Rahm Emanuel

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Charles and Marjorie Benton for their selfless commitment to our community. I am particularly proud to congratulate Charles and Marjorie for winning the 2004 Distinguished Grantmaker Award at the annual conference of the Council on Foundations. After fifty years of marriage, Charles and Marjorie are both widely recognized as active members of the community and continue to support and contribute to the many causes important to them. Charles chairs the Benton Foundation and Marjorie acts as a trustee. They are the first couple in the history of the Council on Foundations to be honored. Marjorie co-founded the Chicago Foundation for Woman, the Woman's Issues Network and The Peace Museum. She has also served as a delegate to the United Nations special sessions on disarmament in the 1970s and then as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Children's Fund. In addition, Marjorie chaired the board of Save the Children, which advocates women, children and development in countries around the world. She is also the first woman to serve on the boards of the Bernard Van Leer Foundation and the Van Leer Group Foundation in the Netherlands. She also chaired the Council on Foundations board from 1994 to 1996. One of Marjorie's most recent activities is co-founding the local Chicago Global Donor Network, which involves the local community in contributing to international humanitarian projects. Marjorie continues to work hard to raise millions of dollars a year for social change and progress. She goes out of her way to include donors in the fundraising process, making them active participants in each cause. Family has also been a priority to the Bentons. Their daughter, Adrianne Furniss, has taken over running the local family business. Their middle son, Craig, owns a recycling business in Ireland and is a strong advocate for environmental preservation. Their youngest son Scott is in the landscaping business. They are also the proud grandparents of four. Mr. Speaker, I join with the fifth district and entire Chicago community in congratulating my friends, Charles and Marjorie Benton on receiving the 2004 Distinguished Grantmaker Award, and wish them and her extended family, all the happiness in the future.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Lane Tech High School of Chicago for its achievement on winning the third place title in the citywide Academic Decathlon and the fourth place position at the Illinois Academic Decathlon competition on March 13, 2004. The Academic Decathlon is a team competition wherein students are tested through a diverse group of scholastic categories including: art, economics, essay interview, language and literature, mathematics, music science, social science and speech. With up to nine members from each team competing in all ten events of the decathlon and representing a diversity of scholastic aptitude, the true spirit of this year's ``America: The Growth of a Nation'' theme has been advanced. The decathlon, which was first created by Dr. Robert Peterson, has helped maximize the learning potential of young minds through competitive challenge. Lane Tech High School has demonstrated its ability to shine among the best and brightest of Chicago's academic community. As finalists in the citywide Academic Decathlon, the nine students from Lane Tech High School went on to compete in the Illinois Academic Decathlon, participating in the semifinals of one of the most prestigious high school academic competitions in the United States. I commend each of our Lane Tech competitors: Carlos Becerril, Moiz Bhai, Rosa Alamo, Jennifer Brown, Jason Thomas, Kristin Stein, Abdulmajid Umer, Linda Ta, Xenia Basarab, Dessislavia Harizanova, Sheraz Khan, Lenny Soez Ocasio and Peter Porok. Reaching this level of competition is a tremendous achievement and deserves special recognition. Lane Tech students set the standard for scholastic excellence that the Academic Decathlon seeks to attain. Mr. Speaker, I join with all residents of the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois in congratulating Lane Tech High School on its achievement. I wish the Academic Decathlon winners the best of luck and continued success as their education continues. I am very proud of these young and future leaders of tomorrow. It is my privilege to represent them in the U.S. Congress.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Whitney Young High School of Chicago for its triumphant achievement on winning the first place title in the Illinois Academic Decathlon competition on March 13, 2004. The Academic Decathlon is a team competition wherein students are tested through a diverse group of scholastic categories including: art, economics, essay interview, language and literature, mathematics, music science, social science and speech. With up to nine members from each team competing in all ten events of the decathlon and representing a diversity of scholastic aptitude, the true spirit of this year's ``America. The Growth of a Nation'' theme has been advanced. The decathlon, which was first created by Dr. Robert Peterson, has helped maximize the learning potential of young minds through competitive challenge. Whitney Young has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to shine among the best and brightest of Chicago's academic community. As winners of the Illinois Academic Decathlon, Whitney Young High School will go on to represent our city and state in the national meet in Boise, Idaho. Nine of its students will compete in one of the most prestigious high school academic competitions in the United States. I salute each of our Whitney Young High School Academic Decathlon Winners: Rachel Birkhahn-Romelfanger, Nailah Cash-Obannon, Clare Conroy, Christina Doocy, Sarah Duffy, Ikee Gardner, Lally Gartel, Deana Rutherford, Eleanor Sharp and Margaret Sharp. Reaching this level of competition is a tremendous achievement and one that deserves special recognition. Indeed, Whitney Young students set the standard for scholastic excellence that the Academic Decathlon seeks to attain. Mr. Speaker, I join with all residents of the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois in congratulating Whitney Young High School on its achievement. I wish the Academic Decathlon winners the best of luck at the national competition in Idaho as well as continued success as their education continues. I am very proud of these young and future leaders of tomorrow.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, if my colleague would yield for a minute, you talk about the misappropriated or misallocated $700 million. One of the issues that I have repeatedly talked about, and I think has come to affect all Americans, is larger than the $700 million, although that is an adequate question, and it is we passed a budget here for $2.3 trillion that had a $500 billion deficit here at home; and in that budget, there were some priorities set for America. But it is very interesting how you contrast those priorities for Iraq, which I think raises a lot of questions about the misappropriated values by this administration. I will give you an example. In the area of health care, in Iraq there are 150 clinics that have been rebuilt, serving 3 million Iraqis that provide 100 percent prenatal care and infant coverage in Iraq. In America, there are 43 million uninsured Americans, of which 10 million are uninsured American children of parents who work full-time. In the President's budget, we have cut the dollars for health care training for doctors and nurses and professionals. If you expand that, in the area of veterans, we have provided Iraqi veterans $60 million for job training. Yet in the United States, the President's budget cuts $257 million for medical care for American veterans. In the area of education, we built 2,300 schools in Iraq, rebuilt and refurbished the schools. Yet in America, under the President's budget, $8 billion for Leave No Child Behind has been underfunded by this year alone. Iraqi universities are receiving $20 million for higher education job training, yet Pell grants here in the United States, the biggest assistance for Americans to go to college, have been frozen for 3 years in a row while college costs have risen by 10 percent on average. In the area of law enforcement, the President has dedicated $500 million for training of law enforcement and the police in Iraq. As you know, they did not perform too well the last 2 weeks. Yet the President's own budget for the United States cut $657 million for the police program to train our police on community policing on America's streets. In the area of housing, $470 million has been allocated for Iraq's housing program, yet we have cut $700 million out of section 8 here at home for our housing. It is true about the environment, one last area. We are rebuilding all of Iraq's water and sewage for drinking water to the tune of $3.6 billion, yet the revolving fund in the United States for water treatment and drinking water has been cut by $500 million. When the President said in 2000, not said, he declared he was opposed to nation-building, who knew it was America he was talking about? So as we talk about the $700 million of allocated money, where it went from Afghanistan to Iraq and the theater of war, we have allocated well over $150 billion to that mission, of which $20 billion is for rebuilding Iraq's society, and we have made a commitment. What worries me, because the American people have been very generous and have been very committed, what worries me is when you start to talk about a future for Iraq and their children that is better than the one we are providing here at home for our own families and our own children. We will continue to be generous, we will continue to provide, but we have misallocated, in my view, billions of dollars. The $700 million on the war front in building an airport in Kuwait is only the tip of the iceberg, in my view, of the misallocated dollars that raises real questions about the commitment. When you look at the two budgets, the one here at home for America and America's future and the one in Iraq, you realize this administration is not only running two sets of books but they have two principles and two value systems. We need to have the same values at home that we are talking about for Iraq, the same type of investments we are talking about, law enforcement, education, health care, the environment, policing; and we need to make that commitment here so the American people maintain that the future for their families and their children is one for a good tomorrow, a better tomorrow, not one that is less than the one we are talking about overseas.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, my colleague is obviously referring to the mistakes the President was asked at his press conference, and he could not think of a mistake. The first lesson in life your parents teach you and your first grade teacher teaches is one learns from their mistakes. That is the first lesson in life. Usually by 8 in the morning my wife has identified four of them for me. By 5 when I am heading home, I come to the conclusion she may have something there. But to not have known, as my colleague identified four in literally a minute, the first lesson is you learn from your mistakes. Saying that he cannot think of one is why we got the situation we got both in the war and on terror. In 3 years 3 wars, and he cannot think of one thing he would do different, even if he did not want to call it a mistake.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, he is in constant contact with both the State Department, the White House, and Defense.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, he did not do these things on his own.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I know we want to get back to our friend from Washington State, but people remember in the first Gulf War, which cost $60 billion, the United States paid $5 billion of that $60 billion and we were part of a larger international effort that included members of the armed services of Syria, Egypt, and other Arab-Muslim countries. Today we are bearing 95 percent of the cost and well over 90 percent of the, shall we say, the blood and the force presence in Iraq. So the contrast is stark. What is also stark is if you look at both the war in Kuwait, the first time, Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, all have been very successful strategies in the post-Cold War era, where America with its allies fought the war, but America was a partner in the rebuilding of the society. And it worked successfully, especially in Bosnia, Kosovo and East Timor. Why you would take a successful playbook like that, throw it out, when everybody, regardless of what their position was on the war prior to the war, everybody said the war would be easy, the peace would be hard, you need a plan. How you commit 150,000 to 175,000 American troops, $180 billion worth of our resources, and not have had a plan on the peace, this was not Monday morning coaching. Everybody knew that peace would be hard and that you went to war with no plan, when Democrats and some Republicans, but all Democrats, regardless of what their position was, said the war will not be hard, it will be the peace and rebuilding once you own it that will be hard. And you did it without that, when the President has an obligation to have asked questions. Not to have asked questions and not have a plan was a miscarriage of responsibility, in my view.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes are the largest body of freshwater in North America. They contain literally 20 percent of the entire world's freshwater. Twenty-eight million Americans get their daily drinking water from Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes, and yet we treat it as just an overgrown pond. Today it is being polluted with invasive species, urban run-off, and mercury hot spots. We have a bipartisan bill endorsed by every Governor, every Senator from the Great Lakes, and 108 Members out of 125 from the Great Lakes region to clean up the Great Lakes, dedicate $4 billion over 5 years, just like we are investing in Iraq's water and sewage system, here in the United States to preserve the largest body of freshwater in all of North America. This issue is not an issue of left versus right. It is an issue of right versus wrong. And it is time to make our investments in our future and our environmental quality and water quality in what is truly a great national heritage, our Great Lakes.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, prior to our recess, the House voted on a $2.3 trillion budget with a $521 billion deficit, showing that it is impossible to finance three wars with three tax cuts. This budget, the budget by the President and Republican majority, repeats the same mistakes that have resulted in a jobless economy and a health care and wage recession with the lowest growth in wages in the period of economic growth in the last 30 years. We have 2.5 million Americans that have lost their jobs in the last 3 years, 43 million Americans without health care, 2 million Americans who were once in the middle class and now in poverty, 1.6 percent job wage growth in the areas of salaries, and $1 trillion in corporate and individual foreclosures and bankruptcies. That is the economic record of this administration as embodied by the budget the President submitted. During the 2000 Presidential election, President Bush declared that he was opposed to nation-building. Who knew it was America he was talking about when he said he was opposed to nation-building. This budget and the President's economic vision is really a tale of two budgets. We look at his vision for the United States, and we look at his vision for Iraq. We spent more than $100 billion in Iraq on the occupation, but without promising the same promise and same future here at home to the American people. I am not opposed to rebuilding in Iraq, but I am opposed to making the investments at home while we are making the same investments in Iraq. Let us take a look at it. Today we provide universal health care coverage in Iraq as one of our goals. 44 million Americans are without health insurance; 33 million Americans work full time with no health care. There is universal job training in Iraq, and yet in the President's own budget we have cut back on the funds for job training. In health, 2,200 Iraqis health professionals and 8,000 volunteers are receiving free training. In America, health training funds in the President's budget were cut by 64 percent. 150 clinics and hospitals have been rebuilt to serve 3 million Iraqis, and yet in America community health care clinics are cut by 91 percent in the President's budget. Under veterans, $60 million has been spent to train Iraqi veterans of past wars, but we are cutting veterans medical care here in the United States by $257 million. In the area of education, we have built or rebuilt 2,300 schools in Iraq, but Leave No Child Behind is underfunded by $8 billion in the President's budget. Iraqi universities are getting $20 million for higher ed partnerships; but in America, the Pell grant has been frozen for 3 years while the cost for education has gone up 10 percent. The area of law enforcement, $500 million to train the Iraqi police, yet the COPS program in the United States under the President's budget was cut by $659 million. In the area of public housing, $470 million is being spent for Iraqi public housing; yet here in the United States, $791 million is cut from section 8 vouchers. In the environment, we are paying $3.6 billion for clean water and sewage systems in Iraq; and in America, under the President's budget, we cut $500 million from the clean water for safe drinking water here in the United States. In the area of infrastructure, the port of Umm Qasar was completely rebuilt in Iraq, yet the Corps of Engineers budget under the President's budget was cut by 10 percent. Roads, we spent $240 million on roads and bridges in Iraq. Here at home, the President has a veto threat on our highway and mass transit programs. As President Bush seeks reelection, he can say he kept his commitment against nation-building. The problem is his opposition to nation- building is here at home. With this budget, the administration, the President is telling the American people that they have two priorities, two sets of values, two sets of books: one for the Iraqi people and one for the American people. And yet those are the wrong values. The American people are the most generous people in the world. They are willing to commit to Iraq's future, one of a better tomorrow, but not at the expense that comes at the expense of America's tomorrow; not that comes at the expense of America's children. America can no longer be so generous around the world if the future that we hold for the American people is less than the one we are promising in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, the same values that we hold for Iraq we must pledge for all Americans.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Steppenwolf Theatre Company for three decades of excellence in Chicago's fine arts community for producing highly popular and consistently first-rate theatre. Steppenwolf Theatre Company began performing plays in a church basement of Highland Park, Illinois back in 1974. With the leadership of Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry and Gary Sinise, the group incorporated in 1975 and has now grown to include thirty-five premier theater artists with wide-ranging and nationally recognized talent. In that time, Steppenwolf Theatre has made Chicago proud time and again by making tremendous advancements in the vitality and diversity of American Theatre--both for its actors and its audience. Today, the city demonstrates its appreciation and continued patronage with a subscription base of 25,000 members and growing. The Steppenwolf Theatre Company has evolved effortlessly with changing times, while maintaining relationships with established playwrights such as Sam Shepard, Lanford Wilson and Alan Ayckbourn. They have reinvented classics like John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, and more recently produced and developed the world premiere of Man from Nebraska by ensemble member Tracy Letts. With their original principals of ensemble collaboration and artistic risk still flourishing, Steppenwolf now approaches its 30th anniversary as a professional theater company. The Company has been lavished with high praise from national and international media, art critics and audiences alike. This persistent effort has earned Steppenwolf several prestigious awards. Most recently, they include the Joseph Jefferson Award for Chicago Theatre Excellence and the 2003 Equity Special Award for leadership in national and international acclaim for Chicago Theatre, and for excellent training and outreach programs, partnership and support of theatres, playwrights and artists new to the scene. Mr. Speaker, I join with all proud residents of the Fifth District and the City of Chicago in congratulating the Steppenwolf Theatre Company on its many achievements in thirty years, and wish it continued success as it further solidifies its unique and landmark status in our great City.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank outgoing Chicago Fire Commissioner James Joyce for his 39 years of noble service to the department and to wish him well in his retirement. Commissioner Joyce enjoyed a remarkable rise through the ranks of the Chicago Fire Department before being appointed to the top post by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1999. During his more than four years as commissioner, Commissioner Joyce spearheaded important changes to the department, including building new firehouses, replacing and updating firehouse equipment, and improving coordination with suburban fire departments. His tenure as Commissioner was also noteworthy for the respect he garnered from rank and file firefighters throughout the department. His steady leadership also was apparent after the Sept. 11 attacks, when Commissioner Joyce committed the department to aiding disaster prevention efforts and oversaw changes in policies and procedures to protect the people of Chicago. Commissioner Joyce was born in 1942 and was educated at Chicago State University. He received his master's degree in public administration from Governor's State University. Commissioner Joyce began his career within the Chicago Fire Department as a firefighter assigned to Truck 4 in Chinatown in 1965. After serving as engineer, lieutenant and captain he was promoted to battalion chief in 1979. Later his administrative posts included District Chief and Deputy Fire Commissioner. The Joyce family's commitment to firefighting and to protecting the lives of Chicago's citizens began long before the Commissioner joined the force. Commissioner Joyce is a third-generation Chicago firefighter, whose maternal grandfather, father and brother all served. His grandfather gave the ultimate sacrifice, dying as a result of battling a 1934 blaze at the old Chicago Stockyards. Commissioner Joyce and his wife Janet reside in St. John Fisher Parish on Chicago's South Side and are the parents of four children. I wish Commissioner Joyce the best as he begins his well-deserved retirement Mr. Speaker, I join in all of Chicago in thanking James Joyce for his long record of achievement in serving our city. His dedication and passion will be missed.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my warmest birthday wishes to Mrs. Winona Ongemach of Chicago on the occasion of her 100th birthday on April 3. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as one of ten children, Mrs. Ongemach has lived in Chicago for the past 80 years. She has been an active and influential member of the Ravenswood community, faithfully attending Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church for 60 years. At a time in her life when many might expect her to slow down, Mrs. Ongemach remains a fixture at her church. She brings smiles to the faces of churchgoers by running pancake breakfasts, collecting soup can labels, and leaning on members who have missed Sunday church. Mrs. Ongemach has brought her same spirit of community involvement to the Bethany Retirement Community, where she currently resides. There she reads novels, organizes monthly card parties and teaches residents card games. Mrs. Ongemach was married in 1928 to her late husband, Rudolf. She worked for many years at Time, Inc. where she operated one of the first ever IBM computers. She also spent 27 years volunteering at Ravenswood Hospital where she knitted hats for newborn babies. An avid bowler, she participated in the Time, Inc. bowling league until she turned 90. Mrs. Ongemach also loves to travel and has visited many different islands on cruise ships. I hope Mrs. Ongemash's many friends and acquaintances will use this milestone birthday as an opportunity to celebrate her life, her friendship and all she has meant to her community. Mr. Speaker, I join with the residents of the Ravenswood community and the members of the Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church in congratulating Mrs. Winona Ongemach on her 100th birthday. She has truly made a difference in her community and her life serves as a model that we should all strive to emulate.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, when the House voted on the Medicare bill, we and the American people were told its cost was $400 billion. Later, we found out that the Bush administration and congressional leaders knew all along it would cost actually $550 billion. What is a mere $150 billion among friends? Not a single benefit has gone to a senior citizen, and the taxpayers are stuck with an additional $150 billion on top of the misappropriated $400 billion. Beware of Bush administration officials bearing Medicare benefits. Prescription drug costs have skyrocketed over the last several years, six times the rate of inflation. It is like a sale at Nieman Marcus: Prices are jacked up by 50 percent before the discount of 25 percent. In 2001, drug costs increased by 16 percent; in 2002, 18 percent; in 2003, 19.5 percent. The prescription drug benefit will do nothing to protect senior citizens from skyrocketing cost increases. Instead of depending on a flawed Medicare law that punishes taxpayers and does little to help our senior citizens, we need to lower drug prices here in the United States by allowing competition and choice to exist in the market and allow people to buy their drugs in Canada and Europe where they are 50 percent cheaper than here in the United States.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Susan and Lew Manilow of Chicago on their recent 30th wedding anniversary. Both Susan and Lew have been active members of the community and continue to support the many causes important to them. Lew is a retired attorney who has wide interests in the arts, public policy and business. He grew up in Chicago and has lived there all his life, where his passion for theater continues to grow. Lew has served as the former chair of the United States Advisory Committee on Public Diplomacy and was a key member of the Democratic Leadership Council. He is a long-time member of the board of directors of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and was the founding chair of its Middle East Committee. In addition, Lew is a founding trustee and former president of the Goodman Theatre and leading advocate for the North Loop Theatre District. In addition, he is on the board of trustees for both the Museum of Contemporary Art and The Art Institute. Lew's generosity and devotion to the fine arts earned him the prestigious distinction of being one of 24 recipients of the National Medal of Arts and Humanities awarded by President Clinton in December 2000. Dr. Susan Manilow, also actively involved in our community, has been a chairman of both the Mount Sinai Health System and the Chicago Health Policy Research Center. She is currently a chairman for the Foster A. McGaw Prize Committee, which recognizes health care organizations that are committed to community service, and to improving and expanding care. Family has also always been a priority in Lew and Susan's life. Her two children, Edwin and John Eisendrath, are the proud parents of six grandchildren. His children, David, Karin, and John, are parents to seven grandchildren, with one more on the way. Mr. Speaker, I join with the fifth district and entire Chicago community in congratulating my friends Lew and Susan Manilow on their 30th anniversary, and wish them, and their extended family, all the happiness in the future.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, before the House voted on the Medicare bill, the public was told it would cost $400 billion. Later, we found out that the administration knew all along it would cost $550 billion. Congress was misled by an administration that hid the numbers from the public and Members of Congress because of the perceived political benefits of the new law, saying that the end would justify the means. But according to today's Chicago Tribune, ``Instead of a political bonanza, the Medicare drug benefit is fast becoming an albatross around the administration's neck. Not a single new benefit has gone to a senior citizen, and the taxpayers got stuck with another $150 billion bill. Now the administration wants to talk about the benefit that comes with a discount card. With the way prescription drug costs have skyrocketed over the past several years, this discount card will not accomplish anything. It is like a sale at Nieman Marcus. They jack up the prices right before the sale. In 2001, drug costs increased by 16.9 percent; in 2002, 18.4 percent; in 2003, a projected 19.5 percent, and going on to another 15 percent. Instead of depending on a flawed Medicare bill, we must literally drive prices down by allowing reimportation, allowing us to get our drugs in Canada and in Europe where prices are cheaper.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, the House is on the verge of passing a $2.3 trillion budget with a $521 billion deficit, showing that it is impossible to finance three wars with three tax cuts and come up with a different result outside of a $521 billion hole in the budget. This budget repeats the same mistakes that have resulted in a jobless economy and a wage recession in America. It continues the status quo of the administration's economic policies that have resulted in nearly 3 million Americans losing their jobs, 43 million Americans without health care, of which 33 million Americans work but have no health care, and 2 million Americans who used to be part of the middle-class and now are in the level of poverty, and wages are frozen, and $1 trillion worth of corporate assets and individual net worth have been called into bankruptcies. What do you do when have you this type of economic results? You think you would change your economic policies. No. This budget puts your foot on the accelerator, expecting a different result but repeating the same economic mismanagement. During the 2000 election, President Bush said he was opposed to nation-building. Who knew it was America he was talking about? This budget and the President's economic vision is really a tale of two budgets: one for America, and one for Iraq. We have spent well over $100 billion of the taxpayers' money on Iraq's occupation. But here in America, we have gotten shortchanged. What do I mean by that? In Iraq, we are offering universal health care and free job training. In America, 44 million Americans are without health care; and nearly 8.2 million Americans are without jobs. In the area of health care, 2,200 Iraqis are receiving and health professionals are receiving training, 8,000 volunteers are receiving medical training; and in America, under the President's budget, the health training funds cut by 64 percent. One hundred and fifty health clinics and hospitals have been rebuilt to serve 3 million Iraqis, providing 100 percent prenatal and infant coverage. In America, under the President's budget, community health care clinics have been cut by 91 percent. Maternal and child health care, Healthy Start, family planning, all frozen. Veterans, $60 million is spent to retrain Iraqi veterans; and our veterans budget has been gutted by $257 million. Veterans health care has been cut to where every veterans organization has opposed the President's budget and the budget passed here by the Republicans. In the area of education, we have rebuilt 2,300 schools in Iraq. We have underfunded No Child Left Behind by $8 billion. Iraqi universities are getting $20 million for higher ed partnerships. In America, we have cut Perkins loans; and Pell Grants have been frozen for the last 3 years. Police. $500 million is spent on the Iraqi police training, but the community police program in the United States has been cut by $659 million. In the area of housing, $470 million is spent on Iraqi housing, yet $791 million is cut from section 8 housing vouchers. In the area of environment, we are paying for $3.6 billion in water and sewer treatment facilities in Iraq. Here in America, in the President's budget, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which deals with all our clean water and drinking water for Americans, has been cut by $500 million. Ports infrastructure. The Port of Umm Qasar was completely rebuilt, and yet the Army Corps of Engineers cannot afford U.S. port security upgrades since their budget has been cut by 63 percent. As President Bush seeks reelection, he can say he kept his commitment against nation-building. The problem is the target was America. This is a tale of two budgets, one for America and one for Iraq; two priorities, one for America and one for Iraq; two sets of values, one for America, one for Iraq; and two sets of books, one for Iraq, one for America. I have no problem investing in Iraq's future, but that future cannot be a more promising future than the one we promise here for our own children. Compared to how Americans view their futures, we cannot deny Americans the same dreams of affordable health care, education, police on the street, a safe place to live and job training. America will no longer be the most generous nation in the world if the future they promise their children is one that is less promising than one we are talking about overseas. Now if your economic results here at home were nearly 3 million Americans have lost their jobs, nearly $3 trillion has been added to the Nation's deficit in 3 years of budget, you would think you would change your economic policies. No. So what we will do is put our foot on the accelerator and press forward try and expect a different result, having tried 3 years in a row and producing the same result. We need a change and a new direction of the budget values and America's future.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this motion to instruct the conferees offered by my colleague on the Committee on the Budget, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson). We are on the verge of passing a $2.4 trillion budget with a $550 billion hole in it. Mr. Speaker, a $2.4 trillion budget with a $550 billion hole, showing that it is impossible to finance three wars with three tax cuts and get any other result. It has never been done in history. We are trying to do it now. What do we get for three wars and three tax cuts? A $550 billion deficit. This budget by the Republicans perpetuates the President's economic policies of the status quo, failed policies that have led to a jobless economy and a wage recession. Nearly 3 million Americans have lost their jobs since he has been President; 43 million Americans are without health care, of which 33 million Americans work full-time and have no health care; 2 million Americans who, prior to this administration were in the middle class, are now in poverty; and nearly $1 trillion worth of corporate and individual assets have been foreclosed on in the last 3 years. What do they recommend doing? The same thing: put your foot on the accelerator and see if we can rush forward. And those are the results of the Bush economic policies. What this PAYGO rule would be, just to be straight about it and not get into the, as some would say, cockamamie, arcane rules of the Congress, what this would do would force this Congress to pay for its policies. That is what this PAYGO rule would do, as cockamamie as it may sound; and it would change the economic direction of this Congress and this administration so we do not have the results of unemployment, lack of health insurance, lack of affordability on college education. That is what this would do. It is a commonsense approach. It adopts what businesses do, families do, State governments do, and that is pay for the way you go. If you want to pay for more education, you have to do it. Let me remind everybody, in the 1990s when we created 22 million jobs, poverty was cut in half, health care costs were contained, and we insured more Americans. This was part of that economic strategy that led to the greatest period of economic growth ever in American history. That was a piece, a central piece of the economic strategy. So it is about economic philosophy and strategy, but the results are in: one failed economic policies that have left more people without jobs, without health care, without the ability to afford college education; and one that had the greatest period of economic growth, greatest period of employment, and greatest period of poverty rates in the history of this country. So that is what this debate is. I urge my colleagues to support the motion of the gentleman from California.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, later this week the House is on the verge of passing a $2.3 trillion budget with a $500 billion deficit, showing that it is impossible to finance three wars with three tax cuts. This budget repeats the same mistakes that have resulted in a jobless economy and a wage recession here in America, with the lowest growth in wages in a period of economic growth ever in American history. This budget continues the status quo economy, an administration that refuses to budge and change its failed policies that have led to nearly 3 million Americans unemployed since it has taken office, 43 million Americans who are working without health care, 4 additional million since they have taken office, 2 million Americans who moved from the middle class to poverty, nearly $1 trillion worth of corporate individual bankruptcies and stagnant wages. During the 2000 presidential campaign, President Bush declared that he opposed nation-building. Who knew it was America he was talking about. You would think if your results of your economic policies led to 3 or more million Americans without work, 43 million Americans without health insurance, $1 trillion dollars worth of foreclosed corporate assets, poverty rolls increasing, you would change direction. What are we about to do with this budget? Put our foot on the accelerator and do the same old thing that will result in the same policies. In 3 years we have added $3 trillion to the Nation's deficit, and nearly 3 million Americans have lost their jobs. Three wars, three tax cuts, $500 billion in deficits. That has been the result of the economic policies of this administration; and this budget that we are going to vote on will continue the policies that have given America woefully inadequate services on health care, college education, jobs, retirement security, and also economic security. This budget and the President's economic vision is really the tale of two budgets, one for America, one for Iraq. We have spent well over $100 billion on Iraq's occupation but without promising the same future that we are promising the Iraqi children and families. Let us just go through it. When we talk about universal health care in Iraq and free job training to Iraqis, 44 million Americans go without health insurance and 8.2 million Americans are without jobs. In the area of health care, 2,200 Iraqi health officials are being trained by the United States, and 8,000 volunteers in Iraq are receiving free training. In America, under the budget being proposed, we have cut health training funds by 64 percent here at home. One hundred fifty clinics and hospitals in Iraq have been rebuilt, serving 3 million Iraqis. One hundred percent prenatal and infant coverage in Iraq. In America, community health clinics cut by 91 percent. Maternal and Child Health Care, Healthy Start, family planning, all frozen resulting from cuts in those budgets. In the area of jobs, in Iraq $60 million is being spent to train Iraqi veterans for past wars; and yet in this budget we gut veterans and veteran health care, resulting in every veterans organization opposing the budget we are going to vote on. In the area of education in Iraq, we have built 2,300 schools for the Iraqi children but have underfunded Leave No Child Behind by $8 billion here at home. Iraqi universities are getting $20 million for higher ed partnerships. In America, we have cut $91 million from the Perkins loans and frozen Pell Grants for college education. In the area of police and security, $470 billion is being spent, $500 billion is being spent for Iraqi police. Yet the COPS, Community Police Program, $659 million in this budget is cut from the police that we put on our streets here at home. In the area of housing, $470 million is being spent for Iraq public housing. Yet we have cut in this budget that the President proposes and the Republicans are going to vote on $791 million from section 8 public housing vouchers. In the area of environment, in Iraq, $3.6 billion in waters and sewer improvement; in America, a $500 million cut from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund that provides drinking water for every American. In the area of ports, the Port of Umm Qasar in Iraq was completely rebuilt for economic development. The Army Corps of Engineers here in the United States, a 63 percent cut for port security upgrades. Roads. We spent $240 million on roads and bridges for the Iraqi infrastructure, and yet mass transit here in the United States in the budget will be frozen. As the President seeks reelection he will be running on a pledge that he kept. He was opposed to nation-building, and he has kept his pledge. The problem is he is opposed to nation-building here at home in America. We can do in it in Iraq, but we should not leave America behind.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, when we were off a couple of months ago debating the Medicare bill, we were told it was going to cost $400 billion. We found out all along everybody knew it would cost $550 billion, and nobody was told the absolute truth. Most importantly, you were not told. Not a single new benefit has gone to a senior citizen and the taxpayers are stuck with another $150 billion hit. Now everybody wants to talk about the benefit that is going to come with a discount card giving a 25 percent discount. The costs of prescription drugs at the pharmacy are rising on average 19 percent a year for the last 7 years. So what you are going to see is what we all know happens at Neiman Marcus right before a sale, prices get jacked up as high as they can and then they offer a sale to give you a discount from the inflated prices. That is what is happening to prescription drugs right now at the pharmacy. Seniors on average pay 40 to 50 percent more for their prescription drugs than people in Canada and Europe for the same drugs that have been developed here in the United States. What we need is a reimportation bill to bring the prices down, make them competitive, and get world-class drugs at world market prices rather than the 50 percent inflated prices that we pay here in America.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of two important bills enacted by the House earlier today that will provide much-needed and deserved assistance to the families of U.S. troops, and provide special recognition for the distinguished service of our military personnel in the global war against terrorism. This legislation would reimburse U.S. service personnel for their transportation costs and create two new campaign medals designating military service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first bill, S. 2057, builds on the much-needed and highly successful Operation Hero Miles, which allows Americans to donate their unused frequent flier mileage, by also reimbursing troops for travel expenses to their final destinations. Under the U.S. Armed Forces Central Command Rest and Recuperation Leave Program, those troops who traveled before Dec. 19, 2003 are not eligible to be reimbursed for commercial airfare beyond U.S points of entry--Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas-Fort Worth, or Los Angeles. Also, there is still a need for travel assistance for soldiers on emergency leave, and for family members of soldiers being treated at U.S. military hospitals. This bill would allow troops to seek reimbursement retroactive to Sept. 25, 2003 which will help many of their families save hundreds of dollars each. I am also proud to cosponsor and vote for a second bill passed by the House today, H.R. 3104, which would create separate campaign medals specifically designed to recognize service by members of the Armed Forces who participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. These decorations will be worn proudly by our troops and provide important symbolic recognition by distinguishing their service in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and emphasizing their specific and unique significance in our mission to win the global war against terrorism. Mr. Speaker, I salute the troops for their continuing valor, patriotism and commitment to our Nation. We thank them for their heroism and sacrifices, and we support these bills to honor their service and to provide much-needed relief for their families. Now that a year has passed since U.S. troops were deployed to Iraq, we wish them all a safe return and hope this legislation makes their trip home a little easier.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Sheridan and Mildred Ostrander of Chicago on their recent Golden Anniversary celebrating 50 years of marriage. Both Sheridan and Millie have been active members of the community and continue to support the many causes important to them. Sheridan, now retired, has owned several businesses and worked for CNA Insurance for a number of years. Millie has been a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker and remains active in Our Lutheran Church and Luther North High School Women's Organizations. Together Sheridan and Millie have lived in their present home for 48 years. They have two children, Janice Fleck and James Ostrander. The Fleck's, Janice and Michael, are the proud parents of two children, Sarah, who attends Oakton Community College; and Jessica, who attends high school in Niles, Illinois. James and Christine Ostrander have two children, Megan and Kevin, who both attend grammar school in Schaumburg, Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I join with the Fifth District in congratulating Sheridan and Mildred Ostrander on their fiftieth wedding anniversary, and wish them and their extended family all the happiness in the future.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, this week the House is on the verge of passing a $2.3 trillion budget with a $521 billion deficit, showing that it is impossible to finance three wars with three tax cuts and expect a different result. This budget repeats the same mistakes that have resulted in a jobless economy and a wage recession in America, the lowest wage growth in any period of time in a period of economic ``growth.'' The Republican budget continues the status quo policies that have resulted in 2\1/2\ million Americans who have lost their jobs, 43 million Americans without health care, 4 more million Americans since the President took office, 2 more million Americans in poverty who walked out of the middle class into poverty, wages frozen, and $1 trillion in corporate and individual bankruptcies. Three years, $3 trillion dollars added to the Nation's debt, and 3 million Americans have lost their jobs. What a record. During the 2000 presidential campaign, President Bush said he opposed nation-building. Who knew it was America he was talking about? This budget, the President's economic policy, is really a tale of two budgets: one for America and one for Iraq. We have spent more than $100 billion on Iraq's occupation without promising the same future here at home. In Iraq they get universal health care and free job training, while in America 44 million Americans go without health care, 10 million children without health care, and 8.2 million Americans without jobs. In the area of health care, 2,200 Iraqi health professionals and 8,000 volunteers are receiving free training. In America under this budget that the Republicans and the President put together, health training funds are cut by 64 percent. One hundred and fifty clinics and hospitals have been rebuilt, serving 3 million Iraqis, providing 100 percent prenatal and infant coverage. In America, community health care clinics are cutting funding by 91 percent; Maternal and Child Health Care, Healthy Start, and family planning, all frozen. In the area of jobs, $60 million is being spent to retrain the Iraqi veterans. Yet we have cut the manufacturing job training program by 67 percent over 3 years. In the area of education, we built 2,300 schools in Iraq and underfunded Leave No Child Behind in America by $8 billion. Iraqi universities are getting $21 million for higher ed partnerships. In America, the Perkins loans are cut by $99 million and Pell grants are frozen. The police in Iraq, $500 million for training. In America, the COPS program is cut by $659 million. In the area of housing, $470 million is spent on Iraqi public housing, while in America $791 billion is cut from Section 8 housing vouchers. In the area of environment, we are paying for $3.6 billion in water and sewers in Iraq; and in this budget, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which deals with drinking water here in America, is cut by $500 million. The port of Umm Qasar was completely rebuilt in Iraq. The Army Corps of Engineers cannot afford U.S. port security upgrades since their budget has been cut by 63 percent. Roads, we have spent $240 million on roads and bridges in Iraq, but mass transit, including highway funding, remains stalled under this administration. As President Bush seeks reelection and we think about his pledge in 2000 to oppose nation-building, he has the dubious honor of saying he kept his pledge because he is opposed to nation-building here in America. I am not opposed to what we are planning for Iraq. That is a good thing. But I oppose the notion that we will literally reconstruct Iraq while we deconstruct the United States. In this budget this administration, this Congress, is telling the American people that they have two priorities, two sets of values, and two sets of books, one for Iraq and one for America. Compared to how Americans view their futures, we cannot deny Americans the same dreams of affordable housing, affordable health care, affordable education that we have promised Iraq and their children. America can no longer afford to be so generous if hope for a prosperous tomorrow and a better tomorrow is diminished here at home for the American people. Mr. Speaker, the same values we hold for Iraq we must pledge for all Americans. So we cannot allow our economy and our prospects, which this budget will lay out an economic vision, that still results in 2\1/2\ million Americans in the last 3 years who have lost their jobs, 43 million Americans without health care, nearly $1 trillion worth of corporate and individual assets have been foreclosed on, and 2 more million Americans have walked out of the middle class into poverty. If we are going to do nation-building, we must do it here at home, not just overseas.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. The gentleman and I have talked about this. What galls me a little about this whole subject is that not only are we paying the most expensive prices in the world but all the research that the pharmaceutical industry does is subsidized by the taxpayers. They write it off fully, 100 percent. The taxpayers are literally funding the research. Not only do we fund the research for this new medication, we have the dubious honor to pay the most expensive prices in the world. Second, is through the National Institute of Health, which is an annual budget here in the Federal Government of $27 billion, not all of it going to research for new medications, yet all the primary research that they do, I think it is about half of it, literally is subsidized by the taxpayers. One cannot think of a cancer drug or an AIDS drug, just to name two, that the taxpayers did not do the primary research. The pharmaceutical industry took that research, took it to market, took it through stages one and two, but the primary research was paid for by the taxpayers directly through the National Institutes of Health and then the follow-on research was subsidized through the tax credit research and development. All the R&D that the companies do is tax free, the taxpayers subsidize it; and then we pay the highest prices at our pharmacies for those same drugs that a lot of these companies sell on the shelf in Canada, in England, in France, in Germany for 40 percent to 60 percent less. So we paid for the research and then we pay the highest prices in the world. The gentleman noted that. That to me is what is most galling here. I do not fault really the pharmaceutical industry. I fault us here in the political system who have a job to represent our taxpayers, our middle-class families, our seniors, for allowing them to get away with a system that manipulates the patent laws, deals with tax subsidies through the NIH or through the tax credit R&D, and then passes legislation that literally gets away without dealing with the fundamental issue that all of us have constantly heard about at our town halls, at our grocery stores and at our pharmacies and, that is, we cannot afford the medication we need. It is not that they needed a benefit, not that a benefit was a bad thing to do, but they wanted the medications they needed at the prices they can afford. I give the pharmaceutical industry credit for two things: one, they played the system perfectly, and I do not fault them; second is that they do good work. I was once in the hospital for 7\1/2\ weeks. I would not be here if it were not for some of the products that they had developed. I have no problem with that. But the prices I paid at the hospitals were a lot cheaper than what we pay at the pharmacies. All we are asking for is that same competition to get those prices. We are prevented from doing it. This legislation that was recently passed specifically outlaws it; and I do believe, as I do in free markets, that if you allow that competition and you allow the consumer that freedom, you are going to get choice. Once that choice gets into the market, prices will come down here. Let me say, they will go up in Europe. But you will have an equilibrium, and you will not have a 50 percent disparity where we end up subsidizing those folks in Europe. When I say ``we,'' hardworking middle-class families, taxpayers and the senior citizens. I say pay for the research, I want us to own that research, but we need not have to pay the highest prices in the world. That is the mistake. The prices on the shelf at the pharmacies, that is the error here. We can do something about it. We have done it here in the House. Hopefully, our colleagues in the other body will also follow suit.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Minnesota. As that chart shows, basically the difference between the United States price for the same drugs, same name-brand products from Germany to Canada to England is in the United States our seniors and our citizens have to pay somewhere between 40 to 60 percent more for the same drugs they would get at their pharmacy than their G-8 or other members of the European Union; and you and I have done this many times, and the fact is we are not talking about some field somewhere in some mythological moment of some dream. There is parallel trading today in Europe. If you go to a pharmacy in Germany, they will price out that product you need, whether it is Lipitor, for whatever you need Lipitor for, the cholesterol, whether you need another drug for blood pressure, for arthritis, or for your heart. Any of those medications they will look at Spain, look at England, they will find the best price for you, and all we are talking about is having the American consumers, our senior citizens, link into that free market, get the competition on price. So rather than paying 50 to 60 percent more than what people in England pay for Lipitor, we would pay the price that they pay in England or in Canada or in Italy or in the Netherlands or in Germany or in France. It is ironic because all those folks from those countries come to the United States for our medical care. Yet Americans must go overseas for their medications, and what we are talking about is having a system where you bring real competition to the pricing of pharmaceutical products and allow that competition and that market to bring the prices down and allow that choice to exist, not so people would have to drive up to Canada, not so people would have to go on the Internet to get their pharmaceutical products; but that the prices that the people are now paying in Canada and in Germany and France for Tamoxifen, for Cipro, I am trying to look at the drugs, my eyes are not as good as they used to be, Zokor, those prices would come to their local pharmacy. They would go right down the street and get those prices, go to the pharmacist who would say, well, I think I can get something better in Toronto for you, or, we have the same price right here. That competition would bring the prices down here; and that is all we are talking about, and every product, whether that is in steel, autos, electronic, software, food, America has the most open markets and the best prices in the world. There is only one product line where we have a closed market, and that is the pharmaceutical products; and it is the only product that Americans pay 30, 40, 50, depending on the product, sometimes 60 percent more than our European allies and Canada. I would like to give you two other statistics. According to Families USA, of the 50 drugs most commonly used by seniors, the prices have increased 3\1/2\ times the rate of inflation over the past year; and between 2000 and 2003, seniors' expenditures on prescription drugs increased by 44 percent. So drug prices are going up. We have now got a prescription drug bill that offers seniors no benefit as relates to price and affordability of those drugs, and now they are going to continue to go up; and unless we bring something that brings competition and choices to the system, the seniors are going to continue to pay somewhere north of 15 percent increases in prices, and our taxpayers are going to be funding not $400 billion, but close to $600 billion in a prescription drug benefit when we know we can get the prices of these drugs much cheaper. I see you have the next chart. That is why I wanted to bring these statistics.