Corrine Brown

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we have a good bill with lots of important provisions, including new matching grants to improve port security, a national security card for port workers and truck drivers, antiterrorism response teams and sea marshals, and Coast Guard authority to block ships for nonsecure ports. We still have a lot of work to do, but this is a great start; and I strongly urge my colleagues to support the passage of the conference report of Senate 1214, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. I also want to thank staff, and in particular John Cullatner. Against all odds, they did an excellent job. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. But they will be trained?

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Yes, sir. Let me just say as far as the bill is concerned that it is still the same flawed bill that this House passed in August. The problems with creating an agency of this size are still there. I do not see any new solutions. This bill is still taking agencies with important non- homeland security duties and placing them in agencies with no mission statement. The first agency to respond to the terrorist acts of September 11 was the United States Coast Guard. Within minutes, they were guarding our ports, bridges, and waterways from home. It was so reassuring to know that they were out there protecting us while other agencies were still in shock, all under the supervision, by the way, of the Department of Transportation. I am strongly opposed to transferring the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security. Moving the Coast Guard to the new department is not in the best interest of the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, or the American people. Each year the Coast Guard conducts over 40,000 search and rescue cases. They inspect U.S. and foreign flag ships and protect millions of U.S. citizens who travel on cruise ships and ferries each year. Over 80 percent of the Coast Guard's operation budget is spent on missions that have nothing to do with border protection or Homeland Security. Another reason why I oppose this bill is because of the horrible labor provisions. This bill does away with American workers' basic right to join together and stand up for their rights. This is just another example of the Bush administration's union-busting policy. Under the pretext of national security, the compromise legislation does away with all provisions of our Nation's civil service laws for employees of this new department and allows the President to strip employees of their rights to collective bargaining. In this bill employee unions could appeal even anti-worker personnel rules; yet they have no real power to overturn this. We have heard many problems with the new Transportation Security Agency. The problems TSA is facing are a perfect example of why we need to be more deliberate in creating a homeland security agency. The Republican Party is supposed to be the party of small government, but today they are creating a huge monster.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I do have a question for Chairman Young at the appropriate time. I want to make my statement and put it in the Record, but on that same subject as far as the gun provision as put in the Record and the colloquy, can you clarify for me whether or not these pilots are going to be trained to carry these guns and how will it affect the public if the pilot accidentally kills someone?

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), Congressional Black Caucus, and I have got to say Senator Dodd, we would not be here today if it was not for their leadership. I tell my colleagues this is a great day. I know this is not a perfect bill, but it is the perfect beginning. I say that over and over again because, as I stand here today, 27,000 of my constituents' votes were thrown out because of old equipment. Do my colleagues hear me? Twenty-seven thousand votes that have not been counted to date. And I want to say to the young people, it does matter who is in charge. It matters who is in charge, and this is the first step that we have taken to correct that, the first step. I know that all of the civil rights community is not happy with this bill. I am not happy with it. The reason why I am not happy with it is because it took so long to get here. I wanted it here for the midterm elections. It is not, but it will be for the 2004 election. Mr. Speaker, this is not a perfect bill but, for me, it is the greatest accomplishment of the 107th Congress. The greatest thing we have done is to make sure that what happened in the 2000 election never happens again in this country. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to say that it matters who is in charge. To the young people, I want you to know that your vote does matter, and that every vote counts. And voting matters because the person in charge sets the agenda. In Florida, and here in Washington, it is very clear just who is in charge and who is setting the agenda. Clearly, the Republican party thinks it is much more important to cut taxes and send the Federal budget into deficit than to focus on issues like election reform, health care, Social Security, and education. There is no perfect bill, but this bill is a beginning. It has been 628 days since the 2000 election, and here we are, nearly 2 years later, and have just passed an election reform bill. I am thrilled we finally have an election reform bill though: We now have a bill which gives over $170 million to the State of Florida for election reform, and $3.6 billion to the States overall. Not perfect, but a good start. This bill requires States to do things they should have done long, long ago: Provisional balloting, replacing outdated punch-card voting machines, properly trained poll workers, educating voters, and upgrading voter lists . . . and making polling places more accessible for the disabled. Everyone in this country and throughout the world knows that the 2000 elections were a complete sham. In my district alone, Florida's Third Congressional District, 27,000 of my constituents' votes were thrown out. Let me repeat that: 27,000. Now I know who won the last election and it was not the person sitting in the White House right now who is guiding this country into war. And the incredible thing is that since the 2000 elections, in the State of Florida, Governor Bush has only spent $32 million to overhaul the voting system. So, Florida, with 16 million people, spent $32 million, while our neighbor, Georgia, with only 8 million residents, spent $54 million on election reform. I guess we see where the Florida Governor's priorities lie. He, like the Republican party here in Washington, is mainly interested in tax cuts for the country club group. Election reform just isn't very high up on their list. In fact, the Governor did not even allow enough time during the Florida primaries to hold mock elections to educate voters and poll workers before the primaries. Now I know there is no perfect bill, and I know many in the civil rights community and many here tonight are not happy with this compromise. And I am disappointed it has taken so long to reach a compromise and get an election reform bill passed. And I'm unhappy the conference report today will not pass in time to affect the mid-term elections. But I am happy to see we are ending the 107th Congress with a bill, and that we are finally addressing the problem of elections in this country. No, Mr. Speaker, this bill is not perfect, but it is to me, the greatest accomplishment of the 107th Congress, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the conference report. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support today of the Lee substitute, which I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of. I wholeheartedly support the principles of this substitute, and believe they contain a much more humane answer to the grave issue of Iraq. Like Congresswoman Barbara Lee I urge the United States to re-engage in the diplomatic process of diplomacy. I also would like to urge our country to remain committed to the UN inspector process. I am also in complete agreement with the Lee substitute's premise that there will likely be horrific consequences of our actions if the United States delivers a first strike against Iraq, particularly without the support of the United Nations. Like Congresswoman Lee and many of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, I stand in strong opposition to a unilateral first strike by the U.S. without a clearly demonstrated and imminent threat of attack on the United States. I would also like to emphasize that I categorically believe that we must not declare war until every diplomatic option is completely exhausted. The Bush Resolution authorizes the potential use of force immediately, long before diplomatic options have been exhausted or even fully explored. Furthermore, a unilateral first-strike would undermine the moral authority of the United States, result in substantial loss of life, destabilize the Mideast region and undermine the ability of our nation to address unmet domestic priorities. The President is asking Congress to give him a blank check. And I say today Mr. President, that your account, has come back overdrawn. This blank check gives him too much power. A blank check that forces Congress to waive its constitutional duty to declare war. A blank check that lets the President declare war, and not consult Congress until 48 hours after the attack has begun. Not only has the President economically taken us to deficit, but there is deficit in his arguments. Why Iraq, and why today?? You know, in my 10 years of serving in Congress, this is the most serious vote I've taken. And I have to say, the Resolution on Iraq the White House drafted is intentionally misleading. It misleads the American public, the international community, and yes, even the United States Congress. This is a sad day. Almost as sad as it was 627 days ago when the Supreme Court selected George W. Bush as the President. You know, the White House talks about dictators, but we haven't done anything to correct what has happened right here in the United States. It amazes me that we question other governments, when in our own country, we did not have a fair election. I recently traveled to Russia, China, and South Korea, and believe it would be most unfortunate to damage the good will our nation was receiving after September 11th because of the Bush Administration's reckless actions. We are on our own; NO ONE in the international community is behind us. I have not seen any new information demonstrating that Iraq poses a threat to our country any more now than it did ten years ago, and certainly am without reason to believe we should attack unilaterally, without the support of the U.N. In fact, recent poll numbers released suggest that many Americans do not support the way the President is handling the situation with Iraq either. Indeed, polls indicates what I imagined all along; namely, that a majority of Americans believe President Bush and Congress are spending too much time discussing Iraq, while neglecting domestic problems like health care and education. Many also said that they did not want the United States to act without support from allies and by a two to one margin, did not want the U.S. to act before U.N. weapons inspectors had an opportunity to enter Iraq and conduct further investigations. Although the Administration is attempting to convince the American public otherwise, they have shown me little evidence of a connection between Iraq and 9-11. And little evidence that Iraq poses an immediate threat to our country. Iraq's government is not democratic, but neither are many other countries listed on the State Department's terrorist list: like Iran, Syria, Libya, North Korea, Cuba, and Sudan. I reiterate my opposition to this Resolution, and to this war. To my colleagues, it is in your hands. I do believe the world has good and evil, and what you are about to do here today, will tilt it in a negative direction. It will set us on a course, and I hope I'm wrong, but it could set us on a course, that our children's children, will pay for. That the entire world will pay for. And that will put thousands of American soldiers in harm's way. Thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I stand before the Members today, one of three African Americans sent to the United States Congress 10 years ago, the first time in 129 years that Florida sent an African American to Congress from the great State of Florida; the scene of the crime of the 2000 Presidential election, where thousands of African American votes were not counted, over 27,000 thrown out in my district, with the Supreme Court selecting the President in a 5-4 decision. Many of my colleagues say that the President is the only person elected by all of the people. Did I miss something? This President was selected by the Supreme Court, and that fateful decision was over 600 days ago. Now this President, who runs our country without a mandate, has pushed us to the brink of war. The President is asking Congress to give him a blank check. I say today to the President, his account has come back overdrawn. This blank check gives him too much power: a blank check that forces Congress to waive its constitutional duties to declare war, a blank check that lets the President declare war and not consult Congress until 48 hours after the attack begins. Let me repeat that, a blank check that lets the President declare war and not even consult with Congress until 48 hours after the attack has begun. Not only has the President given us an economic deficit, but there is a deficit in his argument. Why Iraq, and why today? In the 10 years that I served in Congress, this is the most serious vote I will take. I have to say, the resolution on Iraq the White House drafted is intentionally misleading. It misleads the American people, the international community and, yes, the United States Congress. This is a sad day, almost as sad as it was 627 days ago when the Supreme Court selected George W. Bush as the President. The White House talks about dictators, but we have not done anything to correct what has happened right here in the United States. It amazes me that we question other governments when in our country we did not have a fair election. I recently traveled to Russia, China, and South Korea; and I believe it would be unfortunate to damage the goodwill our Nation was receiving after September 11. But there is a song, ``You are on your own.'' Mr. Speaker, we are on our own with this. No one in the international community is behind us. I have not seen any information demonstrating that Iraq poses a threat to our country any more than it did 10 years ago, and certainly I do not have reason to believe we should attack unilaterally without the support of the U.N. In fact, recent poll numbers suggest that many Americans do not support the way that the President is handling the situation and, indeed, the way Congress handles the situation. They think we are spending too much time talking about Iraq and not discussing problems like health care, education and, yes, their pensions. Many also say they do not want the United States to act without support by allies and, by a 2 to 1 margin, do not want the United States to act before the U.N. weapons inspectors have had an opportunity to enter Iraq and conduct further investigations. Although the administration is attempting to convince the American public otherwise, they have not shown any evidence of a connection between 9/11 and Iraq. Iraq's government is not a democracy, but neither are many other countries on the State Department terrorist list. In closing, Mr. Speaker, it is in the hands of my colleagues. I do believe that there is good and evil in the world, and what we are about to do here in the next couple of days will tilt it in a negative direction. I do hope that I am wrong, but I do believe what we will do here today will not only affect our children, but our children's children will pay for what we are about to do. May God have mercy on America, and God bless America.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would just make a quick comment to the family. My favorite scripture is ``To whom God has given much, much is expected.'' Our colleague has given much to this country on women's issues and on education. She has done her work. We have to carry on the legacy.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with sorrow that I announce the passing of my friend, Bob Hayes, at the age of 59. ``Bullet'' Bob, a Jacksonville native, was known as the world's fastest man for his efforts in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. In addition to winning the gold medal in the hundred-meter race, tying the world- record of 10.05 seconds, he also anchored the 400-meter relay team to victory with a time of 8.6. Not a bad day's work for the then Florida A&M junior. For many athletes, the Olympics would be the culmination of an athletic career, but Hayes, switching sports to football and recruited by the Cowboys (after finishing up with the Rattlers), went on to redefine how football is played. In his rookie year, Bullet had 1,003 yards and 12 touchdowns, and his speed forced opposing teams to come up with zone defenses now common in pro play. In 1972, when Dallas won the Super Bowl, Hayes became the only athlete to earn a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. He retired in 1975 having made 9 consecutive playoff appearances, 3 Pro Bowl showings, two Super Bowl appearances, and earning a Cowboys receiving record of 371 catches for 7,414 yards with 71 touchdowns. Hayes did not forget his roots, and returned home to Jacksonville. He remained active in the Bob Hayes Invitational Track and Field Meet, now in its 38th year. At the Bob Hayes Invitational in Jacksonville, 3500 high school and middle school athletes gain experience in competing on a national level against world class competition. He also attended as many Florida A&M games as he possibly could. Just last year Hayes was the 11th inductee to the prestigious Dallas Cowboys' Ring of Honor. And, earlier this year, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Seventh Annual Florida Sports Awards. Bob ``Bullet'' Hayes died last Wednesday. He is survived by his mother, a brother and a sister, and five children. I also submit the following article from the September 20th issue of the Gainesville Sun into the Record. [lsqb]From the Gainesville Sun, Sept. 20, 2002[rsqb] Jackson Remembers Hayes Bob Hayes' speed made a difference for blacks during the tumultuous 1960s, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Thursday. ``He was such a lift for our generation,'' said Jackson, who played football against Hayes and the powerful Florida A&M teams of the early 1960s. ``He was the best in the whole world at what he did.'' Jackson's North Carolina A&T team was just one of many schools routed on an annual basis by Hayes and the Rattlers. ``You couldn't catch him. No one could,'' he said. ``The fact is nobody could catch Bob Hayes in the whole world.''

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today, September 24, I stand before this body in our Nation's Capitol, nearly 2 years after the Supreme Court selected the President of the United States. To this day nothing has been done, while the American people wait and wait. No new laws have been signed. No agreements have been reached to correct the 2000 election problems. In fact, the Bush administration clearly shows that election reform is not a part of their agenda. Immediately after the 2000 election, the only legislative item that was brought up has been tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts. It does matter who is in charge. I heard one of the committee chairmen on television discussing Congress giving war powers to the President, and he said over and over again, over and over again, the President is the only person that is elected by all of the people. Time out. Did I miss something? Over 500,000 Americans voted for Al Gore. Al Gore, not George W. Bush. The Supreme Court decided on a 5-4 decision that George W. Bush would be the President, and to date nothing has been done to correct it. Let me tell Members about Florida. With 16 million people, Florida spent just $32 million for election reform efforts. Just to the north of us, Georgia, with 8 million, spent $54 million. In an effort to distract the American public from issues like election reform, health care and prescription drug coverage, which was promised to our seniors, in the middle of a mid-term election we are distracted by a war. I think the American people need to weigh in; and if we want to take the questions about the election out, then we need to pass a bill and move forward with election reform.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, the first agency to respond to the terrorist act on September 11 was the United States Coast Guard. Within minutes, they were guarding our ports, bridges and waterways. It was so reassuring to know that they were out there protecting us while other agencies were still in shock, and I want to point out, all while under the supervision of the Department of Transportation. I strongly oppose the transferring of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security. Moving the Coast Guard to the new Department is not in the best interest of the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, or the American people. Each year the Coast Guard conducts over 40,000 search-and-rescue cases. They inspect U.S. and foreign flag ships, and protect many of U.S. citizens who travel on cruise ships and ferries. Most important to my home State of Florida, they stop drugs from entering our country. Over 80 percent of the Coast Guard's operating budget is spent on missions that have nothing to do with border protection or homeland security. The Republican Party is supposed to be the party of smaller government, but today they are creating a huge monster. I do support the creation of a Department of Homeland Security, but this Congress cannot just rubber-stamp this legislation. It is not unpatriotic to ask serious questions about this agency, and we should not base the process on a symbolic date. Our constituents deserve better than that. We do not need to create another monster. We need to create a homeland security agency that really will protect this Nation and its citizens from harm.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. First of all, I want to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) and the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Mica) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for their hard work and cooperation in developing this compromise, and I want to stress, compromise legislation. There are many tough decisions that had to be made by members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The terrible acts of September 11 changed our perspective on how we protect our air passengers and citizens. The traveling public wants and deserves to be safe while traveling. In my home State of Florida, we rely heavily on tourists as the base of our economy, and we need to ensure for people that it is safe to fly. Arming our pilots is a monumental action by this Congress, and it is a perfect example of why it is so important for us to decide policy through thoughtful deliberation and debate. We are beginning to undertake one of the most significant changes in our Nation's government. As we begin to develop the Department of Homeland Security, we should not be concerned about when we get it done; we should be concerned about whether this new agency is going to serve the best interests of the American public. We have seen too many examples where the TSA has lacked communication with the local government or the airports, and it is very important that we have communications working with the local governments as far as this new agency is concerned. The high percentage of missed weapons in the recent TSA undercover operation shows us how much we need to improve passenger safety programs. Arming pilots is one small step, but we still have a lot of work to do. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee, as well as DOT and the airline industry, in striving to provide the safest and most efficient air transportation system for the traveling public.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speakers, it matters who is in charge. This Republican leadership must think the American people are stupid. Last week they raised $30 million dollars in a fund raiser with the drug companies, and this week we have a prescription drug bill on the floor. Now who do you think they wrote this bill for: The seniors they've been promising relief to for 2 years, or the big drug companies that will be funding their elections this fall? While on a trip back home to Jacksonville in March, I went to the drug store for my grandmother to pick up just one of her prescriptions. I was expecting maybe a $15 co-payment because I knew her insurance plan had drug coverage. The bill was $91 dollars. She had a limit on her coverage, and it had run out. We were 3 months into the year, and she no longer has a drug plan. My grandmother, and all grandmothers deserve better than this. If the Republicans can take a break from their million dollar drug company fund raisers and constant tax cut bills for their country club friends, maybe we can work on a compromise that will provide our seniors with the relief we have been promising them. My Republican colleagues talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk. The Republican leadership has come up with a privatized drug plan that has been rejected by both the insurance industry and the drug stores as unworkable, and fails to truly help seniors. This is one more perfect example of why it matters who is in charge.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks, and I rise against this shameful GOP prescription drug so-called benefit that is very much against my grandmother and all of the grandmothers in this country.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me just say that I am here to discuss Amtrak, but I not only support Amtrak, I have loved the trains ever since I was a little girl. I remember when I was a little girl, the Silver Meteor used to come right by my house. The question that we have in this country is whether or not we support passenger rail. Let me just say before I get started that there is no form of transportation in this country or anywhere that supports itself. Whether we are talking about the airline industry, whether we are talking about trucks, roads, buses, none of them support themselves. So the question is whether or not we support passenger rail service, or whether we are going to let it fall apart and leave this country's travelers and business people with absolutely no alternative form of public transportation. Without the $270 million Amtrak needs to keep operating, we will soon see people that rely on Amtrak to get to their work each day waiting for a train that is not coming. This Congress absolutely must provide funds to avert a shutdown of Amtrak. We continue to subsidize highways and aviation, but when it comes to our passenger rail service we refuse to provide the money Amtrak needs to survive. This issue is much bigger than just transportation; this is about safety and national security. Not only should we be giving Amtrak the money it needs to continue to provide services, we should be providing security dollars, money to upgrade their tracks and improve safety and security measures in the entire rail system. Once again, we see the Bush administration's too-little, too-late policy. I am surprised they have not suggested a tax cut to solve this problem. Instead, they are trying to take 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 do not deserve this shabby treatment from this President. It is time for the administration to step up to the plate and make a decision about Amtrak based on what is good for the traveling public and not what is best for the right wing of the Republican Party and the bean counters at OMB. I represent Crescent City, Florida, where we recently experienced a tragedy when an Amtrak auto train derailed, killing four and injuring hundreds of others. Soon after that, we experienced another derailment in Gainesville that injured many more. Florida depends on tourists for its economy, and we need people to be able to get to this State safe so they can enjoy it. Ever since September 11, more and more people are turning from the airlines to Amtrak, and they deserve safe and dependable service. Some people think that the solution to the problem is to privatize the system. If we privatize, we will see the same thing we saw when we deregulated the airline industries. Only the lucrative routes will be maintained, and routes to rural locations, I say to Members who represent rural areas, will be too expensive and too few. In other words, they will cut these areas out if we privatize it. Mr. Speaker, I was in New York shortly after September 11 when the plane leaving JFK crashed into the Bronx. I, along with many of my colleagues in both the House and Senate, took Amtrak back to Washington. This isn't about fiscal policy, this is about providing a safe and reliable public transportation system that the citizens of this Nation need and deserve. Lets stop this crisis now, before it is too late. Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation to the traveling public to support Amtrak.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I understand the family of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Kerns) is visiting with us in Washington here today, and I know that they are very, very proud of you being the Speaker. I want to thank the gentleman for being here tonight as we conduct this very important debate.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, if the gentlewoman will yield on that point. I had the Committee on Government Reform do a study in my district, and we compared what the seniors in the Third Congressional District of Florida pay. We pay 131 percent more for a brand-name prescription than other consumers and 98 percent more than consumers in Canada and Mexico.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I just want my colleagues to know that my grandmother cannot afford $3,800 a year. She is 96 years old. She does not have $3,800; and there lies the problem because our seniors just do not have it, and I do not understand why these other people do not get it. They are deciding. They have to pay their rent, they have to pay their mortgage, they have to buy food, and they just do not have this kind of money. I do not understand. Since the Republicans have taken over, what they practice is what I call reverse Robin Hood, reverse Robin Hood. When I was coming up, I used to watch Robin Hood. Reverse, stealing from the poor and working people, and now our frail elderly, to give tax breaks to the rich.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, let me just say that I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding, but I want to also thank her for her leadership on this matter. We both share the great State of Florida, and we also share the many problems. Being one of the oldest aging populations, we understand what our seniors are going through, and we know we have got to bring some relief from the Federal Government, because clearly both of us serve, she served in the Senate and I served in the House, we know that in Florida, just as in Washington, the only thing that is going on is tax breaks, tax breaks, tax breaks, and not addressing the problems that our senior citizens are experiencing. Let me just tell my colleagues about my experience. When we had our little break in March, I went home. Just like all of us when we go home, we are going to do what we can to help out with our family; and so I am going to go to pick up my grandmother's prescription. Of course, I went there, and I am ready with my money, and I am waiting for the prescription. I know she pays this bill every month, $53, so that she can get a reduction and with an HMO. So I thought it would be a $10 or $15 co-payment, just like we have a co-payment of a small amount. The amount of the bill was $91 for one prescription. I could not believe it, $91. I talked to the doctor, and I wanted to know, I talked to the pharmacist, what is the problem, and what they told me was that her benefit had run out. We are talking about March. Three months with this HMO, and her benefits had run out. So when I think about my grandmother, who I could write a check for $91, I think about all the other grandmothers. We have a responsibility to look out for the grandmothers who cannot afford $91 a month for one prescription, and most people are taking four and five. It does not make any sense. During the last election, and my colleagues know the kind of hanky- panky that went on in Florida, but one thing we do know for sure, that all of the candidates were saying that, if elected, I will provide a prescription benefit for the seniors. Well, let me tell everyone something. We have been waiting 2 years for that promise to be kept, and in the meantime we have had constant tax cuts. We have had the terrorists operate; and if we are not careful, the seniors who cannot afford it will be the ones who are left out in the cold.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, would the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, in my district in Orlando, President Bush will be visiting the Marks Community Center on Physical Fitness, and we thank him. I have a lot of seniors in my district, but besides physical fitness, they need the prescription drug benefit that was promised to them in the last election. When I was home recently in Jacksonville, I had to go to the drugstore to pick up a prescription for my grandmother. I thought the copayment would be $15. It was $91. Our grandmothers deserve better than that. If the Republican leadership and Mr. Bush could take a break from their $30 million drug company fund-raisers and their tax cuts to the rich, maybe they could work on a compromise that will provide our seniors with the relief they need and that was promised to them in the last election. They need to get their priorities straight.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today is another sad example of why it matters who is in charge. We see today what the priorities are for this house leadership. For Republicans, the answer to every problem we have in this nation, and we have plenty, is tax cuts. The military and Coast Guard are underfunded, tax cuts. Seniors can't afford to buy the drugs they need, tax cuts. Veterans are being denied health care and benefits, tax cuts. Children are taking classes in trailers, tax cuts. Thousands of voters losing their right to be heard, tax cuts. We're struggling to find money to fight the war on terrorism, protect U.S. soil, rebuild New York, and keep peace in the Middle East. And the most important thing on the agenda for the Republicans is tax cuts for their country club friends that fund their campaigns. The full repeal of the estate tax does nothing for the vast majority of Americans, and similar to most republican tax cuts, the lion's share of the benefits go to the super rich. If we have to deal with another tax cut, lets make it fair and immediate. The Democratic substitute will increase exemptions for small businesses and family farms, without jeopardizing the money we need to protect all our citizens from harm.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3983, the Maritime Transportation Anti-Terrorist Act of 2002. The events of September 11, 2001 have changed America forever. Every committee in Congress is examining the programs and policies within its jurisdiction to determine what they need to do to help protect the United States from terrorist acts. I just returned from a trip with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon). We traveled to Russia, China and Korea, and in every single country I brought up the issue of port security. We are working hard to protect our ports and waterways, but we will not be able to do that without protecting and looking into the port of origin. Each year 95 percent of the United States' imports and exports are moved by ships. U.S. consumers are dependent upon foreign oils for their gas in their cars. U.S. manufacturers are dependent on the just- in-time delivery system of container ships to resupply their manufacturing line. Each year thousands of Americans enjoy cruises out of the ports of my home State of Florida. On October 3, 2001, I introduced H.R. 3013, the Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001. This legislation is very similar to S.1214 which passed the Senate in December. H.R. 3983 is similar to the approach contained in H.R. 3013. They both require assessments of our Nation's ports. They both require terminal security plans, and they both establish a new grant system to help ports and terminal operators to pay for security improvements. I believe that H.R. 3983 will lead to a significant improvement in securing the international maritime transportation system from threat of terrorists and from being used to deliver a weapon of mass destruction to the United States. In addition, H.R. 3983 contains the text of H.R. 3507, the Coast Guard Authorization Act for fiscal year 2002. This noncontroversial legislation passed the House on December 20. The leadership has added it to H.R. 3983 in order to facilitate a conference with the Senate with these matters. I fully support the inclusion of H.R. 3507. To me, the Coast Guard is homeland security, and I am glad to see that we are getting closer to providing them the resources they need to do their job. Working together with Customs and other agencies, we can begin to move forward in protecting our ports and waterways. I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for the bipartisan efforts they have used to develop this legislation. I look forward to working closely with all of them as this bill moves into conference. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3983. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.