Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again it is an honor to come to the House floor. We would like to thank the Democratic leadership for allowing us to have this hour. The 30-something Working Group, as you know, comes to the floor if not daily every other day when we have the opportunity to do so, to share with the Members of the House initiatives and plans that we have on the Democratic side of the aisle that will make America better and stronger. As you know, we have been on the message of a new direction for America, and we have been working very hard on that because that is the message that we have and that the American people are looking forward to seeing implemented. So many times here on this floor, we talk about ideas and concepts, but they never really make it to the legislative debate, due to the fact that here in the House, Democrats are in the minority; and the majority has adopted a rule that there is not a true bipartisan spirit here in this House, only when we vote on post offices and naming bridges. But when it comes down to policy, policy that is affecting the people that we represent every day, there is a great divide, a divide to where we are not sitting down at the negotiating table, in committee, in subcommittee, and definitely not sitting down before legislation comes to the floor in a conference committee to talk about what is best for America and how can we make it better. The American people yearn and hope for Democrats and Republicans and the one Independent in this House to work together. I think it is important to outline the fact that our leadership has said if given the opportunity, earning the opportunity of the American people to lead, that you will see a bipartisan spirit, not only spirit, you will see bipartisan action in this House on major pieces of legislation dealing with health care, education, how we are going to balance the budget, just not talk on how to cut the deficit in half or we may cut the deficit in half, really breaking down the deficit so that we will not pay more than what we are spending and investing in education, homeland security, and veteran affairs. That is why we come to the floor. And we start talking about a new direction for America, making sure that health care through prescription drugs, and also making sure that HMOs eliminate wasteful spending and a number of other reforms that should take place there so that we do not have so many Americans going into emergency rooms. Also lowering the price of gas and achieving energy independence is one of our major goals. There was just a report that was released by the Agriculture Department that is now having some sort of discussion about ethanol and what we can use, how we can use the ethanol and how it can play a role in making us independent, the E-85, and our proposal of putting America on a new direction or in a new direction. We talk about the importance of alternative fuels, not just investing in the Middle East and not investing in the Midwest. So we look forward to continuing to push that philosophy here on this floor as we have the opportunity to lead this House, knowing the American people can deliver that, making sure that working families making more than what is presently the minimum wage, increasing that minimum wage, making sure they are able to bring home more to their families. Millions of Americans are living on the minimum wage. It has been very difficult. And we have charts here, Mr. Speaker, that would illustrate how the minimum wage, we haven't seen a national minimum wage hike since 1997, but we have seen increases in other areas where families are still expected to perform under those circumstances. And I think that is where we are finding our shortfall as it relates to individuals being able to afford college. Cutting the cost for college, making sure that there is a tax deduction for college tuition and expanding the Pell grants and cutting the student loan costs in half, making sure that college is affordable, and rolling back the increases that Republican Congress have put on students. Not just students. When people talk about students, they think that we are just talking about young people that graduate from high school. We are talking about families that have invested their entire lives with their children to make sure that they can go to school, that it is affordable, that we don't continue to move the goal post the closer families get to making sure that they can provide for their young people to achieve a college education. Also, preventing the privatization of Social Security, coming up with real Social Security reform, and making sure that folks can retire in dignity knowing that they have a Social Security plan and a Social Security card that is more, that stands for the security of their retirement. Also, those individuals that are on disability, those individuals that are receiving survivor benefits, making sure that they don't end up in some line somewhere reporting to some private institution because someone thought it was a great idea to make money for individuals on Wall Street, And, lastly, I would say a part of a new direction for America is really being fiscally responsible. Now, the first Democratic hour out here, Mr. Speaker, we had the Blue Dog Democrats that were here, and they spent the entire hour talking about fiscal responsibility. And I think it is important that the American people and the Republican majority House understand that we have the will and the desire and the track record to show that we truly know how to balance the budget, surpluses as far as the eye can see when President Bush went into office and a Republican majority was emboldened, and now we are borrowing at a rate that one writer in the Washington Times, Mr. Chapman, had said that the President has dethroned Lyndon Johnson as it relates to spending. And that is a heavy statement to make, even though I feel very strongly that President Johnson at that time of transition invested truly in America and not just in billionaires and millionaires receiving tax cuts, and also oil companies running away with public dollar giveaways to them and record profits at the same time. I am so honored tonight, Mr. Speaker, as usual, to be joined by my colleague just north of my district and just west of my district and east of my district in some areas, Ms. Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida, and also Mr. Tim Ryan from Youngstown, Ohio. As you know, last evening, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, I was sharing with the Members we don't just come to the floor, we actually meet to talk about these issues that are facing Americans. And I think it is important that we continue in that spirit and moving America in the right direction, in a new direction than what they see right now from the Republican majority.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Jackson-Lee for joining us. I think it is important as we look at the last 10, 12 minutes of our time here of looking at being responsible, looking at being responsible, and what the American people in every district that is represented here in this House, Mr. Speaker, woke up early one Tuesday morning just after 7:00 a.m. to vote for representation. They need a change in this Chamber. We are saying we are willing to give them the chance. We are not looking at party affiliation. If you live in the part of the country where you are a Republican and there is nothing but Republicans get elected, this is not a Republican club or a Democratic club or an Independent club or a Green Party or Reform Party House. It should not be. The American people expect for us to work in a bipartisan way for their greater good. That has not happened. The Republican majority does not have the will, nor the desire, to work in a bipartisan way with Democratic Members in this House or the one Independent that is here. On every major piece of legislation, Ms. Jackson-Lee has just said there has only been two, there has been no Democratic input on those pieces of legislation to where that when it was a conference committee meeting, nine times out of 10, those Members are not even invited. The first time they see it is when it comes to floor, when it comes out of the conference committee, and this is when both House and Senate pass the bill and then they sit down and work out to appoint a small committee. They work out the differences and then go back to their respective Chambers and pass the changes that were made. That just does not happen. So I think when Mr. Ryan started talking about the tax cuts for the millionaires, and I am talking about in the heavy millions, and what they are walking away with and what the American people are not walking away with, you have to look at who do you trust. Here is an article, Mr. Speaker, I just want to make sure folks know they can get this on housedemocrats.gov. I think it will be up hours after we leave the floor here. ``The Spending Virus,'' by the Washington Times, of all places, washingtontimes.com, very conservative newspaper here in Washington, D.C. This is by Steve Chapman. June 25, 2006. Last August, President Bush demanded Congress curb its appetite for spending so that we can continue to send a signal to the people around the country that we are serious about being fiscally responsible with the people's money. It is not my writing. It is Mr. Chapman's writing and it was there. He is a columnist. Now today is Monday right, so this meant if he said this today, on tomorrow, Tuesday, this is what the President did. The next day he signed a port bill, transportation bill, that broke all records for public works spending. Next day, the very next day. Well, I would give the President the benefit of the doubt if he said it a couple of years ago and just forgot that he said it, but when you say something today and then the next day you go and you sign a bill that breaks records in spending, how in the world could that stand? The article goes further to say, since 2001 expenditures have risen more than $900 billion, up nearly 50 percent. The expansion of the Federal discretionary spending has been faster than under Lyndon Johnson who was once the king of the big spenders but has been dethroned, dethroned this is his writing, by George W. Bush, and I would add, the Republican majority. Dethroned.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. And in 2005, $113 billion. Now I can tell you what is happening as it relates to whose side they are on. Now, one may say, Ms. Jackson-Lee, and I am glad that those of us here in the 30-something Working Group, we do our homework before we come to the floor. I can't say that about all Members that come to the floor as it relates to having the facts, because what is important here, Mr. Speaker, is the truth, facts where people can follow up, and not fiction. And folks are not used to that out of this majority, and not used to that here in Washington, DC, and that is what we are saying we want to provide. Because nothing is better than the truth. Because no matter what party you are affiliated with, we still salute one flag, thanks to our men and women that were in uniform, veterans, and those that are in uniform now. The least that we can do is be straight with them, and being straight with them is basically just saying, just recently, June 22, here on this floor, Democrats worked to raise the minimum wage, and this was appealing to the rule of the Chair by Mr. Rangel in a motion to offer the minimum wage increase. And he was ruled out of order. And it was appealed. And then the Republicans voted against us from having it on the floor by 229 votes to 195, and that is rollcall vote 313. Again, June 27, which is a couple of days from the first time, from that attempt that we moved to get the minimum wage up, the Science, State, Justice, Commerce appropriations bill when it was here on this floor, Ms. Jackson-Lee, you were here that day, I saw you. The rule to block consideration of the Obey-Hoyer-Mollohan amendment to increase the minimum wage, rollcall vote 319, the rule was adopted, but there was a procedural move to block us from getting this on the floor. The House adopted a resolution to adjourn for the Fourth of July recess without bringing up the bill to increase the minimum wage. That is rollcall vote to adjourn, which was rollcall vote 353 to adjourn. And I think it is important. That was 220, supermajority voted for it; 197 voted against it. It was only one Republican that was on our side and saying that we shouldn't leave until we deal with it, Mr. Speaker. So, Ms. Jackson-Lee, I wouldn't get concerned about what they say because that is what Speaker Gingrich has said. He has the chart, and if staff can give me the chart that said ``they,'' that ``they,'' that is what he calls the Republican majority, that is what they called the Republican majority. You remember that, Mr. Ryan, because he felt that they are no longer responsible in a way that he thought they should be when he was the father of giving, case in point, once again, third- party validator. Mr. Speaker, this was the Speaker of the House when the Republicans took control of the House. And this is what he has to say. And this was in the Knight Ridder newspaper, Friday, March 31, 2006: ``They are seen by the country as being in charge of a government that can't function.'' ``They.'' He is talking about the Republican majority. ``They''? Goodness gracious. If Speaker Foley came and called us ``they,'' I mean, this would be a travesty. This is Newt Gingrich. This is not someone in some club somewhere, or someone that doesn't have House credentials. He was here on this floor. He was the Speaker. He was the leader in the Republican majority and he was the Speaker. He wasn't majority leader. He wasn't a whip. He wasn't over the conference. He wasn't over a caucus. He was the Speaker. He sat there on the Speaker rostrum. He was the man. His picture hangs up back here in the Speaker's lobby. I can't boil this down any further, to say that it is substantial when a chief Republican says ``they.'' And so what we are talking about here, Ms. Jackson-Lee and Mr. Ryan, is something that everyone should understand. Republicans have to have a problem, Republican voters and independent voters, and Democratic voters have to have a problem with a dysfunctional government that is making history in all the wrong ways. And I am going to share that chart, but I am going to yield to you. I see Mr. Ryan is here, and I want to come back on our chart of irresponsibility that has taken place, because I want to make sure if we have got to say it 1,000 times, I want it on the Congressional Record that we have said it 1,001 times, so that the American people, when they are asked to make a decision in November, Mr. Ryan, that they have the information that they need to have to make sure that their country, not their party, that their country is strong and that it is vibrant and that it is here to make sure that it is in the shape to where they can afford education, where they can afford health care, where small businesses can afford to give their employees health care, and where States don't have to sue the Federal Government over education dollars. Ms. Jackson-Lee.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, it is always a pleasure working with you, sir. Mr. Speaker, we would like to thank the Democratic leadership for allowing us to have this hour, all of the Members that participated in it.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Gingrich is calling them ``they.''

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Since you got fired up about this, I just want to get started. I am going to read the last couple of lines of this article because we are running out of time. But when it comes to that sort of wisdom and courage in Washington, DC, we suffer another deficit, and what this person is saying is that we have to have leadership in this chamber that is willing to enforce it. Now, let me just say this very quickly. I think it is important in our last 5 minutes to talk about being responsible. This is the U.S. Department of Treasury. This is not the Kendrick Meek report or Tim Ryan or the 30 Something Working Group report. This is on our Web site and this is on the U.S. Treasury's Web site if you want to go in and find it and crunch the numbers. President Bush and the Republican Congress, from 2001 to 2005, have borrowed from foreign Nations $1.05 trillion. In 4 years, 4 years, Mr. Speaker, $1.05 trillion, you see the President and the Republican Congress. Forty-two Presidents that you see here, some are wearing wigs, $1.01 trillion, they were only able to borrow from foreign Nations in 224 years. So that meant the President has accomplished something that 42 Presidents before him have not been able to accomplish. But the Great Depression, World War I, World War II and a number of conflicts, he dethroned, that is our new one, Mr. Chapman gave it to us, third-party validator he has dethroned 42 Presidents and Congresses before it with the record-breaking borrowing. Who is he borrowing it from? I mean, we break this all the way down. My 11-year-old can get this. And that is the way we got to do it, because I want to make sure that the American people and the Republican majority have no way to go home and hoodwink their constituents by saying, oh, I did not quite understand that bill, or that when I raised the debt limit. Japan, we borrowed $682.8 billion. Japan is an island, I must add. China is $249.8 billion that they own of the American apple pie. The UK is at $223.2 billion. Caribbean nations. You know, I was home recently over the break, and someone came up to me and said, how can Caribbean nations own a piece of the American apple pie? They are just the Caribbean. Well, guess what? In Washington, DC the Republican majority are just big spenders. Well, they borrow from whoever will give us the money. They are buying our debt. They are getting a part of the American apple pie thanks to the Republican majority and the President. They come in at $115.3 billion. Taiwan, $71.3 billion. OPEC nations, which, Mr. Speaker, I must add, I need to break this down for the Members are all of those oil- producing nations, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, you name it, Venezuela, all of them have a piece of the American apple pie that comes in at $67.8 billion. Germany, $65.7 billion. Korea, $66.5 billion, and Canada, $53.8 billion. They own a part of the American apple pie, not because the American people did not do what they were supposed to do, because they are being asked to go beyond the call of duty. I am so glad that Mr. Ryan came to this floor in a very passionate way shared the level of frustration that so many Americans have that wish they could come to the floor and come before this great democracy and come to this House of Representatives and let them know what is on their mind. It is our obligation and duty, Mr. Speaker, that we come to the floor and share what it is. We cannot sugar-coat it.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again it is an honor to come to the floor; and hearing Mr. Larson, who is our vice chair of the Democratic Caucus, make his closing in the last hour was definitely uplifting and very true. And I want to thank him and other gentlemen who are here on the floor sharing what should be happening in Iraq and what is not happening in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, that is the good thing about this great democracy of ours, that we can come to the floor even though we don't have the right to bring many bills to the floor that we have stuck in committee or ideas that we can bring to the floor that would balance the budget or provide health care for Americans and allow small businesses to provide health care for the people that work for them and with them. As you know, the 30-something Working Group, Mr. Speaker, has been coming to the floor for the last 3 years sharing with Americans and also with the Members of the House initiatives and plans and opportunity for recovery. Many of those plans are still stuck in committee or stuck in legislation, Mr. Larson and other gentlemen that are here, that we have not been able to bring to the floor, and this is the only way that we have an opportunity to share with the Members and also the American people about our plans and about the initiatives that we have that will bring about real energy policy, real prescription drug policy, real health care policy, and real policy on Iraq, and on and on and on. So we look forward. And I am happy, Mr. Larson, that the American people, the majority, well, a good majority of the American people believe in what we believe in: making sure that we do right by those that punch in and punch out every day by raising the minimum wage, by doing a number of things that you just finished talking about and the things that we are going to talk about in the 30-something Working Group. I will yield to you.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Larson, some of the best work is done at night, and I can tell you that many of us that are in the minority here in this House, we have come to the floor, we have carved a plan for not only the House to deal with a number of issues that have faced us in the last recent years; we have tried to head off a number of the issues that we are facing now as it relates to record borrowing from foreign nations, we have tried to head off the largest borrowing surge in the history of the country by the Republican majority by saying pay as you go, Mr. Speaker. We have tried to head off a lack of leadership as relates to accountability in Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama as it relates to Hurricane Katrina, and a lot of or all of the money that is being stolen from the taxpayers. We have tried to bring about, Mr. Speaker, the kind of accountability that the Government Accounting Office has investigated and shown that a number of Federal agencies are overspending, they are not able to even give us an idea of where the money went. And we are talking about billions of dollars. Folks talk about wasteful spending. I think it is important, Mr. Delahunt, to even talk about what the Republican majority has not done as it relates to oversight, has not done as relates to subpoenaing a number of individuals that some of this stuff in my opinion, Mr. Larson, is close to being jailable. And I think when we look, when Republicans, Independents, or Democrats look at what is going on here in this process as we speak in the moment and what will happen next week and the week after if left unattended, I think that we are going to gain a momentum of support from Republicans and Independents and from Green Party and from Democrats saying that we are willing to lead, we are ready to lead, we are ready to move America in a new direction. And we are saying it. We are saying we are going to have a plan to balance the budget, and we do have a plan to balance the budget within 10 years. We are saying that we want to be well on our way in doing it, because we are the only party here in this Chamber that can say that we have actually done it. Republicans can only say, well, you know, we want to cut it in half, or we believe that we can do it. Well, you can't do that when you continue to borrow at a record rate. I have got a chart over here, and I am going to talk about it later.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Larson, I want to say to the point that you just mentioned, what is happening to the country is historic, in the wrong direction. When you talk about tuition, and the President was up here on this podium talking about how we need to invest in the new generation as it relates to the joint session of Congress that we had, tuition has increased by $2,000, that is 57 percent, at public universities, and by $5,000, which is 32 percent, at private institutions since 2000, 2001 school year. Meanwhile, the majority has cut $12 billion from college aid, increasing the cost of loans, has frozen Pell grants for higher education, and has failed to extend the college tuition tax deduction. And I think that is very, very important. On the flip side of this whole thing, in our plan for a new direction, is to replace what the Republicans have taken out of student investment, also putting in, Ms. Jackson-Lee, an opportunity for those that decide to go in an area of education tax credits for them to go into the public schools, for us to have trained and educated teachers. So we start talking about what the majority is doing and our new direction, it is on HouseDemocrats.gov. This is not something I just said right now. All of this is on HouseDemocrats.gov. The energizing of America is on HouseDemocrats.gov. Real security as it relates to implementing all the 9/11 recommendations, Mr. Speaker, is on HouseDemocrats.gov. A number of other initiatives that we have going. So I wanted to back in what you are saying, because this 30-something Group originally started off by making sure that young people have a voice here on this floor, and those that are supporting young people that are their parents and grandparents, make sure they have a better opportunity than they have. Mr. Larson, I want to thank you, sir, for carrying out your Iraq hour, continuing to focus on that, because we have men and women that are counting on us. We have been to Iraq. We know they have shared with us they want direction from this House, and we have to give it to them, and we have to also let the American people know what is going on here. Thank you, sir. Ms. Jackson-Lee.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you, Ms. Jackson-Lee. And even though you were coming down to join Mr. Larson, you are always welcome to join the 30-something Working Group hour. When you were talking about the minimum wage, when we call ourselves the 30-something Working Group, that means we work. We come together and we meet even when we are not on the floor to talk about these issues. Mr. Speaker, minimum wage is a very important issue to 7 million Americans who are working for minimum wage, living on a minimum-wage salary, which is very difficult. And one of the things that I wanted to share here, Mr. Speaker, as you know, we try to come up with charts to kind of break this down so that Members know exactly what we are talking about so they can't go back to their constituents and say, well, I didn't quite understand that minimum wage vote, but I will reconsider it next time. We call that in Washington, DC the Potomac two-step. Back home they call it hoodwinked, bamboozled. But I want to make sure that folks understand what we are talking about here. Minimum wage, and this is actually a chart that is saying the real economy changed under President Bush, while the minimum wage has not been increased since 1997, this is what has happened. Minimum wage is at zero. But the cost for milk has gone up 24 percent. Minimum wage is at zero, but the cost of bread has gone up 25 percent. Minimum wage is zero since 1997, thanks to the Republican majority. But a 4-year public college education has gone up 77 percent. The minimum wage is still at zero, Mr. Speaker, since 1997, not because we haven't tried to raise it, but the Republican majority has stood in the school house door on this, stopping it from happening. Health care insurance has gone up 97 percent, Ms. Jackson-Lee. Minimum wage is still at zero. And regular gas has gone up 136 percent. Now, you want to know, the American people want to know who is on their side. I think it is important that we find out whose side are the Republicans on? Let's just call it for what it is, Ms. Jackson-Lee. It is more than, and I am not just a Member of Congress with a conspiracy theory, because I am looking right here because I can't help but go to a recent article that I saw, that I read last time that was in The Washington Post. Document says oil chiefs met with Cheney task force. White House documents show, and this is The Washington Post. I just want to make sure. You can go on Washingtonpost.com, and it is November 16 of 2005. This was actually on the front page. White House documents show that executives from big oil companies met with Vice President Cheney's energy task force in 2001, something long suspected by environmentalists, but denied as recently as last week by industry officials testifying before Congress. The documents obtained this week by The Washington Post show that officials from ExxonMobil, Phillips, Shell Oil Company and BP of America met in the White House complex with Cheney aides who were developing the national energy policy, parts of which became law, and parts of which are still being debated in Congress. The meeting happened in 2001. Oil companies got their increase in the minimum wage. These are the profits of the oil companies: 2002, $34 billion in extra profits. I think this was a pretty good meeting. I am pretty sure if I was an oil executive, I would be saying I am glad I attended. 2003, $59 billion in profits, oil companies. Meanwhile, we are paying more at the pump. Minimum wage still at zero, remember, since 1997. 2004, $84 billion in new profits to oil companies. I think that meeting was landmark as it relates to profits for the oil companies

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Making minimum wage.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. You know the thing about it, Mr. Speaker, at least under Lyndon Johnson we were able to improve education. At least under Lyndon Johnson, public works projects, as it relates to housing, was built, not just this runaway spending as it relates to satisfying the first of billionaires and millionaires and allowing oil companies to make record profits on the backs of the American people. Now, how do we get to where we are now?

Mr. MEEK of Florida

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

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month. It is appropriate for our country to recognize the numerous contributions of Caribbean-Americans and our Caribbean neighbors to United States history and culture, particularly since our friendships and economic partnerships in the region continue to expand. Caribbean immigrants are found throughout the United States, and aspects of Caribbean cultures are becoming increasingly commonplace, often touching our lives in subtle ways through art, music, literature, and science. People from the Caribbean nations have a long and proud history here. In fact, one of our most prominent founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, was born on the Caribbean island of Nevis and then raised in St. Croix, another island of the Caribbean. However, meaningful contributions by Caribbean immigrants began long before the American Revolution. Beginning as early as 1619, indentured workers were brought to the Jamestown colony in what is now modern-day Virginia. Over the next four centuries, our histories and cultures became inextricably linked, so much so that many of our communities have now become an indistinguishable mixture of Caribbean and American culture and language. My own district in South Florida is home to Bahamians, Haitians, and Jamaicans, and people from St. Kitts, Grenada, Barbados, and several other Caribbean nations. Many of these Caribbean immigrants, as legal residents in the U.S. have enlisted in our Armed Forces and have meritoriously served in combat, putting their lives on the line to protect the people and ideals of this Nation. During the American Revolution, these shared ideals were evidenced by freemen from the French colony of Saint Domingue, now the Republic of Haiti, who came to the United States and fought alongside our Continental Army. Later, in 1822, it is of note that Denmark Vessey came from St. Thomas to lead an unsuccessful slave rebellion, which was the largest ever planned in our country. Ashley Totten and Frank Crosswaith, who were born on St. Croix, helped to establish key labor unions, some still in operation today. J. Raymond Jones from St. Thomas, who is also known as the Silver Fox, ran New York City politics in the 1900s. John James Audubon, the acclaimed naturalist and wildlife artist, was born in the former-French territory of Saint Domingue, what is now Haiti, and inspired the American conservation society that bears his namesake. W.E.B. DuBois, the Haitian-American author and political activist, became one of the most prominent, intellectual leaders of African-American society during the 20th century. Major Joseph Savary, a Haitian, was the first black major in the United States Army, and led the Second Battalion of Freemen of Color at the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815, under then-General Andrew Jackson. Other famous Caribbean Americans include former U.S. Representative, and first female presidential candidate, Shirley Chisholm; former Head of the Ford Foundation, Franklin Thomas; Federal Judge Constance Baker Motley, the first black woman appointed to the Federal judiciary; activists such as Stokely Carmichael, Kwame Toure, Roy Innis, Malcolm X, and Lois Farrakhan; as well as world renowned actor Sidney Poitier; civil rights activist and singer Harry Belafonte; Earl Graves, philanthropist, businessman, and publisher of Black Enterprise; and now Colin Powell, the first black U.S. Secretary of State, just to name a few. It is indeed fitting to establish a Caribbean Heritage Month as a suitable way for our country to recognize these great Caribbean- Americans and the contributions they have made to our history and society. I am proud that these contributions have finally been recognized, and I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues to pay tribute to those who have made our nation great.

Mr. MEEK

Mr. MEEK. Mr. Chairman, I guess I want to quickly say that as someone that is from Florida, that does know something about coastline and intracoastal and who does know something about the economy that we count on in Florida, we have people who travel throughout this world who come and spend their dollars in this United States because this Congress and the United States of America protected our beaches over the years. Now we know that oil companies are very, very pushy right now, and they want all that they can get right now, in the moment. But, you know, the thing may change respectively in another 2 or 3 months. This wouldn't even be a discussion. We are in Florida. We are asking for no drilling whatsoever. We are asking for alternative fuels and real investment and making sure that we have flex vehicles, making sure that we can go on ethanol, making sure that we can invest in the heartland and the Midwest versus the Middle East. We are all for energy independence, but I can tell you, not on the backs of our environment, not on the backs of our economy, not on the backs of individuals that have fought before us in this House of making sure that we can at least keep some of our beaches oil free and not have what some would want us to have as it relates to special interests. I respect the Members on the other side of this issue, Mr. Chairman, but I think it is important for us to realize that it is not worth going into these sensitive areas.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 4416, legislation sponsored by Representative Millender-McDonald, which would permanently reauthorize the use of franking and penalty mail by Congress and Federal agencies and departments. This measure, which was unanimously reported from the Government Reform Committee on June 8, would allow Members to assist in efforts to locate and to recover missing children. First enacted in 1985, this program authorized the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice to prescribe guidelines under which the government and franked mail may be used to help find and recover missing children. The law also authorized the Senate Committee on Rules and the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards to establish guidelines for the use of franked mail in the House and Senate. Although the law was reauthorized three times, the underlying statutory authority expired in 2002. H.R. 4416 would permanently reauthorize this very important effort. The placement of photos of missing children on government and congressional mail will greatly assist in locating and recovering children. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Ranking Member Millender- McDonald, for sponsoring this bill; and I urge my colleagues to include photos of missing children on their official and franked mail. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is definitely an honor being here on the floor with my colleague Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and also other colleagues from the Florida delegation to commend the Miami Heat. I am so glad my colleagues are here. As we know, the Miami Heat was a team that kind of came together over a period of 19 years to be able to bring about the kind of championship series that we have been able to witness over the last couple of weeks. I would like to commend the Dallas Mavericks for a hard-fought game, and I believe that it was a game of life. I mean, there were mistakes made and there were also ups and downs; but I can tell you when the Miami Heat was down by two games, they came fighting back and it was not easy, and I want to thank not only the Dallas fans but especially the Miami fans, and I want to thank the NBA in general for all of their assistance to local communities in Miami and also in Dallas. I would also like to, as we commend the Miami Heat, commend American Airlines for all that they did to not only assist both teams because they have arenas in both cities. They do quite a bit in both cities, and they also help fans travel back and forth to the games. I can tell you that this is especially unique for Miami because we have so many of the players who have been in the NBA for so long. Just on a personal note, a personal friend of mine, Alonzo Mourning, has a youth center in the middle of my district in Overtown, which is one of the areas where children are challenged, in a safe place to be. He has been able to provide that and is leading into his 10th year of a program called Zo's Summer Groove where a number of NBA players come to south Florida, along with the Miami Heat, and raise a lot of money for great kids. And I am also pleased with the coaching staff. I want to thank the members of the Florida delegation and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for putting in and mentioning the coaching staff and the front office there at the Miami Heat and Pat Riley, who has done an excellent job and who will go down in NBA history as one of the greatest coaches ever coaching the game. For the Miami Heat fans, we can't say enough. This resolution also outlines their contributions. Some 200,000 members of south Florida's community came out in celebration of the Miami Heat. And as we all know, Dwyane Wade, and we all know Shaquille O'Neal, there are a number of players there that have contributed quite a bit; and I can tell you that that sixth player on the court has always been the Miami Heat fans. Even when the Heat are out of town, I think we have a good travel team that goes along with them, Heat fans, and I know the ``White Hot'' fans that are still white hot for the Heat are still celebrating and still appreciating. As we are here now tonight, Mr. Speaker, Shaquille O'Neal who is one of the outstanding philanthropic members of our community and who cares so much about the people, he is actually putting on a celebration party on South Beach as we speak. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Palm Beach for sharing those very thoughtful comments. Mr. Speaker, I want to say how important this is not only for South Florida but also for the country. This team is a team of individuals that have been on NBA rosters for some time, and also some newcomers. Dwyane Wade was not known by the rest of the country prior to this NBA championship and this series. Just from a personal note, I took my two children to the game five; and it was one of the most enjoyable games I have ever witnessed in my entire life. Being there with my children and seeing so many other parents there with their children witnessing such a game between two great NBA teams was something I know they will never forget and something I will never forget. Mr. Speaker, I hope we can continue this. Like Ms. Ros-Lehtinen has said, I hope this is just the first of several resolutions. I look forward to coming to the floor commending the Miami Heat and commending the fans. But to my friends from Texas and from Dallas, I just want to let them know they have a great team, also; and we look forward to beating them, I mean playing with them, in the future as we move on. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church on the occasion of its 100th anniversary on Sunday, June 25, 2006. Its pastor, the Reverend Henry Nevin, will lead his congregation to celebrate this milestone in the history of this beloved church that has become the Citadel of Faith in Miami's Overtown community. Indeed, St. John's longevity of service is directly related to its essential role in the community and its service to its members and to all those who now seek comfort and solace in its sanctuary. On June 17, 1906, a group of dedicated Christians decided to build the Second Baptist Church, which came to be known as the New St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church. In 1939, the late Sis. Cora Lee Thomas Brown, the only surviving founder at that time, and Sis. Victoria Darry, the first secretary of the Sunday School, provided information to validate the revered history of the Church. It was legally known as the St. John Baptist Church of Miami, Florida, and the Reverend John Bynom was called as the first pastor, while brothers Grant Faulkner and Willis Williams were consecrated as the first Deacons. In the succeeding years, the membership grew. Their second pastor, the Rev. N.B. Williams, known as a Master Builder, called upon his congregation to consider plans for a permanent location. In January, 1912, the Rev. Jarius Wilkerson Drake arrived in Miami from Jacksonville and assumed the leadership of the church. This pastor succeeded in expanding the congregation to 1,000-members in 1939. The current location of this church was purchased with a $10,000 deposit at a local bank, and thereafter a building was erected to house the burgeoning membership in the year 1940. Rev. Drake was God's shepherd par excellence, as he guided and served the congregation well until his death in February, 1951. This Man of God was revered as a fearless leader and community builder whose life was filled with Christian charity on one hand and civic pride on the other. He was soon followed by Rev. Thedford Johnson during the latter part of 1951, who proficiently guided the church into a veritable sanctuary of worship and learning, as he created a good mixture of religion and civic responsibility that would strengthen church members not only to become spiritual and moral leaders, but also as responsible and conscientious guardians of good government and civic pride. On April 17, 1982, the Rev. Charles Uptgrow succeeded Rev. Johnson, and on March 28, 1985 the Rev. Henry Nevin was appointed pastor and continues in this capacity until the present. He has emphasized Bible Study classes for the members of his congregation, and this focus gave way to the continuing enhancement of church membership amidst constant worship and praise to Almighty God. Through the genuine efforts of the current pastor, the faith-action service that now defines the St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church has truly persevered in showing its congregation the way and expounding for its membership the Truth that emanates from the study of Holy Scriptures. Rev. Nevin's inspiring leadership is genuinely admirable. As a servant of God and as a deeply spiritual leader immersed in Scriptural commitment, he has earned the deepest respect and superlative commendation of our community. We therefore congratulate the members on their Centennial Celebration of their venerable Church and wish them continued success as they begin a new century of service.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Tanner, I am pulling this information from the Heritage Foundation, which is one of the most conservative foundations in Washington, D.C., if not the leading. In fiscal year 2003, $25 billion of taxpayer money went unaccounted for according to the Department of Treasury, again a third-party validator. Basically they are saying that $25 billion can fund a full year at the Justice Department, according to the Heritage Foundation. So this is real money that is missing. Taxpayers dollars can go into funding an entire Justice Department, which has a number of employees and is charged with carrying out a great deal of responsibility on behalf of the American people.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, there is a chart which shows the priorities of the majority, and I wish you would share that chart.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I know this is along the line of accountability, and I think this chart is a testimonial to the lack of accountability and the spending that has been going on in this House by the Republican majority. I think it is important when you say a charitable House of Representatives as it relates to the policies coming out of the White House, this is what happens. $1.05 trillion has been borrowed in the last 4 years, which is record-breaking in many ways, and historical in the wrong ways as it relates to what the President and the Republican majority has done. And the $0.1 trillion over 224 years borrowed from 42 Presidents, that is all they were able to muster up. World War I, World War II, a number of other conflicts, the Great Depression, still record-breaking and borrowing money in an irresponsible way. Mr. Ryan also mentioned who is buying all of this debt. I am not blaming the American taxpayers. They don't have a voting card. They have representatives up here, but they don't have a voting card. Japan has borrowed $682.8 billion of our debt and counting. They own a piece of the American apple pie, and it pains me to see these countries over the silhouette of the continental United States, but this is exactly what's happening, and this is the way we need to break it down. China, $249.8 billion of the American apple pie, not because of the American people, but because of the Republican policies.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. If you would yield a moment, Mr. Tanner, I can tell you right now that there are a lot of things we should be doing, or the Republican majority should be doing but they are not doing, and we don't have the opportunity to do it because we are in the minority. Again, it is good having you and Mrs. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, especially from the Ways and Means Committee, talking about the accountability and the ways and means of doing things. I am glad that you have this bill filed. And I am happy to know about it, because I am writing here a note to my folks that I need to be a part of this, because that is what we are talking about here almost every night, accountability, with these Inspector General reports stacking up. As you also know, Mr. Tanner, the head person of the GAO has this working group moving around the country talking about what is happening in this government, the lack of accountability, the lack of oversight. Mr. Ryan and I met with him in the office. And this is bipartisan conservative and ``liberal groups'' going around. They have come together on behalf of the country because all this money is being spent with very little accountability.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I am glad to be with Mr. Tanner and also his colleague from Ohio, Mrs. Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Mr. Tanner of Tennessee has really been the leader in the House as it relates to accountability, as it relates to working with Mr. Spratt on pay-as-we- go. He was around when we balanced the budget and we did some of the things that we needed to do on behalf of this country. So we are so glad he is here tonight to share with the 30-something Group and also with the Members of the House on what we should be doing versus what we are doing right now. I yield to Mr. Tanner.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, reclaiming, sir.