Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong and unwavering support for H. Con. Res. 198 and am pleased to be a co-sponsor on this Congressional Resolution that draws attention to the approximately 37 million Americans who live in poverty. In particular, I am bound and determined to meeting the Resolution's goal of cutting poverty in half over the next 10 years. The number of impoverished Floridians increased from 859,888 in 2000 to 943,670 in 2005, a 9.7 percent rise, representing almost 6 percent of the total population. Over those years, Broward County's severely poor grew from 77,942 to 82,327, while Miami-Dade's poverty rate of 6.8 percent was among the highest in the State. African Americans and Hispanics have poverty rates far above the poverty rate for Caucasians. In 2005, 24.9 percent of African Americans (9.2 million) and 21.8 percent of Hispanics (94 million) had incomes below poverty, compared to 8.3 percent of non-Hispanic whites (16.2 million) and 11.1 percent of Asians (1.4 million). Although African- Americns represent only 12.6 percent of the total population, they make up 24.8 percent of the poor population. And among those that are the highest of our country's poor are our children. In 2005, 12.3 million children (17.1 percent) were poor. For African American children, this statistic is even higher--in 2005, 34.2 percent of black children were poor (3.7 million). This is inexcusable in a country where so many live in great wealth. Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom. It is time to change these statistics. Our citizens with minimal education, and our citizens without a job are among those that are the most susceptible to poverty. Clearly, Americans need to work. We need to do what we have to do to make this happen. And we need to do this soon, and not drag our feet on this important issue. This Resolution will motivate us to get moving and gives us a very necessary goal--to cut poverty in half over the next 10 years.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is an honor to be here on the floor. As you know, in the 30-Something Working Group, we come to the floor to share information not only with the Members, but also with the American people. And I think it's very, very important, now that we are in our second day of reconvening after the new year, to wish everyone a happy new year, and hopefully we will be very productive on behalf of this great country of ours. A lot has happened, Mr. Speaker, since my last time on the floor. The 30-Something Working Group had the opportunity to adjourn the House for the year 2007. One of the Members of your class actually had the opportunity to hit the gavel, Ms. Yvette Clarke. We left, and a lot took place. There are a lot of Presidential politics that have taken place since then on both sides of the aisle, Republican and Democrat. There has been a lot said. There has been a lot of media coverage on different issues. But I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, the issue of the economy and the issue of the war in Iraq continues to bubble up to the top. The issue of health care continues to bubble to the top. And also, as we reflect on what took place last year, the closing part of last year, it was very frustrating for many Americans because one may think that we would have accomplished, when I say ``we,'' those of us here in Washington, D.C., I'm including the President of the United States and the Congress, to achieve some sort of sensible plan as it relates to Iraq, and that was not achieved. More accountability, because we have control of the Congress, and I say ``we,'' Democrats have control of the Congress, small majority, but control. I had a chance to put some accountability measures in an Armed Services mark and the Foreign Affairs legislation. We were able to do that, but very limited because the President continues to hold on to the 40 Republicans solid that he needs to withstand a congressional override when he vetoes legislation that the American people would like to see enacted. Even though it had bipartisan support, many pieces of legislation dealing with Iraq, also dealing with a number of other issues that are important to the American people, the President was able to use his veto pen for the first time, many times, and not for the very first time, but for the first time that he has been consistent in doing so. Sometimes it actually has sent the country backwards when we start dealing with issues that we're facing right now. I come to the floor with a new spirit and hopefully a new outlook in the year 2008 that we will have a better way of working in a bipartisan way here in this House and in the Senate and working with the President. We can't say that there has not been reaching out, especially on behalf of Democrats to Republicans, here in the Congress. I can tell you that we have had an opportunity to work with President Bush and also congressional Republicans in talking about various issues that are facing our economy. We came in and had discussions with Secretary Paulson, who is the Secretary of the Treasury, about the economy. You will be hearing a lot more from him, Mr. Speaker and Members, as we start to approach the date that the President is going to release his budget, which will be in the early part of next month. I believe it will be the 4th. On February 4 he will be releasing his budget, as the date stands now. Well, between now and then there's a lot that has to happen. And we're just 12 short days, I must add, Mr. Speaker, from the President giving the countdown to the State of the Union. Those are the days remaining, the 12 days. I can tell you, also, Mr. Speaker and Members, that it's important what the President says at the podium just below where you are, Mr. Speaker; what he says is going to be very, very important. Not only will the United States and the people that work every day, those that defend our country that are abroad, but other world leaders will be paying attention to what the President has to say. And I'm pretty sure he is going to have to say a lot. In past State of the Unions, and this will be my sixth opportunity to be a part of this Congress and to witness a State of the Union in this Chamber, there have been some highlights and there have been a lot of disappointments. And I think that we have to plow through that now, Mr. Speaker, in a bipartisan way in making sure we do what we must do on behalf of the country. I say that in the spirit that House Democrats in December had an economic forum, talking about the economy, talking about what we need to stimulate this economy. You've heard a lot of proposals on the campaign trail from Republicans and Democrats and Democrats and Republicans. And everyone has a great plan. But I think that it's important that those of us that are elected now to govern, that we govern, because I don't think the American people can wait until 2009 to get accountability and to get relief from this government. Saying that, I want to commend the administration, the Bush administration, that they released $450 million from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. And I can tell you that it's very, very important to be able to assist some of our seniors and many of our low- income. But this money was made available because the Congress put $2.6 billion into that particular program and funding it in an appropriations bill that passed in December and increased it by $400 million. So really, when you look at it, Mr. Speaker, thanks to not only a Democratic-led Congress, but also some Republicans that did vote in the affirmative to pass this work product out of this Congress, out of the $2.6 billion, within that we increased it by $400 million, the President released $450 million. I hope that we can continue in this spirit, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Americans that are being hit the hardest in this economy as we move forward. So many times that the administration, the Bush administration, and so many times within that 40 that we talk about that the President has been holding on to, on many issues that the Congress and Republicans here in the House, and we've passed bills with bipartisan support, are able to hold on to not being overridden. And I think that it's time, it's high time, especially for those Americans that are concerned about what happened on Wall Street yesterday, I believe it's 45 points down now, I don't know how it's going to close today, but I think it's very, very important that we look at what is happening right now, what's happening with the mortgage crisis right now in this country, and what we must do by leadering up and reaching across the aisle to one another to make it happen. We have achieved that, Mr. Speaker, in the first session. When I say ``we,'' I always used to say in the 109th Congress and the 108th Congress, bipartisanship is only allowed when the majority allows it to happen. And I can say that what I witnessed in the first session of the 110th Congress, bipartisanship was achieved because you can see that there were a number of votes, major votes on major pieces of legislation, that was bipartisan in double digit numbers, and sometimes three digit numbers, of Republicans voting in favor of major pieces of legislation that has passed off this floor and was sent to the President. And in some cases, the President vetoed it because we fell short of achieving the 40 that he always counts on to help him withstand a veto. I think it's important, when we start talking about the letter that the Speaker and Senator Reid, the leader in the Senate, wrote to the President on the 11th of this month talking about energy, talking about gas. And I think it's important that the President responds to that, because as the President is flying to Saudi Arabia and other places, really talking with those leaders because of this very issue here, Mr. Speaker. We've gone from January 22, 2001 per gallon price for gas $1.47 over today's average of $3.07 per gallon. Now, Mr. Speaker, some Members may be saying and some staff may be saying, and I know the American people are saying, excuse me, Congressman, you must have the wrong number with that $3.07 because just earlier today I've seen gas not only here in Washington, D.C., but back in my district that has been hit real hard in Florida, upwards of $3.33, and that's just for regular unleaded, octane 87. So when you think about it, especially those small business men and women that may have an F-10 or what have you, that comes up to a lot of dollars. And when you think about gas prices, even for those that use mass transit and those that are driving hybrids and other vehicles that are high mileage vehicles, it hits them, too. But think about when you go to the grocery store. That means that milk is going to cost more because of transportation costs. Everything will go up. And that's when we start talking about an economy that's out of reach for Americans that are making just the same as they were making last year or the year before. And speaking of a bipartisan victory, Mr. Speaker and Members, the passage of the minimum wage bill that some in this Congress said over their dead body will they see the minimum wage increase, that it was increased. And at the same time, because of the respect that the majority here in this Congress has for small businesses, that's the backbone of our economy, that we were able to also put a package onto the minimum wage bill that also provided some relief to small business people. But I think it's important, Mr. Speaker, and I won't digress into how we got to this point because I think that's self-explanatory. I think we know that governance has a lot to do with it, and we're trying to bring about that kind of change with the passage of the energy bill that this House passed in the first session of Congress. But $3.07 is something that we must address and that we have to address. And until we get to the point, Mr. Speaker, that Republicans are able to work along with Democratic leadership, Democratic chairmen, Democratic leaders, and not really bringing about the difference between us and them and making a political statement, but kind of being under the same banner of ``we want to work together.'' And a good step towards that direction, Mr. Speaker, was today, seeing the Republican leader stand with Speaker Pelosi and also with the majority leader and the whip on the Republican side and so on and so on, it's good to see that. I hope that that relationship continues. I hope that that effort of coming together continues. Definitely, the majority has shown, the Democrats have shown, we have shown, that we are willing and able to work in a bipartisan way as it relates to putting together a stimulus package that would work on behalf of all Americans. And I hope that the President shares in that theme and that notion that the American people would like to see. And we do know the American people would like to see us work in a bipartisan way. Speaking of that, Mr. Speaker, I talked about the Dow closing yesterday, but today the market finished 34 points down, and I can tell you that it's been a roller coaster day. And many Americans don't have a great understanding of how important the opening and closing of the market is, but it has a lot to do with our economy and it also will make investors more fearful of going out and doing some of the things they have been doing. So we as the government have to step up and rise to the occasion on behalf of not only the American people but also in making sure that we stand up to keep our economy going for small and medium-sized and large businesses. I think, Mr. Speaker, as we continue to head down the days to the State of the Union, we know that there will be a lot of things said, and we know that the American people are going to be paying more attention than they were paying even last year to the President's State of the Union for the following reason: States, come this February 5, Super Tuesday, will stand in judgment of those that will replace the President of the United States because of term limits, will be the nominee on both sides, and they will be paying attention to the issues. Well, I want to make sure that my colleagues know and all of my colleagues know in Congress and also in the executive branch, those of us that are ``working to make this government better,'' that we understand our responsibility, because I am a little concerned, Mr. Speaker, that some may feel that one can play Presidential politics as real Americans are going through real life issues, and I think that it's important that we don't allow that season to seep into this Chamber or seep into the Senate or seep into the President's office to logjam what we must do on behalf of the American people. It's okay to take a stand and say, This is what I would like to have, but it's another thing when one goes out of their way to stop progress, and I think that progress is something that we must work on very hard. I want to, Mr. Speaker, share a couple of more points with you tonight. I think it's important that we look at the fact that we are still in a very difficult situation and we look at putting together this stimulus package, and I am speaking to the administration and those that are coming up with the budget, the Office of Management and Budget over in the President's executive branch. And also as agencies start to move their budget requests forward, there is a number of Members of Congress that are concerned about that very number to the far end, $1.19 trillion over the last 6 years, and the Federal debt continuing to rise, compared to the 224-year history of this country, from 1776 to 2000, $1.01 trillion. Forty-two Presidents weren't able to come up with that number, and we are about to double that number now. A lot of that number was brought about up until 2006, and we have worked very hard to bring that number down in 2007. And as you know, there has been a great discussion on the pay-as-you- go mandate that we have put forth. And I know that the AMT, the alternative minimum tax, to avoid a tax increase on so many Americans was held to the last minute and Members had to vote to borrow the money to offset that. I'm hoping that as we move forth in the stimulus package and as we move forth in other tax reform packages, and I am speaking to my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle that really strongly supported borrowing the money in both the House and Senate, I think that's important that we come together and think about not only the future but the present. We used to talk about this debt dealing with the future, our children and our grandchildren. Well, guess what? The debt that's being accumulated now and the posture that this country is in right now in the fiscal sense today is dealing with our economy now, is dealing with how we are respected by other countries now. We owe more countries more money than we ever owed them in the history of the Republic. So that means that we are in a position now financially that we have never been in before. And so the President takes 8-day tours to other parts of the world, which he has done, and I think any world leader must do that. Everyone can't come here to the United States. You have to go visit them and take part in that cultural exchange and discussion. But I think it's also important, Mr. Speaker, when we think about that, when the Commander in Chief goes down those steps off of Air Force One, that that world leader should not be looking at that Commander in Chief and saying, First of all, you owe me money. You owe my country money. You borrowed money from us. That should not be the thought in that world leader's head. The vision that that world leader should have is, A, that I have communications with this world leader. We have a relationship. We have one that we can work together in making this world safer and also looking at our global economy. As this chart shows here, and you've seen it before, the largest foreign holders of U.S. national debt. When the Japanese leaders come to the United States or we see them abroad, any of our diplomats or what have you, they are thinking $644.3 billion and counting, and this number is higher now. China as of 11-05 was at $249.8 billion. China now is at 349.6, and that number is a little higher than that now, and I know I need to get this chart updated. But I think when we look at that and we say that we want China to do things better than they are doing as it relates to providing products that will be safe for U.S. consumers, but as we look at China, I can't help but think about the conversation I had earlier today with my colleague Tim Ryan from Ohio, who said that he has had 1,100 jobs leave in the last 2 months from Youngstown, Ohio, or around that Niles, Ohio, area. But meanwhile, not only is China the benefactor of those jobs in many cases, but they also have the opportunity to use those dollars that they have accumulated off of commerce or what have you and use those dollars to buy our debt. So that's a win-win situation. Not only am I the recipient of your jobs that used to be your jobs, but I am also the recipient of being able to buy your debt where you have to pay me back with interest. So as we look at this economic stimulus, you have to think about what's happening, and that's the reason why I hope that the President responds to Speaker Pelosi's letter and also Majority Leader Reid's letter, which if he doesn't respond to it, I will have it on the floor to ask the President or someone over at the administration to respond to it because these are very trying times for everyday Americans. And it's not trying times just for Democrats or independents or Republicans. We're talking about all Americans and what they are facing right now. I was about to put this chart up, but let me just point out over here, OPEC nations, that's Saudi Arabia. So when the President is over there meeting with the leadership in Saudi Arabia, with the King, Prince, and what have you, they can't help but think, You owe me money. You owe Saudi Arabia money. So when you look at this debt that is record breaking at the $1.19 trillion, that's how we're getting there. We are getting there with an administration putting forth budgets that are still borrowing money and also holding the Congress hostage and getting us into a position to where now the American people will have to pay through the nose or lose tax benefits to continue that philosophy. So I think the key would be a more bipartisan effort here in this House and in the Senate to pass a good stimulus package, hopefully in concert with the President. But if it's not in concert with the President and the administration, and Secretary Paulson is going to have a lot to do with that and a lot to say about that, the Secretary of the Treasury, and if that does not happen, since there have been committee hearings and there have been Budget and Ways and Means and Financial Services and other committee meetings and the American people have had an opportunity to hear hours and hours of debate on the committee level and also here in this Chamber, this may very well be a sign to put together a stimulus package and at least stand next to our work product and not whither under the President's threat of a veto. If he does veto it, that means we have to go back to the drawing board if there are 40 Members that are willing to stand with the President. I would also add that in the 30-Something Working Group, we always take an opportunity to show illustrations of what we're talking about here. This is the veto where 40-plus Republicans went down to the White House and stood with the President when we put requirements on the administration to make sure that we have accountability measures on the Iraq spending bill. And this was something that the American people wanted, something that I believe had a big part of Democrats taking over the Congress, and we found ourselves in a situation being denied that opportunity to bring that kind of accountability to the issue in Iraq and the spending in Iraq and the lack of accountability in Iraq with 40 of our Republican colleagues plus going down to the White House saying, We stand with you Mr. President. Now, I pulled that picture out just to say that it did happen and that it can happen. Do we want that to happen again? No. Can we work these issues out before we get to the point of the President saying, ``I have to veto,'' and a bus has to pull out in front of the Capitol and just over 40 Republicans get on that bus and go down to the White House and say, We stand with you, Mr. President, and God bless America and apple pie and Chevy trucks? We don't necessarily need to do that. We can head that off if we know that we need to work in a bipartisan way, and we are asking for that to happen here on the majority side. The State of the Union is a very, very important time for the country, and also for the world. I took the opportunity today to pull some of the statements from the 2007 State of the Union. I think that it's important for us to look at what has transpired and what has not transpired; just some of the things that were said that have not come to reality or have not come to being a part of Federal law. I think when you start dealing with issues such as health care, there's good lofty words that can be used, and during the President's talk on health care he said, a future hope and opportunity requires that all of the citizens have affordable and available health care. The Republican record on that has been the President's tax deduction plan, which would do nothing to reinvest a majority of the 47 million Americans in his plan. And he also makes the health care problem even worse, a plan of raising taxes on many middle-class families and also undermining the employer-provided insurance health program over the next 6 to 8 years. Now, I think it's important that we look at this issue, and we try to look at this issue, talking about a Democratic approach of dealing with that health care, and starting this issue with our very newly born citizens to this great country of ours through the SCHIP program. And our plan, looking at the direction that we were heading in, we were working to increase the availability of health care insurance to children, those that are in need the most, and that was through the SCHIP program. And we were not able to do that, even after one, two, three attempts to get that SCHIP bill past the President's desk without the veto that he actually carried out and without a continued threat of a veto if we were to send it. We did reauthorize the bill for another year, but that is not addressing many of the issues that are facing Americans right now, and I think as we start to look at this issue, Mr. Speaker and Members, we have to look at it from the standpoint of we have to start somewhere. What better place to start than dealing with our children? I think that it's important that we move in that direction. Fiscal discipline and the economy. We talked about that, and some of that will be placed in this State of the Union, I am sure. I don't think the President can come in here in another 12 days or so and not talk about the economy. I mean it's almost like an elephant standing 3 feet in front of me, and I'm saying, I don't see the elephant. I don't see what you're talking about. That is the situation right now in dealing with the economy. Another slogan issue, not really a plan, but a plan that's released nine times out of 10 in the budget or a piece of legislation, the President says, together we can balance the budget. Well, let's look at that statement. ``Together we can balance the budget.'' Well, over the last 6 years President Bush has not put forth one balanced budget plan. First you have got to start with that. You have got to put on the table the work product that will actually balance the budget. I think that when you look at historic numbers, where we are now, we turned a $5.6 trillion surplus into more than a $3 trillion deficit. The fastest growing item in the budget is interest payments to foreign countries that I have put up on this chart. It may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but I can tell you, once we start to really start moving down and paying down this debt, the goalpost continues to move further and further away because of the fact that we are not working together to make sure that we can balance this budget. The President said, Together we can balance the budget. Well, just because he says it doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to happen. So when we start to move down the track, Mr. Speaker, in closing, looking at the economy; looking at the fact that the American people expect for us to work together, which we should; looking at the fact that this is not the centerpiece or peak of the political season, but there's a lot being said on both sides, Democrat and Republican, and I think it's important for us to look at the past, learn from the past, hopefully for a brighter future, looking at the past, what has happened and what has not happened, and looking at a brighter future. The first session of the 110th Congress was a good session and a lot was done in the first session. I think it's important too, when we look at the past and start looking towards the future, in the first session of the 110th Congress, the 9/11 Commission recommendations to protect America from terrorism, passed, signed into law; the largest college student aid expansion since 1944; the GI Bill, that saved average students $4,400, that is in their pockets, passed, signed into law; the first minimum wage increase in a decade, there's a pay raise for 33 million Americans, that comes in handy now, passed, signed into law; Innovation agenda promoting 21st century jobs, passed, put into law. That is coming back towards making sure we are able to stay competitive with other nations. The tough lobbying and ethics reform bill that was just held by independent reform groups, passed, signed into law; reconstruction and assistance of the Gulf Coast devastated hurricane areas, passed, signed into law. That was a long fought effort that was something where the people in the gulf coast asked for fairness, equity, and attention from this government. We were able to bring that to fruition through the first session of the 110th Congress, which is a Democratic Congress. I can tell you there are a number of issues that have not been resolved, that were attempted to get resolved, but I think that some of those issues, we look at the expansion of research of stem cells, passed, was not signed by the President. Also, health care for 10 million children of working families, passed, not signed into law. Vetoed. We also look at the other major, major pieces of legislation that were even threatened by veto that were stalled in the legislative process because the President issued a veto threat. I think that as we look at the past success that we have had in a bipartisan way, and as we look at the future of what the American people are going through now and what they will be going through in the coming months, I think now more than ever in any other time since I have been in Congress, and it's now my third term, that the American people need us. The American people need us to work together like no other time in recent history. Some forecasters have said this is going to be a pretty bad economic downturn. A lot of folks are using the R word, the recession word. We have to work together so that the American people don't suffer, and we will work together, especially on the majority side, in hopefully a bipartisan spirit to allow that to happen. But there has to be the will and the desire on behalf of the minority party, which is the Republican Party here in this Congress, and the spirit and desire on behalf of the administration to get something done. I think the President should be more motivated than any other time in his Presidency to make this right and to be what he said he was in his first campaign, that he is a uniter and not a divider, a uniter and not a divider. I think the American people need to see that played out in this last year that he will be serving as President of the United States. Once again, the majority in the House and Senate, the only way we can achieve bipartisanship is if the majority allows it. We know that the majority has the will and the desire to allow that to happen. The question is, the President and the administration, do they have the will and desire to allow bipartisanship to work between the legislative branch and between the executive branch? I hope and I pray, especially on behalf of those that are punching in and punching out every day, on behalf of those that their only income is a Social Security check and what their family assists them with to keep the lights on, keep food in the refrigerator, I hope on behalf of those that are in harm's way, fighting on behalf of our country in Afghanistan and also in Iraq, and those that are deployed in military installations throughout the world, that their mother or their family members are able to survive here under this economy and the direction that it's headed in. It's going to take bipartisanship. That means we need to rise up above Democrat and Republican, rise up over our differences, and stand on behalf of the American people who are counting on us. With that, Mr. Speaker, it's always an honor to come to the floor and address the Members. The 30-Something Working Group will continue to work hard on behalf of the common good, and also bipartisanship in the House and in the Senate, and hopefully with the administration. But we ask for the Members, if they have any questions or anyone has any questions or would like to share a story, that they can contact us at 30-Somethingdems@mail.House.gov, or just visit www.speaker.gov/ 30something, and we would love to have a conversation with you. Also if you wish to share your stories about what is actually happening in your hometown or happening with your business and what it will mean to you for us to work in a bipartisan way. I think that is the spirit we want to pick up and the spirit that we want to have so that we can get something done on behalf of the American people.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to be before the House once again. Last night we didn't know when we would end today, and we did a lot of thank-yous and good-byes and seeing the good people that we work with here in the Capitol next year. But we wanted to come to the floor, and I know that Mr. Ryan and Ms. Wasserman Schultz and Mr. Altmire and others will be coming down to give their closing comments. But, Madam Speaker, I think it is important for us to shed light on the actions of not only today, but the last 24 hours, what has happened, what will happen in the upcoming year, and all of the things that this first historic session of the 110th Congress and this New Direction Congress has accomplished. Many times I have been on the floor and we talked about the difference between the glory and the story. And whenever there is glory, there is a story that is untold, and very few know about the story part. I think it is important, especially as we start to look at this point and look at where we are now as a country and where we are getting ready to go and where we have been in the recent past. Two wars going on, an economic downturn, Americans losing their homes as it relates to mortgages. Also, issues that our servicemen and women have to face of not being with their family members at this very holy time of the year. And, Madam Speaker, if I can, I want to not only read into the Record but also share with the Members some of the things that we have done this past year in a bipartisan way, in my opinion, in many cases major pieces of legislation, and some we still have impasse on and we are going to have to work on it the next session. I think it is important when we start looking at what this Congress accomplished, because we started out with saying that we had a Six in '06 agenda within the first 100 hours of this Congress. And if you listened to the President, the President may say, well, the Congress is not doing much. That is his opinion. Well, that is very interesting, because I remember being a part of Congress when we came in on Tuesday night and we left mid-day Thursday and got very little done. This Congress did everything but sit around and not respond to the needs of the American people. We actually came here and we made America safer by passing the 9/11 Commission recommendations to protect America from terrorism. We also brought the largest veterans health care funding increase in the history of the VA. And I think that is important. You hear me speak very passionately about those that have laid it down, those that have put everything on the line so that we can salute one flag today. We also passed an energy package which is historic, that is putting forth standards, increasing fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2010, slash U.S. oil consumption by more than 4 million barrels per day by 2030. These are benchmarks that we want to meet as a country so that we can protect this earth for future generations and for the present generation. Also, expanding American-grown biofuels to 35 billion gallons by 2020, creating American jobs while we are doing it. I think it is important for us to point back at the largest college aid expansion since the GI Bill in 1944, that cut interest rates in half on behalf of families that are trying to afford to educate their children and young people that are borrowing money to be able to educate themselves in many cases. The first increase in the minimum wage in a decade. I mean, the things that I am mentioning here, Madam Speaker, are accomplishments that I think far surpass my first two terms in Congress under Republican control. We did a lot of things for a lot of super- wealthy people. We carried out acts on behalf of special interests that the average American would never have an opportunity to enjoy. Here on this floor, we spent 4 years talking about what we would do if we got the opportunity, and that we have done it and we are still doing it. And it is not over and we are still in this story mode. Our innovation agenda, promoting 21st century jobs for a global economy, is another accomplishment of this Congress. Aid to the Gulf Coast recovering from Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Waiving the Stafford Act requirements, the matching dollars, so that those communities and that gulf area will be able to recover. Just like Miami, just like your City of New York after 9/11, just like San Francisco had that waiver, we made sure that those gulf states and also those Americans down there that were struggling, that their cities are able to come back and their parishes are able to come back. I think it is also important for us to look at the tax cut that passed this floor today for 19 million middle-class Americans that were facing an AMT hike because every year Republicans have treated it as though it is some sort of new thing by borrowing the money. Now, today there was legislation that came over from the Senate that we ended up voting and paying for because we wanted to make sure that firefighters and everyday first responders and those that are teachers that fall within that AMT that we call it, alternative minimum tax, make sure that they don't have to pay a higher tax. Personally, Madam Speaker, because so many times here on this floor we talk about balancing the budget, making sure that we don't borrow on the backs of our children, I am committed that we are going to work out a way that we can vote for something that is paid for and that we can make sure that we make it happen without shutting the whole tax process down. I personally voted against paying for it with borrowed money, but I think that so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that voted for it, to borrow the money today because we are in a crisis situation, we are going to be facing tough votes in the future. As we borrow from China, as we borrow from these other nations that not necessarily have our best interests at heart, I think it is important that we pay attention to that. We worked very hard, this is a part of this story, we are not quite there yet, on the whole SCHIP legislation, which is the health care for 10 million children. We did reauthorize the existing program at the existing numbers so that we would not have crisis in the States where kids are depending on this health care. These are things that we have to do because we have to do them for now. But I can tell you, and I hope that the American people are paying very close attention, about the effort that this Congress has put forth, Mr. Altmire, to make sure that we keep this government functional, that we try to run the government in a fiscal way, that we try to make sure that those that have been literally cut off from Federal assistance, that we are able to bring that assistance back to not only build States but also build communities and make sure that the U.S. taxpayers get what they deserve. A couple of other points. I think it is also important that we look at restoring accountability, earmark lobbying, ethics reform. We have done all of that. It is all transparent and it is all there to make sure that integrity of the government is here. And we passed the pay- as-you-go rule that was adopted. A number of other initiatives have passed this floor, and more rollcall votes have been taken in this first session of Congress. So really what we have done as Democrats and especially, Madam Speaker, you and Mr. Altmire and others who have joined this Congress in this session, should be very proud going back home talking about the new day and the new direction that you ran for, that you played a role in moving this Congress into a new direction, and that is what we have done.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Yes, all kind of stuff. These guys are rock stars. But I just want to say in closing that what we do here is very serious work, but we do bring kind of a human element to it. I'm glad that we do, because Americans understand what we are talking about. Members understand what we're talking about. And Madam Speaker, I mean, it's really a high honor for me to yield back this time, but I would also like for your freshman class brother, Mr. Altmire, to close our first session officially.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I just want to let you know, it ain't over yet.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. We have a lot more work to do, and we are monitoring all of the things that we have to do and those that were not accomplished----

Mr. MEEK of Florida. We are going to plow through them and make sure that all of this happens. We are going to know those bills that made it through the process. We are going to know that those bills that made it halfway through the process. We are going to understand the pieces of legislation that misbehaved along the way, and we are going to make sure that we get it right. I want to say something before the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) says something. We are going back to our neighboring districts down in Florida. I hate to talk about it in front of all of my good friends in the Clerk's Office about Florida and the sun and all of those things, but I want you to pay attention. You have to look at one another and pay attention to what is happening here. This is the last night of Congress of the first session. The 30- Something Working Group is going to get an opportunity to adjourn the House for the year. We are all in the majority. We all serve on substantial committees. We all have families to go home to and do the things that we have to do. But we care enough, Madam Speaker, the commitment that we made to the American people that we were going to do what we said we were going to do, and we want to make sure that Independents, Republicans, Democrats, new voters, those thinking about voting, know that we have their back. We don't have to be here tonight. That is the reason we are going to finish at 7:30. These people have commitments, too, and are ready to go home. But we are going to make sure that this goes into the Record so when the historians look at this time in this first session and all of the things that we tried to do to balance the budget and do all the things that we told them we would do in this first session, that we meant it and we held our own feet to the fire on this issue. Ms. Wasserman Schultz.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I know we have time, but I made a commitment to the people that are nice to us here in the Chamber that they will be getting to be reunited with their families pretty soon. So I guess we can kind of make our closing comments, or what have you. We said 35 minutes. We have until, maybe until at least 35 after, so don't feel rushed.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, we gave a lot of shout-outs to folks last night on how much we appreciate all of the staff and everyone that has made the 30-Something Working Group possible: our good friends from the Clerk's office who have been watching us for the last 5 years, also Mr. Michael here. I don't want to give out last names because Mr. Tom, you know, and others that help us.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker and Members of Congress, as a Member of Congress, I am moved by Ms. Joyce Hamlett's trust in patience, trust in truth and trust that God has planned a great path for her life. I rise to ask you to join me in recognizing the excellent service and continued professional success of Ms. Joyce Hamlett, newly appointed Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressional business begins when the Mace is set, and ends when it is lifted. There is one woman with the great responsibility to ensure that the Mace is available for this historical purpose. And, in times of emergency, one woman guards the Mace and preserves its protection. Ms. Joyce Hamlett is the first African American woman to serve as the Keeper of the Mace. Her moral upbringing prepared her for this honorable position. Ms. Hamlett was raised by her grandfather in a church community that fostered the importance of honesty and faith. Indeed, Ms. Hamlett's strong heritage has served as the guiding force throughout her career on Capitol Hill. In the early 1980s, Ms. Hamlett departed Broadway, North Carolina and began her successful professional journey alongside her mother, Betty Pearson, at the Capitol Cafe. Within five years, Ms. Hamlett rose to cook for lawmakers upstairs in the Capitol Hill restaurant. Her respectable interaction with lawmakers continued when she went on to serve as elevator operator under the Architect of the Capitol. During that time, she formed long-lasting friendships with many Members of Congress. In the early 1990s, Ms. Hamlett interviewed for the position of chamber security, and soon after began to firmly enforce House rules on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. As chamber security, she was well-known as one who worked hard to safeguard the principles and rich tradition of the U.S. House of Representatives. Because of her excellent service, Ms. Hamlett was promoted to her current position as Keeper of the Mace. Ms. Hamlett is not only Keeper of the Mace, but she is also keeper of a strong moral foundation and keeper of the wisdom and principle represented by the Mace's solid- silver eagle. Madam Speaker and Members of Congress, I congratulate Ms. Joyce Hamlett, a woman that continues to blaze new trails with distinction as Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give honor to one of our great House employees here that works in this Chamber every day, and that's Joyce Hamlett. Joyce has had the opportunity to be appointed as Assistant Sergeant at Arms in charge of the mace of the House of Representatives. I think this is a very high accomplishment for someone like Ms. Hamlett who has a meek-like spirit and very nice lady, and I've been working with her, and she's been working not only with me but my mother and other Members that have served here in the House. She's the first African American woman to serve as keeper of the mace. Her high moral upbringing prepares her for this honorable position. Mr. Speaker, I can go further, and I do as it relates to my Congressional Record statement, but we honor not only her presence here, but we honor the fact that she gives God all of the grace and the glory for her accomplishments here in the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress, as a Member of Congress, I am moved by Ms. Joyce Hamlett's trust in patience, trust in truth and trust that God has planned a great path for her life. I rise to ask you to join me in recognizing the excellent service and continued professional success of Ms. Joyce Hamlett, newly appointed Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressional business begins when the Mace is set, and ends when it is lifted. There is one woman with the great responsibility to ensure that the Mace is available for this historical purpose. And, in times of emergency, one woman guards the Mace and preserves its protection. Ms. Joyce Hamlett is the first African American woman to serve as the Keeper of the Mace. Her moral upbringing prepared her for this honorable position. Ms. Hamlett was raised by her grandfather in a church community that fostered the importance of honesty and faith. Indeed, Ms. Hamlett's strong heritage has served as the guiding force throughout her career on Capitol Hill. In the early 1980s, Ms. Hamlett departed Broadway, North Carolina and began her successful professional journey alongside her mother, Betty Pearson, at the Capitol Cafe. Within five years, Ms. Hamlett rose to cook for lawmakers upstairs in the Capitol Hill restaurant. Her respectable interaction with lawmakers continued when she went on to serve as elevator operator under the Architect of the Capitol. During that time, she formed long-lasting friendships with many Members of Congress. In the early 1990s, Ms. Hamlett interviewed for the position of chamber security, and soon after began to firmly enforce House rules on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. As chamber security, she was well-known as one who worked hard to safeguard the principles and rich tradition of the U.S. House of Representatives. Because of her excellent service, Ms. Hamlett was promoted to her current position as Keeper of the Mace. Ms. Hamlett is not only Keeper of the Mace, but she is also keeper of a strong moral foundation and keeper of the wisdom and principle represented by the Mace's solid-silver eagle. Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress, I congratulate Ms. Joyce Hamlett, a woman that continues to blaze new trails with distinction as Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives. Thank you Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Murphy was running for office a year and some change ago, talking about if he gets to Congress what he would do for his constituents, that he would provide the kind of representation that they deserve, turn this saga of Iraq and that other issue of Iraq back to domestic priorities, bring home the bacon on behalf of the district and his constituents. I'm so glad that he's here tonight because we've been here three times. This is his first time. I'm glad that he's here because I want to know what's wrong. I mean, I just, Mr. Speaker, I personally want to know what's wrong with coming to Washington, DC, representing your constituents, and doing what you said you would do.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. So I think it's important, Mr. Speaker, for us to note that that's the case. And, Mr. Ryan, I am going to kick it back to you and Mr. Murphy was very kind because it was his turn, but I am going to tell you Mr. Thomas ran the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Altmire, and meanwhile had something named after him. And for Members on the minority side to come to the floor and talk about present Members that are bringing home the resources on behalf of their constituents, I can see if one did not put in a request.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I will yield, Mr. Ryan.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Connecticut.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it's an honor to be here before the House once again. And a lot has been done and I'm so glad that we're here and 30-something, once again, may be our last opportunity in this year of 2007. We appreciate the courage and the commitment by those of us that are in the majority. And we talked about a number of things that we would do and that has actually happened, Mr. Speaker. And a lot has happened this year, and, Mr. Speaker, I know that your constituents and others as it relates to Minnesota and what has taken place there and the tragedies that y'all have dealt with and how this Congress has responded to that tragedy of the bridge falling, and so many of your constituents are in recovery as we speak, and being from south Florida, hurricane ravaged area, we know what recovery means. And it's important for us to respond in a bipartisan way. But I can tell you, some of my colleagues that were on the floor just prior to me hitting the floor talking about earmarks, it's very interesting. I am, you know, it's one of those days, and I'm glad that I was able to make it to the floor and that we were able to take this hour, and we want to thank the majority leader and also the Speaker and the majority whip and our leadership as it relates to the Democratic Caucus and our vice Chair for getting here, because to talk about earmarks, it's very interesting because we've reduced earmarks by 40 percent. I mean, that is something that the Republicans did not do over a number of years. You wouldn't even know who put an earmark in if it wasn't for the transparency that the Democratic Congress brought to this process. Now, I'm going to tell you right now, I'm very happy that I was elected to come to Congress and that I'm going to get the opportunity to go home and tell my constituents what I've done for them in Congress. That's what it's all about. Why are we here representing 600, 700,000 individuals, Americans? To not only represent them here in Congress, but to also, quote, unquote, bring home the bacon on behalf of your constituency, to make sure that they have what they need, to make sure when a county commissioner or someone that sits on a parish board has an opportunity to come to their Member of Congress and say we need something from the Federal Government, meanwhile back here in Washington, DC, we have Republicans that have voted in the last five, or four Congresses for tax breaks for billionaires. Their name's not attached to it. We come here, we bring transparency, we bring accountability. We bring accountability to this process. And then they come to the floor with the audacity to say, well, you know, oh, these earmarks. Well, you know, I don't know, but I'm pretty proud of the fact that the city of Pembroke Park is able to do something about the water treatment that they've been yearning for, struggling city. I'm very proud that the city of Miami is able to say thank you Congressman for representing us in the U.S. Congress. Meanwhile, the Republicans, for years and years and years, have been able, Mr. Ryan, to give tax breaks to the billionaires and gazillionaires. Here we are bringing government back to the people and being criticized by the other side of the aisle. So, Mr. Ryan, there's a lot that we have to talk about. This is a historic day. We passed energy independence and security act. That's a historic piece of legislation. And all our colleagues have in the minority to talk about, earmarks that have been reduced by 40 percent and have been highlighted by this Congress.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this is one of these moments at the end of the session, I mean we're like days from Christmas. We're still here in Washington, D.C. We've already started Hanukkah; Kwanzaa's on its way. I think it's very, very important for us to point at the fact that this Congress has worked harder than any other Congress in the history of the Republic. I mean, I'm not talking about coming in number two or coming in number three or coming in number four, but we've taken more rollcall votes in the history of the Republic. I think it's also very important, and I feel goose bumps by this whole thing. I pay attention to history. I also pay very close attention to the present. We're looking at a President right now that has made more veto threats than he's made in the last 5 years or 4 years, what have you, that he's been President of the United States to this Democratic Congress. We're looking at the AMT. We're talking about individuals being able to file their taxes, and we said that we were going to pay for it. This President is saying that he doesn't want to pay for it, that he wants to borrow the money. But the bottom line is that we're going to be here to make sure that we pay for it in the long run, in the second half of this Congress. We're not going to allow the President to play this Congress as a fiddle. This President is talking about, Oh, well, I want Iraq funding a part of the appropriations bill that's going to pass and all. He has the veto pen. He also has 40 Republicans here in this Chamber to make sure that we don't override him on this issue of Iraq. We voted for appropriations for Afghanistan, and we had a number of Republicans that voted against it, some 200-plus. I don't feel in any way bad about the position that we've taken. I'm so glad Mr. Manatos is on our side. You know, our colleagues who came to the floor right before our hour. I sent upstairs for this chart to make sure that we enter this chart into the Record one more time. I think it's important that we look at the 42 Presidents before this President were only able to borrow $1.01 trillion. We're talking about the Great Depression. We're talking about World War I. We're talking about World War II. We're talking about Korea. We're talking about Vietnam. We're talking about Grenada; that's new. We're talking about a number of conflicts that have taken place. We're talking about economic downturns. We're talking about the S&L scandal. We're talking about a number of issues that have faced Americans over the years. This President, President Bush, along with his Republican minority, thank God, but enough to be able to cause trouble over in the Senate with this 60-vote phenomena that we've learned about in this 110th Congress with Republicans saying, Well, you know, we're going to use procedural rules to be able to hold up what the Democratic Congress would like to do in this Congress. This President was able to borrow $1.19 trillion. That number is higher now. This chart is not updated, but I think it's important for our Democrats, Independents, Republicans to know that we believe in fiscal responsibility here on this floor. We believe in the American way. We used to talk about our children paying this bill, but now we're talking about we are paying this bill, countries like China and others.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. So I know Mr. Ryan is trying to get in the middle of this. He's always trying to get in the middle, and I'm just trying to make my point. I don't want you to take it personal. I'm just trying to make my point.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you so very much. I think it's important, and I kind of feel like a Baptist preacher on the first Sunday. You want to be able to make your point, and you want to be able to climax, but Mr. Ryan comes in and gets in the way, but it's okay. He has a good point. He's a great American. I think it's important that we look at our responsibility right now and in the present for being able to stand up for those that have elected, woke up early one Tuesday for us, voting for representation, that we give voice to their cause and their need. I think it's also important, especially as it relates to the diversity of our caucus, need it be Blue Dogs, need it be moderate, need it be to the left or whatever the case may be, it represents America. I think the reason why Republicans voted for Democrats last time, Independents voted for Democrats last time, Democrats voted for Democrats last time is because they're looking for change. We're here to provide that kind of change, but we start looking at obstructionists here in Congress using procedural, using the rules of the House, using the rules of the Senate. The minority is protected in this process, standing in the schoolhouse door, if I may use that, of allowing us to stop from the report that we got today, November 13, or yesterday, November 13, total deaths in Iraq, 3,888; total numbers wounded in action and returned to duty, 15,832; total numbers wounded in action and not returning to duty, 12,829. We pay attention to those numbers in the 30-something group because the American people are paying attention to those numbers, and I think it's very important, Mr. Speaker, that we continue to lift this issue up. So as we look at what we are facing right now, Members, there's nothing wrong with us representing our districts and being able to bring dollars back because this is something that has not happened over the years. We have been borrowing the money to be able to continue the war in Iraq. We have been borrowing the money as it relates to going after Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. We have been doing the things we need to do. But I think it's very important, Members, that we tell our story. Today a very historic piece of legislation passed this floor when we look at the Energy Independence and Security Act. And I think we should not allow this day to pass without talking about the courage of Democrats and Republicans passing this bill. I yield to Mr. Altmire.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Altmire, I think you just hit a point there. Mr. Ryan, the 30-something Working Group, I can say, gentlemen, that we do our homework. As we talked about our colleagues on the minority side criticizing earmarks on the majority side, Mr. Ryan, would you please share with our illustrious support staff that we have here? Mr. Speaker, this is the reason why the 30-something group exists, so that we can, some may say, push back. We say tell the truth. I yield to Mr. Ryan.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Bill Thomas that used to be the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Altmire, I want to thank you first. First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me just say this: let me tell you, as I was walking to the Chamber, I saw that the Speaker's vehicle was still here in the Capitol. I saw that the majority leader's vehicle was still here at the Capitol. This is now a little bit before 10 p.m. within the closing days of Congress. We have worked day in and day out. We are here away from our families, many of you away from your families, days before Christmas, to be able to work on behalf of the American people. I think it's important for us to understand that we would not even be having the discussion about who got what if it wasn't for the transparency that this Democratic Congress brought to this process first. So for Republicans to come to the floor and start talking about who got what, it never would have happened, Mr. Murphy, if it wasn't for what we have done. It never would have happened if it wasn't for your class and Mr. Altmire's class coming and saying we want transparency, that we want the American people to see what we are doing, that we want to take more rollcall votes than any other Congress in the history of the United States. We want ethics; we want responsibility; we want fiscal responsibility; we want to make sure that the Veterans Affairs get more money than they have ever had in history, the veterans health care system, in the history of the Republic. We want accountability as it relates to Iraq, and we want this President to know that this is not a rubber-stamp Congress. If it was not for you, Mr. Speaker, including yourself, asking for the kind of accountability the American people have been calling for, that have been yearning for, voting for and they finally got it, for the minority party to come to the floor and start criticizing things, where they make over 20-plus earmarks, to come to the floor and criticize, that's why I'm so glad, Tom and Tasha and Michael, that we are here tonight, Mr. Speaker, to make sure that we set the record straight. We talked about the hypocrisy of the democracy. This is a perfect example of what happens when things go unchecked. I am so glad that we exist. I'm so glad we have air within our bodies to be able to come to the floor. I yield to Mr. Altmire.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, Mr. Ryan, I want to thank you and Mr. Altmire, and also Mr. Murphy and Ms. Wasserman Schultz and others who have been very active in our 30-Something over the year. I want to thank those that are involved in preparing not only material that we meet on on a weekly basis, but also what we bring to the floor. I want to thank all of the staff and those that are involved, the Speaker's office, the majority leader and the whip's office, the majority whip and the Democratic leader, and also the Vice Chair for everything you do to make our 30-Something hour possible. I don't know if we'll have the opportunity to come to the floor tomorrow, which some project may be our last night on the floor, but we want to thank Mr. Michael and also Mr. Tom, Ms. Natasha and Mr. Adam and so many others that have spent time on this. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot done this Congress. We're going to be talking about it more. And like Mr. Ryan said, go onto www.speaker.gov to get information on 30-Something. I want to commend those Members of the minority party that voted with the majority party to be able to make it so for many of the things that Mr. Ryan has talked about. We look forward to the President's State of the Union that will be coming up in January. Many of, I'm pretty sure, his talking points will come from what has already been accomplished by this Democratic Congress or has been brought to the President by force because of the vote that we have here and the will of the American people. We know that this is the holiday time of the year, and we would like to also recognize not only the contributions of our religious communities out there, but also those that work within our charities that have made it so for those to be able to not only have warm meals, but also to have gifts at this time of year. Also recognizing those Members that served in the first half of this Congress that did not make it to the second half of this Congress, those Members of this House and also the Senate that have moved on to a higher place. We ask for blessings for their families, and also for their loved ones that have been left behind. We try to provide the kind of representation that they tried to put forth on the Democratic and also the Republican side of the House. Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful, and all of us in the 30-Something are very grateful for coming to the floor.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, Mr. Murphy, we definitely appreciate it. And I'm going to take that part of the Congressional Record and put it in the foyer of my office here in Washington, also the large brains part, put it in the foyer. But if it wasn't for the support of our leadership allowing us to come to the floor. But also, I think, Mr. Speaker, those individuals that are in harm's way and their families, two wars going on, we appreciate their contributions. We appreciate those veterans, since we're giving what we call ``shout- outs,'' giving those veterans that allow us to salute one flag, we appreciate them, those folks that put it on the line and some that did not make it. But we look forward to coming back in the second half of this Congress and finish the unfinished business. We want the American people to have faith in this House, have faith in this Senate, and also a level of respect for the Commander in Chief, that we're going to work this thing out here in Washington, D.C., on behalf of those that have sent us up here to represent them. I look forward to the second half of the Congress. I want to thank the staff, thank the folks in the Clerk's office for doing all that they've done, even the staff over in the minority office for sticking in there over many hours in this first half, because we have not only made history, but we have also put in more hours than any other Congress in the history of the Republic. With that, Mr. Speaker, we encourage people to go to www.speaker.gov, and we yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker and members of Congress, I rise to ask you to join me in recognizing the excellent service of someone many of the residents of the Longworth Building are familiar with--Mr. Ben Solomon, store manager in the House of Representatives. For the residents of Longworth, Mr. Solomon was the quiet, unassuming friend who greeted us when we made a pit-stop to the store for an afternoon snack to get us through the rest of the day. Mr. Solomon and his loyal co-workers, Jason and Veronica, took extra care to stock the store with the favorites of those who frequented the establishment. I ask you to join me in extending our sincerest gratitude to Mr. Ben Solomon for his first-class service. We are saying farewell on Friday, December 14, 2007 to a peaceful man, one who has not only dedicated his extraordinary service to us, but to his wife, three children and family members in Ethiopia. Born on June 16, 1965 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr. Solomon made his journey to the United States of America in 1982 for his quest to study and work to support his family. Mr. Solomon studied engineering at the District of Columbia and the University of Maryland, College Park. As one of his regular customers, I am honored to take this time to celebrate Mr. Solomon for his kind spirit and twenty years of dedication to guest services. One of his employees said it best, when she said that Mr. Solomon will truly be remembered as ``A person who gets along with everyone.'' Madam Speaker and members of Congress I congratulate Mr. Ben Solomon for his outstanding service and wish him the best in his future endeavors.