Representatives issued a declaration of independence from the powerful drug lobby. A tripartisan majority, lots of Members of both the Republican and Democratic Parties and the Independent from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), a tripartisan majority in the House passed legislation giving Americans access to safe, effective, and affordable medicine imported from Canada and other allied nations. Several of us in this body have over the years, and I began doing this 7 or 8 years ago, taken seniors from our districts, and I live in northern Ohio, up through Detroit into Windsor, Ontario, to buy prescription drugs at half or a third the price that Americans pay because Canada has found a way to negotiate directly with the drug industry and bring the prices down, saving, as I said, one half, two-thirds, three-fourths of the cost for prescription drugs.

Our Congress, particularly the Republican majority, because it is so in thrall to the drug companies and so addicted to campaign contributions from the drug industry, have failed to do any of that until 3 years ago when that tripartisan majority in the House passed that legislation, giving Americans access to less expensive drugs, drugs imported from Canada and other nations that have a safe, predictable process that they are able to retail their drugs.

But Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has never scheduled a floor vote in the Senate. Not 3 years ago, when we passed this bill; not 2 years ago; not last year, not this year. And the American people continue to pay two and three and four times the cost of prescription drugs that we should have to pay, that the Canadians pay, that the French pay, that the Germans pay, that the Japanese or the Israelis or the Brits pay.

Every day we delay, American consumers are paying as much as five times more than consumers in these other nations are paying for the same drugs, the same packaging, the same drug maker, the same everything. Every day we delay, the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs makes it harder for American businesses to provide health insurance for their workers. Every day we delay puts American manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage as rising drug prices drown them in health care costs. And every day we delay puts the health of American consumers at risk as they are forced to split their pills, skip their doses, and make the heart-breaking choice between medicine and food or between medicine and heat in the winter or between medicine and air conditioning on hot summer days like we have seen.

And every day we delay increases the burden on American taxpayers as drug prices drive up the cost of Medicare, drive up the cost of Medicaid, drive up the cost of other public sector health programs.

We should have sent President Bush an importation bill 3 years ago. It is not too late. We can still deliver for the American people if the Republican leadership in this House and if the Republican leadership in the Senate will commit to floor votes on importation legislation before the end of this year.

Three years is too long to wait. It is time for leadership, for a change, to stand up to the drug lobby and to take a stand for American families, for American businesses, for America as a country.