Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. When I get back to my district, I am going to become a member of the Rotary Club, because I do have a pin. Let me just say very quickly that this whole issue of the homeland security, and what we do and what they haven't done, when I say they, I am saying the Republican majority, as you know I am a member of the Homeland Security Committee. Last week we had a press conference. We talked about our Real Security Plan, and we talked about the fact that Republican majority has shown that they are not ready to put forth this plan. What is this plan? This plan embodies 100 percent of the recommendations that the 9/11 Commission called for. Wow. The government spent a lot of money and put together a bipartisan commission. They have hearings, they go throughout the country, they go to New York, they have hearings here in Washington, D.C., have former Members of Congress, have the National Security Advisor to the President come before them, have the President of these United States come before them, have Members of Congress and other security experts, CIA personnel, you name it, other clandestine organizations within the Federal Government. Some hearings are secure, some hearings are public. They put forth their report and we say, well, let's see. We will do this and we won't do that. When you talk about national security, you can't skimp on the butter. You can't say, well, I am willing to wasteful spend as it relates to an unorganized response to Hurricane Katrina, or I am willing to send $300-plus billion to Iraq with very little oversight. But when it comes down to the 9/11 Commission report, that is where the proof is in the pudding. I am pretty sure every Member of Congress sent some sort of press release out talking about 9/11. Some Members went on further to justify the reason why things aren't the way they are supposed to be. Some went further and talked about how secure America is. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the professionals are not saying here in in Washington that we have done our job, we, the Republican majority. I want to point a few things out. I am going to do the ``Ms. Wasserman Schultz'' here for a minute. Democrats are calling to make sure we go in a new direction as relates to homeland security. That is very simple. What does this new direction call for? This new direction calls for the immediate implementation of all the 9/11 recommendations. That is not partisan, that is security, Mr. Ryan. What else does it call for? It calls for 100 percent container screening of not only cargo containers that are on ships, but also cargo that is going into the belly of the plane. Ms. Wasserman Schultz talked about that in the last hour. We are taking our shoes off, hand your hand sanitizer over, you better drink that water before you go through the security area. What are you doing? Just before I got on the plane when I went to New York to be there on 9/11, I was getting on, and you know how they check you the secondary check before you go on the plane? ``Oh, you have some chapstick here. You can't have this.'' ``I am sorry. Take it, please.'' Meanwhile, looking out the window, I am looking at the containers going into the back of the plane going into Washington, D.C. I couldn't help but notice that. What else are we calling for? We want to provide first responders with the training, equipment and technology they need, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, what they asked for, what the 9/11 Commission asked for, what Members of Congress asked for. But, still, bills to implement this are not able to make it to the floor because it is pushed back by the Republican majority. Let's talk about what Democrats have done to lead on border security. The 9/11 Act called for 2000 new Border Patrol agents. I talked in the last hour about how we would add some 6,000-odd border protection officers in the amendments and attempts we made to try to increase that. We this year in 2006 called for 2,000 more Border Patrol officers, yet the President's budget only called for 210 new officers. It goes back to what you were saying, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. The Republican majority is big on the talk, in the stump speech and having the press conference with security, homeland security, all this kind of stuff. But when it comes down to the printed word, when it comes down to the budget that is handed out from the White House and when it comes down to what this Republican majority does, it is 2,000, from what the 911 commission called for, and what we called for as House Democrats, versus the President's proposal, and you can look it up on line, that only asks for 210 agents. Democrats fought for the funding on almost five different occasions. Again for the record, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, H.R. 1268, a motion to recommit, and 2,000, vote number 160, and that happened on 5/5/05. Also you look at House bill 2360 was blocked, it was an Obey amendment, vote number 174. That was on 5/17/05. It failed, 223 to 185 on a partisan vote. H.R. 1817, a motion to recommit, 2005, again vote number 188, again failed on partisan lines. You start talking about on border security and closing the gaps. On nine separate occasions over the last 5 years, Democrats put forth motions here on this floor, because that is the only thing we can do. Being in the minority, we are not able to bring the bills to the floor, because the majority is blocking those bills from getting out of committee. And they are noted right here, and I am not going to go through that at this particular time, but all of this is on line, HouseDemocrats.gov, if anyone wants to go on and get this information. Also when you start talking about aviation security, Democrats offered a motion to require air cargo to be screened within 3 years. The motion was rejected by Republicans, again 2005, vote number 188, 5/ 18/05. Democrats have spoken repeatedly on the issue of transit security, making sure that we authorize including a $2.8 billion initiative to improve transit security and a $1 billion initiative to improve rail security. Substitute amendment defeated again. So when you start look looking at the Record and what the Record says versus what is said here on the floor by the Republican majority and the rubber stamp majority, I wish the rubber stamp Republican majority would stop fighting us and start saying to the President, guess what, we no longer want to rubber stamp everything that you send here. I just wish the Republican majority would just leader up and say hey, Mr. President. So you start reading the paper, could someone get me a newspaper, please, because I want to just have it as a prop, because as Americans start reading the paper, they are reading about how Republican Members of the House and the Senate, the President flies into town, they get on the plane and leave town. Some even get in their car and go. ``I was on the other side of my district.'' Well, let me tell you something, if the President of the United States is in my district, I think I would know. I think it would be some sort of news flash or some sort of e-mail that would come to me and say, you know, the President is coming in your district today, will be in an elementary school. Maybe you want to be there. He is the leader of the free world. Maybe you want to be there. The reason why they are taking flights while the President is coming in the reason why they are finding something else to do while the President is in their town is the fact that they don't want to be caught in the same situation with the President of the United States because they have not stood up to the President and said no, you can't put us in a financial situation as far as the eye can see as it relates to deficits and foreign countries running the world. You can't pick up the paper today not talking about a Republican running from the President of the United States and don't want to be around when the President is around, or explaining why they are not there. That is some excuse. I hope I never get to the situation where I have the President of the United States coming into my district and I have to explain that I am somewhere else while the President is there. And the bottom line is this: People cannot face the music when it comes down to dealing with the policies of this administration, and better yet, you being in the position, there is only 535 of us, being in the position, as I come in for a landing, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, to be able to bring about change on behalf of the American people; to say this is not going to happen; to say I know you want to start a war in Iraq, but we still got this business over here with al Qaeda, who had everything to do with 9/11, who trained the individuals that carried out the 9/11 plot. But, meanwhile, while we are over there looking for Osama bin Laden, and we have him cornered, I got this unfinished business, the President said, over here in Iraq, because I got a problem with this leader over here. We got to take him out. But what about the after player? What is going to happen once you get to Baghdad? How are you going to bring stability? Who is going to be in the coalition? Calling up a couple of friends? I'll send 25 troops. I'll send 30 troops. You are not allowed to talk about it. Everything is secret. We have the then sitting Attorney General comes to the U.S. Congress over on the Senate side and tells the Senate, you are either with us or you are with the terrorists. What kind of mess is that? So when it comes down to Article I, Section 1, and if the American people want the kind of representation they need, I am not talking as a Democrat, even though we were given an hour by the Democratic leader and we are all members of the Democratic Caucus. This is America. I guarantee you if the shoe was on the other foot, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, I cannot help but imagine the kind of chaos and protest and finger pointing and them and they and all of the things that will be said. Some of the stuff will have to be stricken from the Record because the Republican side will be carrying on about the Democrats. But they cannot say it. They can't do it. They cannot even kind of paint a picture because they have been in charge of the whole thing since it started. So if the American people want a new direction, if the American people want accountability, if the American people want a House and a Senate that will carry out article I, section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, and a lot of blood is on this constitution, but if they want that, then they will vote for a new direction in November. I am done, ladies and gentlemen, with begging the Republican majority to stand up on behalf of the American people because I am looking at what the oil companies are getting. They are getting theirs. I am looking at what these contractors are getting, either it be Katrina or the war in Iraq. They are getting theirs. I am looking at the issue of health care and all of the people that are running to the bank with all of the dollars and all of the influence and all of the access into this Congress. They are getting theirs. Meanwhile we are sitting around here talking about the minimum wage and we can't even get a doggone bill passed off this floor to be able to provide the American people with a minimum wage. Meanwhile we are giving ourselves a nice fat pay raise every year, $4,100 here, $3,100 there. Oh, we have the money for that. But we don't have the money for the people who are punching in and punching out every day. Madam Speaker, this has to come to an end and that is the reason why, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, that I believe there is a wind of change. It may not be outside the hall of this Chamber, but it is out there in America. It is in towns and it is in big cities and it is in emerging areas and it is in young people and older people that have decided in the past I am not going to participate, but I believe they are going to participate to save this country.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. But we left, and now we have commanders on the ground in Afghanistan saying, we are losing ground now. We need help now. But guess what, Madam Speaker? War number two, that has nothing to do with the war on terror but now has become a war on terror, or we are trying to connect it, and the President spent almost more time trying to connect the reason why we went into Iran with 9/11. And that is not the case, and I think everybody knows it. The Taliban wasn't in Iraq. They weren't there, Madam Speaker. They have operatives there now as it relates to al-Qaeda. That is after we invaded.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I just want to say it is outstanding what you pointed out, but I really do like what the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs do in my local area. I just want you to know that. We have a very strong Rotary in my area, Opelika Rotary, doing a very outstanding job.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. And they are going back and training. I am going to yield to you, Mr. Delahunt, but I know it is hard because this stuff is so much in the face of the American people, but we want to make sure that we break it down. But let me just make one more point, please. Let me just try to get this out and then I will happily yield, Mr. Delahunt. The fact that we have two wars going on, and the Democratic leader of the Armed Services Committee that Mr. Ryan and I serve on, Mr. Ike Skelton, he came to the floor, and I have his statement right here. It was a 5-minute speech he gave last week, and I heard him give this speech last week on the two wars. Right here on this floor, Mr. Delahunt, we were standing right over there, I said, Mr. Skelton, can I have a copy of what you shared with the American people and the Members of this House? He gave it to me. These are the three pages right here. Talks about the two wars, Madam Speaker. It talks about a war on terrorism, which we had Osama bin Laden pinned down, and then we went into this other war in Iraq that took troops away from Afghanistan, that stretched U.S. forces to the point to where they are now. It is kind of hard to keep up with the whole recruiting issue. We are almost giving away a Chevy truck for people to join the military right now. And it is very unfortunate because the U.S. taxpayers are being drained. Now, when I said that it comes down to the failure, I am talking about the failure of the oversight and governance on this side of the ball, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Ryan, and Ms. Wasserman Schultz. We must do a better job. Now, how do we do that job? Mr. Ryan speaks all the time about article one, section one of the U.S. Constitution. It is right here. It says the Congress, not the executive branch, has legislative powers. That means the House and the Senate. We oversee legislation. But that is not happening right now, and so that is the reason why we have the breakdown in government that we have right now, Madam Speaker. This is very simple. We, the Democrats, are willing to put America in a new direction. Now, let us just talk about this new direction for a minute. It is not rocket science. It is just doing what the Constitution says. It is doing what the American people federalized us to do, is to represent them and not to be a rubber stamp for the White House. We have borrowed more money than we have ever borrowed from foreign nations in the history of this country: $1.05 trillion in 4 years versus $1.10 trillion in 224 years. That is where it has gotten us. Oil companies, record-breaking profits as far as the eye can see. The next numbers are going to come in even higher. There was a meeting in the White House in 2002, and look at how the profits have just taken off in the billions for U.S. oil companies. That's a lack of oversight by the Congress allowing the White House to have their way and to make sure that oil companies get what they want. Here are the countries that own a part, a big part of the American apple pie. Japan comes in at a whopping $682.8 billion, along with other countries. This is what happens when Article I, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution is not adhered to. This is not Republican and majority stuff. This is not anything when it comes down to Democrats versus Republicans. This comes down to if you are willing to suit up and put on a tie or a St. John's and you come onto the floor and represent the American people. He is all of our President. Goodness gracious, I am an American. President Bush is my President, period, dot. The election is over. This is not about an election; this is about governance, and it is not happening right now. One thing that this Republican Congress does well, that is giving themselves pay raises. That is something that they do well. In 1998, a $3,100 pay raise; zero to the American people as it relates to the minimum wage. It goes on and on all of the way to 2006. We have said on the Democratic side it is not going to happen because we are going to stand up on behalf of the American people. Yes, there was a bill on the floor and we have talked about increasing the minimum wage. There is a lot of trickery in the bill, and it is not going to pass Congress, and it is not going to the President's desk. I just want to say, I started with Article I, Section 1, which Mr. Ryan talks about all of the time. It has nothing to do with being Democrat or Republican. It comes down to if you are willing to be in the majority and say we are willing to legislate on behalf of the American people. I have gone through a litany of things that have gone wrong because we haven't had balance in the three branches of government working in the way that they should. If you are an Independent or Republican or a Democrat or a Green Party or a young person, 17\1/2\ or going to be 18 by election day or whatever the case may be this November, you have to be concerned about the direction that the country is going into. We are saying on our side of the ball, the Democratic side of the ball, that we have the will and the desire to lead in the direction that we need to be led. We won't let people down, and we won't let it go out so far that it becomes too late.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. They are training there and becoming stronger.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to come before the House once again. As you know, the 30-something Working Group works very hard in making sure that we bring issues that are not only facing the American people on the positive and negative end, but we make sure we encourage the Members of the House to do the right thing. I must say, Madam Speaker, that Mr. Delahunt had a birthday the last time we were on the floor, a little over a month ago, and I just had a birthday. I am going to be a part of the something side of the 30- something group, and I am excited about that. Ms. Wasserman Schultz will be joining the something side pretty soon, and Mr. Ryan will be the true blue 30. Let me just say that a lot has happened, Mr. Delahunt, and I am glad that the Democratic leader, Ms. Pelosi, allowed us to have this hour tonight, and also working with Mr. Hoyer, our Democratic whip, and Mr. James Clyburn, our chairman, and Mr. John Larson, the vice chair of our caucus, to come to the floor not only on behalf of Democrats but also on behalf of the American people. I think it is very, very important in this time, the day after 9/11, 5 years later. Mr. Delahunt, I had the opportunity to go over to New York City. I flew in on the 10th to be there on 9/11. Of course, I wasn't there 5 years ago, but I wanted to be there on the fifth anniversary, and I can tell you that going there and seeing the ceremony, having an opportunity to see the reflection pool where those families were placing their flowers and notes and what have you there, and seeing, as I was going through Manhattan, that at, I believe, 8:46 and a little after 9 a.m. the firefighters standing in front of their fire stations at attention at the time that tower one and tower two went down, and just talking to some of the New Yorkers that were there at that time, great Americans that were there 5 years ago, and listening to their reflecting on what they were doing at the time the towers went down, it takes me back to when it actually took place, Madam Speaker. At that time, Madam Speaker, this country was in a position to lead the world in the right direction as it relates to the effort against terrorism, when we had the opportunity to ask Americans to do things that they wouldn't ordinarily do but would understand that in coming together as a country just days after that it was a time of unity. It was a time of bipartisanship. And I know on the steps yesterday that Members came together. I was in New York, Mr. Delahunt, and I don't know if you had an opportunity to join in the bipartisan effort here, the singing of God Bless America, and just all coming together, but I couldn't help, as a policymaker, Mr. Delahunt, thinking about, as I was asked yesterday by the media what I thought and how I felt. I said, I want it to reflect on the memory of those who lost their lives, those who are survivors of 9/11, whether it be the Pentagon, or Pennsylvania, or New York City, how they feel about the loss of their husband, wife, father, uncle, grandfather, grandmother, or friend. It really wasn't a day for politics. It was a day to reflect on the memory of those individuals. Now, we are here, the day after, but even the day before, and the year before, and 2 years before the fifth anniversary, 3 years before the fifth anniversary we had a 9/11 Commission that was convened, that Democrats on this floor and over in the Senate pushed for, and some Republicans. Not the Republican leadership, because they didn't feel we needed it at that time. And also the surviving family members, Mr. Delahunt. And you were here.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. If I can, Mr. Delahunt, I am on the Homeland Security Committee, as you know, Oversight Integration Management Subcommittee, which I am serving as the ranking member on, and I am also on the Armed Services Committee. And I wonder, these two national security committees, as I was speaking to some of the family members, and I was speaking to New Yorkers yesterday, as we read the stories and watched television about what actually happened 5 years ago, what has happened since? We owe it to Americans to be able to carry out the security plan that was laid out by the 9/11 Commission. The 9/11 Commission received the respect of all Americans on a bipartisan basis. If you are a Republican, you have to agree with the 9/11 Commission report. If you are a Democrat, you have to agree. If you are an Independent, if you are an American, you have to agree with the 9/11 Commission report. But here in Washington, I don't believe we have, and when I say ``we,'' I am not talking about the Democrats in this House because we are solid on this issue. I am talking about the Republican majority. I don't believe the will and the desire is there to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Here is the bottom line: the 9/11 Commission put forth Ds and Fs for homeland security for this administration and the Republican Congress. If Democratic amendments were adopted, there would be 6,600 more Border Patrol agents. Americans are concerned about protecting our borders. There would be 4,000 more detention beds, 270 more immigration enforcement agents along the borders that would exist today, not in fiction or theory, today, if Democratic amendments were adopted. Only 6 percent of the containers right now, and nuclear weapons can be in these containers in a port. Some may say that is a coastal issue where we have seaports. No, those containers are loaded onto trucks and trains and moved into the heartland of America. They could go off. This is something that has been identified by the 9/11 Commission. If Democrats had the opportunity to be able to have an amendment on the floor or a bill on the floor or a bill in committee, that would pass by majority, and when I say majority, the Republican majority would allow to pass, America would be safer now because we are calling for full implementation of 9/11 Commission recommendations, 100 percent container screening prior to the containers going across and throughout America. I think it is very, very important to let it be known that we owe that to the first responders. We owe that to Americans to protect them. We don't need to wait until a container blows up in a major port to say we should have full screening. If other countries can do it, we can do it with the right will and desire. I was here earlier and heard majority Members talking about we are for security, we are for tracking down Osama bin Laden. We are for going after the terrorists. Well, the majority has been in the majority for 12 years. Now all of a sudden the majority has religion saying we are going to track down these terrorists. The Democrats can't do it, but we can do it. If somebody had a job in your office, Mr. Delahunt, and they said I know you want me to respond to your constituents. I haven't been able to respond to them in the way you want me to. I know you want me to get 10 letters out in a day, but I have only got one letter out over a day the last 12 years. But if you let me stay in your office 2 more years, I guarantee you I will get those 10 letters out. Now, anyone who is a manager and knows that folks have to be served knows you can't live with that. As a matter of fact, a staffer would never have made it to 12 years in your office if they only put out one constituent response a day. They would have to perform. Well, what the Republican majority is doing is coming to the floor and saying we can do this. The Democrats can't do it. As a matter of fact, double digits year ago, here is an instance where the Democrats didn't do it. We are ready to do it. Mr. Delahunt, as I yield to you, I am saying it is almost laughable. If it was not national security, it would be laughable. I am hoping that the American people, and I hope that the members of the majority caucus don't go to bed thinking that because they were not able to get it right for the last 12 years that year 13 and 14 they are going to get it right. We can't afford to wait. That is the reason why the American people poll after poll after poll are saying we are willing to allow the Democrats to lead this Congress. Madam Speaker, you are going to hear many Members on the majority side that are going to come here and make statements that they know are not true. They are going to try to find something in 1980 where there was some fumble in government and say see what the Democrats did in 1950-something. They cannot say in the 1990s because they were in control. They can't say in 2000 because they have been in control. They can't say any of those things because all of these fumbles and follies and mistakes occurred on their watch with a lack of oversight. I am glad we are here to set the record straight.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Yes, I do, Mr. Delahunt.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. If we can focus on this picture here, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, you raised a very good question, because when Mr. Ryan and I went to Iraq, we went through the whole Saddam Hussein parade area where they have the podium, usually he would have the gun, and the troops would be marching which, and they will be, you know, whatever, little missile that they may have, will parade on along. But as you go into that parade route, the helmets of Iranian soldiers that were killed by Iraqi soldiers, are embedded into the ground of that parade route so that they can step on the helmets, which, in the Middle East, is disrespect when you take the bottom of your shoe, and, you know, like, slap it or hit a picture or image of someone. That's the kind of hatred that these two countries have for one another. Let me also say, which is also important, that Iraq and Iran, it is interesting that Iran, a lot of the insurgents, are coming across from Iraq and Syria and other countries into Iraq. That has never happened before prior to the U.S. invasion. There are a number of other things that are false, but I would go back even further. I am no longer, as a Member of Congress, concerned about what happens in the White House as it relates to the President's decisions. I am concerned, as what is not happening here in this Chamber, and what is not happening in the other Chamber, as it relates to the oversight in the war on Iraq. I am very concerned about that because in our Constitution, could someone just bring the Constitution in. I want to hold it up for a moment so we are reminded it is not just a rough draft, it is something that people died for and defended in this country the Constitution calls for three plans of government. When someone tramples a U.S. code or Constitution, it is the Supreme Court that is supposed to stand up on their behalf. When we have a White House that is willing to do anything they have, and you have a rubber stamp Congress, I missed my rubber stamp during the break, a rubber stamp Congress that is rubber stamping everything this administration does, that is what you get. You get those kinds of pictures, you get Members of the majority side coming to the floor saying things they know are not true, with all due respect. I don't mean to say this. The American people know the facts are here, they pick up the paper, they watch the news. I just wanted to say that conflict that you pointed out saying how did this happen. I mean, that is worse than a family feud. This goes back for years and years and years. Now, I have my Constitution here. The bottom line is, we need to follow this. People need to vote for the Constitution. You need to vote for what we said we wanted in this country, what we stand for and people have died for. We need to make sure that we bring balance back.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. The President of Iran.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to one of Miami's great spiritual and and community leaders, Bishop Victor T. Curry. I am joined in honoring Bishop Curry by my colleagues: James R. Langevin of Rhode Island, Ed Case of Hawaii, Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, Diane E. Watson of California, William Lacy Clay of Missouri, Artur Davis of Alabama, Tim Ryan of Ohio, John Barrow of Georgia, Adam Smith of Washington, Mike Thompson of California, Fortney H. ``Pete'' Stark of California, Joseph Crowley of New York, Mike Ross of Arkansas, Stephen F. Lynch of Massachusetts, Charles Gonzalez of New York, Stephanie Herseth of South Dakota, John Lewis of Georgia, Charlie Melancon of Louisiana, Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee, G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, David Scott of Georgia, Frank Pallone, Jr. of New Jersey, Albert R. Wynn of Maryland, Shelley Berkley of Nevada, Linda T. Sanchez of California, Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio, Rush Holt of New Jersey, David Wu of Oregon, Betty McCollum of Minnesota, Tim Bishop of New York, Bobby Scott of Virginia, Jim Matheson of Utah, Dave Reichert of Washington, John S. Tanner of Tennessee, F. Allen Boyd, Jr. of Florida, Loretta Sanchez of California, Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, John M. Spratt of South Carolina, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Harold Ford, Jr. of Tennessee, Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania, Gwen S. Moore of Wisconsin, Leonard L. Boswell of Iowa, Raul M. Grijalva of Arizona, Donna M. Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Al Green of Texas, Michael Capuano of Massachusetts, John T. Salazar of Colorado, Bob Etheridge of North Carolina, Julia Carson of Indiana, Jim Cooper of Tennessee, Carolyn C. Kilpatrick of Michigan, C.A. ``Dutch'' Ruppersberger of Maryland, Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, Gregory W. Meeks of New York, Michael M. Honda of California, Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, Dale E. Kildee of Michigan, William J. Jefferson of Louisiana, James Clyburn of South Carolina, Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, Ike Skelton of Missouri, Jose Serrano of New York, Edolphus Towns of New York, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Melvin L. Watt of North Carolina, Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Chet Edwards of Texas, Sander M. Levin of Michigan, Marion Berry of Arkansas, Nick J. Rahall of West Virginia, Major R. Owens of New York, Gene Taylor of Mississippi, John D. Dingell of Michigan, Carolyn Maloney of New York, Gene Green of Texas, Maxine Waters of California, Bart Stupak of Michigan, Alcee L. Hastings of Florida, Luis V. Gutierrez of Illinois, Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Illinois, John Conyers, Jr. of Michigan, Sanford Bishop, Jr. of Georgia, Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, Silvestre Reyes of Texas, Sheila Jackson- Lee of Texas, Corrine Brown of Florida, William Delahunt of Massachusetts, Ruben Hinojosa of Texas, Bill Pascrell, Jr. of New Jersey, and Solomon P. Ortiz of Texas. On May 21st, Bishop Curry celebrated his 15th pastoral anniversary, and I want to echo the same sentiments of joy and gratitude that the 15,000 members of the New Birth Baptist Church in Miami on this happy occasion. Bishop Curry's ministerial journey truly represents the best and the noblest of our community. As bishop, senior pastor, and teacher of New Birth Baptist Church, he is leading his congregation and has tirelessly worked to enlighten our community on the path to spiritual wisdom, social responsibility and good government. I want to acknowledge the tremendous work he is doing in guiding not only the members of New Birth Baptist Church, but also the entire family of the ``The Cathedral of Faith International.'' His motto--``From Vision to Victory''--has impacted the lives of countless people, as Bishop Curry has carried forth his message of hope in person, in newspapers, on television, and on radio. He has demonstrated, both by word and by example, his unconditional love for and commitment to our children, the elderly, the poor, the disenfranchised, and those less fortunate among us. I therefore join with my colleagues, the congregation of the New Birth Baptist Church and our entire community in honoring Bishop Curry on his 15th pastoral anniversary and in wishing him many more in the years to come.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. It was good coming back to the floor with you. As you know, in the 30-something Working Group, we not only come to the floor but we meet every week. We have staff evaluate things for factual purposes, and I am glad that we are coming to level with the American people about what is going on. Mr. Speaker, before closing out, we would like to honor Tim Frieman, who has worked here in the Democratic cloakroom for 30 years. We appreciate his contributions and all that he has done. We had a great reception, Members, bipartisan, went down here in the Capitol and honored him. We appreciate him and his family for their contributions

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I just want to make a point here, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. This is to the Members, to place on their conscience what the American people may very well think Let's say I am a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, and I am a voter, and I am paying more for gas. There is a war going on that my leaders are telling me we are going to stay the course, but no plan, and energy independence and innovation is not a priority. If we were in the majority, let's just say for instance that we are in the majority and this is not happening. Let's say I am a veteran, and I have to wait in rural America for the clinic that is only open 3 days a month, then I have to think about the principle over politics. Maybe I am going to vote for the other person this time because my family is suffering. Maybe my kids are not getting what they need as it relates to education. Maybe that is not in line with the principle of what we are talking about here. So I think it is important, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, as you point this out, that Members of Congress and the American people will have to think this time. I told you I have given up on the Republican majority. They have had all the time in the world to do what they have to do. Look at what we are paying on the debt because of the irresponsible spending of the Republican majority and giving tax cuts to billionaires and millionaires. Look at the debt we are paying because we have borrowed all that debt from foreign countries. Look what we are doing on education. Look how far down it is for every teacher, for every mother or grandmother or grandfather, what have you, who wants to see their generation of children and grandchildren have a better opportunity than what they have had. Look at what the Federal Government is investing in their education. Look at what is happening in homeland security. Republican Members of Congress on the majority side can burn all kind of jet fuel, at taxpayers' expense, flying down to the border talking about how we are going to get tough on immigration. But look at what they are doing for homeland security and look at veterans. Hello! We are saluting one flag, and I talked about this earlier, those that have made the ultimate sacrifice, those that are away from their families. Look at what the Republican majority is investing in their future and what they have promised in terms of providing health care and other benefits. Look at what they are investing versus what we are paying on the debt. So just because, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, as I yield back to you before we close, just because they say it doesn't necessarily mean it is true.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I think what is important here, at least when I go to speak to the American people, and even in my own district, and as you know we travel. We defeated the privatization of Social Security, to allow individuals on Wall Street that were looking forward to receiving over $500 billion under the President's plan to privatize Social Security. We had over 500 town hall meetings throughout this country. You had town hall meetings in your district.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. A thousand. Okay. I am glad you corrected me, because we want to make sure we give facts, not fiction. I think it is important, Mr. Speaker, that we make an important note here, and I am asking the Members and the American people, Mr. Speaker, to vote principle over politics. You have to vote principle over politics.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, I talk to my constituents, and I talk to the American people that are walking through the halls of Congress. You know, this is the summertime, Mr. Speaker, and, as you know, we have a number of visitors that visit the Capitol of the United States here. We wear these congressional pins. And last night when we left at 12 midnight there were Girl Scouts out front.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. You are a Brownie Troop leader, or a Girl Scout leader.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I will definitely yield, Ms. Wasserman Schultz.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I used to be a Boy Scout Troop leader in Scott Homes some years back in Miami. But those little girls were at the foot of the steps taking pictures of the front of this Capitol of the United States, the Capitol of our great country. And, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, I have children, you have children, but this is really not about our children, because they are going to be okay, Mr. Speaker. Ms. Wasserman Schultz's children have names that end with Wasserman Schultz. They will get into the schools they need to get into. They will get the access they need for education. Doors will open for them that would not open for other children in our districts. My children's last names end with Meek, and they will be treated differently than other children, need it be Johnson or Hermanowski, or what have you. They will be treated differently than them. So this is not about our children. This is about the folks that elected us to come here to this U.S. House of Representatives to represent them. This is about making sure that they have a fair chance at life, just like our children. Members of Congress, a number of them in the House and Senate, our children are going to be okay. They are going to be okay because their last names end with the names of Members of Congress. But what about those individuals that woke up early one Tuesday morning to vote for representation? What about those individuals that walk in here as employees into this Capitol, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, to serve the American people? Will they get the same access that we have? Will they have the same access that Members of Congress have as it relates to health care? Will someone open the doors for them? I will answer that question. No. And I am not saying every person should be treated the same as Members of Congress. But the way things are going now, if you are a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, and you are thinking of voting in the next election, you have to be concerned. Mr. Speaker, there are prominent Republicans that are referring to their colleagues as ``they.'' The former Speaker of this House is referring to his Republican colleagues in Congress as ``they,'' because he doesn't want to be associated with them. I will tell you why, Mr. Speaker. And I am going to break out this chart again. And you know something, I can break this chart out every 5 minutes of the day, every 5 minutes of the day, because it is so revealing and it takes it home as to exactly what we are talking about. This is why I am here a few minutes before midnight. That is the reason why I think it is important we continue to share with the American people what is going on, and with Members of Congress. I have my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle that say, Congressman, that little red, white, and blue chart you break out every day, aren't you tired of it? And my answer is, no. It is the hard reality of what is going on in the republic, as we stand now as a country. We have other countries that are looking at us in a different way. And, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, everyone looks at the United States of America, and just because the Republican majority says that everything is fine doesn't necessarily mean that it is. Because here are the hard facts. The hard facts are these, Mr. Speaker. President Bush and the Republican majority has borrowed $1.05 trillion, $1.05 trillion, from foreign nations. Historic. And my next chart tells you who we are borrowing it from, and they are owning a part of the American apple pie not because they had to pay $56 to fill up their F-10 pickup truck, not because of their indiscretions, but because of the indiscretions of the Republican majority. We have 224 years of history in this country, with 42 presidents before this President, and they were only able to borrow $1.01 trillion. Those are the facts. That is from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It is not the Kendrick Meek report or the Debbie Wasserman Schultz report or the 30-something report because we think it works towards our position and not leveling with the American people. I can tell you without looking at this chart, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you exactly what is on it because I have read it so many times to so many groups and here on this floor. Who are we borrowing it from? Who is owning a piece of the American apple pie? Japan, at $682 billion; China, at $249.8 billion; the U.K., at $223.2 billion; the Caribbean, at $115.3 billion; Taiwan, at $71.3 billion; and the OPEC nations, that I can go on and talk about these countries that we have issues with, Iran, Syria, oil-producing Middle Eastern countries that we are borrowing money from that we have issues with. They own a piece of the American pie at $67.8 billion; Germany, $65.7 billion; Korea, $66.5 billion; Canada, $53.8 billion. These are the countries that are buying our debt. And it is not because of what the American people have done but what the Republican majority has allowed to happen. They have rubber-stamped everything the President of the United States has sent to this floor. And that is not what article one, section one of the U.S. Constitution calls for. We use the Constitution as guiding principles on behalf of this country. I am not here on behalf of the House Democrats. I am here on behalf of the American people, and Ms. Wasserman Schultz is here on behalf of the American people. There is a reason why prominent Republicans are saying that they are totally lost at what the Republican majority has done, Mr. Speaker, and that is that fact that that the American spirit will rise up out of partisan politics.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to address the House tonight. The 30-Something Working Group is always prepared to come to the floor not only to share with the Members but the American people about some of the issues that we would love for the entire Congress to work on, Mr. Speaker, if we worked in a bipartisan way. My friends on the other side of the aisle who just finished talking about Iraq, the beautiful thing about our democracy is that we have the opportunity to voice our opinion in the way we see it. I think it is also important for us to realize what the reality is not only here in America but in Iraq and the Middle East and what is going on right here in the Midwest, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, or what is not going on as it relates to investing in the Midwest, making sure that we invest in America, using coal for energy, innovation, and also making sure that we can work with our farmers here in the United States so we don't have to depend on Middle East oil and we don't have to send our men and women into harm's way to make sure that we are able to put gas in our tanks here in the United States. As you know, in our innovation agenda and also energizing America agenda, in our new direction for America, here in this side of the aisle we are for investing in the United States, we are for making sure that we can cut our dependency on Middle East oil so that we don't find ourselves in the middle of these conflicts that we are in right now. As you know, we have been talking for several weeks about our new direction for America. I am glad Ms. Wasserman Schultz is here again tonight, as she always is, and it is great. It is like old times. We have been working together for I know 12 years since I have been elected. You have been an elected official for 14 years. I met you when I came into the Florida House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Wasserman Schultz was the chair of the Education Committee when I showed up in Florida legislature, and I know that she is going to have a bright future here in the House of Representatives. But I can tell you what the good news is. It is that we have the will and the desire on this side of the aisle to stand up on behalf of the American people, making sure we raise the minimum wage for working families and those that go to work every day, punch in and punch out, know what it means to have a 15-minute break in the morning and a 15- minute break in the evening. For those individuals that are working the midnight shift, we are with those families. We want to make sure that they are making a livable wage, and when we raise the minimum wage, that means that those individuals that are making over the minimum wage, those that are making $8 or $9 or $10 an hour, those individuals in big corporate America are going to have to look at what they are paying them, Mr. Speaker, if we raise the minimum wage. That is not what is going to happen, and I think as long as the Republican majority is in place that is not going to happen. If I can, before I yield to my good friend and colleague and a true good friend, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, our districts are right next to each other in the State of Florida, we work together, like I said, Mr. Speaker, for a period of years, of giving the American people what we have received. What we received on this floor and what we call, well, we the opportunity to give ourselves raises. We do not have to petition the Congress to receive a raise. The American people want a raise, those hourly workers that are out there. They want a raise, and hopefully, we can talk a little bit about that tonight and a number of issues they are facing. We are going to talk a little bit about Iraq and the realities of Iraq. Members can come to the floor, God bless them, and give their opinion or their view of what they think is going on in Iraq and in other parts of this world, but I think it is important for us to, just as simple as picking up the paper or watching the news or talking to our constituents, they are saying, Congressman, Congresswoman, my son is going off to war on his fourth or fifth deployment or my daughter is going to off to war on the fourth or fifth deployment and you are saying on the majority side, and from the White House, stay the course, stay the course. To do what? And where is the plan? But let me just get back to what I was saying about how we give ourselves raises here in this House. The Republican majority has made it abundantly clear that they do not have the will nor the desire to give the American people what they have given themselves, and the good thing, Mr. Speaker, about this side and the reason why I can speak truth to power and that I can come to this floor with a straight face and all of my colleagues, Republican, Democrats and one Independent we have in this House, I can boldly say here on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives that veterans have fought for us to salute one flag. Those individuals that are in Arlington Cemetery right now, that all we have is their memory and their commitment to this country, that if we have the audacity to give ourselves raises, Republican majority leading the effort to give raises to Members of Congress and vote ``no'' to allow individuals that are working for $5 and pennies every day, punching in and punching out, with all of the gas prices, all of the issues of the price of milk, the price of bread, the price of college tuition, we are able to do better for our kids and our families because the Republican majority said, hey, that is fine, we can give ourselves raises, but let not us give it to these others folks. Let me say this to those other folks, the American people. Since 1997 there has not been a Federal increase in the minimum wage. Here are the facts, and that is why we come to the floor, Mr. Speaker, to just give the facts to the Members. This is a Congressional Research Service report April 18, 2006. Any Member of Congress, Democrat, Republican, Independent, American, that is paying attention to what we are saying right now can go on housedemocrats.gov and get this information. 1998, Members of Congress received $3,100 in a raise; minimum wage workers, zero. 2000, Members of Congress, $4,600 raise that the Republican majority has given Members of Congress; minimum wage workers, zero. 2001, $3,800 for Members of Congress, pay increase, what we call cost of living, that is a nice way to dress it up; minimum wage workers, zero. Members of Congress in 2002, $4,900 increase, just got in 2001 remember a $3,800 raise, $4,900; minimum wage, zero. 2003, $4,700; minimum wage workers, zero. 2004, $3,400; minimum wage workers, zero. 2005, $4,000, Members just received a $3,400 raise; minimum wage workers, zero. 2006, $3,100 in the present year; minimum wage workers, zero. The Republican leadership has pretty much said over our you know what body we will not give minimum wage workers an increase. Meanwhile, here in the House, there are plans that are already drawn for Members of Congress in 2007, if the American people allow it to happen and not evaluate every Member of Congress, because even if you do not make the minimum wage, you have to have a conscience about, well, we have individuals that are out there. Gas prices have gone up. If you make $8, $12, even $18 an hour, you have to have a conscience about these individuals that have to pay the same price you have to pay for gas, have to pay the same price you have to pay for health care. If you are struggling, imagine what someone that is making $5 and pennies have to go through. So I think it is important and it is very pivotal that we are here at 11:37 eastern standard time after other Members of Congress have gone back to their homes, either resting with their families, in their office working, what have you, we are here on the floor carrying the water on behalf of the American people.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of our community's most outstanding and experienced church leaders, the Rev. G. Vincent Lewis, Executive Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. The members and supporters of the congregation celebrated the 30th Anniversary of his pastorate on Sunday, July 23, 2006, in a happy event held at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Carol City. Rev. Lewis represents the vocation of a Good Shepherd who attends to his flock in ways we can never fathom. As Executive Pastor and Chief Ministerial Officer, he exudes the knowledge and pragmatism of a man who is capable of making good things happen in the corporal world while also teaching the ways of God. He has tirelessly worked to enlighten our community on the agenda of spiritual wisdom and good governance impacting our duties and responsibilities to the less fortunate. Rev. Lewis' timely and persevering leadership at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Carol City is genuinely commendable. As a man of God and as a community leader, he has indeed earned our deepest respect and admiration. We congratulate Reverend Lewis and thank him for his many years of service in the Vineyard of the Lord. He continues to teach us to live by the noble ethic of loving God and by serving our fellow human beings, and our fervent hope is for his continued health and success as be begins his fourth decade of service.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I just want to make sure that just because they say it, Madam Speaker, the Republican majority does not necessarily mean that it is true. You have heard me say this before. The good thing about the 30-something Working Group is that we come to the floor and not with rhetoric, not with a Democratic message that is not factual. We do not do that. People are looking for straightforward government, making sure that we level with the American people, not level with Democrats, not level with Republicans and Independents, but level with the American people. The American people want us to work in a bipartisan way, but only the majority can allow that to happen. We have legislation that is moving through the process that Democratic Members are not even noticed of the conference committees that are going on, some of the decisions that are being made, and we have Republican majority Members that come here and say, well, the Democrats, how can they say it when they have been in control. Let me just say this real quick. I tell you they did not share in the hour before this hour, they did not share how the Republican majority has made history in all the wrong ways. On $1.05 trillion borrowed in 4 years, 2001 to 2005, from not only President Bush but the Republican majority that dethroned 42 Presidents, 224 years of history, $1.01 trillion. Mr. Ryan mentioned who we are borrowing from. Japan, $682.8 billion. The American people had nothing to do with that. Republican majority, rubber-stamp Congress, had everything to do with that. China, at $249.8 billion; UK, $223.2 billion; Caribbean, $115.3 billion; Taiwan and on and on and on. What they also did not say is how the Republican majority has given themselves a pay increase along with all Members of Congress, meanwhile, Madam Speaker, not addressing the minimum-wage workers in America since 1997. So I would not come to the floor with a straight face talking about the American people can handle their dollars that we give them or they can handle the dollars because they can handle it best. Well, guess what, I think that is a true statement because the bottom line is the Republican majority has shown that they cannot. Just real quick, I want to make sure that we spell this out. In 1998, Members of Congress, $3,100 raise; minimum-wage workers, zero; 2000, Members of Congress, $4,600 raise; minimum wage, zero; 2001, $3,800 increase, cost of living Members of Congress; minimum wage, zero; 2002, zero minimum wage; $4,900 real money increase for Members of Congress thanks to the Republican majority; 2003, $4,700; minimum-wage workers, zero; $3,400, 2004; minimum-wage workers, zero; 2005, $4,000; minimum-wage, zero; 2006, $3,100; minimum-wage workers, zero. And the Republican leadership has said it is just not going to happen. They did not want to share that with the American people. That is why the 30-something Working Group, why we do that. The good thing about this report is that we are saying on this side of the aisle we will not vote for an increase in Members' pay if we do not vote for an increase in the minimum wage. That will mean an increase in individuals that are making above the minimum wage because the American workers should be making more than the CEOs that are retiring with big-time retirement packages. I wish I had my chart here.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Delahunt, and I know you are all excited about your birthday that took place last week, and it is well noted not only amongst the Members but also in the Congressional Record. We notice that you are eligible for Medicare. We are excited about that. Hopefully, having you as Medicare recipient now, folks on Medicare will have a stronger voice in Congress because you can actually understand what they are going through. It has been 3 years and 2 months we have been doing 30-something. We are just so glad that we can have you as the something of the 30- something which I will be joining you in September.