Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Want me to yield back to you, Mr. Ryan? Maybe you can remember. Are you having a senior moment?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Ratified by the Democratic Caucus.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. She is a rabbi.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to come before the House again. The 30-Something Working Group, as you know, has been coming to the floor now in the 108th and 109th Congresses and now in the 110th Congress to share with the Members of the House and the American people information about what is happening here under the Capitol dome, and I am very excited to report that there is an awful lot that is happening. More work has been done as it relates to assisting the American people over the last couple of days or the last hours, which is historic in many ways, than happened in the entire 109th Congress. It was talked about, it was promised, but it never happened. So I am glad to come to the floor with my colleagues who will be joining me shortly. I think it is very important, Mr. Speaker, to not only commend those that have been consistent on message, not only message, but action. I can tell you that hearing my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, you would think that they have been in the minority for the last 14 or 16 years, because they sound like all of a sudden they are ready to do something about the problems that are facing this country. I can tell you also, Mr. Speaker, that the fact is that we moved in the right direction in securing this country and passing the 9/11 Commission recommendations, and, like we promised, Mr. Speaker, in the 109th Congress, the last Congress, we worked in a bipartisan way. When we passed that piece of legislation, we had not only overwhelming, full support from the Democratic side of the aisle but a high number of Republican Members joined Democratic Members in voting for those recommendations to be placed into law pass this House. Today is a very historic, very emotional time for those of us that fought on behalf of Americans that punch in and punch out every day to be able to receive a hike in the minimum wage to $7.25. Again, we said we would work in a bipartisan way along with our Republican colleagues, and over 300 individuals voted for, including a number of Republicans, I think 80 or 81 Republicans, joined the entire Democratic Caucus who voted in the affirmative for an increase in the minimum wage to give the American worker a well-overdue raise. That will move on to the Senate and hopefully to the President's desk. I think it is important, Mr. Speaker, to look at the way we have moved in the right direction on ethics, saying we are willing to hold this House to standards that the American people would like for us to be held to and to also have a committee that will review any question of conduct as it relates to any Member of the House and that will consider that in a bipartisan way and report back to the appropriate overseers of the House here so that people know that we have checks and balances. Just mentioning those three items, Mr. Speaker, and looking at how Republicans have voted with Democrats because we have taken the lead to bring these issues to the floor, it is a perfect example of what we talked about for 3 years here on this floor. The good thing that I like about what we talk about and then what we do is the fact that we follow through, Mr. Speaker, on what we have shared, not only with the Members on the majority and the minority side, now the Democratic majority side, but what we would do if given the opportunity. I think the Members should pay very close attention, because the American people responded in a very positive way. It has been said there will be mistakes made, and it will be painful in some instances when we look at PAYGO regulations that we have imposed on ourselves. That is another initiative that passed this floor, that we will not start a program or send money out of the door of the U.S. House of Representatives unless we can show how we can pay for it. We know there are some war issues there and some other issues, but as it relates to what we call here on the floor, Mr. Speaker, regular order, where a Member files a bill and says I want to do X, Y and Z, and don't worry about it, we will borrow it from a number of the countries I have identified in the past that own a piece of the American apple pie. As we continue to move on, Mr. Delahunt, we want to start peeling these numbers off, showing how America is now starting to make itself whole as we start to pass policy. I think it is also very, very important, Mr. Speaker, to note that there will be a lot of things said on this floor. That has been the case since the beginning of the country. That is a good part of our democracy. Members can come to the floor and say what they wish to say. They are representing their constituents back home, and their constituents every 2 years have an opportunity to vote if they want them to return back. Mr. Delahunt, before I yield to you, I guess I would just like to put a word of caution out there. To those who feel they can come to this floor of the People's House and share information, to make an argument or an action or inaction sound appropriate, now, I know many of my friends on the other side, and I do call them friends, because we all are friends, we see each other, but we weren't elected to come up here and pat each other on the back and say ``I am more dedicated to you than I am to the folks back home or the American people.'' I will say this. We are all in the spirit of doing the right thing. But I just want to caution, because I think what got the Republican majority in the 109th Congress and the Congresses before that in trouble was the fact that there was more allegiance to the Republican leadership. When we start talking about these bipartisan bills, Mr. Delahunt, which I would like to do, I stood here at this podium, this mike on this floor a similar night several months ago, starting a couple of years ago, and said bipartisanship is only allowed if the majority allows it. I didn't have a problem with the frontline or the everyday Republican Member of this Congress. I had a problem with the Republican leadership that led their caucus in the direction of special interests and in the direction opposite of what the American people said they wanted. So what we are doing now is we are moving in the direction the American people wanted. They said they wanted ethics. We voted for it on the floor. We received Republican votes on those issues. The American people said they wanted to raise the minimum wage. We voted here on this floor, and 80 or 81 Republican Members voted saying that they support it. We voted to implement all of the 9/11 recommendations. We said that we would do it. Republicans on that side followed suit, many of them, and voted to secure America. So when we move the embryonic stem cell legislation and prescription drugs, all of these issues are based on leadership. We start talking about a bipartisan spirit, and we will let the record, Mr. Ryan and Mr. Delahunt, reflect our intentions and what we want to do. Yes, we are going to have some partisan votes in this House. But these are major issues. I don't care what anyone, any pundit, says, some Member going back home saying ``I voted against that.'' It is going to be hard for them to say they voted against the person that is making $5.15 an hour. ``You voted against that? Oh, you are real tough, Congressman.'' Goodness gracious. These are people who can't even afford to buy gas. But we are not going to focus on that, Mr. Speaker. We are going to focus on the 80-plus Republicans and the entire Democratic Caucus that voted to give the American people a raise. Mr. Delahunt, Uncle Bill, we are so happy, sir, that you are a part of the 30-Something Working Group. We are so happy that this is your inaugural night in the 110th Congress, where we are in the majority, your joining us here on this floor. We talked about your contributions last night. We said that we have a Medicare recipient within our midst. We talked about individuals that are drawing down on one of the pensions that maybe you received in your long career of public service. But we appreciate the fact that you are continuing, and we said we will continue our commitment.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 16, on the motion to table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' Stated for:

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 2, which calls for an increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour. Thirteen million of our Nation's lowest-paid workers have not had a pay raise for nearly 10 long years. It took the intervention of the voters to kick out the Republican do-nothing Congress, which loaded up past minimum wage legislation with special interest goodies, but today we are finally getting serious about helping this Nation's working people. The typical American worker earning $5.15 per hour has been forced to bear the brunt of rising costs and stagnant wages; since the last minimum wage increase, the cost of health insurance, gasoline, food, electricity, and education has risen, yet wages have remained frozen. Minimum wage today in Florida is $6.67 per hour. Yet, according to the Department of Labor in 2005, 117,000 Floridians earn at or below the $5.15 per hour Federal minimum wage. Too many Floridians are stuck in this poverty trap. I urge the Senate to move on this with the same speed and urgency that we have here in the House.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

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

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Can you give that out one more time?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. I can tell you that in the 30-something Working Group we do, Mr. Speaker, kind of mix it up here and there, but I think it is very, very important. I am glad we came tonight just to reflect on the work, and to say thank you to the American people, and to say thank you to the staff here in the House, and to say thank you to all of our families. I would like to say thank you to our personal staff that work in our offices. We get together, Mr. Speaker, and we go over this information, what works best here for the American people. So we just don't come to the floor. We actually spend a lot of staff time. So we want to say thank you to our staffs. Once again, we would like to say thank you to the Speaker for creating this group and sticking with us and giving us the resources that we need to come to the floor night after night, and we look forward to continuing to do that. The good thing about this 30-something Working Group, Mr. Speaker, is that this wasn't a project to get in the majority; this was a project to work on behalf of the American people. So in the majority we will continue to do the things we did in the minority because we still have people out there that need the kind of representation in a sensible way. This is not partisan. We are going to read off the song sheet of whatever the Democratic National Committee puts out. That is not what it is all about. It is about giving voice, commonsense solutions, and moving in the direction that we have to move in. So we look forward to working with our Republican colleagues. And I am so honored, Mr. Speaker, to yield to Mr. Ryan to give the Web site out, and then I am going to yield back our time. But since we no longer can use our old Web site, because we are in the majority now, Mr. Manatos had to write it on some notebook paper to give out to the Members until we get our Web site memorized.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I am not yielding to you. I am yielding to Ms. Wasserman Schultz for closing. I am going to close, then you are going to give the Web site. Ms. Wasserman Schultz.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, you claimed Ohio State, but you live in Niles, Ohio, far from where Ohio State is located.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. No, you said I am actually a Miami of Florida fan. I can tell you are from Ohio. Miami of Ohio? We say Miami, Florida. We don't say Miami of Florida. But thank you, Mr. Ryan.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Miami of Florida? I can tell you are from Ohio.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Right. When we come earlier, he comes to the floor. And Mr. Manatos, he is the glue that keeps this whole thing together. I can't say enough about him. I want to thank him for all the work he has done. Even though we are all paid to do what we do, Mr. Speaker, it takes an extra wanting to serve the American people to come to this floor night after night. And I want to take just a personal point. I want to thank my family for allowing me to be here, because I have two kids and a wife here in Washington, D.C. with me. They allow me to come to this floor. But the whole thing comes down to the fact that we have men and women that are deployed for 15 months at a time, so at least I can go two to three blocks to the Capitol at 10 o'clock at night, give them voice and those out in America voice that are punching in and out every day trying to figure out how they are going to get health care for their kids, how they are going to move in a direction where they will be able to have some savings and a tax cut as a middle class. So I am very thankful. You all can tell I am a little emotional tonight. I see folks here, the Capitol Police and other folks here working tonight, saying, Congressman, you have a big smile on your face. It is my first time being on the floor in the majority. It is not only a historic majority but I am glad to be part of change and glad to do something on behalf of the American people. Mr. Ryan.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. And on and on under Republican control. So I think it is very important for everyone to understand when we have legislative leadership, the writers of Constitution said there is going to be a legislative, an executive, a judicial. They did not say executive and legislative together. They didn't say someone calling from the White House and saying this is the way the vote is going to go down, and if you like it or not, this is what is going to happen. I have been talking to some of my Republican colleagues, and we all have great relationships with our Republican colleagues, many of them. We had an issue with the Republican leadership leading them down the wrong road, and we even tried to correct some of those issues here on the floor saying, you know, we want to get in the majority, but we care about the American people first, so, please, vote for our amendment, when we could get one on the floor, a motion to recommit, saying we want to make sure the American people are involved in this. We couldn't even pull one Republican on many of those issues. But tomorrow, thank God for our democracy, thank God for folks that voted for Democratic control of the House, we are going to have many Republicans that are going to vote. It is not going to be where were you yesterday, it is going to be thank God we are able to do something for the American people. So that is where we are. When Ms. Wasserman Schultz talked about legislative leadership, it is important. We have to be bold and we have to be bipartisan. I am just so happy that we are going to have the opportunity to do that. That is major, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, that is major, Mr. Ryan, for the American people to vote for change and to see it, immediately. Not, well, when is the next election? What? Two years and some change. We are not even out of January yet, and we are already voting in a bipartisan way because of the leadership of the Democrats that say we have to increase the minimum wage, something we told the American people we would do. So I am excited about the fact, Mr. Ryan, that we are able not only in our lifetime but in our political lifetime to be able to deliver to the American people something that is important. Ms. Wasserman Schultz and Mr. Ryan, when we come back to the floor, we are going to have members of the Freshman Caucus, of the Democratic Caucus, that are going to be joining us here on this floor. These are individuals that are fresh, out of not only the campaign, but out of private life, to bring to this House the kind of input that we need. One thing we are committed to do in the 30-Something Working Group, there is an old spiritual that says ``we are in no ways tired.'' We are in no ways tired, because we have a war that is going on, we still have people without health care, we have a deficit that is continuing to run out of control. But we have now passed legislation to pay as we go. We now have the will and the desire to do the right thing on behalf of our veterans. All of the things we talked about. So I look forward, Mr. Speaker, to coming to the floor to not only report on progress, but also to ask the Members on both sides of the aisle and the American people to give us the kind of input that we need. We had the rubber stamp, Ms. Wasserman Schultz and Mr. Ryan, that we asked the American people what should we do with the rubber stamp. I want to thank Mr. Manatos with the Speaker's office, I like to say that, with the Speaker's office, that facilitated that asking of the American people. We are going to keep the rubber stamp, the Republican Congress rubber stamp of the 109th, to remind us that we never, ever want to go back to a rubber stamp Congress. It is not good for the country and it is not good for our future, and it is not good for the men and women that are our veterans and those that are now serving for our independence for us to be able to salute one flag. It is not good. That is not what the Constitution called for and that is not what we are going back to. So there was a discussion of destroy the rubber stamp, or put the rubber stamp on E-Bay and give it to the Troop Relief Fund or whatever the case may be. But the overwhelming e-mails that we received in the 30-Something Working Group was keep the rubber stamp as a reminder of what you don't want to do in the 110th, if God is willing, in the 111th and the 112th and so on and so on Congress, to not allow that to happen. So, Mr. Ryan, I just want to say, I know Ms. Wasserman Schultz joined us in the 109th, I want to thank you personally on the 108th, because it was kind of lonely. It was just the two of us. Every now and then we would get other members of the 30th-Something Working Group. I want to thank you for sticking in there over the years, and then when you are in the majority, commit to coming back with the same enthusiasm to say not only thank you, but to say that we are going to continue to work and we are going to continue to reach out and continue to do the things that we did in the minority to make sure that we have a strong majority and make this country stronger. And I want to thank Ms. Wasserman Schultz for all the things she does. And I don't know how she does it all, being a mom. I am a dad, but to be a mom is a totally different definition. But she comes to this Congress and brings not only what she brings from the Florida senate, but the same kind of energy, integrity and good will on behalf of the American people, so I want to thank you and all the other Members. I want to thank Uncle Bill for being an individual that is receiving Medicare. He is a Medicare recipient now. The fact that he comes to the floor.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I think it is important, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and also Mr. Speaker and Members, a perfect example of the balance of power. Now, in the 109th there were a lot of things said. I won't be giving any speeches any time soon saying I was proud to be a Member of the 109th Congress, because we had Members that were indicted, we had Members that were saying ``I have a list, and if you are not on my contributors' list, you can't have a meeting with me.'' We had the K Street Project. We had a number of other things. We had the page scandal. We had a number of things, because no one was policing the body of this U.S. House. No one took responsibility on telling the special interests, no, you can't have that. No one took the responsibility in standing up to the big oil companies and saying we are going to legislate on behalf of the American people. When we start talking about investing in alternative fuels on this floor within the next couple of days, next week or what have you, that is going to be something that no one dreamed would ever take place. I am holding this chart up because we have been holding it up, especially in the 109th Congress, to talk about the increases that Members of Congress have received in pay and what the American people have received, zero, since 1997 as it relates to an increase in the minimum wage. Guess what? This chart, we can send it over to the National Archives across the street, because tomorrow we are going to increase the minimum wage. Guess what a little legislative leadership brings? Now the President is saying ``I am for the increase in the minimum wage.'' Isn't that something? And when we get on that board tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, I guarantee you that there are going to be a lot of Republicans that are going to say, you know something, and they are going to send a press release out and say ``I voted for an increase in the minimum wage.'' Unheard of in the 109th Congress.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) is making an excellent point. If you can elaborate more on what you were talking about, I think that is very important.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, you did take it like a man. We were watching the game together, and it was great for college football and great for all of us here in the country to see the underdog win. And it kind of tells our story here in the U.S. House of Representatives. And I just want to thank everyone on behalf of all of us. But tonight we are going to take a moment because, Mr. Speaker, when we come back to the floor, we have a number of freshmen that are coming in that are new 30-somethings that were elected in this election, and they are going to come to the floor. I believe, and all of us in 30-Something Working Group believe, that we were effective in the 108th and the 109th Congress, communicating with the American people. We want to thank not only the Speaker but also the majority leader, Mr. Hoyer; and also Mr. Clyburn, who was our Democratic leader, now our Democratic whip; and now Mr. Emanuel for his good work, who is our chairman of the Democratic Caucus; and Mr. Larson, who is the vice chairman, for all the support they gave the 30-Something Working Group, including the Members on the Democratic side of the aisle. We talked about what we would do, Mr. Speaker, if we had the opportunity to get into the majority. And I am happy to report that we talked about putting in standards on PAYGO, making sure that whatever we appropriated, wherever we spend, that we also identify how we are going to pay for it so that we can get away from owing all of these countries money as we owe now. And there is a lot of work that has to be done that the Republican Congress has left us with. Looking at records like this, $1.05 trillion borrowed by the President and the Republican majority in the 109th Congress and the 108th Congress over 42 Presidents at $1 trillion. So all of the charts you see here tonight, Mr. Speaker, will only be resurrected, if I could use that word, every now and then because the charts are going to be talking about what we have done. We did that last week. Today we implemented the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, all of them, here on this floor. And we had some of our Republican colleagues join us, and we are going to work in a bipartisan way to make sure that we do what we told the American people we would do in our Six in 2006 plan. Also, I think it is important, on Wednesday, we are going to raise the minimum wage. Tomorrow the minimum wage will be raised here on this House of Representatives floor. This House that we talked about time after time again that we would do if given the opportunity. Later this week, securing low prices on prescription drugs, giving the Federal Government negotiating opportunity with the drug companies. Also stem cell research, ethics reform. These are things that the 109th Congress under Republican control, they didn't even do it. And we have done it within the first 100 hours, and we have a lot more that we would like to do. So I would not only like to thank our good friend, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, which our districts neighbor each other in Florida, but Mr. Ryan and Mr. Delahunt, Uncle Bill, in his absence. Mr. Speaker, he apologized for not being here tonight, and I told him, this is the first night that we are on the floor coming back in the majority. And, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you, as I yield to my colleagues, Ms. Wasserman Schultz and Mr. Ryan, that I know from me and from all of us in the 30-Something Working Group, we are forever grateful to the American people for allowing us to have the opportunity to lead in a commonsense way on their behalf. And it took Republicans and it took independents and it took Democrats and it took the Green Party and it took folks who voted for the first time because they had hope that we are going to move this country in a new direction. And I am so happy to our leadership and also to the members of the Democratic Caucus that we are following through on what we said we would do. It is going to be painful, but we are going to do it because the American people want a new direction. I am so happy that I am a member of a caucus and a party that has said they are going to do something, and they are actually doing it. That is a paradigm shift here in Washington. I yield to Ms. Wasserman Schultz.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be before 110th Congress. I can tell you that as the 30-something Working Group has been coming to the floor for 3-plus years and talking about what we would like to do if we were ever in the majority, and the American people saw fit to give the Democrats the majority here in this House last November. And we are appreciative and grateful, and I am glad to be here with my good colleague Ms. Wasserman Schultz. Mr. Ryan is around here on the floor somewhere, Mr. Speaker. I believe he is hiding because of the lashing, or it is hard to put it in words, that the Florida Gators, who, it was reported that it was said that they shouldn't even get off the bus to play against the number-one ranked Ohio Buckeyes. But I am going to yield to Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and then we will get into the meat of our discussion, because Ms. Wasserman Schultz has a degree and paper hanging on her wall from University of Florida, and on her car she has Florida tags. I mean, she is a real Gator. I just kind of happen to be from the State of Florida. But go ahead, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. Congratulations.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, today I rise in solidarity with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools on the occasion of National World AIDS Day. Miami-Dade County Public Schools are working hard within my community to provide much-needed prevention information, as well as assistance to those afflicted with the HIV/AIDS virus. Indeed, the National World AIDS Day evokes once again a special opportunity for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, my North Dade constituents and the larger Miami-Dade County and South Florida communities to renew our collective and individual commitment to find a cure for this treatable and preventable disease. As we remember in our prayers those who passed on, as well as reach out to those who need our help, we are reminded of the urgency to fight against the spread of this virus. Despite the best efforts of our AIDS-support community organizations, in concert with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, HIV/AIDS continues to be a devastating disease. I commend our health care professionals, the volunteers from our community organizations, and our schools, who together exemplify a symbol of strength and resilience in a way that combines true professionalism and utmost compassion along the tradition of our stewardship for one another. The leadership of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools is readily focused on providing the opportunities of outreach information and ongoing education in a way that advances the common good of our fellow human beings, especially those who are suffering from the effects of the AIDS disease. Despite the strategies and activities that organizations of good-will have utilized to combat this virus, we are still saddled with the fact that the pace of the AIDS infection is staggering. According to recent statistics from the World Health Organization, the past year alone has seen more infection and death from HIV/AIDS than ever before. Of the estimated 18,371 AIDS-related deaths in the United States in 2006, approximately 52 percent were from the Black community. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Blacks accounted for 54 percent of all new diagnoses of HIV/AIDS. In Florida, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among Black males and females, aged 25 to 44 years old. According to the Florida Department of Health, over half of all people living with HIV/ AIDS in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties are Black. As we celebrate National World AIDS Day in light of these agonizing facts, we must put forth a much more aggressive and concerted effort to reach out to our communities, teaching our residents about this disease, insure proper treatment for AIDS victims and continue the research needed to bring this epidemic under control. This infectious disease should not be a partisan issue, but should be a commitment for all Americans. We can and we must address the HIV/AIDS epidemic aggressively, both at home and abroad. I encourage everyone in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties and beyond to get tested; get informed about prevention and get treatment if you need it. Let's all renew our efforts to stop the spread of this dreaded disease and, as a caring community, reach out to those of our fellow residents who are already living with HIV/AIDS. I commend the Miami- Dade County Public Schools for their leadership role in raising the awareness level about HIV/AIDS and encourage school administrators, faculty, staff and students to continue with this most laudable effort.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the late Honorable Yvonne Scarlett-Golden, Mayor of Daytona Beach, Florida. On Tuesday, December 5, this great pioneering lady succumbed to cancer at the age of 80, even as she continued performing her duties as the first female and African-American Mayor of that city. She was buried with full honors in her native Daytona Beach on Wednesday, December 13, surrounded by her six grandchildren, two brothers and a bereaved constituency. Her untimely passing will truly leave a deep void in our midst, especially in our state's African-American leadership and among the august membership of the National League of Cities, which looked up to Mayor Scarlett-Golden as one of Florida's truly great mayors. Affectionately called ``The Mayor,'' by her constituents and friends, Mrs. Scarlett-Golden was one of the best and noblest of Florida's leaders. She dedicated 38 years of her life toward championing the education and academic achievements of Florida students and those who came under her tutelage at the San Francisco (California) Unified School District. She advocated comprehensive academics for her students, along with scholastic projects designed to help students at the junior and senior college levels. Mrs. Scarlett-Golden believed that education was the best way for children of the poor to achieve and serve as responsible and productive citizens. A native of Daytona Beach, Mayor Scarlett-Golden obtained her early education at Daytona Beach's Campbell and Kaiser Laboratory School. She went on to get her Bachelor's degree, graduating with Honors from Bethune-Cookman College (B-CC), and later on obtained her Master's Degree in Education from Boston University. In 1999, her alma mater (B- CC) conferred upon her the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, a longtime friend, said of her, ``Yvonne was an incredible woman who achieved a tremendous amount in her life. She took on challenges and she was a real fighter. I never would've guessed the end was so near for my dear friend.'' ``She lived everyday as though her incredible life was never going to end.'' This public servant was a multi-dimensional leader, an indefatigable community-builder, and a loving mother and grandmother. Her leadership was truly admirable. Mrs. Scarlett-Golden was a faithful steward of Daytona Beach. She was God's faithful servant, bringing hope and optimism to thousands of ordinary folks whose lives she touched so deeply, never holding anyone at arm's length. This remarkable lady was a friend of the family. She was my confidante, and I was blessed to have her as my god-mother. Indeed, for me, she will serve as an indelible reminder of the noble commitment and awesome power of public service on behalf of the less fortunate. Her faith was deep and resolute and she was blessed with a sunny disposition and enviable optimism. She will be truly missed. She taught us the virtues of hope, optimism and faith during her earthly sojourn. This is the wonderful legacy Mayor Yvonne Scarlett- Golden left behind. And this is the gift with which she blesses us now.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Marty R. Pinkston, a longtime and dear friend of my family and one of our community's unsung heroines. On Friday, December 15, 2006, her peers, friends and supporters will honor her at a farewell dinner as she retires from her position as Director of Governmental and Public Affairs at Florida Memorial University. A preeminent educator, Dr. Pinkston is affectionately known as ``Marty'' to her countless admirers and is truly one of the most indomitable community activists of South Florida. Having dedicated a major portion of her life to making the public educational system work on behalf of Florida's minority and poor students, she has been relentless in developing innovative educational programs that succinctly responded to the needs of our community's underserved college student population. Responsible for developing strategies to secure additional resources for the university from local, state and federal sources, Dr. Pinkston was unrelenting in her dedication to providing quality education for all those willing to walk the extra mile in pursuing their college degree. Having received her bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University, she went on to obtain her MA in Business Education from New York Institute of Technology and her Doctorate in Education from Nova Southeastern University. She complimented her educational achievements with her chairmanship of the Metro-Miami Action Plan Trust and service on the United Way of Miami-Dade County and the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the Metro-Dade County Safe Neighborhoods Parks Oversight Committee. Dr. Pinkston epitomizes an admirable spirit of compassion and her concern for the less fortunate in our society will forever be lauded. But she is more than that. Dr. Marty Pinkston is remarkable not just for her energy, achievements and leadership, but because of the kind of person that she is. People are naturally attracted to her. The day just goes better if you get the chance to spend some time with Marty Pinkston. As one of those hardy spirits who conscientiously chose to reach out to the less fortunate, Dr. Pinkston thoroughly understood how leadership could truly change people's lives. She wisely exercised her leadership and politic skills, alongside the mandate of her conviction and the wisdom of her knowledge. The crucial role she played all these years in developing the winning strategy for many a successful candidate for elective office evokes a genuine insight borne out of experience and expertise. She would often say that the accolades are not that important at all. Instead, she would note that what is important is that our community receives the recognition of its strength and promise amidst the tremendous challenges it has had to undertake all through the years. It is an honor to have the the privilege of knowing this gentle and caring leader. I salute Dr. Marty R. Pinkston, a very dear friend, on behalf of a grateful community that she truly loves and cares for. Now, in retirement, she embarks upon new challenges in life and I am certain her legacy of greatness will only grow and develop as she enters this new phase of life. I wish her every happiness and success.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Mrs. Thelma Gibson who will celebrate her 80th birthday on December 17th with friends, families and well wishers. Mrs. Gibson is a South Florida institution, a woman who has dedicated herself to a lifelong pursuit of education, while focusing on improving public healthcare in our community and instilling the virtues of community service and volunteerism in all people who are graced by her presence. Mrs. Gibson is the sixth of fourteen children and was born on December 17, 1926 to Sweetlon Counts Albury Anderson and Thomas Theodore Anderson. Mrs. Gibson is the mother of 2 children, Charles Gibson and Deveniece Gibson. She has 7 sisters and brothers--Joyce, Doris, Percy, Donald, Hubert, Alvin and Herma--and has a host of loving nieces and nephews. Mrs. Gibson is a native Miamian and the widow of the late Reverend Canon Theodore Roosevelt Gibson. Mrs. Gibson received her formative education at Coconut Grove Training School for Colored Elementary School, Coconut Grove Junior High School, and George Washington Carver High School, from which she graduated in February 1944. After graduation, Mrs. Gibson attended Saint Agnes School of Nursing at Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina and graduated in August 1947 as a Registered Nurse with a specialty in operating room techniques. She then returned home to work at Jackson Memorial Hospital in the operating room, where she had been approved for a position. Her employer, however, upon realizing that she was of Color, assigned her to work on the Colored wards. Mrs. Gibson continued her education in nursing by taking an advanced course from Florida A & M University taught by Dr. Mary Carnegie, Dean of Nursing, in a classroom provided by Jackson Memorial Hospital. In the summers of 1954 and 1955, while preparing to work in Public Health Nursing, Mrs. Gibson took advanced courses at Catholic University in Washington, DC. During the summers of 1956 and 1957, she attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she enrolled in courses on cancer and communicable disease nursing. From there, she attended courses given through the University of Miami in 1957 and 1958 out of the home of an instructor who lived in Coconut Grove at the corner of Main Highway and Lennox Avenue. A course was also provided at Booker T. Washington Senior High School. Finally, in 1959, Mrs. Gibson attended Teachers College at Columbia University, New York and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing education. For more than 50 years, Mrs. Gibson has been a trailblazer in education, mental and physical health programs, and a community leader who served her church and family. In August of 1997, she was appointed as Interim City Commissioner and served on the City of Miami Commission through November 1997. Mrs. Gibson holds memberships on numerous boards, committees, and panels, and has received many honors, awards, recognitions, and certificates. The most recent accomplishment to Mrs. Gibson's credit is authoring her autobiography, Forbearance: Thelma Vernell Anderson Gibson, The Life Story of a Coconut Grove Native that was released in the Fall of 2000. Mrs. Gibson also sponsors the Thelma Gibson Health Initiative, housed at the Theodore R. Gibson Building, that provides free testing and assistance for HIV and AIDS infected persons. Her latest project is the Theodore and Thelma School of the Performing Arts located on Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove where the students receive academic training with a focus on the Arts. Mr. Speaker, I know all my colleagues join me in honoring Mrs. Gibson, a truly great lady, as she celebrates her 80th birthday. We can only wonder and marvel at the achievements that are still before her.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6406, a comprehensive trade package that has great potential to create tens of thousands of new jobs in the Haitian textile industry. While the provisions in this bill are not as strong as in the legislation I introduced, I am relieved that after years of empty promises and delay that the Republican-controlled Congress finally has allowed a bill to come to the House floor that helps Haiti. I have traveled to Haiti a half dozen times since entering the Congress. And on these trips I have met with Haitian business leaders who have told me time and again that the textile industry has suffered greatly and is inching closer to collapse. The Haitian garment industry currently employs a mere 12,000 people-- a tiny fraction of what it once was. In Port-au-Prince, the capital, 15 factories have closed in the last 2 years. By failing to act, Congress and the Bush Administration have enabled Haiti's miserable situation. This bill is significant because one tenth of Haiti's national income comes from its textile exports. While the vast majority of Haitians live off less than $2 a day, the average Haitian garment worker earns twice that. Bread-winners in Haiti often support large extended families; grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, children, and their children's children often live under one roof. Industry analysts estimate that the HOPE Act could generate as many as 30,000 new jobs. Haitians working in these textile jobs would not only possess the buying power to help stimulate the national economy, but the trickle down would directly impact the lives of tens of thousands of other people in this hemisphere's poorest country. Haitians need to return to work, and that's why I've supported granting Haiti preferential trade status for years. The HOPE bill has the potential to revive this vital sector of the Haitian economy by allowing apparel assembled in Haiti using third- country fabrics duty-free access to the United States market. It is a scaled down version of The Haiti Economy Recovery Opportunity (HERO) bill, H.R. 4211, which I introduced in the House in 109th Congress. It has taken this Congress far too long to act, but perhaps, at long last, help for Haiti is finally on the way.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to join with Congressman Costello and all of my colleagues in honoring a truly great man-- Congressman Lane Evans of Illinois, who will be leaving Congress after a quarter-century of service to our country. When I was a freshman Member of Congress, and a new member of the House Armed Services Committee, Lane Evans, a veteran himself, a senior member of Congress and the ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, learned of my interest in veteran's issues and took the time to show me ways to improve my service to veterans in my District and in our state. They were lessons from a master, and they have left an indelible impression on me. His expertise is legendary. He knows the needs of veterans; their programs, history, problems and concerns. He forged alliances across the aisle and put together coalitions to pass legislation to keep this Nation's promise to our veterans. As a Vietnam Veteran himself, he never forgot what it meant to serve this country in the military. His ability is so great that he can even make those who have never served also understand the military and its culture. I will also never forget the fun we had when Mr. Evans managed our Congressional basketball team. We played games to help raise funds for charity, and even though he was stricken with Parkinson's disease, which prevented him from participating, it was obvious how much he loved the team and the good-natured competition. He is a joy to be around, and an inspiration. Mr. Speaker, we need only look at the walls of the Speaker's Lobby or our committee rooms to appreciate that the House of Representatives will continue on long after we are gone, and there is a certain comfort in the realization that this great institution, in which it is our honor to serve, will endure. However, I want Mr. Evans to know how much he has touched me and the other Members of this Congress; to thank him for his friendship, his leadership and for his service to our Nation; and to let him know of our commitment to build on the foundation that he laid down over his 24 years in Congress.