Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, with great sadness, I come to the floor today to honor a great American by the name of Sally Smith who passed away just days ago. Sally Smith, during her time here amongst us, was a great American and left a footprint on this country in the area of education like no other in the past. Sally Smith ran and actually founded with her husband the Lab School of Washington. And for someone who has been not only involved in the Lab School, but has a daughter that attends the Lab School, I had an opportunity to learn more about Mrs. Sally Smith and what she did in the very early days at the Washington Lab School. Mrs. Smith and the faculty at the Lab School have done an excellent job in protecting and nurturing all of the young people with learning differences at the Lab School, here in Washington and in Baltimore. On Saturday, December 1, 2007, Mrs. Smith died at the age of 78. Born on May 7, 1929, Mrs. Smith was a native of New York City and one of four daughters born to Isaac and Bertha Liberman. She graduated in 1950 from Bennington College and earned a master's degree in education from New York University in 1955. In 1976, Mrs. Smith became a professor in the School of Education at American University, where she led the master's degree program specializing in learning disabilities. Tonight, I ask Members of Congress to join me in honoring her life and the gifts that she bestowed upon the world of education. Mrs. Smith's empathy, experience, and creative expression prompted her to create the internationally acclaimed Lab School in Washington, D.C. in 1967. The Lab School is one of the Nation's premier places for students with learning disabilities and an institution that uses arts as a central component to the school's education process. In fact, the Lab School students spend half of the day in highly specialized, individualized classrooms and offer the other half in the arts. Inspired by her pursuit to assure that her youngest son received a quality education, Mrs. Smith created a school designed to educate students diagnosed with one or more learning disabilities. Relying on her intuition and creativity, Mrs. Smith developed the ``academic method,'' which serves as the core of the Lab School's curriculum. The academic method is a nontraditional academic approach founded on the belief that a child's future to learn means that the teacher has not yet found a way to help him. Not only did her academic method lead to her youngest son's academic and professional success, but it has also left behind a gift that has enriched the lives of so many. Her great legacy will continue to live through the success of the current students and adults that attend the Lab School of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia. In addition, her excellence will live on through her literary works, many of which have earned her recognition. Mrs. Smith was well accomplished in academia and also accomplished in awards, advisory board appointments, and was even highlighted by NBC's Today Show. Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that the Members understand that there are many Americans, including myself and including many others, that have been honored by the Lab School of Washington. Those of us that have learning disabilities, auditory processing, dyslexia, what have you, Mrs. Smith gave young people the inspiration and adults the inspiration to pursue beyond their disabilities. Those have been honored by the Lab School because Sally was a part of lifting the hopes and the dreams not only of the students but the parents, people like Magic Johnson, James Earl Jones, and also Danny Glover and Charles Schwab have been honored by the Lab School. We will miss Mrs. Smith, but we know that her legacy and memory will continue.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, the poem below was written by poet and Capitol guide Albert Carey Caswell in honor of Sean Taylor, a Miami native and professional football player for the Washington Redskins. I rise with a heavy heart in mourning the tragic passing of Sean Taylor, a man with a bright future who left behind a loving family and scores of adoring football supporters and admirers. We pray for the Taylor family during this difficult and wrenching time. I hope these words provide some comfort to a grieving family. I humbly submit the following poem into the Record: Taylor Made God Is Good, God Is Great! All in his image, in what he has made . . . All in what he creates! To give to this world, in what we do . . . in how we act . . . in all we say, to leave behind to view! Into our lives as sent . . . Messages from our Lord, Taylor Made for all of us of what life is meant . . . To reach us, To teach us, To beseech us by people, who in our time with us is spent . . . Taylor Made . . . Beauty and The Beast! As was Sean Taylor, number ``21'' . . . was such a fine work of art to say the least! For Sean Taylor, was Born To Run . . . Upon, football fields of green . . . in Sunday suns . . . in The NFL, as was this his father's fine son! As what our Lord had so begun . . . A quiet and caring man, with but a calm and steady hand! Who high above all others, did stand . . . as to his teammates' hearts and souls, he ran! Who on fields of green, brought forth such roars throughout the stands . . . A Man of passion . . . Who to all hearts and souls, would so inspire . . . as he would fashion! A man of heart and soul, body and mind . . . all in his short lifetime, so portrayed in all his actions . . . Not a hole but left by him! But, perhaps a Void . . . that which may never so be filled again? For only such things in life, as left . . . by those hearts who bring such inspiration all in their short breaths! A humble, quiet caring man . . . Who in the spotlight, did not so wish to stand . . . a family man! Who upon fields of green, would turn into a machine . . . creating one of The NFL's greatest scenes! For all that which is Good and Great! For all that which our Lord so makes . . . By his hand, Taylor Made . . . he creates . . . Will not run, and Will not lie . . . with hearts of gold, will so rise! All in that moment of truth, of which now so lies . . . but for their loved ones, will so die! Only, The Good Die Young! Now, in Heaven Sean you run! As so too have you, Sean our fine son . . . now with all of those Angels, too among! As you are, but with all of those who have flown, Up To heaven . . . with our Lord, where you belong! And in the coming years, on Sunday mornings here . . . Whenever, we think of you Sean . . . we'll hear your voice beyond . . . all in our tears! Remembering how you lived life, remembering how your soul burned bright . . . as with you, we'll be near! And what God has Taylor Made! Hush . . . hush! Hush . . . Little baby, Don't You Cry! Because, one day up in heaven . . . once again, you will gaze into your fine father's eyes!

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored and I want to thank Members of Congress for allowing me to make this statement. This is concerning the death of a very dear friend of mine and a great American that has served our country, Marianne Russo. On November 12, 2007, Ms. Russo died at the age of 71 in her home in Elkdale House in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. Ms. Russo was born on May 7, 1936, in New Canaan, Connecticut. She graduated from Little Red Schoolhouse, New Canaan Country Day School, the Baldwin School and Mount Holyoke College. She earned a master's degree in history at Columbia University and a master's in linguistics at the University of Delaware. During the peak of the civil rights movement, Ms. Russo and her husband, the late Paul Anthony Russo, made a significant contribution to history by teaching at Lincoln University, a historically black institution. Ms. Russo's passion for teaching and writing prompted her to organize a local writers' group and participated in the Key West Literary Seminar, which created the Marianne Russo scholarship for inspiring writers. In addition to this achieving excellence as a teacher and a writer, Ms. Russo coordinated grass-roots efforts to elect progressive Democratic candidates to serve on local, State and Federal Government levels. In fact, she was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the OxGrove Democratic Committee. Today I ask Members of Congress to take time to honor Ms. Russo who is not only a patriot but a great American. Ms. Russo dedicated her life to serving others as a teacher and a published writer. As an accomplished author, teacher, political activist, and recipient of numerous awards and honors, Ms. Russo has truly left behind an excellent legacy. Her excellence will continue to shine through her four children and four grandchildren, all of the individuals she enriched in her classrooms, organizations and literary works. As a member of the Congressional District 17 in Miami, Florida, I have the honor to be the Congressman for her daughter, Monica Russo, President of SEIU Healthcare Florida, and also serves on the international board of SEIU. In addition, I have the opportunity and great honor and the blessed privilege to be the godfather for her granddaughter, Giovanna, who I love and appreciate, and I know that she will continue the family legacy. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we recognize Americans like Ms. Russo and her husband, Mr. Russo. They are in a better place now. And what they have left here in this country and here in the United States of America is a sense of pride, a sense of activism, and a sense of love. I would also like to state into the Record that a memorial and celebration in her honor celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at Penns Grove School Auditorium, 301 South Fifth Street, Oxford, Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I would like to furthermore say that many times Members come to the floor to share with the Members of Congress the great contributions of Americans that have moved on to a greater place, some on the battlefield in an area of war, some that were patriots here teaching and pushing Americans to take part in this democracy. I am very proud of Ms. Russo's accomplishments. I know that her spirit will continue to live in this country, and I know there are other Ms. Russos that are out there that are going to carry the spirit at the grassroots level. I say to the Russo family that is gathered at the family home to celebrate her life, celebrate her life as though she is still here, because she is. And she will live within you and live within me and live within other Americans that appreciate Americans like her. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great honor, before we go on this Thanksgiving break when we surround ourselves with family and friends, to let you know that sometimes we have to cry, sometimes we have to pray, and sometimes we even have joy. I ask during the holiday season, and especially for the Russo family, to live within the joy that you remember in your heart and your mind of her contributions to your family and to our country.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you so very much, Mr. Ryan, and I want to thank the Members and Mr. Altmire for hosting this hour and anchoring this hour for us. It is always good to see Ms. Wasserman Schultz. She has been busy. There are a lot of appropriations bills coming through the floor. And Mr. Murphy has so much to offer to this 30-something. Mr. Ryan, I appreciate the fact that you took us down Memory Lane, especially what this administration has done. Being one that pays attention to history and appreciates those that have contributed to this country, whether it be in battle or service in the military and those families that are waiting for their loved ones to come home, whether it be a son or a daughter or a sister or a brother or a mother, waiting, I think it is important for us to recognize right here in the moment, I can't help but think and reflect on the contributions of those Americans before me, the sacrifices that they have made that was just regular order that we call here in Congress, it was just another day. But these were heroes and sheroes that stood on behalf of this country and wanted to carry out the will of the American people. Sometimes we get caught up here in Washington about what we think. I think it's important to note that seven out of 10 Americans have a bad feeling about what is going on in Iraq, the direction that we are going in. This New Direction Congress has tried to steer this administration in the right direction, but I'm just going to put it on the lap of those that are in Congress. The President is not running again. I actually got up pretty early this morning and had a chance to go down to Morning Journal and have a chance to sit there and take calls from the American people. As you know, you get a cross section of Democrats, Republicans, independents, what have you. But I think it is very, very important for us to realize, four Republicans tonight voted in the affirmative on H.R. 4156, which is the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act of 2008. I think it is important that people note that in that bill, it put forth $50 billion under the $200 billion that the President called for. And the veto that you were talking about a little earlier as it relates to the health centers, as it relates to the research that has to take place dealing with the illness that many Americans are facing, family members that have cancer right now that need that research, need those dollars. The President vetoes those dollars. So I think it is important for the Members here on the floor and the Members that are listening to what we are saying here on the floor and the staff members that are listening and the Americans that are listening that we pay very close attention. Everyone has to be a part of this paradigm shift in Washington, DC. It just can't be the majority we have here in the House and the one majority we have in the Senate, because if we had 60 votes, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, we would be able to move the agenda that the American people call for. So my contribution tonight would be to, well, one, to our Republican friends on the other side of the aisle that don't allow us to have enough votes to be able to override the President, that the American people will hold them in judgment. To the Members in the Senate that feel that whatever the reason may be to not allow us to override the President, because the President is not running again, but you are, that the American people, independent, Republican, Democrat, first-time voter will let their voice be heard in 2008. That's the good thing about this whole thing, the fact that I know in this democracy that people are paying attention to what is going on. You cannot justify, ladies and gentlemen, when you look in the face of 10 million children that have to receive health care and say that, well, it's okay for the President to veto and for me to stand by the President and not by those children, it's okay for us to continue on in a war with no accountability, and then we have the Blackwater incident, and then we have other incidents that are there. So the only thing that I am excited about is the fact that the American people are paying attention. But if it was about politics, I would just sit in my office and allow the President to do what he does and a very small majority as it relates to Republicans standing by the President because I know one day the Americans will rise up and the American spirit will rise up and we will see a different America. That is what I am praying for and I am hoping for very soon. Mr. Ryan, I think you are 110 percent right. I think we need to remind the Members of the past. We need to make sure that we recognize those Members that were once Members of Congress but decided to follow the President, and the American people took them out of office, and as far as I am concerned, if you don't want to stand on behalf of those that sent us here, then you are making a career decision. The bottom line is we have men and women in harm's way right now.

Mr. MEEK

Mr. MEEK. Will the gentleman yield for a second? I know you're an appropriator and we are talking about appropriations. You and Mr. Murphy are kind of throwing around these big words tonight. Let it be known that some of us in the room just want to break it down a little bit here in this Chamber. I can't go back to my district and tell Ms. Johnson and Ms. Rodriguez or Ms. Jones who worked their entire lives that because the President decides to veto the Labor-Health bill, and I think it's important that we share this with the Members, we can't tell those individuals to suck it up. I am sorry that you weren't in the Defense bill. I am sorry that it had nothing to do with Iraq and Afghanistan, that we can't be for you. One thing I can say here in this House is that we are for them and that we are standing for those individuals, and they are Republicans and they are Independents and they are Democrats and they are nonvoters and individuals thinking about voting for the first time. They are the sick and shut-in on that sick and shut-in list when people go to wherever they worship, or whatever the case may be. They are the individuals counting on this Congress to stand for them. The Congress is doing what we are supposed to do, Mr. Altmire. But the bottom line is that the President has to do what he has to do, and he has to be the President of the United States of America, not just to secure the issue in Iraq. We have Americans here right now that need our support and our help. I am glad that we are here and I am glad that we are putting the pressure on the minority party to do the right thing on behalf of their constituents and the American people. Mr. Altmire.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Chairman, I want to thank you for allowing me to have 3 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of the rule, and I encourage all of the Members to do so. As a sitting 5-year member on the Armed Services Committee, having an opportunity to look not only over this bill but being a part of the voting for Defense bills or Defense appropriations bills in the past, I am proud of it. We have the responsibility here in Congress not only to make sure they have up-armor, bullets, what have you, meals, the things they need in the field, but we also have to make sure that their families are okay too. I asked for a couple of minutes because I couldn't help but witness the passion that the whip had when he came to the floor about making sure that military families have the same opportunities as those who are not in the military. I think it's important for us to realize, Members, that there are some individuals that are privileged, there are some people that have the opportunity to be with their sons and daughters, but we also have people who are in harm's way. In a time of war, we have to make sure that life doesn't stop for those families that are left behind. I just want to add, so that we start looking at this issue, not to make it a debate, because it was debated earlier today, but this bill is doing some of the great things as it relates to the MRAP vehicles we have in Iraq. I was just in Fallujah a couple of months ago. It was my third trip to Iraq. I am proud to see some of the work that is starting to take place there as it relates to the equipment getting to the men and women. But I can say that this issue of making sure that families have what they need when we have men and women in harm's way is not a new issue. I can tell you a former Member of the House, Mr. DeLay, had a $1 million FY03 Labor-HHS appropriations to the First Tee program, and these are for civilians. The program also received $2 million in FY04 Labor-HHS appropriations bill, and $1 million in the State-Justice appropriations bill. I think it's important that Members realize that when we look at these military families, they have to have the same kind of attention and appreciation that we give our men and women in harm's way. I have my son here on the floor with me today; he is out of school. As Members know, we play golf together. But, guess what? I am here to play golf with him. The First Tee program has instructors to be able to work with young people when their mothers or their fathers are not there to play that role. So let's make sure that we do the right thing. Madam Chairman, I want to thank you for bringing the rule to the floor. I want to thank those who are in support of the rule, but I think it's very, very important that I expect to vote in an affirmative for the rule, to make sure that we do for military families what we do for men and women in harm's way.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. In the House.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Ryan. Personally, I'm just kind of glad that the President's criticizing the Congress for doing what we should do. The American people voted for a new direction. We have the fruits of the new direction here in these very new Members of Congress as it relates to the majority makers giving us, empowering those of us that have been here, and they're bringing ideas to the table as it relates to moving in a new direction. If I was the President, I would try to, you know, shut off the light bill over here at the Capitol so that we can stop working so that we can stop uncovering half of what's going on. I mean, Mr. Ryan, you gave one, you have one of the best clips on YouTube saying this is the same administration, and he goes down the line because someone on the floor, I think, last year or the year before last criticized Democrats for questioning the President. And Mr. Ryan said, I'm sorry, but this is the same administration that told us that we had to go to war, weapons of mass destruction. This is the same administration that outed a CIA agent. I mean, this is proven stuff. This is not fiction. This is fact. And I always say, gentlemen and ladies, that when people look back on this period, they're going to see who was actually about the solution and who was actually validating what the administration has been doing. And I think that it's important for us to have this balance. And I think it's important for us because we, the four of us here on this floor right now, we're just like every other Joe and Sue out there. I mean, I was a skycap once upon a time and a State trooper. And you know, I carried luggage, ``Yes, sir,'' ``No, sir.'' I went out and patrolled the highways and byways in the State of Florida and offered myself to be a State Representative. I had a district office right there and went to Tallahassee and did what I had to do. Many of you, the same track as it relates to the State legislature or local elected officials, and we heard this. So now we're the same old Joe that left our local districts. Now we are in Congress, and we are going to ask the questions that the people that we represent will ask us. When I go home and I go to the grocery store, people ask me, What is going on? What do you mean? The President doesn't want it to happen. I said, it's not about the President's standing against children's health care insurance; it's about enough Republicans on the other side of the aisle that are standing with him, and that's what it's about. And so I think it's important, gentlemen, that we look at it from that standpoint. The President is not running for reelection, but there are Members of Congress that are running for reelection. And it should not be a secret that come next November on a Tuesday morning or before as it relates to early voting, absentee voting, people will be able to stand in judgment of the individuals that are validating what the President is saying. So it's really like which side of the ball are you on? Are you on the side of fiction or are you on the side of fact? The fact is about accomplishing things with the Democratic majority and some Republicans joining us in that effort, which I enjoy because we talk about bipartisanship and we are actually doing it, or those that are saying we have to stand in the way because we can't allow the American people to see a Congress that's functioning and questioning the executive branch.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you so very much, Mr. Altmire. I was very pleased to have had the first half of this hour to trick-or-treat with my kids. We had a great time. And my daughter was some very scary--I don't know what her, she couldn't quite explain to me what she was, but I asked what, I mean, What are you? She said, I'm your daughter. So that was like, okay, I won't ask any more questions. My son was a Secret Service Agent, so I was well protected. Let me just say, gentlemen, and I think it's important for the Members to pay very close attention to what we've shared with them, and I'm so glad that we are heading towards safer toys, safer food, safer medicine. Too many times in the news we hear about how loose we are with other countries being able to not have standards and quality control in place, and it ends up affecting everyday Americans, and it disrupts business. We have rumors about things being unsafe, and it's making Americans feel more uneasy about it. And Mr. Altmire, I'm not one to make a, you know, start fire alarms and carrying on and scaring people, but it is pretty scary, the fact that we do have, in some cases, as it relates to those that certify the toys that can come in and out the United States of America as relates to safety and setting requirements for children, it's just one person running that office. And we're the biggest democracy or one of the superpowers of the world, one of the biggest democracies. And I think it's important that we shed light on this. The people count on this Congress to govern. I think the reason why it hasn't happened to this point, of the cozy relationship that the previous Congress has had with the business community, even when those that are in the business community will fare far better if we were to have the kind of standards and controls as it relates to the importation of toys and food and medicine. I look forward to the debate. It's very unfortunate, and let me just say something, because I know Mr. Murphy said something a little earlier about, you know, now we're moving in this direction, we're hearing some push back from the administration. I'm not a black man with a conspiracy theory, but I will say that there's, I think there's a push out of the administration to see the Democratic Congress not be as successful and not heading in a new direction as the American people voted for. I think some politics has something to do with this. It's very unfortunate, especially when we're looking at this kind of legislation, Mr. Altmire and Mr. Ryan. I think it's important that everyone pay very close attention to the new direction agenda, that this card continues to get more and more on it as it relates to accomplishment. And, Mr. Speaker, it's a bipartisan accomplishment. That's the good thing about it. We have Republicans voting for Democratic bills. They would have voted for it all along if the Republican leadership allowed that legislation to come to the floor. So I think it's important, Members, that we continue to push on, that we continue to encourage our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in accomplishing what the American people wanted us to accomplish. Independent voters, Republican voters, Democratic voters, reform party, what have you, they're looking for results. They're not looking for back-and-forth on my idea is better than yours and nothing ever happens. So I'm just honored to be down on the floor with you Members here. Mr. Ryan, I'm honored always to be here with you, sir. I mean, a very important member of the Appropriations Committee, he had a couple of bills pass off the floor today. It's great.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I'm sorry. Will the gentleman yield real quick?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. You know, Mr. Ryan, again, I don't have a conspiracy theory, but, hold that chart. Don't do away with that chart. You can pass it over here. I just want to make a point here. It's interesting that everything seems to have happened in 2000. Look where it was in 2000 and look what happened since then. I wonder who's been in charge of the country starting in 2000. I mean, we're not speaking, I'm not, you know, I'm not trying to say anything. I'm not talking about anybody. I'm just talking about what I'm talking about. And the real issue here is the fact that, I said that, it made as much sense as this chart is making sense right now, but the real issue is that it's been an ongoing issue. A lack of regulation, a lack of, I mean, more freedom as it relates to China doing what it wants, what it would like to do. The TAA bill passed off the floor today to give U.S. workers an opportunity to be retrained, which was very, very important. It was important to the States, and it's important that we bring some sort of balance back to this. It's nothing wrong with a global economy. But it's everything wrong when we allow other countries to have the upper hand on U.S. companies and also U.S. workers, and we have to have the standards in place. But thank you, sir. This wasn't my idea to do this chart. I will not take credit for it. But I just wanted to let you know.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I have a lot of great ideas.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. If the gentleman will yield, I wear a size 15. I don't think that you probably can stand in my shoes with your shoes on.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate James P. Cheever, who will be celebrating his 100th birthday on Sunday, November 4, 2007, at Tony Reception Palace, in Hialeah, FL. Many of his family, friends, and church friends will be in attendance to celebrate this momentous occasion. He was born on November 7, 1907, in Sylvania, Georgia. He is the middle child of six siblings, with one remaining sister, Ruby Cheever. He was educated in the Sylvania school system. At the age of 22, he met and married Edna Mae Striggles. They were married on December 22, 1929. They shared 58 years of marriage until her death in 1987. Their union was blessed with four children, James P. Cheever, Jr., Henry Richmond Cheever, and Margie Beatrice Mayes. Their daughter Fronita Cheever, died at a very young age. He has 10 grandchildren, Gregory Cheever, Gail Washington, Glenda Jimeson, Anthony Cheever, Aundrea Mayes, Carey Cheever, LaEatrice McMurray, Laketia Cheever, Vincent Cheever and Tonya Linde. He has 25 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. As many others did during the early 1900s, he earned a living by farming land in Georgia. Although farming provided a modest living, he and his wife wanted a better quality of life for their family. In November of 1947, he moved his family to Miami, Florida. After arriving in Miami, he worked several odd jobs to support his family and he started working for a major construction firm, Benidick and Jordan Construction Company, in 1950. He was the only African- American man hired at that time to tie steel for the company and became the top man for the construction company. In 1962, he left the construction field to work for the Dade County Public School system. During his employment with DCPS, he worked as Lead Custodian at Brownsville Junior High School and Carol City Elementary. He retired from DCPS in June of 1973. After retirement, he launched his own Lawn Service and was known by many for the meticulous lawn care he provided his customers. James is a God-fearing man who dedicated is life to the Lord at a very young age. While living in Georgia he was a member of Lawton Grove Missionary Baptist Church. When he relocated to Miami, he moved his membership to New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Liberty City, where he became a deacon on January 14, 1954, under the leadership of Rev. James E. Brown. Several years later he moved his membership to become a founding member of Greater New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, located in Brownsville, under Pastor Rosco Jackson. He still attends services regularly and currently serves as the oldest deacon on the deacon board, under the leadership of Rev. Sherman Mungin. James and his wife bought their first home in Florida, in what was known as Brownsville, in 1956. The property was acquired by the County, to build a public park, in 1969. They then bought and moved to the home in which he still resides, located at 3801 N.W. 186th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida. As the patriarch of his family, he loves attending family functions to see the four generations of his children. He is still very active, he enjoys fishing at the lake, vegetable gardening and watching baseball games. He always has a quick smile and something witty to say. He is a man of good report, full of spirit and the wisdom of years. Madam Speaker and my colleagues, I ask that you join me in honoring James P. Cheever today. I hope we all have the good fortune to live such a full life as he has. He is a great man and his family and friends are very proud of all of these achievements.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor being here to address this piece of legislation, TAA legislation especially, better known as the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act. It is very, very important to the progress of trade. Also, it is important to many States out there in the Union. I think it is important. I stand to oppose the Republican amendment to this great piece of legislation, because if you adopt their amendment, you're doing less than what we would like to do in the present legislation that is on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, when it comes down to training funds, this bill doubles the current training funding cap from $220 million to $440 million and increases it to $660 million by 2010. This is music to the ears of so many States and especially individuals that have lost their jobs because of trade, because of globalization. So we are here on the floor, especially with me being a member of the Subcommittee on Trade, we are here on the floor to promote not only training, but also assisting those States that are led by Democrat and Republican Governors. So I share with all of my colleagues here on the floor: Do what is right. To say that we can cut things in half or keep things at status quo and still do a good job by allowing individuals that have lost their jobs the assistance that they need as relates to training, as it relates to health care, is just not living in the real world. I encourage the Members to vote against the Republican amendment, oppose it, and support the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act that is brought by the majority. I know that it will be a bipartisan vote in the final analysis.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to address the House once again. I share the sentiment of my colleague in recognizing Senator Wellstone. He was definitely a cornerstone here in this building for public service and really was a student of many of our great leaders of the past and gave voice to health care in a way that no other can do it. As you know, in the 30-Something working group, we come to the floor every day, or just about every day we are in session, to share with the Members the things that we have to continue to work on here in the House in a bipartisan way and also share with the Members the importance of making sure that we stand up on behalf of those Americans that need our assistance. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to my colleague to address the House for as long as he would wish to do so.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I am just very pleased that you came down at the time that you did come down and share with us about how important the NASA program is, especially to not only the development of the country but to our young people and those that have contributed and dedicated their lives to helping us along the way in the sciences, not to compete against States but to compete against other countries as it relates to the forward lean that we have to have. We are going to talk about children's health care and a number of other issues, but we are glad that we kicked off with the NASA program.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. You're 110 percent right. And being from Florida, as you know, we have a number of NASA assets in Florida. And even when I was in the Florida legislature, we were very supportive of programs that gave kids a jump start in the math and sciences to be eligible for NASA programs and other private programs that are out there as it relates to innovation and space.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you so very much. And as we speak, there are those in the Capitol dome trying to make sure that children's health care gets its fair share from this country of ours. I would just like to share with the Members some of the good things that are happening under the Capitol dome. We have passed, Mr. Speaker, a number of measures that have been bipartisan and major as it relates to legislation. The 9/11 Commission recommendations are something that the House and Senate both passed, and that was signed into law. The largest college aid expansion since the 1944 GI Bill saved, on average for every student, I would say almost every American because, as it relates to college loans and student loans, the responsibility for paying many of those loans back fall back on parents and grandparents. So that's $4,400 in interest that the American people don't have to pay. The first minimum wage increase in a very long time, double-digit years, was passed by this Congress. And it was because of the Democratic leadership and some of our friends on the Republican side that voted for the passage of that bill that we now have an increase in the minimum wage. Innovation Agenda to promote 21st century jobs, passed by this House, signed into law. The Reconstruction Assistance Program for gulf coast disasters and hurricanes was passed and signed into law. The largest veterans health care increase in the 77-year history of the VA passed off of this floor and is still in a holding pattern as it relates to that becoming law or empowered by not only the President but the legislative process. Also, the landmark Energy Independence and Global Warming Initiative that was passed by this Congress. Now, I think it's important that we look at the record-breaking roll call votes that have been taken thus far by this Congress and the work philosophy that we have in the 110th Congress versus previous Congresses. And you know that two of the initiatives that have passed on a bipartisan vote that I did not mention that the President has vetoed was the expansion of the life-saving medical research on stem cells that passed in a bipartisan way by this House and by the Senate and was vetoed by the President. And the most recent veto is the one that's dealing with health care for 10 million children and working families that passed off this floor on a bipartisan vote, came 13 votes shy last week of overriding the President's bad veto, had the votes in the Senate to do so, but it's something that we're working on right now, Mr. Speaker. And that's one of the reasons why I came to the floor today, and my other colleagues that will be joining me a little later on, to talk about the SCHIP plan. I can tell you, as we stand here, Mr. Speaker, to address these issues dealing with children's health care, one said, when I was on the floor last week, well, the Congressman is talking about health care. The CHAMP, or SCHIP, bill is dealing with insurance. Well, I can tell you, when you're talking about insurance, you're talking about health care. If you don't have insurance, you're not going to be able to afford health care, especially the preventive care that the CHAMP bill or the SCHIP bill calls for. So, if you take the opportunity to go meet the average American that has a child that is not covered under health insurance, you're going to find an individual who will share with you that, without it, they can't go to many of the doctors offices where they can at least pay a small fraction or at least afford preventive care and the annual checkups that children need. We're in a situation right now, Mr. Speaker, that we have children, if this SCHIP bill or CHAMP bill is not reauthorized, we're going to have children without health care, without health insurance. Whichever way you cut the cookie, they're going to need a way to pay for health care or you might as well look forward to parents going down the drugstore aisle trying to correct the sniffles and trying to head off fever and trying to head off other situations that young children run into. But those are just the minor issues. What about the bigger issues that, if detected early, can be prevented if we have the kind of health insurance that would be helpful for children? As we start to look at a re-approach on this bill after the President's veto, I know that the Speaker and others, and in reading through not only the newspapers but also in meetings that have taken place, we are still holding hard on the 10 million children insured. Now, I think that's very, very important that we head in that direction and that we stand firm on the 10 million. Last week, I was sharing with many of my Republican colleagues on the other side of the aisle, those of whom were in the 13, because there are some that are saying that they are with the American people, they don't necessarily have to be with the Democratic Caucus because this is not about the Republican Conference or the Democratic Caucus, this is about children having an opportunity to have health insurance to be able to have quality health care, and that's what it's about. And I want to commend my colleagues that are on the other side that have voted on behalf of not only their districts but young people in America and their families. So, now we're down to correcting a wrong. Last week, I talked about the story, Mr. Speaker. In all great pieces of legislation and every initiative there is always a story before you get to the glory, and we're still writing the story. And I think, as we go into the final chapters of this SCHIP debate here in the House of Representatives and the Senate and we deliver another product to the President of the United States, I think it's important for those who voted against overriding the President on this issue, think about what you have done. You might not have felt the full brunt of the displeasure of the American people for the Congress, where many of our children are insured because we have health insurance and we have the kind of insurance that will cover our children, and that there are families that don't celebrate the same thing that we do, that there is going to be a great level of displeasure out there. And I want to say that out loud because I want to make sure that Members understand exactly what they're doing. No one came to Congress to vote against health care for children. I don't think anyone jumped up and said at any political forum or debate, when they were debating, need it be a Republican primary or a Democratic primary, to say, ``You know, one of my goals when I get to Congress is that I'm going to vote against children's health care.'' I think they wouldn't have even made it to the Halls of Congress. I'm speaking to that individual Member that decided not to, whatever the situation may be. I haven't seen, in my 14 years of public service, Mr. Speaker, a bill that I am 110 percent in support of and agree with every section in that bill. When we put together legislation, there is always something in the bill that you wish you could have more of or not have at all in the bill. And it's very unfortunate, especially when we're in a body of compromise, when we're talking about children that will become uninsured if we don't pass this bill, I think it's important for us to realize our place in this debate. I commend those that voted. You were supposed to vote for that. I'm glad you did. I'm glad you voted for the SCHIP program. Let me just run some numbers. One may say, well, we're concerned about cost as it relates to providing insurance for children to have health care. Well, one day we're going to compare this as it relates to war, because a lot of folks get into the chest-beating posture or session when it comes down to the war in Iraq. And we're concerned about what happens with children tens of thousands of miles from the United States of America. I'm concerned, also. But I'm really concerned about what is happening with children here in the United States. And I think it's something that we all should pay very, very close attention to. One day in Iraq costs $330 million. That will cover 270,000 kids. One week in Iraq costs $2.3 billion. That's 1.8 million kids who can be covered under the children's health care bill. One month in Iraq is $10 billion. That's one month that can cover 8.1 million children as it relates to health care. And the cost of 40 days in Iraq is $12.2 billion. That will cover 10 million kids' health care. I think it's important to look at just over one month that will cover a full year of health care for 10 million children. Just a couple of days over the average month will cover 10 million children. So, when we start lining our priorities up of where we stand as a Congress, and I'm talking to the real minority here because there are very few Members of this House that are voting opposite of where the American people want us to be, and that's providing health care. Polls have shown here in the United States over 80 percent of Americans are saying that it's important for us to have children's health care. So, you have a very small percentage saying that they don't agree with this, and maybe they need more information. But when you have Members of Congress, and we're talking about lights on, lights off, health care for 10 million children or not, that's a simple decision for one to make. If you have issues with the application of it, it has to be better than what we will not have if we don't reauthorize it and reauthorize it for 10 million children. I think it's important that you understand a number of the coalitions that are here. And I'm spending the time on the floor, Mr. Speaker, to share this with the Members because this is, A, what do we look for in legislation? We look for bipartisanship. That's what the American people always say. They would love for Democrats and Republicans to work together. You have that in this bill. I mean, for this to be a partisan body, you have to look at the significance of having a bipartisan piece of legislation with major Democrats and major Republicans that are on board on the legislation. You also have to look at the second issue that I think is very, very important; the fact that it passed both House and Senate overwhelmingly. And you have to look at that as a component and a proof to the leadership and the reason why we have to insure children, 10 million children in the United States of America. That's very, very significant. Don't let anyone belittle the work that has happened on both sides of the aisle with Democrats and Republicans sending a bill to the President. I would also add on to that point the fact that the President vetoed the bill. And you had a commitment from the Senate, the United States Senate, that they would override the President of the United States on this issue because he's wrong. That's what is so good about our democracy. That goes back, not just a bill on Capitol Hill, it goes back to those days that used to come on Saturday morning to let young Americans know how this process worked. And then in the House we took the vote and we fell 13 votes short of overriding the President. That's very, very significant. I came last week and commended those groups, those nonpartisan, volunteer groups that are dealing with children's diabetes, that are dealing with a number of issues, polio, the doctors that came to Capitol Hill, the March of Dimes, all the different foundations that are out there doing good things and passing good information out and encouraging Members to sign on and get that vote. We couldn't have had the kind of vote that we had last week if it wasn't for those outside organizations and Americans and parents and grandparents and children saying we should have health care. When they see the kind of numbers that I am reading off, spending $330 million in Iraq in 1 day, that's just 1 day. I can get down to $3,300 and change every second that we are spending in Iraq. And you have folks here that are mumbling and grumbling about the cost of an insurance bill that will provide health care to 10 million children, we have 40 plus Governors out there in the 50 States that are out there saying that we need this bill. I want to break this down because I want to make sure that the Members, I don't want to use a lot of acronyms, I don't want to get into a lot of programs and all of that because I'm on the Ways and Means Committee and there's enough acronyms there to talk about health care. I'm on the Armed Services Committee and there is a plethora of acronyms that we could use there and all kind of big words. I want to make sure that everyone understands what it comes down to. You are either with insuring 10 million children or you're not. Period. Dot. There is no in between. There is no ``maybe I need to take more consideration'' or ``maybe I need to look at this a little further.'' We have already taken one vote that has passed the House overwhelmingly. We have already taken a second vote that fell 13 votes short of a two-thirds vote to override the President of the United States. And now we're about to take another vote. So it's almost like three strikes and you're out. Mr. Speaker, I have been on this floor now coming on 5 years, speaking not only to the Members but also making sure that staff and everyone else understands the significance of every vote that we take. And if this was about politics, I always say it, look in the Congressional Record time after time again, if it was about politics, I could just sit in my office and let just the electoral process take its course. I do believe that Members who are not voting for children's health care are making a career decision. That's what they're doing. Now, if this is the last day of school for Members and they're retiring after this term that is a whole other thing. But for those who want to continue to serve not only their districts and the American people, they have to pay very close attention to the vote that they are taking here on this floor. Insuring 10 million kids is bigger, in my opinion, than winning some sort of, you know, one or two political races. I am not into that. I was sent here to Congress, and many of us were sent, all of us were sent here to represent the folks back home. And I guarantee you, the folks back home are not saying, ``Please don't insure children. Whatever you do, Congressman, make sure you don't insure 10 million children or 5 million children. Just make sure you don't do that, and you have my vote.'' There is not anyone back there saying that. And so I think it's important for us, when we get into this process, I think it's important for us to share with Members what we are here for. Like I said, once again, there are some things in the bill that I don't agree with, but when you start talking about the insurance for children that my children celebrate, I wasn't elected for me to have my children to have health care and I look at my constituents and say, ``Run for Congress one day and you can be like me.'' That's not what it's about. It's about us being able to stand for them. I think it's also important to look at even with some of the media accounts about some of the things that are going on here in Washington that we are working hard on, the Democratic side of the aisle, because Americans voted for change, Mr. Speaker. They didn't vote for the status quo. Republicans had the majority last time. There were Democrats and Republicans and independents who said, You know something, we gave you an opportunity. My kids and my grandkids and the fiscal situation this country is in is more important than my party affiliation. And we have seen throughout the country, Republicans say, ``I'm going to vote for the Democrat this time because I want to see change.'' Now that change is here and I read off a list of bills that were passed in a bipartisan way. These are not just Democratic bills, we beat our chests and say, ``Not one Republican voted for it.'' Yes, there are one or two there. But the majority of the major bills that have passed have passed with some Republican votes, and that is important to the process. USA Today, War Costs May Total $2.4 trillion. When you look at the cost of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, it could cost $2.4 trillion the next decade or nearly $8,000 per man, woman and child in this country according to the Congressional Budget Office that is scheduled for release and that took place here today earlier. A previous Congressional Budget Office estimate put the war cost at more than $1.6 trillion. This one adds to the $705 in interest. And if you take into account, Mr. Speaker, as we continue to go on as it relates to the war in Iraq, as we look at the borrowing from foreign nations and then we turn around and we also bring a bill, I'm going to add to those points, we bring a bill that we show how we are going to pay for the bill so that we don't have to continue to borrow from foreign nations, so that we don't have to continue to see our kids having to pay some $8,000 per man, woman and child because of the decisions that were made here on this floor in previous Congresses. So how do we have a paradigm shift? Well, we come about bringing about that paradigm shift through good policy and bipartisanship. So I am speaking to the 13 that voted against, helped us fall short of that, of overriding the President. It could have been a different day the following day after that vote, but it wasn't because we had some of our Republican friends not voting with us. I am going to put a pin there, and I am going to allow my good friend from Ohio (Mr. Ryan). First of all, I just want to say, sir, that I'm sorry about your Indians. I'm really sorry. As you know, I e-mailed you and told you that I was with you. Being a Dolphins fan, I'm switching sports now, but I'm having a rough year, and I wanted someone to have some joy that I knew. And I know you, sir, and I know you're excited about your Cleveland Indians. And they fought hard. But I'm sorry, sir, that they didn't make it through the process.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Altmire. The good thing about it, and Mr. Ryan and I were in a meeting the other day, and I think it is important, very important, and I was sharing a little earlier today about giving thanks to those out in the field. And when I say ``those out in the field,'' those Americans out there, because the President said he wasn't going to sign the College Interest Rate Reduction Act or what have you, the $4,400 that Mr. Ryan alluded to. If it wasn't for the American people pushing for that, it wouldn't have happened. If it wasn't for the American people saying that we wanted a minimum wage after double-digit years of no minimum wage, it would not have happened. If it wasn't for the American people stepping up at the last given Tuesday when we had the election for this House saying that we wanted to move in a new direction, it would not have happened. I think it is important for us to look at this American spirit rising up again on the children's health bill. When we look at health insurance and we look at health care for children, the American people are going to make that happen, because hopefully we will have an opportunity to vote on that bill again. Hopefully after taking the number one vote that was a bipartisan vote, sending a bill to the Senate, the Senate sent a bill to us, and we voted out the bill and sent it to the President, and the President, two votes that took place, overwhelmingly bipartisan, the President vetoes the bill, okay? And now you are going to have a real third opportunity to vote again. I don't know if those that have voted against the previous bills, if they want to continue to do it, because their excuse is to say, Well, you know, there was something I didn't understand on that first vote. Congressman, you mean on the second vote you still didn't understand? And then on the third vote? Well, maybe you are not in the business of making sure that children have health insurance so they can have health care. So I am hoping that we can come together in even a greater way in passing a children's health care bill that covers 10 million children. I think it is important. I agree with the Speaker. I am glad she has put her foot down and this Congress has put our foot down and said we are going to do this. Because at the end of the 110th Congress, there is not going to be a short list of accomplishments; there is going to be a long list, because there has been a drought for a very long time to bring the issues and concerns back to those who attended your town hall meeting. Congressman, what are you doing for the district? What are you doing for us? Yes, it is wonderful about the war. We know that is going on. All of us share in making sure our men and women have what they need to have and all of those different things, but what are you doing domestically? How does this affect my children? Mr. Ryan talked about someone is going to sit next to a child that doesn't have health care, and if that child is sick, you can have all the health care in the world. Your child is coming home and they are going to bring whatever that other child has into the household and then everyone is sick, and now we have employers without employees, and we can go on and on and on. It is a domino effect. I think it is important that we continue to highlight that. But I appreciate the fact you all have brought light to all of this. Even Mr. Ryan was talking about a democracy. I think a democracy is a good thing. I think it is playing out well. Even though we fell on the short end, 13 votes short of overriding the President, a major accomplishment with having the Senate vote in an overwhelming way and having the votes to override the President, and having a supermajority vote here in this House based on the strong Democratic leadership of even bringing the issue to the floor in the first place. So I am excited about it. I do have faith in the American spirit. I know it will rise up. Those that have sent us here, those that do not work in the Capitol, those counting on us to do the right thing.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. We are out of time, Mr. Ryan. I want to thank Mr. Altmire and yourself.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce H.R. 3961, which would increase from $1,000 to $5,000 the maximum amount of the child tax credit allowed under section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code for those widows and widowers with children of the members of our Armed Forces who have been killed in combat in Iraq and in and around Afghanistan. The bill would also eliminate the income limits for our soldiers' families that have paid this ultimate sacrifice. Madam Speaker, we can and should do everything we can to help out those families of our brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Those families have borne the brunt of this war--and all of us owe them a debt of our gratitude. Mothers are being forced to have tough conversations with their sons on why daddy is not coming home. Fathers are being forced to have tough conversations with their daughters on what happened to mommy. Families are being put in position where they have to struggle both emotionally and economically because of the stress a loss of a loved one places on them. Congress has a duty to do what we can to help these families in their time of need. While nothing can make up for the loss of these precious lives, at least we can provide some tax relief for these families. These families now have a financial burden to face from the loss of a spouse's income. In many instances, the spouse that was killed in combat was the main breadwinner for the family. Increasing the child tax credit and eliminating the income limits will at least provide some tax relief. This will provide real relief for almost 2,000 families. Of the troops killed in Iraq and in and around Afghanistan, many were married with children. According to a report from the Military Homefront for the Department of Defense, 37.8 percent of active duty troops are married with children. The Department of Defense reports that as of October 22, 2007, the total number of military fatalities in Iraq and in and around Afghanistan totaled 4,273 for both conflicts. Based on this data, the Congressional Research Service has estimated that 1,615 troops who were married and had children have died. Single parents have also been killed in defending our country. The Military Homefront states that 5.4 percent of active duty American troops are single parents. Using this data, CRS has estimated that 231 troops who were single parents have died. Madam Speaker, we need to provide all of the help we can to these families of our fallen military. H.R. 3961 is a small way to assist those families who have lost a spouse and a parent to their children.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to The Reverend Canon Richard Livingston Marquess-Barry, Pastor of the Historic Saint Agnes' Episcopal Church in Miami, Florida. A native of Miami, Florida, Reverend Barry obtained his early education from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. He is a proud graduate of Miami Northwestern Sr. High School Class of 1958 where his portrait still hangs in the school's Hall of Fame. He furthered his education at Saint Augustine's College, in Raleigh, North Carolina and went on to get his Doctor of Human Letters degree from Barbar-Scotia College, Concord, North Carolina in 1995. Married to Virla Rolle Barry, Reverend Barry has been blessed in this holy matrimony for over 40 years. Also blessed to this union is one daughter Diana, who is married to Ronald Frazier, II, and two grandsons Richard and Ronald. This visionary of a pastor became God's shepherd par excellence under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, as he continues to guide his Congregation. He has led Saint Agnes' Episcopal Church with a good mixture of old-time religion and civic responsibility that continues to encourage the members not only to become spiritual and moral leaders, but also responsible and conscientious guardians of good government and community pride. Reverend Barry has dedicated his life to making the lives of those around him better. Further demonstrated, as one of the many programs under his leadership, the church adopted a HUD project, Rainbow Village Housing Development and lobbied the Miami-Dade Housing Authority to completely renovate the complex. As a result of this action, the tenant council of Rainbow Village and the Vestry of this parish formed the Saint Agnes' Rainbow Village Community Development Corporation (CDC). Through the CDC, 80 two-story, three and four bedroom/two and one-half bath, single-family homes for ownership were built for low and moderate income families. An ordained priest of the Episcopal Church and having served as a Priest for 39 years, Father Barry's leadership is genuinely admirable. As a servant of God and as a spiritual leader immersed in Scriptural commitment, he has earned the community's deepest respect. This is the legacy with which he now guides his Church. Indeed, it is fitting and proper to give praise to Almighty God for blessing the Saint Agnes' Episcopal Church with the longevity of leadership through Reverend Barry. His service to his Congregation and to all those who seek comfort and solace in its Church sanctuary leaves an everlasting mark. Today, I honor Reverend Barry for the years of dedication and commitment to his church and the community.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it's an honor to be before the House once again. As you know, the 30-something Working Group, we come to the floor maybe once, twice, three times, if we can, a week to not only share with the Members the good things that we are doing but also some things that we are going to have to work together on, bills that we're going to have to work together on on behalf of America. We've been able to do quite a bit this session, Mr. Speaker, and accomplish a lot in this first session. We have had record-breaking roll call votes never taken before. I think it's somewhere around 980 votes, I mean, not even counting the votes today, that have been taken here in the House that have never been taken in the history of the Republic, since the mid-70s. I believe it was 1975 or 1974 that held the record for roll call votes, and this year is not over yet, and we still have a lot of business to conduct. I can't help but, Mr. Speaker, come to the floor and talk a little bit about what happened with the children's health care bill. I know just an hour ago we voted to override the President of the United States, and that's something that the Congress has the opportunity to do. The President decided to veto the children's health care bill. The Congress said that we would override. The Senate had the votes but the House, we weren't able to do it today. It wasn't because of Democratic Members of Congress, why we weren't able to override, and it wasn't because of 44 Republicans who voted with Democrats to override the President. It was 154 Republicans who decided to stand with the President and not voting for the override. Now, we fell 13 votes short. What does that mean? I'm not here today to start calling names and pointing fingers, but I'm here today to make sure that the Members know that the good thing about America is that you have the second chance to do the right thing, and the Members had a second chance to do the right thing and failed to do so. The 13 Members or so failed to do so because they voted against the original bill that came before us that the President vetoed, but on the override they had the opportunity to say the right thing, and they didn't do it. And within that 154 or within that 13, I just want to identify some of the States that will not receive health care or children's health care from the CHIP bill. In California, 1.8 million kids have been denied health care. State of Florida, my very State, my State that I represent, those Members that voted, the 13 we fell short, voted against 616,000 kids. In Georgia, 467,000 for those Members that voted against the SCHIP bill override. Illinois, 435,000; Indiana, 199,000. And I'm just using round numbers here, Mr. Speaker. Iowa, 72,962; Kentucky, 112,000 will be denied health care because Members of the other side, 13 Republicans, said we needed to be able to close the gap, did not vote with us today to override the President. In Maryland, 185,000; and Ohio, 338,000. In Pennsylvania, 312,000 will not be able to receive health care because we fell short of 13 votes. We did not get it from the Republican side of the aisle. South Carolina, 122,000 children will be denied health care. In Texas, 966,000 will be denied health care. In Utah, 74,000 will be denied health care. And in Wisconsin, 94,000 will be denied health care, and in Wyoming, 12,000 will be denied health care because we did not have the said votes we needed to have, 13 votes on the Republican side that we needed to override. Now, there were a lot of things said about the SCHIP bill, and a good part of the day and some 2 hours and change was devoted to both sides having an opportunity, Democrats and Republicans, to discuss their support or lack of support for overriding the President on this veto. Mr. Speaker, I just want to kind of point out here, this picture is going to end up being one of my National Archives pictures when I, you know, relinquish them and I let them go. I kind of keep things as I come to the floor. There are certain charts, and as you know, Mr. Speaker, I do love charts and I'm glad because they illustrate not only for the Members but they illustrate a period of time in American history which now we're living in right now. This picture was taken when a majority of the Republican Caucus went down and went to the White House and stood with the President on the first bill that we passed to put the heat on the Iraqi Government as it relates to the politicians there in Iraq living up to its responsibilities so that our U.S. troops don't have to continue to do patrols in the streets of Iraq, to be able to do exactly what the President called for as it relates to benchmarks or timelines, that certain things are supposed to happen or else. We put that in legislation, and the Republican Conference ran down there and had a press conference with the President saying we're standing with the President. Well, today some of the folks in this photo here stood with the President, and they're within the 154 that voted against the SCHIP bill override. It's so unfortunate that the kids that I just called out and thousands and millions of other kids are going to be denied health care. Poor kids, they're going to be denied health care. We also have, Mr. Speaker, something that I think is very, very important. Our obligation here is to make sure the children have health care and that the good people of the United States of America have access to health care, and I'm getting more and more concerned about folks being more loyal to the President, more loyal to special interests on the minority side than, in my opinion, being loyal to some of the constituents that need our assistance; and I think that's very, very important. I think it's important also to note that this goes beyond politics, because I believe those that voted and within the 13 because I'm glad I'm not in that number of the 154 Republicans that voted against this override. They're going to have to, within that, the 13 that was needed to override the President decided not to, and I think that there's been some career decisions that have been made. Obviously, I mean, everyone knows that I'm a Democrat, but if I was an independent or I was a Republican or I was someone that was thinking about voting one day and taking part in this democracy of ours as it relates to the ballot, if a Congressman came up to me and said, guess what, one day I'm going to have the opportunity to vote for health care for poor children that go to school with your kids that live in your neighborhood, folks that work either in your business or people that work with you at work, I'm going to deny them health care, not once but twice, vote for me on Tuesday. There's no way in the world I know a Member did not give that speech and will not give that speech, but today walked in here, slipped the voting card in here, voted ``no'' and left and went home for the weekend. This was the close of business. It was the last vote that we took. It was a major vote. We took a Journal vote earlier today. There were only two votes, approving the Journal and voting to override the President of the United States on denying poor children health care. So no one could have gotten confused about, oh, maybe I pushed the wrong button or what have you. I just want to make sure that the Members understand that this is about serious business here, and I'm going to tell you the American people voted for a new direction. Matter of fact, this reminds me of the old days when we had the rubber-stamp Congress, and I want to make sure my staff bring the rubber stamp down from my office because we haven't had it down here probably only once in the 110th Congress, but I'm going to make sure it gets down here to the floor before I leave the floor because I can tell you, you can't go wrong with friends like that illustrated here in this picture, you can't go wrong. The President should feel comfortable, as far as I'm concerned should write a handwritten note saying thank you for sticking with me but not sticking with the poor children of the United States of America. Ten million children we're talking about insuring. The President says, well, you know, maybe 1 million or 2 million or 3 million or 5 million, that's my proposal or what have you, going back and forth. The bottom line is without even a real discussion, without even a real discussion the President is willing to move forward on saying that we should be in Iraq forever, and I think that's a real issue for the people of the country. I think that's a real issue because when you look at article I, section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, I mean, the Congress has a lot to do. But what happens as it relates to not only the funding of the war in Iraq but also as it relates to policy, as we look at this issue of Iraq but we're having all this discussion about Iraq and then we try to do something domestic, major something domestic and reauthorizing a program that provides children's health care, and when you look at it, when you look at it here, Mr. Speaker, one day of funding in the war in Iraq costs $330 million and could insure 270,000 kids. One week in Iraq, one week, we're not talking about, you know, one year, we're talking one week, $2.3 billion insures 1.8 million kids. One month in Iraq, $10 billion, that is $10 billion, that is with a capital B, 1.8 million kids can receive health care. And 37 days in Iraq, $12.2 billion spent, 10 million kids can receive coverage. Now, it is all right and the President is saying, why are you even asking the question? Why are you even questioning my wisdom for even saying that we should continue to fund the war in Iraq? But meanwhile, we are sitting back here and kids are getting the veto again. I think it is important for the Members to understand what is going on here. And I think that the reason why a lot of average Americans have a great level of frustration with Washington, DC is the fact that we can do something 10,000-plus miles away from continental United States for children that we will not even do for children here in the United States of America. Now, that is a problem. Now, I don't have a problem. I have been to Iraq three times. I have been to Afghanistan. I have been a little bit of everywhere as it relates to the Middle East, because that is a big concern as relates to our issues that we have not only diplomatically but also as it relates to safety and that we have to engage in dialogue. But I have a problem, Mr. Speaker, of what I know and what is actually happening here on this floor. Now, again, I am glad this chart is here now. When we start talking about having your back, I mean, the Republican conference which is a number, I am not going to generalize because 44 of the members of that conference voted with the children of America today, with Democrats, and overriding the President of the United States; but the majority, the 154 that voted against were part of the same group. Again, I am going back to the President. The President is not running again for election, but I can tell you this much; that, I can tell you that it is very, very important that we pay attention to the pattern that is taking place. Yes, we have a Democratic majority in the House, we have a Democratic majority in the Senate, but I think it is important for us to take note of the consistent voting loyal to the President. This is not a loyalty contest. People weren't elected to be loyal to any given party. They are elected to make sure that their constituents and the people of America get what they need out of their government. And when we look at this, foreign debt doubles under President Bush on the $1.9 trillion in 6 years between 2001 and 2006. Forty-two Presidents that I have here, Mr. Speaker, 42 Presidents, 224 years, $1.01 trillion, from 1776 to the year 2000, was only able to borrow from foreign nations $1.01 trillion. So the President has already trumped, with the former rubber-stamp Republican Congress in the last Congress. But it is in another form now, Mr. Speaker. It is in the form to where you see, saying, well, we no longer have the majority. The American people have taken that from us. The American people have taken that from us. Now we are in the business of stopping the new direction Congress that Republicans, Independents, Democrats voted for a new direction because they were concerned about the Republican rubber-stamp Congress following the President of the United States, the rubber-stamp Congress that was here, following the President of the United States to the new Congress, now saying, well, we have enough votes to stop the two-thirds that is needed to override the President, so that is going to be our new stance, Mr. President. We are with you all the way. Well, I can tell you this much, Mr. Speaker and Members. I think it is important for many of those Members in the 109th Congress that followed the President, the Pied Piper, saying, let's go this way, let's vote this way, stick with me, I am going to lead you. And, guess what? Many of them are at home right now reading the paper about what is happening here in the Capitol dome because they are no longer, they are no longer in Congress. Now, some of them were friends, some of them I knew personally. That is fine. But on the policy end, they were following the President and found themselves unelected. Now, if this was a political discussion, Mr. Speaker, I would, I would go somewhere and I would go somewhere reading the newspaper or taking a break or something, or maybe reading a good book right now or on the plane going back down to Florida. But this is about politics. Because I would just allow the 154 that voted against the override to continue to vote like they had been voting if it was about politics, because the American people will make sure that they rise up come some given Tuesday in another year from now and vote those individuals out of Congress because they are voting against children's health care. Saying all of that, I think it is important to say where we are right now in not only history but in the present. If it was just politics, I would just go sit down, but it is not about politics. It is about children's health care. I must shed light on this and we must continue to put the pressure on. I commend the Speaker for holding her ground on this issue. I want the Speaker to continue to hold her ground on this issue because we cannot backslide on making sure that poor children have health care; not something that looks like health care, but actually has health care, so that they can be healthy and do the things that they have to do. I tell you, Mr. Speaker, as I was in my office preparing to come to the floor, I was just reading some of the clips. I am glad the rubber stamp has made it down to the floor, and I will address the rubber stamp, I will come back to it. It says on the headline of the New York Times, and this is hot off the press here, it says: The House Fails to Override Child Health Care Bill Veto. And the bottom line is is that the vote to override was 273- 156, or 13 votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority of those voting. The bill was originally approved about a couple weeks ago, September 25, 265 voting for it and 159 voting against it. Now, you know, one thing that this administration is not used to, Mr. Speaker, and some of our friends on the Republican side of the aisle are not used to is a bill coming to the floor already paid for. They are used to rubber stamping and saying, put it on the credit card for the next generation to pay for. I have a 10-year-old son and I have a 12-year-old daughter, and guess what? I care about their financial future. I don't want them in debt. I don't want to have them to turn around and, Mr. Speaker, having to pay to Japan, to China, to the U.K., to the Caribbean, to Taiwan, to OPEC nations, to Korea, to Hong Kong, to Germany of money that the President and the rubber-stamp Republican Congress before this Congress did because all they did was say, oh, that is fine, you want tax cuts, special interest billionaire, kazillionaire. We want to go into a new stratosphere of how many subsidies we are going to give you. We are going to do it. And guess what? We are not even concerned how we are going to pay for it. We are going to borrow from foreign nations. We are going to put it on the backs of those Americans that are not even eligible to vote right now, those Americans that were born since I have been on the floor here that are going to have to pay the bill. And in a new direction Congress, Democratic Congress, we said we weren't going to do it, and we haven't done it. And here we are again. This is a new form of the Republican rubber-stamp minority that is standing with the President all the way. I am glad this rubber stamp is down here, because I spent a lot of time, Mr. Speaker, here on the floor with many of my colleagues. I think this stamp here one day will be properly placed somewhere in a glass case because this is what used to be. The President said, let's give tax breaks to super-wealthy corporations, record-breaking oil subsidies. Boom. No problem. Rubber stamp. It is going to happen. So shall it be written, so shall it be done. Those days are over. But now it is in a new form. We are going to stand with you when it comes down to overriding some of the major issues that Americans care about. A, this war in Iraq as it relates to the policy that we should be passing that so many Americans are very frustrated with, the fact that the Congress and the President has not been able to come through with policy that will eventually bring our men and women home, will eventually bring our combat troops home, because we will be providing technical assistance in the region for some time. But we are losing a number of our young people and our middle-aged folks that are reservists that have been deployed longer than any other fighting force in the past and we are still here going back and forth. And the reason why we are going back and forth is the fact that we don't have the necessary votes on the Republican side to be able to override the President. And the Senate, the procedural 60 votes that you need to bring certain issues are not there, because there is only a 51 majority Democrats there. So I think it is important, not only do we report the news, but we also talk about how we can do better. Now, I come to the floor with a clear mind and a clear heart and ask my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle: We fell 13 votes short of providing poor children health care today. I ask, as we started to look at this issue again, and another vote will be coming up in weeks, that one goes within their soul and within their heart and think about voting in the affirmative so that we can pass the bipartisan health care opportunities for young people that we have done. Now, this was a bipartisan bill. You know, you listen to the President, you think, oh, the Democrats sent me a bill. Well, I guess the 45 Republicans that voted with us on the original bill and the 44 that voted with us today, I guess they are Democrats, too. Or maybe they are just Members of Congress who say that it is their responsibility to make sure that poor children in their district and within the country have health care. Boy, that is something. And so I think it is very, very important that we move down and move in that direction. I will put that rubber stamp off to the side because I never want to see those days again, but I wanted to bring it down to the floor because I thought it was fitting today that we do that. I think it is important that we highlight the fact that there are a number of polls that have been out on this issue and who has said that Americans are in full, almost full support of expanding the children's health care bill. Eighty-one percent in the CBS poll have said, I am for health care and expanding it for poor children; 81 percent, 15 opposed. And I think that is something to look at, and I think that is something that Members should pay very, very close attention to. I also, Mr. Speaker, I think what is important, as we started looking at what is to be done in the very near future, we have to look at the fact that we have families, we have children, we have policymakers in the States that are counting on a children's health care program. We have doctors that are concerned about the lack of health care that children already are experiencing here in the United States, and so when we started talking about reauthorization, we started talking about expanding to more kids, they are happy but now they are concerned. We have over 170 organizations that deal with children and good government and support, still in support, of overriding the President on the health care bill on the SCHIP bill that he vetoed. That is history now. But I think it is important that, I want to encourage those Members that voted for the override, I want to encourage those Members on the Republican side, the 44 that voted with Democrats to override the President, to stay encouraged. To stay encouraged, because so many times we know about the glory, Mr. Speaker, but we don't necessarily know about the story. And right now we are writing the story on providing health care to poor children in the United States of America. And I say to children of the United States of America, because you have some Members here that are willing to vote for kids in Iraq and other places that have health care but not willing to vote for our own children here in the United States to get health care. And I think it is important that as we start to build this story, there is some good chapters and some bad chapters. And I think the good chapters that can be added to this story of getting to the glory part where we are able to have expanded benefits for children and also expanded coverage for children to provide health care for the next 5 years, or as long as we can get it at that number, for some Members who voted to not allow those children to have health care to come to the side of allowing them to have health care. Voting in the affirmative for children's health care, now maybe the vote would have been a little different if this was 2008 and their constituents were paying very close attention to every vote that their Congressman or Congresswoman would take here on this floor. But, you know, the good thing about it, some may say that, but I believe that the American people are paying attention to what's going on here. I also believe that the American spirit will rise up. I said that last Congress; and a lot of folks said, yeah, you know, that's fine. The attention span, you know, of the average person is probably about, you know, a week or two or what have you. When it falls off the screen of the Today Show and other shows, it'll just kind of drift off. But I can tell you this much: last Congress there were votes that were taken that the American people remembered. And I think it's important that folks understand that that will happen this time around. And I'm not in the business of making sure that folks no longer serve in Congress. That's not my piece. I'm here to represent the people of the 17th Congressional District and the people of the United States of America to the best of my ability. But I think that it's important because this is not politics, it's policy making, that those that voted against it be a part of a good chapter and allowing people to be able to have health care. I want to commend the March of Dimes, all of the affiliates throughout the country that wrote their Congressmen and -women to vote in the affirmative to override the President. I would like to thank those 501(c)(3) organizations. The lifeblood of their effort is through volunteers throughout America, and when they come in to volunteer for the March of Dimes, when they come in to volunteer for the Children's Defense Fund, I mean, all the different groups that are out there to do what they do on a daily basis that help this country be what it is today, I thank those individuals, because I don't want them to lose faith in the fact that we're not going to have their back. We're going to have their back. When I say ``we,'' those of us that voted to override the President today. I don't wake up every morning saying, hey, you know, I'm getting ready to go to the Capitol. We're going to override the President on a bill, on the children's health care bill or on making sure that we have sound policy in Iraq. I don't wake up on those days saying that I look forward to that opportunity. I don't look forward to that opportunity. I'd much rather us work in a bipartisan way to where we can move in that direction. Well, let's look at the bill. The SCHIP bill received, I believe, 45 votes and the first time it came through here, that's bipartisan. Received, I believe, 14-plus votes in the Senate. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. That's bipartisan, Republican Members coming over and voting with Democrats to be able to move that bill through the process. That's bipartisan. It gets to the President, all of a sudden it's partisan. Democratic Congress sent, no, it was a bipartisan Congress that sent him a children's health care bill. In the Senate, Orrin Hatch, I mean, major Republicans are over there saying that the President's wrong and they had the votes, and they still do, to override the President of the United States. They have the votes over there. In the House, we had a majority of votes, beyond a simple majority. We went well into, fell short 13 votes because Republican, on the Republican side of the aisle, 154 Republicans decided to stick with the President and not with the poor children in the United States of America. I say all of that to say this: we would not have accomplished as much as we've accomplished, when I say ``we,'' the 110th Congress, if it wasn't for a bipartisan spirit and allowing, not only Democrats, but also Republicans to have bills that they should feel good about when they vote for those bills. Now, we talked about minimum wage passed on this floor. It was offered when we were in the minority in the last Congress, but never made it to the floor, never made it to a committee hearing. The 9/11 recommendations, 9/11 Commission, great Americans put together a great document. It was a book, one of the best-selling books. And the President said he wasn't going to sign that. In a bipartisan way we passed that. Sent it to the President. He had to sign it. And all of these signing opportunities, I don't call them ceremonies. You know, they usually kind of happen like on a Friday, you know, folks leaving town, about to go to Camp David, not going to make a big deal on his way out, just sign it into law instead of celebrating the bipartisan spirit we have here in the Congress and sending that legislation on. Cutting student loan interest rates in half. That meant $4,400 in the pockets of the individuals that have taken out the loans. And who are they? Children or young people that are trying to educate themselves to help us to be a stronger America and a more professional America so we can compete against other countries. It's not all about lock and load and shooting at someone. It's about making sure that we continue to stay the economic superpower of the world and to be able to provide the leadership in the world as it relates to a shining example of how one can educate him or herself and become all they want to be in the industry that they want to be, or provide a job to allow other Americans to work. The President said he wasn't going to sign that. Thank you to the American people, thank you to the Members going back, talking to their constituents, thank you for all of those mothers and grandparents that wrote and e-mailed and said this is wrong, and that we want, if you want, you know, there's so many times we feel that we know what to do best here in Washington, D.C. because we understand what you need. Well, guess what? $4,400 in the pockets that they don't have to pay on interest rates, because the student loan companies were pocketing those dollars. We allowed those dollars to stay in the pockets of those individuals paying on the interest rate on those student loans; and they know what's best. And guess what? I'm talking to independent voters too. I'm talking to Republican voters too. No one said, well, you know, based on my card, do I get it or not? No, not even based on your income. You get a student loan, you can be an individual punching in and punching out every day making the minimum wage, or you can be a family, a single parent, or you can be a two-parent household with a gross income of $200,000, a household income of $200,000 and you still get that $4,400. And I think it's important, the President said he wasn't going to do it; he did it. Now I'm asking the Members of Congress to stand in there on behalf of these children, not by their doing, but due to the fact that parents are trying to provide a way of life for them, and their only penalty is the fact that they can't afford health care. That's the only penalty that they have. We have children that we're sending up to the military academies who cannot pass the tests, not the academic tests, not the fact that they didn't have the GPA to go to the Air Force Academy or to be able to go the Citadel or what have you. It's because they couldn't pass their physical because they didn't know they had a situation that could have been corrected to where they can be one of our best and brightest within our military and they're not able to do it because they don't have what they need to have. The school lunch program started in World War II because kids were not healthy enough to be able to go into the military because they didn't have the very nutrients that they need to be able to function and grow up here in America. And that's the reason why we have that program today. So when we started looking at things in a broader picture, I think it's very, very, important, Members, that we pay attention to the present. The 109th, 108th Congress I was a Member of. Before that, my mother was here 10 years prior to my arrival here in Congress. I paid very close attention to her movements, member of the Appropriations Committee, spent a lot of time trying to help a lot of people here in the United States of America. I am glad that it was a broad perspective versus a small perspective of saying, well, I need to stand with a person, with the President of the United States because he said he should not have his veto overridden. And I want to thank, he has a very good legislative staff that comes down here and talks to the Members and says, you know, you need to stick with the President, stick with the President. Meanwhile, we had all these volunteers on the side of overriding the President, on the side of children's health care, that spent their own money, Mr. Speaker, to come here to Washington, D.C., walk the Halls. Thank God the Speaker had enough wisdom and the majority leader had enough wisdom to say we're going to postpone the vote to allow those most affected, those that can afford to come to Washington or go to the district office of Members of Congress and the Senate and say please vote on behalf of children's health care because the President's wrong. It's nothing wrong with being wrong sometimes, but not all the time. And I think it's important that when we look at this whole children's health care bill, I'm reading some articles about, well, you know, the Congress and the President, they need to sit down and come together on the line of compromise. And you know something? In Iraq, the President stands right at one point here on an issue and says this is it; this is what I'm going to do; this is how I'm going to do it and have enough Republicans to be able to stand with him so we can't be able to, well, if we pass a bill it will not be successful because he will veto the bill and it will come back here and then we'll fall 13 votes short. He stands firm, and then we have to end up having to work out some sort of compromise. I'm going to tell you, I hope that this story, like I said, you have the story and the glory of everything. I hope as we continue to write this story and providing children the kind of health care, poor children the kind of health care that they deserve, that we stand. And when I say ``we,'' the Democrats, the Democratic Caucus that voted to override the President, and the 44 Republicans that voted with us to give us the numbers that we needed. And it's not just what I'm saying. It's what the Congressional Record is saying. And it's what roll call vote No. 982 says. It says that 44 Republicans and 229 Democrats voted in the affirmative, a total of 273 versus 156 who voted against. So I think it's very, very important that we look at this and that Members pay attention to what's happening. What side of history do you want to be on? What side of opportunity do you want to be on? And I think that's something that the Members are going to have to take into strong consideration. I'm happy that the President signed bills that he said he wasn't going to sign. But it wasn't only because of our doing. It was because the American people mobilized and said, well, I know I am going to have my opportunity on a given Tuesday every other year to vote for my representation in Washington; but they mobilized to say that I have faith in this democracy and I'm going to continue to talk to Members of Congress of the importance of the children's health care bill. And I'm asking for those Americans that took that time out to come to Washington, D.C., called, e-mailed, wrote letters, I want to commend them for doing the work that they did. It was the same group, the same volunteerism that came up out of the ground, literally, when the President wanted to privatize Social Security, and a good majority of Republicans on that time was in the majority, rose up and said, well, we want to go with the President on the private accounts and privatizing. It was that same volunteer American spirit that stopped that movement. So we can make something good happen here on behalf of children that are needing health care. As I move into the close here, Mr. Speaker, and as I was here on the floor and I was listening to the Speaker close, I think that it's important the value of Members playing a very strong role in facts, not fiction. And I was proud to see, you know, there's a lot being said and people were saying different things. And there were some folks that said that, you know, on the Republican side, well, there's going to be funding for illegal aliens in the SCHIP bill. Well, that's not the case. That just wasn't the case. And I'm glad that the Speaker brought this chart down here, and I asked for this chart when I came to the floor because I thought it was very, very important. Section 605, page 255, right here, right here, and I think it's important, maybe we put it on www.speaker.gov for not only the Members to see this and highlight it like this. So you go down to line 16, section 605, no Federal funding for illegal aliens. Period. So as I look through the Congressional Record, Mr. Speaker, with my highlighter I could go through almost, when I hear from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, because they had very little to hold on to, I mean, how do you wake up in the morning and you say, well, I'm waking up this morning to deny 10 million children health care. Poor, at that. That's what I'm waking up to do this morning. Or do you say ``I'm waking up this morning to stand with the President on denying 10 million poor children health care''? Or do you say, ``Well, maybe I can come up with this one: Somebody said it and I'm going to continue to say it, illegal aliens are going to receive health care from this bill, so that's the reason why I can't vote for it'' when the law says that it doesn't? I mean, I hope that the volunteers continue to talk to the 154 Republicans that voted against this. ``Well, families that make $83,000,'' that is not the case and the facts are right here. ``These very wealthy families are going to get a government benefit,'' that is not the case. And I think it's important that we continue to shed light on this. I think there should be some sort of meter here on the floor, to be honest with you, fact versus fiction, so that as Members come to the floor and they start talking and the meter starts moving over to the fiction side of it, then other Members will know how to judge what's accurate and what's not accurate. I think that would be very important because I think there will be better policymaking and there will be fewer excuses why people didn't vote for certain bills. I am not going to say that I'm mad. I'm just saying that I am disappointed. But the good thing about it, 14 years in public service, some of those years in the State legislature in Florida, 5 of those years, going on 6, here in Congress, there are votes that I remember. And this will be one of the votes that I will remember for the rest of my public career as long as the people from the 17th District will have me here from Florida, the day that we fell 13 votes short, not because of the lack of effort, not because we did not have the bipartisan spirit blowing through the air conditioning ducts here in the Chamber, not because there wasn't bipartisan input in the writing of the legislation need it be House or Senate, but because 13 Members out of 154 decided not to vote in affirmation. I think it is also important to note, Mr. Speaker, that as we leave and we come back here, I believe, on Monday and we will be voting at 6:30, I hope that the Members engage their constituents on their vote, need it be against or for providing health care to poor children. I think that there should be a line of questioning as one walks through the airport when they get back home. Some of those volunteers out there should ask, ``Congressman, how did you vote on overriding the President when he vetoed health care for 10 million poor children here in the United States?'' I just want to make sure that one can answer that question with great accuracy. They may miss their flight or their connecting flight or they may even miss the ride home because it's going to be a long discussion. How can you be on the other side of 270 organizations that are not partisan organizations, that are nonpartisan organizations, that are 501(c)3s, that are doctors, that are nurses, that are children's organizations, the different organizations and associations that have been created to be here for this very time to educate all of us on those disparities as it relates to health care, to expand the opportunity for 10 million children to have health care and deny it? There was a bunch of name calling here in Washington, D.C. The President called it socialized medicine. What is socialized medicine? To sit up here and say ``socialized medicine'' after running up a $1.19 trillion debt from foreign nations on a war and other things, tax cuts for the superwealthy, that more than 42 Presidents before him and $1.01 trillion from 1776 to 2007 couldn't do. You take out your veto pen only one time, one time in the first term when we had a Republican Congress, one time, and that was on stem cell research. And now, all of a sudden, you have a veto pen connected to your index finger in your right hand, walking around, waiting on bipartisan bills passing through this Congress, Democrats and Republicans voting on these bills and sending them to you. And as soon as they get there, you want to veto them and then say something like the Congress is not doing what it's supposed to do. When I was in the 109th Congress, I would already be home. We would probably vote 1 or 2 days out of the week and then we would go home. Now we're putting in the work, broke the record, 982 roll call votes and the year is not even over yet and we have a lot of work to do. Meanwhile, we have to take these votes to try to override the President. We could have been focused on another issue here today. We could have been focused on some of the appropriation bills that we were waiting to get through the process that we can't get through the process at this point. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to come down to the floor on this Thursday evening. I look forward to continuing to work with the bipartisan coalition, with the volunteer coalition in moving this issue forward. I look forward to listening to what Members are going to say in the press as to the reason why they voted for health care for children, which I am pretty sure can be a one-liner, versus those of the 13 votes that we fell short here on this floor in overriding the President and the 154 that voted against today, the dissertation that they have to write on the reason why they voted against children's having health care today. I want to thank the work of not only the members of the committee but the staff here in working so hard here in Congress in trying to provide the health care that is needed. I close with this, what I shared maybe about 20 minutes ago, Mr. Speaker: In the legislative process there's a great story. At the end, there is glory once we are able to provide 10 million children with health care. So as we write this story, the good thing about America is its okay to say maybe I took the wrong vote and I have made some mistakes. I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, I have made some mistakes the years I have been in public service thus far, going on 14 years. I have taken some votes and later I said next time I have the opportunity, I'm going to vote the right way. I know more because I studied a little bit more. I have heard some input from both sides. And that's just the human spirit. I mean, that's fine. That happens. But when you have so much information and it is so clear and the evidence is there to show that we have States that are going to be running close to their program ending and children are not going to have health care and we are sitting here trying to override the President and we fall short 13 votes not because of the lack of will, not because of the lack of desire, it's because of whatever reason that those Members of Congress decided not to override the veto. The Senate has the votes to override. In the House we did not have it, and 154 of my Republican colleagues voted against our doing that. And I think that is very important to note. Again, it's not politics; it's just the facts. And the facts are what they are. And when that roll call vote took place today, which I am pretty sure you will see printed today, roll call vote 982, it may very well be the vote that may give us some new Members of Congress here that may very well provide the kind of leadership that we need. But we cannot wait on that to happen because children will be denied health care, poor children will be denied health care. Mr. Speaker, it was an honor to address the House, and I want to thank the majority leader for allowing me to have the hour. I know that the story will continue. We look forward to the glory. And I want to ask those that are pushing to continue to push, and I believe we will make it to where poor children will be able to receive the health care that they deserve and this country should provide.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to address the House. My good friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), we have traveled together and served together. I want that chart that he has. I keep asking him for it. About how when Democrats take control, pork barrel spending is cut in half. I appreciate it. I am glad for his accuracy. It is so good to serve with my colleagues up here in Washington, D.C. I am here with my good friend, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. Our districts neighbor each other in south Florida. We have been good friends for a long time. We are here tonight part of the 30-Something Working Group. Mr. Speaker, as you know, we come to the floor once, twice, and when we can three times a week to share with Members issues we are working on here. We want to make sure that all of the Members are fully aware of what is happening in Iraq. As of today, October 17, 10 a.m. report, there have been 3,824 deaths in Iraq. The total number wounded in action and returned to duty is 15,604. The total number of wounded in action not returning to duty is 12,674. We want to make sure that is not only a part of the Congressional Record, but that every Member of Congress understands the sacrifice those who are in harm's way are making. And those of us who are policymakers, that we make sure that we take the appropriate steps to do away with that number continually going up on a daily basis. Mr. Speaker, I want to turn it over to my colleagues that are here, but tonight I just want to take a point because the President today had a press conference. We did some good things. We gave out a Congressional Gold Medal today, and the President decided to release a press release driving over to the Capitol here. It was very interesting. In his statements he said that the 110th Congress, Democratic-controlled Congress, whether it be House or Senate, they need to go to work. That is interesting because I have record-breaking information here. We have taken more rollcall votes than any other Congress in the history of the United States of America. We are working 5 days a week in many cases. We have deaths or what have you. We have to pause for that. And national holidays and religious holidays that need to be recognized because there is sensitivity towards that. But I can't understand, we start talking about going to work. Let me read down the list of things we have done. The 9/11 Commission recommendations, all of them, to protect America from terrorism, passed. And the President said he wasn't going to sign it, but the American people pushed him and said they wanted to be safe, and he finally signed it. The largest college aid expansion since 1944, the GI bill, saving the average American $4,400. The President said he would never sign that bill. Because of the hard work of Members that voted for that bill, and these are bipartisan votes. I want to make sure that those who are paying attention to what we are saying here on the floor, those Members and Americans, that they understand this is not a Democratic message, this is a bipartisan message on behalf of the people of this country. The minimum-wage increase which raised the minimum wage for some 13 million Americans, passed and signed into law. The President said he wasn't going to sign that, but it was such a good piece of legislation. People wanted it to happen for many, many years. We said we will not allow the Members of Congress to receive a pay raise until we give the American people a pay raise. Innovation agenda to promote 21st century jobs, passed and signed into law. All of this was signed into law at like 7:30 on a Friday evening as the President is leaving to go to Camp David. Again, tough lobbying and ethics reforms that many of the independent reform groups are so happy that finally passed off this floor, through the Senate, and signed into law. Reconstruction assistance for the gulf coast disaster hurricanes, never would have happened, Mr. Speaker, if it wasn't for the push of this Democratic Congress. Actually, I remember when they had two amendments that came to the floor, one to give assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, and one to continue the funding for the war for 3 months, they came in two amendments, never would have happened if it wasn't for a Democratic-controlled Congress pushing it through. Expansion of life-saving medical research stem cells, passed on a bipartisan vote, vetoed by the President. Okay. Again, health care for 10 million children and working families, passed by a bipartisan vote. A bipartisan vote which tomorrow, and we are going to talk about that here tonight, the Senate has the votes to override the President and there are some Republicans that are saying that they are going to take that vote. We have a problem here in the House because we don't have some of our friends, and I do mean some of our friends because some of our friends on the Republican side of the aisle are going to be voting with Democrats. Not with Democrats, but just to vote on behalf of children in the United States of America. We are falling eight or 10 short of those votes. I want the Members to be aware of that. The largest veterans increase in the 77-year history of the VA passed this House and we are still waiting on it to make it through the process and hopefully the President won't veto that. Landmark energy independence and global warming initiative, that is something that is very, very important. Also, we have other pieces of legislation that are out there. Actually since the partisan politics started, not partisan, but some of the folks being partisan on this, 45 that we had last time of Republicans that joined Democrats on that bipartisan vote, so that's not 10, that's not 15, that's not 20, that is 45 of our Republican colleagues that, because of the Democratic leadership bringing it to the floor, knew it was a good idea and voted on behalf of their districts. With that, I want to make sure, just in case someone gets confused about that issue, because we are going to talk about SCHIP. We are going to do a hard push on SCHIP because this is about children's health care, and it is very, very important. I yield to Ms. Wasserman Schultz.