Keith Ellison

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. The Great Depression. I am telling you, the signs are not good. We need bold, decisive action which puts the public sector and the private sector in a partnership to look out for the American consumer. This is what we have to do. You know, Mr. Yarmuth, let me talk to you a little bit about some things you inspired me to think about. When we had Chairman Frank out to Minnesota, we had a hearing on the foreclosure crisis. One of the pieces of testimony that came out is that a lot of folks actually could not find rent at the amount that they could buy into a subprime mortgage. In other words, they could get into a 228 or a 327, which means you have a low rate for 2 or 3 years and then it jumps way up. The teaser rate was lower than the market rent they could find. Since nobody was checking income, they got into that. Then when the 2 or 3 years expired, they were in a mess. The mortgage jumped up, there was not enough equity in the house even to refinance it, and they were foreclosed upon. Now, that speaks to another thing we have done in this 110th Congress, and that is invested in a National Housing Trust Fund so we could truly invest in affordable housing, which is part of the equation here. In America, we need an overhaul of our economic system. We need real progressivity in our Tax Code. We need real regulation in the financial housing markets, we need to have a real aggressive attempt to support affordable housing, and we need to make sure that people have livable wages to live on. We need a new vision for an economy which puts economic prosperity at the very center dot of what we do around here. So I yield back at this time.

Mr. ELLISON. I know you have an idea, because you were already talking about the era.

Mr. ELLISON. The 1920s. It starts with ``Great.'' In fact, Mr. Hodes, your mother was born and lived during this era. When was the last time the top 1 percent made 20 percent of the money in America?

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to support the House Democratic FISA bill, a bill that provides for collection of data to protect America against people who would harm us, but also, and very importantly, provides court approval of acquisition and an ongoing process of review and oversight in order to protect Americans' privacy. The bill goes beyond the RESTORE Act which we passed in the House, and I supported, by adopting statutory protections for U.S. persons overseas to ensure that surveillance of their communications are always conducted through the courts. The House bill does not confer retroactive immunity on telecom carriers alleged to have participated under the President's warrantless surveillance program. It provides a mechanism for the carriers to assert existing immunity claims and to guarantee that they have a fair hearing in court currently prevented by the administration's assertion of the State secrets privilege. In order to fully ascertain the scope and legality of the TSP, the House bill also creates a bipartisan commission on warrantless electronic surveillance activities with strong investigatory powers.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, today we continue debate on the Democratic budget that boosts economic growth and restores fiscal responsibility. While the Bush administration's budget priorities and policies are responsible for the largest fiscal deterioration in our Nation's history, the 2009 Democratic budget is not only balanced by 2012, but it also invests in our Nation's top priorities. We reject the President's budget proposal because it creates a $396 billion deficit this year, while cutting funding for Medicaid and Medicare, veterans and homeland security. Our budget rejects the President's cuts and instead fully invests in Medicare and Medicaid, so that the most vulnerable amongst us, our children and our seniors, continue to have access to healthcare assistance. We also reject the President's proposal to add more than $18 billion, billion with a B, over the next 5 years in new fees for our veterans and military retirees. We reject the President's attempt to eliminate several State and local law enforcement programs, including the successful COPS, Community Oriented Policing Services program, which has put more police on the street to help reduce crime.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, it has been an honor for me to speak in support of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. I want to thank both Congressman Kennedy and Congressman Ramstad for their dedication to ending the insurance discrimination and ensuring that all Americans have access to mental health and addiction services. As a Minnesotan, I'm struck by the emotion of this day because the late Paul Wellstone's tireless efforts to ensure mental health parity might finally be realized. Paul Wellstone knew it was wrong for health insurers to place discriminatory restrictions on treatments, and I am honored to be part of this effort to finally guarantee that millions of Americans who need mental health and addiction services can obtain the services they deserve. The urgent need for the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act is surely best expressed by those who have seen a loved one in need denied coverage. I think immediately of Kitty Westin, a Minnesotan whose daughter Anna suffered from anorexia, a deadly disease that affects approximately 8 million Americans and ultimately claimed Anna's life. During her daughter's battle with anorexia, Kitty took Anna to the hospital. Anna was refused care by the insurance company because it did not consider access to mental health treatment important enough to cover. Kitty knows this is completely unacceptable and has been fighting selflessly to make sure that no other family experiences the same frustration and pain. I commend her for carrying on Anna's legacy so impressively through her advocacy efforts and community work. For Kitty and all of those who have encountered insurance discrimination, I carry Paul Wellstone's message that access to mental health and addiction services is imperative and must take place now.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, today I voted in favor of House Resolution 951 to condemn rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and the death and fear those attacks have caused. These rocket attacks must be condemned, and they must be stopped. I've been to Sderot, and I have seen how these rocket attacks cause fear and suffering among the people there, where it is extremely difficult to carry on anything approaching a normal life. The residents of Sderot and now Ashkelon face a daily barrage of rockets, and that is intolerable. Terrorists are bombing citizens, not soldiers. There is nothing in Islam to justify hurting innocent civilians. Bombers cannot use religion to justify what they're doing, and I condemn it. But this resolution is not enough. If we want to be morally consistent, we must condemn rocket attacks on Israel and also condemn the humanitarian crisis in Gaza too. The 1.4 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip exist in a state of dreadful isolation, quite literally cut off from the world. Basic supplies and necessities are at a minimum. Ninety percent of the industry has closed down. Unemployment is rampant, and poverty and disease are endemic. Only a few weeks ago, the people of Gaza broke through walls to buy groceries in Egypt. I regret the resolution we voted on today did not devote adequate attention, in my view, to the plight of the people of Gaza. To suggest that this is the Gazans' just desserts for voting the wrong way in the Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006 does nothing to improve the quality or alleviate the human suffering on either side of the border. We in Congress need to show compassion for the people of Gaza, Sderot, and Ashkelon and the tremendous human suffering they are undergoing. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he does not want the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to continue, and the Bush administration should do all it can to help him meet that commitment. This resolution criticizes one of the leading advocates for stability and peace in the region: Egypt. The Egyptian Government has made it clear that it is doing all it can to close off smuggling. What's needed is a greater degree of cooperation with Egypt. This resolution does nothing to advance that cooperation. We need to engage Egypt, not pass resolutions that publicly offend or diminish our relations with them. Absent strong evidence that Egypt is complicit in allowing weapons smuggling to occur, I am not in favor of Egypt bashing. I understand Egypt is doing what it can to control the border despite restrictions on its security forces imposed by Egypt's peace treaty with Israel. If Egypt had direct contact or diplomatic channels with all parties involved in the conflict, the United States should prevail upon Egypt to help effect a prisoner exchange, stop the rocket attacks on Israeli citizens, and improve the humanitarian conditions for citizens of Gaza. It's a fortunate coincidence that the Secretary of State is in the region right now, and I am supportive of her taking an active role in resolving this conflict. Beyond resolutions and expressions of sympathy, we need real actions from the Bush administration to solidify and advance the commitments of leaders in the Middle East to a lasting peace through the two-state solution envisioned well before Annapolis. I ask my colleagues here in the House to join me in urging the Secretary of State to highlight the humanitarian needs of ordinary citizens of Gaza alongside the fear and death among ordinary Israelis as she seeks to mediate the situation so tragic for all involved. Finally, as a Member of Congress, I am concerned about the resolution's references to Iran. Now, I agree that Iran is playing a negative role in the region, but we have seen what the Bush administration has done with past congressional resolutions. I want to repeat that there is nothing in the resolution that should be construed as a justification for military action. I remain opposed to military action against Iran. We need to start a bilateral dialogue. That has been and will continue to be my position. The most effective way to stop Iran's harmful activities is to engage them directly. Mr. Speaker, though I wholeheartedly condemn the rocket attacks on Israel, I urge my colleagues to consider the suffering of all of the people, including the people of Sderot, Ashkelon, and Gaza.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Let me just lend my voice and agree with you. I do believe that the oil companies do not need any more help from the American taxpayer. It's time to repeal these tax breaks and credits, and I am glad that we have done so. I just want to say that the 110th Congress, this Congress that you and I came in as freshmen, as majority makers, really has been productive in the area of energy. I am so glad that within the first 100 hours, and I know Congressman Klein, you will remember the first 100 hours, that we passed a bill to repeal tax breaks to the big oil companies and to incentivize production of clean and renewable sources. And then, of course, it was just last year that we passed the bill for CAFE standards. So many Congresses, so many years passed where we had no CAFE standards to speak of, no increases in the CAFE standards. Now we are at 35 miles per gallon. I think we should look at this not as some great victory but as a start down the road of progress. And then again today we passed this I think historic bill and it signals change. It signals change. It signals that the United States Congress is serious about our renewable future. It signals a change that we can have a future where we can have air that we can breathe, where we can be at peace with our environment and not warm up the globe to the degree that no life can live on it, or that the changes in the world temperatures will be so drastically changing that we can't sustain life as it exists now. And I think that we can also live in a future where we can get around and have transportation that is affordable and make some sense and actually is something that we can all live with and all participate in. But I think that these changes that we have seen in the 110th Congress, the 100 hours, CAFE standards and then today, signal that we are going in the right direction. We need the American people to continue to fuel the movement that we are on. And one thing we are doing here tonight is trying to let you know what we have done and then ask for your continued participation. Because the American people are demanding change, and I think that the 110th Congress is giving it to you. Let me just say that those statistics that were just shown about oil profits earned, I just think it is very important to bear in mind that as oil profits have been skyrocketing, the average person that we have seen increases in prices in everything from food to fuel, we have also seen inflationary tendencies, and we have also seen increase in unemployment. We are in a time where clean, renewable energy and a new path towards energy is something that everyone needs, and it is something that I think our entire society, our entire economy, oil companies included, need to take a part in and need to look at the tremendous bounty they have received from being able to be an American corporation and saying that, look, we are going to do something to participate. I would like to see our oil companies take some of their own profits and invest it into renewable energies. I would like to see them take some of the great bounty they have received and make a commitment to the American people to get into a green future. So again, what we see today is signaling change, sending us in the right direction, and I look forward to going much, much further.

Mr. ELLISON. Representative Klein, thank you, and your introduction was excellent because it really does set the stage for this new energy future that America is walking into. Today, the House considered H.R. 5351 which would end unnecessary subsidies to big oil companies and invest in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency. It is similar to the House bill passed, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act passed as part of a bipartisan energy package in August 2007. And I just want Americans to know that when you sent this class, this 110th Congress, this freshman class here to Washington, you expected that we would take a step in favor of our energy future. And I want you to know that we are doing that. We are stepping into that energy future, putting innovation, putting incentives into the hands of people who are going to make the difference, and we are putting the best interests of the American people forward. As I think about our energy future, I think about it every time I walk up to the pump, Representative Klein. Every time I go to the pump, I am reminded of why we need a new energy future. I remember back in 2001 when I would be able to put that gas pump in the tank, and I think I was paying somewhere around $1.50 a gallon. Well, that is not so today. You and I both, whether you are in Florida or Minnesota, or whether you are in California or Arizona, you are probably paying somewhere north of $3, somewhere close to $3. And that is double what I remember paying. And that is wrong. And this is especially at a time when we are seeing energy prices go up and food prices go up, because it costs money to get food from one place to another, and we see family budgets being pinched. We are in the middle of this subprime mortgage crisis. And it is time that we get a handle on our energy future, get a handle on not only the issue of global climate change, not only on the issue of pollution, but on the issue of cost to the American consumer that we get our hands on top of this important issue. So as I hand it back to you, Representative Klein, let me just say that the big five oil companies recently reported record profits in 2007. ExxonMobil earned $40.6 billion, the largest corporate profit in American history. These profits, well, I just want to say that the American taxpayer, we are paying a whole lot more, and it might be going pretty good for some folks, but a lot of the rest of us are hurting. So let me toss it back to you, Representative Klein, and thank you for leading the charge today on this new energy future.

Mr. ELLISON. Let me just say that I agree with you. You have to understand that when you borrow all this money to fund the government, you have to pay that back. And that payback accounts for a part of your budget which squeezes out other things you might really want to do. So pay as you go has a whole lot of merit, and I'm glad we are not adding already to the enormous debt. As you know, when this President came into office, he inherited a fairly significant budget surplus. But that is yesterday. One of the things I want to mention, Congressman Klein, about this important bill, is that provisions are critical to creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying, green collar American jobs. This issue of jobs, green collar jobs, is critical. Green collar jobs are jobs perhaps in the construction industry where people would help retrofit old buildings in order to make them more fuel efficient. For example, green roofs on buildings, more fuel efficiency in buildings, construction jobs, jobs that people can earn a good wage in. I think it is important to understand that part of the new energy future that we are talking about takes into consideration not just the scientists who are going to be working in labs and not just the folks who are going to be working on the policy issues, but actually hardworking Americans who work every single day to put food on the table for their families. The green collar job is something I think we have to pay close attention to. And as you may know, our farm bill actually included a provision about green collar jobs, which is very important. I was happy to be a part of that. The preservation of existing jobs relies on these green collar jobs as well. A recent study showed that allowing the renewable energy incentives to expire would lead to about 116,000 jobs being lost in the wind and solar industries through the end of 2009. Now this is a big deal, because if we incentivize the production of clean, renewable energy, of wind, of solar, of biomass, of cogeneration, of other forms of energy production, it has the effect of spinning off more and more employment. And, of course, as I led in before, the first part of creating a green future for America is in conservation. That which we save, we never have to use energy to fuel. And so in this area of conservation, as I mentioned before, all kinds of jobs in the area of construction, in the area of so many things that would allow people who can make a good honest living and at the same time preserve our energy future and make our economy cleaner and make our economy one in which everybody can even avoid the health risks associated with some of the burning of hydrocarbons. So, again, green collar jobs is a big part of what we did today, a big part of what we have been doing, and I am proud to be associated with that.

Mr. ELLISON. That is what it means at the pump. But what does it mean in terms of food prices and prices of other things, because you have to ship this stuff, right?

Mr. ELLISON. That's right, and I do thank you. I will have to take my leave shortly after making my remarks, but I want to thank you for holding it down tonight. Mr. Klein, you are doing a good job as usual. But I just want to say as I hear Mr. Hall make comments about young people who are involved in innovation and creative use of their talents and skills, it reminds me of the fact that this bill that we passed today, plus the bill that we passed in the 100 hours, plus the farm bill and the energy bill we have already passed, is a policy that all Americans can get behind, whether you are a young person in high school trying to figure out how much of the surface of your solar vehicle needs to be paneled so that it can run efficiently, or whether you are a person working in a company or whether you are a person who is just trying to earn enough money for a family, this is a bill that meets the needs of many people, which is why it's good legislation. You ran off a list of supporters of the bill. I also just want to point out that whether you are a mom and a dad or whether you are Home Depot or even Dow Chemical or the Sierra Club, or the United Steelworkers or the National Farmers Union, this is good legislation. This is legislation America can get behind. I look forward to a more renewable, greener future that we all can participate in, and I just want to say, finally, to our oil companies that have made such monumental profits over the last numbers of years, I do hope that you all look within yourselves and take some of those profits that you have been able to get based on you being an American company and invest in America.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, on February 14, 2008, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall No. 68. Had I voted I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, on February 25, 2008, if I were present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 69, 70, and 71.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, I rise today honor the great city of St. Louis Park, Minnesota for winning the America's Promise Alliance's 100 Best Communities for Young People competition for the third year in a row. St. Louis Park is one of the cities in the Fifth Congressional District of Minnesota. St. Louis Park is an amazing community for young people because residents engage youth with meaningful artistic, cultural and civic opportunities. One such opportunity is the Friends of the Arts program, which pairs youth with donated musical instruments and offers creative writing classes for teens. A local church, the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, offers young artists the ability to improve their artistic skills and a platform to perform or display their work. Residents of St. Louis Park's Lake Forest Neighborhood organize a program called ``Arts Crawl'' which sponsors family art programs and raises scholarship funds for youth. Additionally, the city government makes an effort to invite young people to community events and meetings. The City of St. Louis Park and its residents are committed to a brighter future for their city, their state and their country. I applaud Mayor Jeff Jacobs, the residents of St. Louis Park and especially the young people for their hard work and dedication to improving their communities.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, on January 22, 2008, I failed to vote on rollcall Nos. 19 and 20 because my flight was unexpectedly delayed. Had I voted, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 19 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 20. Madam Speaker, on December 13, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall No. 1156. Had I voted, I would have voted ``aye.'' Madam Speaker, on December 5, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall No. 1130. Had I voted, I would have voted ``aye.'' Madam Speaker, on November 14, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall No. 1103. Had I voted, I would have voted ``aye.'' Madam Speaker, on October 31, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall No. 1023. Had I voted, I would have voted ``aye.'' Madam Speaker, on October 22, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall Nos. 983-985. Had I voted, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 983; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 984; and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 985. Madam Speaker, on June 13, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall No. 465. Had I voted, I would have voted ``aye.'' Madam Speaker, on March 9, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall No. 133. Had I voted, I would have voted ``no.'' Madam Speaker, on February 12, 2007, I inadvertently failed to vote on rollcall Nos. 93-94. Had I voted, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 93; and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 94.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, at a time when more and more Americans are struggling to obtain affordable health care, the President's budget drastically slashes health care for seniors and low-income working Americans. Today, 36 million seniors get health care coverage through Medicare. The President's budget takes a swipe at their pocketbooks by proposing to save nearly $6 billion by increasing the monthly premiums that seniors pay. If the President was concerned about seniors, he would instead go after the vast overpayments made by Medicare to private managed care plans. Instead, he has raised premiums on our seniors and focused his cuts on our Nation's hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other health care providers. The President also cuts Medicaid by $33 billion over the next 5 years. Today, Medicaid serves 55 million low-income and disabled Americans. Such cuts force cash-strapped States to either reduce benefits or cut provider payments. Mr. Speaker, as our economy continues to face uncertain times, this is the worst time for the President to promote drastic cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. Rest assured, the Democrats would not allow these cuts to become law. These provisions are as good as dead as they come to Capitol Hill.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, on January 22, 2008, I failed to vote on rollcall Nos. 19 and 20 because my flight was unexpectedly delayed. Had I voted, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 19 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 20.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. Madam Chairman, let me start by thanking Chairman Frank and Chairwoman Waters for bringing this critical and much-needed legislation to the floor. The HOPE VI program was developed as a result of recommendations by the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing, which was charged with proposing a national action plan to eradicate severely distressed public housing. The commission recommended revitalization in three general areas: physical improvements, management improvements, and social and community services to address resident needs. As a result, the HOPE VI program was developed in 1993. Grants are used by public housing authorities to fund capital costs of major rehabilitation, new construction and physical improvements, demolition of severely distressed public housing, acquisition of sites for off-site construction, and community and supportive service programs for residents. Any public housing authority that has severely distressed public housing units in its inventory is eligible to apply. In each of the past 5 years, the Bush administration has proposed elimination of the HOPE VI program, requesting no money for this successful program, threatening to strand tens of thousands of low- income families and children to live in substandard public housing. But the Congress, under both Republican and Democratic majorities, has continued to fund the program. In 2006, $100 million was appropriated, and last month, $100 million was included in the Omnibus Appropriations Act. This reauthorization of HOPE VI is long overdue. In the Fifth Congressional District and in the City of Minneapolis alone, my local public housing authority has estimated that they need over $205 million just to maintain 5,883 public housing units at only a fair condition. Again, let me repeat this. My district needs $205 million to keep these public housing units from not falling below basic standards. The backlog of units in desperate need of refurbishment and rehabilitation is a result of 7 long years of neglect of public infrastructure. This is why I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this bill. By passing H.R. 3524, we move a step closer to recognizing the rights for all citizens.

Mr. ELLISON

Mr. ELLISON. How much is your debt for this big debt that he has run up?

Mr. ELLISON. Well, Doctor, let me just add my voice and say I love to be on the House floor with my colleagues. You guys are servants of the people of the United States, whether we're from the upper Midwest or Iowa, Kentucky, or all the way out in Colorado, it's a joy to be in the company of people who care about the American working class and are willing to get out there strong to speak up for what working class people need. You know, this stimulus package is to signal change in a broader sense to make our economy fair and more productive. It's signaling change. One hundred billion dollars is a whole lot of money, but when you think about this trillion-plus-dollar economy we live in, it's not a whole lot by comparison. But it's not designed to solve every problem, it's supposed to spark economic change, signal an overall change in the way our economy is structured so that we can have working class people prosper and grow. My colleague from Colorado pointed out that it's not a matter of trickle down, it's bubble up. You put the money in the hands of middle- class people, they go out and buy washing machines, they go out and buy food, they go out and buy groceries, they put their kids in school, and the next thing you know more deals are being done and you see an overall increase in the economy, a rising tide lifting all boats. You take care of the middle class and the rest will take care of itself. If you give tax cuts to the wealthiest of the wealthy, the very definition of being rich is that you don't need the money. So, what do you do? You don't spend the money. You merge. You go buy some company overseas and then they take advantage of comparative wage differentials and the next thing you know we're exporting jobs. The fact is is that an economic stimulus targeted to people who really will spend that money and really do need that money and can spend that discretionary income will spark our economy. But it will only be a signal of an overall shift of economic fairness that has to do with our innovation agenda, that has to do with increasing the minimum wage, that has to do with decreasing the cost of college loans, an overall economic package that is big and that is structural that has to do with making changes to predatory lending laws, that has to do with our housing markets, an overall package that will take a little more time to implement, but an economic stimulus package that will happen soon and will spark economic growth directly affecting the unemployment numbers that jumped in December, and as Mr. Perlmutter correctly points out, directly affecting the increase in the Consumer Price Index as well. Now, you know, the underlying source of this economy's weakness is the collapse in the housing market. In 1995, what happened to the housing market? Bam, straight to the moon. People thought it would never end. As a matter of fact, people bought houses, some of them subprime. Some of them found themselves thinking, well, if I buy this house right now, get into this subprime mortgage, the increasing housing values gives me wealth; I can refinance when this house is even worth more. But, you know, everything that goes up must come down. And as a matter of fact, when we saw people refinance these homes, they consumed that increased wealth in their house. That helped drive the consumer sector, but eventually these things come down and we are hitting the wall. People are not making it, folks. We have a negative savings rate in America. Negative savings rate. That means if you get paid on Friday, you're out of money Wednesday night. That means you're hanging on and you're hoping that you can stretch that penny out to get to the end of the week. That means that instead of steak you're eating hamburger and instead of salmon you're eating tuna fish. And it's not funny. It's serious business. People are really, really struggling. And so the fact is, folks, that we have a negative savings rate and that is why people are turning to the credit cards. That's why, when they get a big purchase, they've got to refinance their homes, although that's tough to do today, and that's why they go to title loans, payday loans and pawnshops. This is what is driving that move. We are drying up the consumer sector. And I just want to say that we have seen record foreclosures in America, record foreclosures. We haven't seen this many foreclosures since the Great Depression.

Mr. ELLISON. Absolutely.

Mr. ELLISON. I want to respond directly to your point, Congressman, because I think this is one of the things that in a very palpable feeling way really struck home to me, and that was when I was campaigning back in 2006. I met a gentleman who kind of came to the front door when I knocked on his door. And he came in a very gingerly way; it was clear that he had suffered some kind of injury and wasn't feeling very good. And he said to me, you know, Keith, about a year ago I was up on my roof because me and my partner make a little more than minimum wage, not that much more than minimum wage, but we were able to get into the house because we got into the subprime mortgage. We got some credit cards that they sent to us that we didn't ask for. But because I didn't have a whole lot of money, I climbed up on that roof to fix it because it was leaking. I didn't want to see more damage happen to the house, we had to patch it. And I, as you might guess, fell off that roof. The guy fell off the roof and sustained some serious injuries. The injuries were too bad, his partner was going to try to put him in the car but he couldn't move him because he was hurting, and it was dangerous, and so he called the EMS truck, Emergency Medical Services. They came to get him. That was about 1,800 bucks right there. He didn't have health care insurance. He put the medical bills on the credit card as long as he could, couldn't pay that; as a matter of fact, paid one credit card, but on the other one he was late. Guess what happened to the interest rate on the credit card that he was on time for? It went up. That's called universal default. So, now he's paying 32 percent interest. He's getting further and further behind. He's not working. His partner is struggling to keep the mortgage paid. They see a reset in the mortgage. Now they are totally up. They are just really in bad shape now, and they are facing foreclosure. When the man told me this story, he was dry in the eye but I was misty. I couldn't believe, I said, you know, not in America. People who work hard, 40 hours a week every week, cannot be in this situation. It's wrong. And I felt it was my responsibility to do something about it. So when I stand on the floor to talk about working class prosperity with you here tonight, six Members of Congress, and when I heard our Speaker talk about this stimulus package, I was reminded of what happened when the great President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. Back in those days, Representative Yarmuth, they used to have the coffin of the President loaded up on the trains. You know what I am talking about, Representative Walz? And that train was carrying that casket across the country. And there was a man who appeared at one of those train stops where that casket was being carried across the country, and there was a journalist there too, and the man was crying about the President. He was in tears over President Roosevelt. And as you know, he was the President during the Great Depression. And the journalist walked up to the man and said to the man, ``Sir, I see that you're crying and very emotional over what happened to the President. Did you know President Roosevelt?'' And the man gathered himself, cleared his threat, and he said, ``No, I didn't know President Roosevelt. But he knew me.''

Mr. ELLISON. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ELLISON. How about little Gus, your son?