Corrine Brown

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, one of my favorite scriptures is, ``Let the work I have done speak for me.'' Mr. Speaker, what a difference a week makes. Last week seven House Republicans joined Democrats in supporting an increase in the minimum wage. Yesterday, when the measure came up in another appropriation bill, they certainly changed their minds and joined the rest of the Republicans in ignoring the needs of 7 million hardworking minimum-wage workers, which begs the question: What exactly happened over the last 7 days to make those seven Republicans change their minds? They certainly didn't spend any time with minimum-wage workers, otherwise they would have heard how the workers can barely make ends meet, considering that those who work have to work an entire 8-hour shift just to fill up their gas tank, if they are lucky enough to have a car. In the wealthiest country in the world, this is not acceptable. Mr. Speaker, House Democrats want to expand economic opportunities for 7 million Americans. Let the work we do make a difference for the working men and women in this country.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the life of Reverend Kenneth White. There are those who pass this way, and touch lives. There are others whose very life and living is a testament to God's teachings of love, compassion and service. Reverend White was this man of great character and strength who touched so many and cared so deeply. Here was a man who lived a full and rich life--rich in its complexity and the depth of challenges he faced; yet wonderfully abundant with the unique touch he so deftly applied to all his endeavors. From fighter to chaplain, from husband to father, from a man of God to a child of God, all of these characterizations are, and was, Reverend White, the man who so loved his people that he would give unselfishly of his time and talents for the betterment of mankind. This gentle man was firm in his convictions that no greater love has one than the love of family. Yet his love and respect went beyond the family bonds, and touched so many, and by so doing, helped generations of young lives uphold the creed of self- respect, honesty, truth and caring for others. The gaze, the smile, the laugh, and the way he could embrace you and make you his friend, will be missed. Yet these are the very qualities we will cherish as memories of our dearly beloved Reverend White. Rest now, my friend, for your work here is done and your life shall live on forever in each of us.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to join you all this evening. Rubber Stamp Republicans: There is a very good reason why 77 percent of the American public does not believe that the United States Congress represents their interests. Instead of debating a fair minimum wage bill, tomorrow we will be debating the Repeal of the Estate Tax for millionaires! Instead of dealing with high gas prices, Republicans want to talk about gay marriage. Instead of providing the services that the veterans need when they return from Iraq, the Republicans want to talk about flag burning. Just last week, seven House Republicans joined Democrats in supporting an increase in the minimum wage, but yesterday, when the measure came up in the CJS appropriations bill, they suddenly changed their minds, joining the rest of the Republicans in ignoring the needs of seven million hard working minimum wage workers. So while ignoring the needs of hardworking low-income workers, House Republicans once again will vote to reward those who least need help! Just as they rewarded Halliburton, they continue to award big oil companies huge tax breaks at the expense of hard working Americans paying over $3 per gallon! The White House is collecting our phone records and tapping our phones, yet has no interest in investigating the abuse and fraud by Halliburton in Iraq. It is high time our country needs a change in direction! We need new energy policies, Iraq policy, higher education policy, health care policy, transportation, national security, and the list goes on and on and on! And this needs to be done in a fiscally sound way, not in a way that puts our children into more debt than they're piled in already.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the congressman. I have a question. I was in my office and I got a notice across my desk that perhaps tomorrow we may be debating the estate tax for millionaires. And my question is that we can't get the minimum wage up that affects close to 7 million Americans that are working every day that can't make ends meet, but yet we are talking about an estate tax that is going to only affect about 6,700, the top 1 percent in the entire country. But my question is how are we going to pay for it? We are in a war that we are paying $450 billion for, and we are spending about $600 billion a month. So how are we going to pay for this?

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Congressman, how long have you been here in Congress? Over what, 30 years? How long have you been a Member of Congress?

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today deeply and personally saddened by the loss of my dear friend Ed. I shall truly miss his friendship and hope to fill this void with the warm and comforting memories of our lasting friendship. For Ed and for the Booth family, I offer my personal reflections in hopes that they may bring you some comfort in this moment of loss. There are those who pass this way and touch a few lives, and there are others, who, by their very being, reach beyond the confines of family, neighbor and community--and in so doing leave an indelible mark on the lives of many, even on the heart and conscious of a people. By his very being, Attorney Booth was the embodiment of honesty, truth, integrity, and upheld the virtues of respect for everyone, and compassion for every human condition. He was not one to rush to judgment, personally or professionally, but relied on his innate ability to identify with the plight of others, and respect their pain. Ed was a man who first and foremost loved his family, and in his associations, required no more of others than he would of himself. A gentleman, a scholar, confidant and a personal friend was Ed, and he was one who practiced his faith in deeds, and with humility. In his passing, we honor him by keeping his family in our prayers and his memory alive in our hearts forever.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that I support the troops. Yet the debate about the Iraqi war is not about supporting the troops. I knew from the very beginning that there were no weapons of mass destruction. Well, how did I know that? Well, I am from Florida. And I knew back in 2000 that the Bush administration that we were dealing with would say anything and do anything. They were full of lies. Let's look at the evidence. Since the beginning, the Republican leadership in Congress has outright refused to investigate Vice President Cheney involving the billions of dollars awarded to Iraq for reconstruction contracts to Halliburton. $9 billion in reconstruction funds have been unaccounted for. I repeat, $9 billion in reconstruction funds have been unaccounted for. The amount of taxpayers' money spent by Halliburton and the defense contractors audit agents have deemed either excessive or insufficient documentation is $1.7 billion. Halliburton has received more than $17 billion in no-bid cost-plus contracts for Iraq reconstruction. Folks, I am talking about billions with a B. That is billions and billions of dollars. It amazes me now that these figures contrast with the attention that the media has given to the Katrina mismanagement, while the billions and billions of dollars in unaccounted funds to Halliburton are still largely ignored by the media. You know, we need checks and balances. The House, the Senate and the administration are all Republicans. There are no checks and balances. No checks, no balances. No checks, zero balance. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, it has been over 2 years since the train bombing in Madrid and almost a year since the rail bombing in London and we still have our heads in the sand in this country. We are waiting until another country tries to take over our ports before we get serious about port security. I pray that it doesn't take a disaster for us to care about rail security. We spend billions and billions of dollars on aviation and highways, but our rail system repeatedly gets short-changed by this Bush administration and this Congress, even though five times as many people take trains as planes every day and while freight demand is expected to double by 2020. I was recently in several European countries meeting with their transportation officials about rail security, and I can assure my colleagues that the United States is way behind all other countries in rail infrastructure and investment. Every industrialized country in the world is investing heavily in rail infrastructure because they realize that this is the future of transportation. But, sadly, as this system gets bigger and better, our system gets less and less money. This amendment, which provides just $30 million in the Rail Line Allocation and Improvement program, is a good start in providing the money that our rail system must have to meet the needs of an ever expanding freight and passenger rail system. It is time that we start investing in improving our rail system in this country, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support the freight and passenger rail by supporting this amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, attention students: since the Bush administration took office in 2001, tuition and fees at 4-year public colleges have increased by 40 percent, forcing more and more students and their families to take out Federal loans. The typical student borrower now graduates from college with a record of $7,500 debt, which they must start paying months after they graduate. But thanks to the Bush administration, come July 1, interest rates will be raised by 7 percent, and for the parents 7.8 percent. To avoid adding potential thousands of dollars to the life of their loans, students and parents with Federal student loans should consolidate now before the July 1 rates take effect and lock in interest rates as low as 4.75 percent. To circumvent increases caused by the Republican raid on student loans, a tax on student loans, borrowers should call the Department of Education at 1-800-557-7392. I repeat, to avoid this, call 1-800-557- 7392.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Once again, we are up here fighting for the life of Amtrak, 35 years of service to the public. It just amazes me that constantly people, the Chair of aviation, billions of dollars that we have put in aviation, billions of dollars, and yet it doesn't pay for itself, and we do not want zero funding for Amtrak. This administration constantly, constantly cut down the funds for Amtrak. This administration has come up with a lot of wacky ideas, but let me tell you something. When gasoline will go up to $4 a gallon, you are going to see a lot of people lining up to take Amtrak. With the passage of the latest emergency funding, President Bush will have spent over $439 billion on the war in Iraq, but we don't want to spend money for Amtrak. During Hurricane Katrina, the way the victims and first responders were able to leave the gulf region and the New Orleans area was through Amtrak, Amtrak. Mr. Chairman, this year, Amtrak is celebrating 35 years of public service to this nation through it's commitment to passenger rail. I travel all over the country and the people I talk to love Amtrak. It is a great way to commute to work, it takes cars off our already congested highways, and in many areas of the country is the only mode of transportation available. In fact, ridership has increased in 8 of the last 9 years reaching a record level of over 25 million passengers last year. It is also important to note that Amtrak's long distance trains are the only inner city passenger trains in half the states in America. Amtrak was also a First Responder during hurricane Katrina, and helped evacuate thousands of Gulf region residents while President Bush and his Administration were nowhere to be found. Now they are becoming a key part in each states future evacuation plans. Now what I can't understand is why the Bush Administration is trying to destroy passenger rail in this country. Every Industrialized country in the world is investing heavily in rail infrastructure because they realize that this is the future of transportation. But sadly, as there systems get bigger and better, our system gets less and less money. President Bush has a lot of wacky ideas for dealing with the high gas prices he created, but I can assure him that as prices climb to $4 per gallon, you are going to see American's lining up to use a passenger rail system that has been neglected by this very Administration. But what more do you expect when you put J.R. Ewing in the White House. Once again we see the Bush Administration paying for its failed policies by cutting funds to vital public services and jeopardizing more American jobs. This Administration sees nothing wrong with taking money from the hard working Amtrak employees who work day and night to provide top quality service to their passengers. These folks are trying to make a living for their families, and they don't deserve this shabby treatment from the President. With the passage of the latest emergency funding for the war, President Bush will have spent over $439 Billion on the war in Iraq, but * * * * * million, major infrastructure projects have been completed. All with a workforce that has been reduced by over 4,000 employees. We still have a lot of work ahead of us when it comes to Amtrak. But we're starting $900 million dollars closer to our goal, and I know with the help of the American public, we can fully fund Amtrak at $1.6 Billion and keep Amtrak running long into the future.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to Mr. Veteran, Gillespie V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery, who died May 12. He served for 30 years in the House and I was lucky enough to serve with him on the Veterans Committee. When I was first elected to Congress in 1992, I knew that I wanted to serve on the Veterans Committee. I could think of no better way to serve my constituents or my country than to be on the committee that oversees the Department responsible for helping so many people. Sonny Montgomery was my inspiration. I was a new member and introduced myself to the chairman. A more gracious and gentle man you could not meet. I was walking down the hall with the former Speaker from the Florida legislature. Sonny made a comment that I was a pleasure to work with and how much he enjoyed my participation in the Committee. The former Florida Speaker said you don't know her very well, she'll cut your heart out. He was deeply committed to the cause of veterans and worked in a bipartisan manner to get that done. He also started the Bipartisan Prayer Breakfast which still meets every week. Everyone was Sonny's friend. He was blessed to be surrounded by so many caring friends. ``Let the work that I have done speak for me'' is a favorite line from a hymn. This line explains how Sonny lived his life. God Bless Sonny Montgomery.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I want to rise in support of the amendment. You know, I have been an elected official for 25 years, 14 years in the Congress. And I want to be clear that the people of Florida are united against any drilling in Florida. Now, when I listen to the people from Texas and other places, you know, I understand that Florida is the number one tourist destination in the world. The number one. And we shouldn't do anything that would be against the people of Florida and the people of the United States. People save their money to come to Florida. And certainly we need a comprehensive energy policy. But someone said that the people in Florida in some surveys support drilling in Florida. That is definitely untrue. The people of Florida do not support drilling in Florida. And the people in Florida are united against any drilling in Florida. Florida's coastline is a treasure not just for Floridians, but all Americans and the rest of the world. For years Florida's delegation has worked together to protect our coastline and natural resources. Even conducting an inventory of resources in the Gulf of Mexico will begin to destroy the efforts we have made as a state to preserve our sensitive lands. As long as there are rigs In the area, the potential for devastation to Florida's beaches persists. Florida's beaches are not something we can afford to compromise. This decision goes against everything that Floridians have worked for over so many years. Certainly, the people of Florida do not support off of our shores. In fact, the impact of offshore drilling threatens irreversible scarring to the landscape, affecting thousands of species, each critical to the ecosystem. The great weather, pristine beaches, and I marine wildlife are the number one draws to our fine state. By moving forward with even a resources inventory, you risk a multi-billion dollar industry for only a few extra barrels of petroleum. There are environmental risks associated with near-shore natural gas drilling despite claims to the contrary. Liquid hydrocarbon found with natural gas could float on top of the water and was up on Florida's beaches. Moreover, one huge problem with the plan is that the areas that are off limits to drilling now are not where the resources are. In fact, 80 percent of the Nation's undiscovered technically recoverable natural gas on the OCS is located in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska--where drilling is currently allowed and already underway. Indisputably, allowing drilling would be harmful to tourism and risk Florida's $57 billion tourist economy. In fact, this policy would affect all U.S. coastlines from Alaska to Maine. Any drilling would also be visible from the beach and have no effect on oil prices, especially when natural gas prices are falling.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, breaking news: 77 percent of the American people said that the Republicans are leading us in the wrong direction. The CBC once again created a budget that truly meets the needs of the American people. This budget fully funds Leave No Child Behind; restores $70 million in cuts made to Medicare; adds $4.5 billion in benefits and services for veterans; provides increased funding for public transportation, the Coast Guard, and ports and rail security; closes corporate tax loopholes; and keeps U.S. companies from sending jobs overseas, all while balancing the budget by 2011 and saving $10.5 billion on national debt interest payments. The CBC budget is the responsible budget that truly meets the needs of the American people. Shame on the Republican leadership for once again pushing a budget to help their country club friends and giving the hard-working American people the shaft. Vote for the CBC budget.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have failed millions of American seniors by choosing once again to rubber- stamp the harmful policy of the Bush administration. Despite the fact that recent polls show only 55 percent of seniors knew about the May 15 sign-up deadline for a private prescription drug plan, House Republicans refused to join us in extending the deadline until the end of the year. Now, millions of seniors who have yet to sign up cannot until the end of the year. House Republicans and the Bush administration will also penalize them when they sign up with at least a 7 percent tax on their premium, a tax that they will be forced to pay every month for the rest of their lives. Our seniors are not to blame for this complicated and confusing prescription drug law. It is so confusing that the people who are attempting to answer the seniors' questions about the different plans are giving out wrong information more than half of the time. Once again, the House Republicans have failed American seniors.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Americans are going to be penalized. I have been elected for 25 years. And this is the first time I have ever heard of being penalized until the day you die. I mean, it is ludicrous that we, the House of Representatives passed a bill that was so complicated and confusing, and gave you a time period of less than 5 months to sign up. And then if you do not sign up, you are going to be penalized until death. I know in Florida we have 41 different plans. And it is very confusing. Seniors should have an opportunity to take their time and to select a plan that best meets their needs. Now, Mr. Meek, do you know why in the law the Secretary does not have the authority to negotiate the price of drugs? Do you know why Americans pay 50 percent more than people in Canada?

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the 30- Something Group for their leadership. I come to the floor to remind all of the seniors that Monday, May 15, is the drop-dead date for signing up for Medicare part D. I am very concerned that over 15 million Americans have not signed up. Congressman Meek, may I ask you a question? Do you know why Monday, May 15, is the drop-dead date to sign up?

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, you know in Florida, we have over 1 million people who have not signed up. And nationwide it is over 15 million people. Now, I do not understand why the President with an executive order cannot be Presidential and extend the date or do away with the penalties. People should not be held accountable for a program that is complicated and confusing. I have a cousin that is a Ph.D. graduate from the University of Miami, a principal for 30 years, and had to go to Social Security to get someone to help and assist to make the right decision because it is very, very complicated. Mr. Speaker, I am asking seniors, please sign up--but there is no reason why this program, a program that is so needed, I voted against it because it was bloated, can you imagine, supposedly fiscally responsible Republicans coming up with a program that is billions of dollars, costing more than it needs to, and the money is going to the pharmaceutical companies. The money is going to the industry, and not to the people that we need to be serving. It is a shame that in this people's House that we are not doing the work of the people. Mr. Speaker, I am calling on the Members of this body and I am calling on the President so we can make it retroactive. Let us not punish seniors for our incompetency.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Amtrak on its 35th Anniversary, and commemorate its 35 years of public service to this Nation through it's commitment to passenger rail. I travel all over the country and the people I talk to love Amtrak. It is a great way to commute to work, it takes cars off our already congested highways, and in many areas of the country is the only mode of transportation available. In fact, ridership has increased in 8 of the last 9 years reaching a record level of over 25 million passengers last year. It is also important to note that Amtrak's long distance trains are the only inner city passenger trains in half the states in America. Amtrak was also a First Responder during hurricane Katrina, and helped evacuate thousands of Gulf region residents while President Bush and his Administration were nowhere to be found. Now they are becoming a key part in each State's future evacuation plans. Now what I can't understand is why the Bush Administration is trying to destroy passenger rail in this country. Every industrialized country in the world is investing heavily in rail infrastructure because they realize that this is the future of transportation. But sadly, as there systems get bigger and better, our system gets less and less money. President Bush has a lot of wacky ideas for dealing with the high gas prices he created, but I can assure him that as prices climb to $4 dollars per gallon, you are going to see Americans lining up to use a passenger rail system that has been neglected by this very Administration. But what more do you expect when you put J.R. Ewing in the White House. Once again we see the Bush Administration's paying for its failed policies by cutting funds to vital public services and jeopardizing more American jobs. This Administration sees nothing wrong with taking money from the hard working Amtrak employees who work day and night to provide top quality service to their passengers. These folks are trying to make a living for their families, and they don't deserve this shabby treatment from the President. With the passage of the latest emergency funding for the war, President Bush will have spent over $439 billion on the war in Iraq, but could only find $900 million for Amtrak's 25 million passengers. Just one week's investment in Iraq would significantly improve passenger rail for the entire country for an entire year. This is another perfect example of just how out of touch this Administration is because I can assure the President that there is a whole lot more support for Amtrak in this country than there is for the war in Iraq. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation spread about Amtrak, and it is important for people to know the real facts about Amtrak. Ridership numbers are at record levels, outstanding debt has been reduced by $300 million, major infrastructure projects have been completed. All with a workforce that has been reduced by over 4,000 employees. We still have a lot of work ahead of us when it comes to Amtrak. But we're starting $900 million closer to our goal, and I know with the help of the American public, we can fully fund Amtrak at $1.6 billion and keep Amtrak running long into the future.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, the bill we have on the floor today is a good start to protecting our ports and waterways, but until this Congress has the fortitude to demand total cargo scanning and to dedicating real dollars to fully securing our ports, the American people remain vulnerable to a terrorist attack via our ports. This legislation should have been on the floor on September 12, 2001, not May 4, 2006. Like so many other security needs of this country, this is too little too late. If we're not scanning cargo before it gets to this county, were closing the barn door long after the horse gets out. I hear the complaints that scanning all cargo will slow commerce, but I would ask what these people think a nuclear bomb going off in a U.S. port would do to the flow of commerce. The shipping industry would be stopped in its tracks the way the aviation industry was after September 11th. To me, nowhere is additional port security funding more important than in my home state of Florida, whose 14 major ports are the gateway to the United States. These ports play a crucial role in transporting ammunitions, supplies, and military equipment to our men and women fighting all over the world. In fact, ports serve as the main economic engine for many of the areas in which they're found, making an attack not only extremely dangerous for local citizens, but economically disastrous for the local economy as well. Unfortunately, the administration's concentration of terrorism prevention funding on the aviation industry has jeopardized the safety of other modes of transportation. Last year TSA spent $4.4 billion alone on Aviation security, while spending only $36 million on all Surface Transportation security programs. Even after the rail bombings in Madrid and London we're still failing to provide adequate funding to protect our rail infrastructure. I just don't understand why it takes a tragedy in this county for us to react to security deficiencies. I am hopeful that the Administration and this Congress will start to provide real dollars for the protection of our port ,and waterways. The citizens of this nation. deserve no less.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church on its Military Appreciation Day Service. On behalf of the constituents of the Third Congressional District of Florida, and a grateful Nation, I am honored to join with the chorus of friends, neighbors, loved ones and this great church family, when we all come together this day to thank our men and women in uniform for their brave and unselfish sacrifices in defense of our Nation and of democracy. We owe their families our heartfelt thanks for their support and steadfastness, as their love ones stand in harms way to do a duty they have been sworn to uphold. These are surely not easy times; nor have they been called upon to demonstrate valor and bravery without consequence; yet it is that very valor we honor and pay tribute to. Yours is the greater sacrifice so we may bask in the warm glow of freedom and hope. To date, there have been 114 Floridians who have served their country and paid the ultimate sacrifice, including 7 from Jacksonville, all of whom, and their families, took upon themselves to ensure that our freedoms are protected: from external and internal strife; from indifference and apathy and from being taken for granted, yet reminding that freedom is not free without sacrifice. I wish to thank Pastor Darrell Gilyard and Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church for having the vision and love of God to set forth this day as a special day for all our brothers and sisters in arms. Thank this great church for their prayers, guidance and love. It has been often said, ``To whom much is given, much is required.'' We as a Nation and a people have been given much by the sacrifices and commitments of our men and women in uniform, therefore, we are required, and are honored to say, ever so humbly, and with great praise, Thank You, and may God continue his blessings on each of you, your families, and on each of us as we join in this most honored and sacred occasion.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, ``I believe that the current budget proposal does not accommodate really crucial city safety net needs, education needs and health care needs . . . (and) I have tried as clearly as I could to lay out my concerns, which frankly are shared by a significant number in this caucus.'' Now, you might think that this quote was taken from someone in the Democratic leadership, or the Congressional Black Caucus, but no: This is a quote from a Republican Member of the House of Representatives. And I ask, why, my colleagues, was this said? Well, the answer is simple. The Republican leadership is robbing from the poor to give tax cuts to the rich. That's what this budget, and this debate, are all about. We are talking about priorities here folks, and this Republican budget certainly makes it clear who the party in power supports, and who they don't. Who do they support? That's easy: big insurance companies, HMOs, millionaires on Wall Street, the oil industry and huge defense contractors, that's who. And who don't they support? Well, that question is easy too, just look at who gets the short end of the stick in this budget: teachers, police, first responders, students, our veterans, and the elderly. Yes, since the Republican takeover it's the same old story folks: drastic cuts in vital social service programs, and going so far as to eliminate food programs for poor children and their mothers! This is a mean, mean spirited budget, my colleagues, and we need to send it right back to the smoky back room where the lobbyists and Republican leadership wrote it!

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, there is a saying that ``the road to hell is paved with good intentions,'' and once again, my Republican colleagues have missed the mark. To be a strong Nation, we need a strong family. The glue that holds the family together are our Nation's women. Unfortunately, this administration and my colleagues across the aisle continue to send a clear message in the form of a budget that strips all of the support and programs that aid in fortifying that crucial glue. We should call the budget that they are bringing to this House the ``Women, Children and Family Left Behind Act.'' How can an administration that professes to be pro-value and pro- family get it wrong? The President's budget cuts education by 29 percent. The President's solution is to freeze funds for Head Start and Pell Grants. What is wrong with this picture? The President's budget completely eliminates programs like the Women's Educational Equity Act and the Women's Apprenticeship Act. The President's budget cuts funds out for the Commodity Supplemental Food program that serves 420,000 seniors as well as 50,000 mothers and children. Stand up America.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my University of Florida basketball team for winning the first NCAA basketball championship for any college or university in the State of Florida. Go Gators. Last night the Gators finished their run of winning six games in the tournament, winning by an average of 16 point per game. The waltz was all blue and orange. The Final Four's most outstanding player, Joakim Noah, certainly deserves the praise. He broke the title record with six blocked shots, in addition to 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists. He also owns the tournament record of 29 blocks. Coach Billy Donovan deserves credit for building this team from scratch and teaching the players how to win and act like champions. On behalf of all of the people of Florida, I want to say, ``Go Gators.''

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the countdown to the Bush drug tax, 44 days before May 15. May 15. Last week, during the break, I held six town hall meetings throughout my district on the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program. And I would encourage all of my colleagues to do the same. Not only did it give my constituents a chance to get the help that they needed and answered their questions, it gave me an opportunity to really find out how the new program is working or, should I say, not working. Unfortunately, I heard a lot of horror stories from a lot of people. Not only is picking a plan extremely complicated, but the arbitrary date of May 15 makes absolutely no sense. I have been an elected official for over 25 years. And this is the first time I have seen people who are going to be penalized for the rest of their lives if they do not sign up by a certain date, May 15. Not only having them to set a ridiculous short time to sign up for this complicated plan, but the next time seniors can sign up will be November 15 through December 31, that includes both Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. So it is very complicated for seniors. The Republican leadership wrote a bill that prevents the Secretary of Health and Human Services from negotiating the price of the drug, even though both the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of DOT are negotiating these prices right now. Can you imagine what would happen if Wal-Mart, if we told Wal-Mart they could not get a reduction price on bulk buying? Every Republican in this House would be on this floor screaming bloody murder. But when it is the needs of our seniors, there is a deaf ear; you do not hear them. This bill allows the private plans to take drugs off of their approved lists and even charge more for drugs during that year. They can charge more, while seniors are locked in and cannot change plans until the next year. It also turns seniors into criminals. Yes, criminals. What do I mean? If they buy drugs that are cheaper, let us say in Mexico or Canada, they will be criminals. And one of the most troubling aspects of this bill, and the one that most people talk about is the doughnut. What do you mean doughnut? Well, no coverage is provided after you spend $2,250 until your cost reaches $5,001. That is $3,000 out-of-pocket. Lastly, I want to talk about the independent pharmacists. This bill is killing your small town pharmacists who have been in business for years. They still know their customers by name. They are the only pharmacists who are still delivering medicine to seniors who cannot come out of the house or after hours when someone needs an emergency prescription. This Congress needs to do the right thing for our parents and grandparents and extend this silly deadline date of May 15, allow the Secretary to negotiate bulk prices, and should make the appropriate changes that will save America's local pharmacies from extinction. Again, I encourage my colleagues to hold their meetings and talk to their seniors and pharmacies about the drug plan. And seniors, for God's sake, please look at this: May 15, you need to sign up. But if you have questions, call Medicare counselors at 1-800-Medicare, that is, 1-800-633-4227. That is May 15. That is the drop-dead date. Thank you.