Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to come to the floor once again. As you know, night after night, and even earlier tonight, Madam Speaker, during the first hour, we had members of the 30-something Working Group on the floor talking about plans that we have on the minority side here in the House of Representatives and assisting not only Americans, but also those that are in the industry of providing energy to this country, who are also Americans and some of them are foreign companies, to be able to provide cleaner burning fuel and also alternatives that Americans will be able to hopefully enjoy for years to come. Energy independence is something that we have embraced for a very long time. And the debate this week has been about energy, the debate this week has been about ethics, the debate this week has been about a budget vote that we are all waiting to take. But it seems that on the majority side, Mr. Speaker, that the votes are just not there to pass the budget, the Republican-led budget, which I must say that a number of Members on both sides of the aisle have issues with, apparently. In the 30-something Working Group, we want to thank Leader Pelosi for allowing us to have this hour once again, the second hour of tonight on the Democratic side, and also Mr. Steny Hoyer and Mr. James Clyburn, who is our chairman, and Mr. Larson, who is our vice chairman, and all of the members that go to committee meetings and fight on behalf of the American people. Madam Speaker, I believe that we are all on one team until it comes down to what the special interests want and what the American people want. I think that is where the divide comes in. As we start looking at what is happening and the conference calls that I have had and the constituent meetings that I had when I was back in my district during our work break, of just outrage about what is happening in this country as it relates to gas prices, I think that it is very important that we pay more attention than what we have paid to energy and alternative fuels here in this Congress. One may say, well, we have already passed an energy bill; where were you? Well, there was an energy bill, yes. It was an energy bill that was passed, but for whom? For the special interests, or for the American people? I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that the evidence is overwhelming, the fact that right after Hurricane Katrina, and even before, Democratic amendments were voted down here to do exactly what some Members on the majority side, the Republican side, have said that we need to do now, making sure that we put forth penalties to companies that price-gouge the American people. And I am talking about serious penalties, criminal penalties and fines up to $3 million. We have ExxonMobil executives and oil executives making $150,000 a day in a pension; a day, not a year, not a week, not a month; in a pension with record profits and investors in these corporations that are making money hand over fist, and we have constituents in our districts and Americans throughout this country who cannot even afford to put a quarter of a tank in their car because it is outside of their budget. They cannot afford to take their kids to school. Even when they have a carpool, they cannot afford that. In rural America there are stories throughout the papers today that are saying, yes, we carpool, but when you are in rural America and you have to drive to the nearest school, that is now a $30- or $40-a-day proposition. So we look at alternative fuels and we look at penalties that will not allow these oil companies to be able to get away with what they are getting away with. Mr. Speaker, I think it is also important for us to understand that the President comes out and he says, well, things are going to be the way they are, and prices are going to be high, and it is what it is, but what we are going to do is relax environmental standards to bring the price of gasoline down. It is almost like a firefighter saying, I know the house is on fire, and it is hard for me even to come up with a metaphor, Mr. Speaker, to describe what the President has done and what the Congress has allowed him to do. The house is on fire. We are going to put a little water here, but not totally put it out, even though we could have prevented that by putting smoke alarms in and other things in to bring attention to all of us as it relates to making sure we keep the house from burning. I think it is also important for us to pay attention to the fact that the 30-something Working Group and also on the Democratic side, we have put forth proposals in the past that could have avoided this spike in prices right now. There was a press conference today, and a reporter asked me, well, Congressman, are you representing to us that the Democrats, that you all have a plan that will take gas prices down right now, right now, like tomorrow? No. But if amendments were adopted that were offered here on this floor that Republicans voted down to provide criminal penalties for executives and price gouging, $3 million fines for individuals that knowingly price-gouged Americans to make sure they can have a return for those individuals that are investors, the Federal prosecutor would be in the middle of this. The situation we are in now is that these oil companies are saying, well, what is the penalty, and who is going to enforce it? The Federal Trade Commission is saying, well, you know, we are not sure if we have jurisdiction. Now we have the leaders on the Republican side in the House and Senate saying, well, Mr. President, writing him a letter, maybe you want to have these folks look into it, and maybe we need to take back the tax cuts we just gave the oil companies, over the objection of many of us here in this House. Then you have some Members say that, well, we did it because they needed money more for more exploration. Well, some of that may be true, but when you have oil companies that are beating some countries in revenue and beating all companies on the face of the Earth in profits, and still saying, well, I know you have all this money, and it is heavy, and you can't carry it around, but can I give you some of the taxpayers' money? Maybe, just maybe, you will go out and find oil or go out and drill in some environmentally sensitive place to be able to push up profits. What it is going to be very disappointing this time, Mr. Speaker and Members, is the fact that we know that when companies present their quarterly reports, it will be another record-breaking quarter for oil companies. Now, don't get me wrong. Profits are good. It is not a bad word. But I do take issue with the fact that if individuals are making profits, and it is on the backs of everyday Americans, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and even those that cannot vote yet, and individuals are making record profits on the backs of them with the help of their government, I think that is the reason why the latest polling indicates that individuals are ready for a change. Just so Members don't feel this is a Kendrick Meek report or just something the 30-something Group came up with, September 28, 2005, a motion by Congressman Stupak from Michigan giving the Federal Trade Commission and also the Justice Department authority to investigate and prosecute oil companies for price gouging. Republicans, 226 voted against it; 195 Democrats voted for it. That is roll call vote number 500, H.R. 3402. That actually happened here on this floor. That is not fiction, that is fact. October 7, 2005, amendment by the same Member, Democratic Member, allowing the Federal Trade Commission to enforce and ban price gouging and set tough criminal and civil penalties, up to $100 million, on oil companies, and allow the President to declare an energy emergency when he needs to. Republicans killed the amendment; not Democrats, not Independents, but the Republican majority killed that amendment, 222 to 199, roll call vote number 517, H.R. 3893. Time after time after time, Mr. Speaker, the majority has proven when it is time to go on this board and vote on behalf of the American people, that it is whatever the industry wants, they get. I am so glad to say, Mr. Speaker and Members, that on this side of the aisle, Democrats have said on behalf of the American people, not just on behalf of the Democratic Party and not just on behalf of someone that served here long ago in the majority here long ago when the Democrats were in charge, but on behalf of the American people, that we have come to the floor and we are here to talk about the record. We are here to talk about what we would do if we were in the majority. Those two votes that I just named a year ago would be law today if Democrats were in the majority of this House. If Nancy Pelosi was Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, without any hesitation this legislation would be in place, and we would challenge the President. When he makes decisions, and the Republican Congress rubber- stamps those decisions, rubber-stamps those decisions by saying, Mr. President, whatever you want, so shall it be written, so shall it be done, has gotten us in the situation where we are now. The same amendments that I just pointed out would have provided relief also to consumers facing skyrocketing home heating costs by expanding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that would have been paid for, Mr. Speaker, and I think this is very, very important for the Members to understand, would have been paid for not with dollars borrowed, and, Mr. Speaker, I am going to talk a little bit about that, too, not with dollars borrowed, but a pay-as-you-go philosophy. Even when we are dealing with enforcement of energy companies, where there is evidence and also a very strong concern by the American people of how in the world individuals can be paying $3 and change a gallon, and saying it is an issue with production and flow and all of these different examples and explanations and excuses to the American people that no one can really put their hands around, their arms around, and look in the paper and find these companies are making money like countries, these oil companies are making record profits. Now, pay-as-you-go. I am going to read that again. It dealt with providing consumers facing skyrocketing home heating costs to expand the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program through the fines from price-gouging companies; not we are going to pass a piece of legislation and just borrow the money. Mr. Speaker, just to talk about borrowing the money, I want to talk about responsible governance, and I also want to talk about what has happened. You want to talk about borrowing the money? Some folks say the Democratic plan, they don't necessarily have ways to pay for things. Well, in every piece of legislation that we are putting forth, a supermajority of the legislation that we are putting forth, we are using the pay-as-you-go philosophy. Why do we do it? Because it is the right thing to do on behalf of this country. I can't help, Mr. Speaker and Members, but think about the fact that there is someone right now, a he or she or someone's mother or father or son or uncle, grandchild, nephew or niece, that are not celebrating what we are celebrating right now. They have been asked on behalf of their country to go to war. They have sand in their teeth, and they probably haven't been able to take a shower like most Americans have been able to take a shower in the last couple of days or this morning or last night or whatever the case may be, so that I would have the opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to come to the floor in this great democracy of ours to talk about what we would do if given the opportunity to lead and to share with the Members and the American people what is happening here in this Capitol. I will tell you, this chart alone is self-explanatory. Never before in the history of the Republic, I am going to say that again, never before in the history of the Republic, has this country been in the fiscal shape or disrepair that it is right now. Some folks may say we have our challenges. Yes, we have our challenges, but guess what? There were Congresses before this, the 109th and the 108th and 107th, and Congresses going back 100 years, that have had challenges, too. It is something we called the Great Depression. Another challenge was World War I and World War II. Another challenge was Vietnam and Korea. You name it. Another challenge was times that we had fuel crises. Other challenges have been natural disasters. I know Americans and the membership are very familiar with that. But when you look at history making, borrowing from foreign nations, $1.05 trillion, $1.05 trillion borrowed in 4 years by the Republican majority and the President, I guarantee you the President could not do it by himself, in 4 years he accumulated more than 42 Presidents and a number of Congresses before them that could only borrow $1.01 trillion. You want to talk about fiscal responsibility? You want to talk about who is spending or who is borrowing the money? I just want to bring this chart up. Here in the 30-something Working Group we try to break this thing down to the lowest denominator. I want my 8-year-old son, I want my 11-year-old daughter to get it, because it is all about them, and it is all about right now. We used to, Mr. Ryan, say the future generation, this, that and the other. This generation, we all owe $26,000 and change because of this ever-growing debt. But this is something that I think Members should pay very close attention to. We have divided the debt that this country and this Congress has put on the backs of the American people. We went from surpluses to this. Japan. Japan, $682.8 billion of our debt. Let me just break that down for you. I am going to take this. This is actually my debit card, but we will say it is a credit card for right now. What the Congress has done, and what the Members on the majority side have done, and what the White House has done with the rubber-stamp Republican Congress, what they have done is said we can have tax breaks that we cannot afford. Swipe the card. We can have a war without a plan and without an exit strategy. Swipe the card. We can spend money, because we weren't prepared for a response to natural disaster in this country without any accountability, without any restraints and no-bid contracts. Swipe the card. We got it. Oh, no problem. If we want to have government waste on all levels with very little enforcement, and want to give tax breaks to oil companies in the time they are making record profits, and we want to give the top 1 percent tax cuts that they are not even asking for, that is fine. Swipe the card. By swiping that card, we have now given Japan the power. Japan said, fine, we will buy your debt. Guess what? They are buying a piece of the American pie, $682.8 billion. China. Red China. Some folks had some concerns. We just had a state visit from the Chinese President. But guess what? He came here knowing that he owns a piece of the American apple pie at $249.8 billion of our debt. Did Japan or China come over here and make us overspend? Did they put the credit card in our hand and say, let me force you, Congress and President? Okay, we will buy it. No, they didn't do it. It is the irresponsible spending and borrowing that the Republican majority has that has put this country in this posture. The United Kingdom, $223.2 billion. This is the truth. This is not fiction. The Caribbean. Many of you know I am from south Florida. Many of you come through our airport going through. The Caribbean, $115.3 billion of the American apple pie. Taiwan, $71.3 billion of the American apple pie, buying our debt. OPEC nations. Well, Madam Speaker, let us just talk for a moment about OPEC nations. Who are they? Well, Iran. I think we are pretty familiar with Iran right now. Iraq. We are definitely familiar with Iraq. Saudi Arabia. Oh, definitely heard of that. The United Arab Emirates, UAE, owns a part of this OPEC debt. And I think it is important for people to understand that. And guess what? We are paying through the nose for gas. 67.8 billion. Germany, $65.7 billion of our debt. Korea, $66.5 billion of our debt. Canada, just north of us, $53.8 billion of our debt. Now, I am holding this map up empty, Mr. Ryan, and the reason I am holding this map up is because this is the way it looked before President Bush became President, because it was a surplus. This is the way the map looked, Madam Speaker, before the Republican majority became the rubber-stamp Congress.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. The former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, you are talking fact, not fiction. Anyone who wants to talk about balancing the U.S. budget, the Democrats are the only party in the House, Madam Speaker, that have a right to say that we have done it. We have actually done it. You have a lot of folks saying, well, we are going to try to cut it in half, and maybe we will get it to a quarter or whatever on the Republican side, the Republican majority with all the power, control of the House, control of the Senate, and control of the Presidency. It should be a smooth-sailing process. If someone wants to call Democrats names and point fingers, call the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives a name. Call him a liberal. Call him someone who is irresponsible, if you want to name- call. And I challenge Members to come down here and talk about what is good about owing foreign countries money, not because they did something to us, but because this Congress gave the whole country a self-inflicting wound of debt. They have been saying we are going to spend your money irresponsibly, and then we are going to allow these other countries to own a piece of the American apple pie. Mr. Ryan, you did an excellent closing. I want to thank you, sir, for coming down to the floor. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Democratic leadership for allowing us to have this second hour.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, the million-dollar tax break came on behalf of, and I am just going to grab China here, this is the million- dollar tax break right here.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, Contract on America, because that is what it turned out to be. And that we would have Republican and Democratic States suing. And I am talking about Republican and Democratic Governors suing the Federal Government because Leave No Child Left Behind is so underfunded, and that we would have individuals running around here saying, what do you mean we do not have a plan? What do you mean you do not want to talk about how we should take the training wheels off the Iraqi Government and share with them that we cannot be there forever?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Can I give you a third-party validator right now? Madam Speaker, this man has to look familiar to the Republican majority. He has to. Newt Gingrich was the man that came to the floor night after night and talked about what the Republicans would do if they were able to take control of the House. He talked about all of the things that, you know, he was talking about that just good government. All right. Now what is Newt Gingrich saying? They, talking about the Republican majority, are seen by the country as being in charge of a government that cannot function. Madam Speaker, they. Not, my Republican colleagues; not, my good friends in Congress. They. Here is a major Republican that served as Speaker, the first Speaker in a number of years to serve, Madam Speaker, as the Speaker of this House, calling his former colleagues and the people that he worked with, and his office is right down the hall, they. Because if Newt Gingrich is saying that this Republican Congress cannot function, cannot run the country like it is supposed to be run, cannot oversee the finances, cannot make sure that Americans have health care and small businesses are able to provide health care, cannot give guidance and oversight to the Department of Defense and Secretary Rumsfeld, cannot make sure that we let oil companies know that we are here to represent the American people and not their special interests, not their profits, and not their CEOs that will retire to a pension making $150,000 a day, not because they are that great, it is because we have taken the taxpayers' money and we have given it to them. And now we have Republican leaders saying, well, maybe we need to take the tax cuts back you just gave them. And then you read something else. No, we should not take that tax cuts back because, guess what, the oil companies have representation in the Republican majority, period. As I said last night, a black man with a conspiracy theory. But, Mr. Ryan, I believe, and I know, and it is documented that the Vice President and others sat down with these oil companies and put this in motion long ago. So Members walking around here were having press conferences talking down this. I do not know what happened. I do not. I did not see it coming. What do you mean you cannot enforce prices? It is just insane, Mr. Ryan, for us to be the country that we are, and for the Federal Trade Commission to say, well, you know, we think we have power, we do not have the teeth that we need to really find out what is going on with those oil companies. But I will tell you this. I believe that these oil companies have been a part of writing this legislation in the way to where that is hard to prosecute them, and it is hard to get to the bottom line of who is doing what. And guess what? When there are no penalties, it is almost like having a house full of kids saying there is no time out, there is no discipline whatsoever, do as you may. And everything in the house will be broken, and every picture will be ripped off the wall. That is what these oil companies are doing. Now, I do not fault them. I fault the Republican majority. And like I said last night, Mr. Ryan, I am not going to ask them to lead anymore. If they want to work in a bipartisan way, we are ready to go. We have been ready to go. And if the American people see fit for us to be the majority party in the 110th Congress, Madam Speaker, and they will see an opportunity, we will be able to work in a bipartisan way. There will be a number of Republicans, that I do know. Some of my friends, Mr. Ryan, and we do know them, a very small number on the other side of the aisle see things the way we see it and the way the American people see it. I know the reason why the poll numbers are what they are right now. The President is not running again, but the Congress and this House, every 2 years we go before the voters. Like I said last night, Mr. Ryan, Madam Speaker, I do not care if it is a local Republican committee chairman, he or she has to have a problem with the borrowing that has been going on in this Republican majority Congress. He or she must have a problem with the fact that no one can answer the questions on intelligence and the outing of CIA agents. He or she must have a problem if there are Republican committee persons at the local level and on the State level, with the fact that the K street Project, Madam Speaker, was allowed to operate under this dome by individuals that wore congressional pins that say, yes, we do have a K Street Project; and, yes, if you are not on this list, you don't get access to this government. Guess what? That was okay. We talked about it, Mr. Ryan. The good thing is, it is almost like showing up somewhere at the scene of an accident and saying, time and time again, we went to the police department, we went to the city hall and said we needed a stop light here. Now, look at this fatality. I used to be a State trooper. I can see it all the time. Report after report. We didn't get the traffic light out there in time and people died because of it. Well, guess what? The people were beat down by this Republican majority as it relates to good government, because, not what I am seeing and not what you are seeing, Mr. Ryan, here is what Members on the Republican side of this House have said: Yes, we have a K Street Project. Then we have a gentleman who admitted you don't have to call the jury, you do not even have to assign a courtroom. I am guilty, I did it. That is what this Republican lobbyist said. Not only did I do it, but I am going to help you go after some Members of Congress that were part of it. I am going to help you identify other lobbyists that were a part of this great operation, the K Street Project. Then the Republican majority, after he said what he said, and the Federal prosecutors, Madam Speaker, did what they did, said we denounce, no longer, K Street Project. We don't know what you are talking about. We will no longer condone it, the K Street Project. Well, Mr. Ryan, it sounds like when the President says, well, I don't know quite what we can do about gas prices, but I do know that Americans are addicted to oil, come on. The President and the Vice President were part of putting this thing into motion. The Republican Congress rubber-stamped, Mr. Ryan, everything that this administration said they wanted. Mr. President, you want tax cuts that you cannot afford so that we can put ourselves in debt and allow foreign countries to own more of America. Fine. Mr. President, the intelligence on Iraq is kind of shaky, but we have to do what you want, and anyone who goes against you or says anything against you is unpatriotic, and we will have Congressional hearings to humiliate those individuals. Mr. President, pay-as-you-go. I know the Democrats are there talking about maybe we need to pay as we go right now, since we are in so much debt. You want to continue to borrow and spend? We got your back, Mr. President, because we are the Republican Congress, and we are going to allow you to continue to drive this country in the way that special interests want to drive it. Because you know something? When all the resources are gone, and when all the opportunities are gone, and when it is American taxpayers that are in debt, where will the special interests be? That is the question. Will they help bail this country out of the debt that this Republican Congress has delivered to them? No. That is the reason why, Madam Speaker, that Members, if they are in their offices, or they are walking around this building, and if they are at home right now, they need to sit up in bed and say, you know something, I need to go to work tomorrow with a new attitude. I need to make sure that I fight on behalf of my constituents. I need to have the same kind of drive that I had the night that I was elected, doing all of those things I said I would do. All of those things, all of those plans, everything I talked about in the campaign, about representing whatever district they may be running from, in my case, the 17th Congressional District. They call that being born again, Mr. Ryan, and a Baptist term, being born again to public service. I am excited by the fact that the American people, they are not getting it, they got it. They got it. Then we will continue to get it, because time after time, Mr. Ryan, this Republican Congress has proven that they are, their allegiance, and I do not want to generalize because there are a few that I know of and you know of, Madam Speaker, that walk up to Mr. Ryan, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Delahunt, and say you all are doing a good job, keep doing what you are doing. Because if you all are not pointing out what this Republican majority is doing, these are Republicans, then they will continue to do it, Mr. Ryan, and that is the word that they use.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. You mean to tell me that anything that the President of the United States says that he wants, that the Republican Congress would give it to him; even if it is bad policy, even if it put this country into a record-breaking deficit in a period of 4 years? You mean to tell me, and without naming at least eight other things, Mr. Ryan, that I have all of that to work with, to share with the American people? I will start with independence. I will start with the Republicans, and I will also share it with some Democrats that may have some concerns. I tell you this, Mr. Ryan, Democrats will, not maybe, not if we get an opportunity to do so, not we will say it now but we won't do it later, we will, Madam Speaker, work from day 1 taking control of this House. And someone may say, you know, why is this thing about being in the majority so important? Well, I can tell you the reason why, and I want to make sure everyone understands. It is important because Democratic Members that are putting forth amendments in committees that are being voted down on a partisan vote, like my committee today and homeland security, dealing with this port security, bipartisan bill we are working on of 100 percent container check, Mr. Ryan, versus whatever we can come up with in a year using a ``steady'' kind of philosophy to try to get to some sort of container scan phase-in thing. Now, I am going to tell you, a partisan vote down the line. A 100 percent container check lost, Madam Speaker and Members, by two votes. If Democrats are in control of this House, for those individuals who are objecting to a 100 percent container check, and I want to be sure we are clear on this, some businesses may say, well, you know, it may slow down the process of trade. It will back up supplies. We are not ready for that. You know something? We will never get there, because we have allowed the special interests to stand in front of the will of the 9/11 Commission. The Republican majority has allowed special interests to dictate how this Congress will legislate. That is stomach-turning that we would allow individuals, based on their salary, based on their suit, whether it is a Brooks Brothers or a Saint John's, to walk into the office of a Member of Congress and say, this is the amendment language we want. And individuals go to committee ho-hum and read right off that piece of paper, Madam Speaker. I am talking about what I know. And the American people around here are counting on us to protect them. Now, I am going to tell you something, Mr. Ryan, and I am going to say it just as clear as my name is Kendrick Meek. We get a container that ends up blowing up in one of these major ports or while it is in transit going to where it needs to go to, I guarantee you Republicans will be running: Where is that amendment for the 100 percent container check? We need to do that. Madam Speaker, file this. Madam Clerk, can we do it? You know something? I bet they will be looking out in the hall looking for the special interests who were telling them they couldn't do it, and they will be nowhere to be found. I didn't see the special interests standing around on 9/11 at the end of those buildings saying, what can we do to dig these people out and give them their lives back? I am not blaming it on them, but I am just saying that kind of attitude gets us in the position that we can't do something. And we're the country that says we can. We are leading this country.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. And buy duct tape.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Oh, Japan. I'm sorry, I didn't even look. It was red, so I just assumed. Let me just say this, Mr. Ryan. Japan. Little Japan. This is what gave that $10 million person their tax break.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, it is not personal, it is just business. That is the bottom line. Madam Speaker, I would kind of, when I walk through the halls of Congress, walk along the walls if I felt that we were coming to the floor, saying things that just were not true. But the sad part, Madam Speaker and Members, that everything that we are sharing with you is a fact, not fiction. It is sad. Like I was saying to Mr. Ryan, if I was a political consultant, I would say, wow, do you mean to tell me not only do we have to work with the fact that Americans do not have health care, small businesses cannot afford to buy health care, we owe foreign countries money that we have never owed them before in the history of the country? We don't have a plan in Iraq as it relates to a leave-alone coalition in Iraq? We have troops dying every day. Do you mean States that are red States and blue States are suing us at the same time for the underfunding and the mandates that we put on them of Leave No Child Left Behind Act? You mean White House individuals are outing CIA agents that might, some of this outing might have gone as high as the highest office of the land maybe? Do you mean to tell me that individuals, contractors, have no-bid contracts in war and in natural disasters, without accountability, and American taxpayer dollars are being spent without anyone having any real concern on the Republican side?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, you could not say it better. But, Madam Speaker, let me just back up, because I want to say this before I talk about why the Republican majority should be alarmed. It is almost unfair, and I said it last night on the floor. Being in the minority, if someone would have told me at the beginning of the 109th Congress, at the beginning of the 108th Congress, that the cards would be laid out on the table the way they are laid out now, I would say that, wow, that is a lot of work to have the American people understand what is going on here in the Capitol. But guess what? They are getting it. And they got it.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, talking about the right direction, I spoke to the fact that we are calling for energy independence from the Middle East in 10 years by developing emerging technologies that work to be able to provide energy for our country, energy alternatives; also to make sure that we make a substantial investment in research and development that is critical in creating cutting-edge technologies that will allow us to develop clean, sustainable energy alternatives that capitalize on America's vast renewable natural resources. This is what we are talking about, Madam Speaker. We are willing to make the investment as relates to innovation. Mr. Ryan, you have the Web site, sir.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced H. Res. 777, which would establish a month as Haitian-American Heritage Month. I think it is important to recognize the many influences of the Haitian people to the history and culture of the United States. Since our Revolutionary War, Haitians have allied themselves with the United States, sharing our common values of democratic governance and self-determination. While their country was still bound by servitude, Haitian freemen fought alongside U.S. troops at the Siege of Savannah in 1779, even as their own fate remained uncertain at home. It was eight years after the end of our revolution that Haitians rose up to fight for their own independence from France--a struggle for freedom that was to play a key role in U.S. history. In an effort to subjugate the Haitian people and suppress Haiti's revolution, France assembled in Haiti the largest expeditionary force it had ever sent to the Americas, composed of its very finest troops. However, by 1803, France had lost most of these troops and expended countless resources. As a result, instead of fortifying and exploiting its position in Louisiana, France was forced to sell it to the United States. In what became known as the Louisiana Purchase, this territory now comprises 22.3 percent of the United States. Haiti's independence, which was officially declared in 1804, made it the first black republic in the world; the second democracy in our hemisphere; and the only country born of a successful slave revolt. Haitians and their descendents have been instrumental in numerous American achievements in the sciences, in the arts, in our culture and in our commerce. During the month of May, these contributions and accomplishments will be commemorated in Miami, Florida as part of community-wide, Haitian- American heritage celebrations. These events correspond with numerous Haitian holidays that are observed throughout the month of May. In light of these events, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support the passage of H. Res. 777 as an appropriate way for our government to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Haiti to our nation. H. Res. 777 Whereas freemen from the French colony of Saint Domingue, now the Republic of Haiti, fought alongside the United States Continental Army at the Siege of Savannah in 1779; Whereas Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Haitian, built the first permanent settlement of what later became the city of Chicago, Illinois, in 1779; Whereas the significant loss of life and financial burden of the failed efforts to quell Haiti's revolution prompted France to sell Louisiana to the United States in 1803, territory that now comprises 22.3 percent of the United States; Whereas, on January 1, 1804, Haiti declared its independence from France to become the world's first Black republic and the second democracy after the United States; Whereas 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, who became the first Governor of the Territory of Florida in 1821; Whereas, in 1889, Frederic Douglas, the period's foremost spokesman on human rights and prominent leader of the anti- slavery movement in the United States, became the first United States Minister and Consul-General to Haiti; Whereas the longest occupancy of a foreign state by American troops was in Haiti, circa 1915-1934; Whereas an estimated 1,200,000 persons of Haitian descent now live throughout the United States; Whereas Haitians and their descendants have contributed greatly to the arts and sciences, including John James Audubon, the acclaimed naturalist and wildlife artist who inspired the American conservation society that bears his namesake, and W.E.B. DuBois, the Haitian-American author and political activist, who became one of the most prominent, intellectual leaders of African-American society during the twentieth century; Whereas the close proximity of Haiti to American shores, in conjunction with our common bond of mutual values and commitment to democracy, ensures lasting comity of nations and continued trade and diplomatic relations; Whereas Haiti--the only republic to rise from a successful slave rebellion--inspires pride, solidarity, and self- reliance; Whereas the last Sunday of May is commemorated in Haiti as Mother's Day; Whereas the 18th of May is Flag Day, the most celebrated holiday in Haiti, and is observed by people of Haitian descent throughout the world; Whereas in Miami, Florida, home to the largest Haitian- American population in the United States, there are numerous cultural events and celebrations planned during the month of May to honor Haitian heritage; and Whereas May is an appropriate month to establish a Haitian- American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that-- (1) ``Haitian-American Heritage Month'' be established; and (2) the people of the United States should observe the month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. We talked about the K Street Project and special influence here in this House of Representatives. We talked about how certain lobbyists could not go into certain offices of Members of the majority. This came out of the mouths of Members if they were not a part of this activity. And then later after a lobbyist admitted, and, hey, you do not even have to call a jury, we do not have to call a trial. He admits, I admit I am wrong, I was a part of this operation here in Washington, DC. It was encouraged by Members of Congress. Then all of a sudden the majority comes out and says, we denounce this. It is wrong. It will no longer be tolerated on Capitol Hill. It sounds like what we are hearing now. We are hearing the President respond to, Mr. President, can you talk about the oil prices? The President says, America is addicted to oil. We have to chuckle about it because it is so in the face of the American people.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I just want to share with the gentlewoman that it is sad because we have had an opportunity to come to this floor and talk about the issues that are facing this country and that will face this country based on the legislation that the Republican majority has pushed through that the Bush White House wanted, that the majority in the Senate wanted that happened to be Republican. We talked about these things. We stood out as Democrats on the floor to try to come up with alternative fuels. We tried to get questions answered as it relates to the war in Iraq. Now we have eight, nine, and if we continue to count, it will be in double digits, not just individuals within the military, but we are talking about generals, flag officers saying on behalf of their country we have to make a change. Tonight, Madam Speaker, just like when we last year and the year before that talked about the K Street Project, which was a project, and I am so glad we are joined by Mr. Delahunt. I take back my words. I did not think you were going to be with us tonight. As usual, you came through.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to address the House once again. The 30-something Working Group, we come to the floor to share with the American people some of the issues that are going on here in the Capitol dome, and hopefully bring about solutions that they can all feel good about, and hopefully we can work in a bipartisan way. We want to thank the Democratic leadership for allowing us to have this hour on the floor: The Democratic Leader, Ms. Nancy Pelosi; and Mr. Hoyer, our Democratic whip; and also our Democratic caucus chair Mr. Clyburn; and also the vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus Mr. Larson. We have been on break for about 2 weeks. It seems like the American people have taken a deep breath to really take a step back and look at the way this government is being operated. It is almost self- explanatory. I am so glad Ms. Wasserman Schultz from the State of Florida is here. We served together as public policymakers for more than a decade, and I think it is important that we look at this time in the history of our country, at how our government is functioning at this particular time, and we point out how it can be different. I think it is important that we continue to hammer on that. With that, I would like to welcome my good friend here tonight as we are going to hold down this 30-something special hour. We know that Mr. Ryan is not going to be with us tonight, and I do not believe Mr. Delahunt is going to be with us tonight.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I know, Mr. Delahunt and Ms. Wasserman Schultz, that the American people see this and say wait a minute, they must have a typo on this. It is like $3.06 last I saw. But this is on average. I just want to make sure because, Madam Speaker, I think it is important. I am glad you are spelling this out, and I am glad you have this chart because we want to make sure the Republican majority knows exactly what their policies have brought on the American people, Democrat and Republican. I'm sorry, Ms. Wasserman Schultz.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, Mr. Delahunt and Ms. Wasserman Schultz, I just have been quiet for about maybe 8 or 10 minutes, which is not common when we are having this kind of discussion. Madam Speaker, like I said before we went on break, it is not even fair. I mean, you would think that someone would wake up 1 day, especially the minority party would wake up, and say, wow, if we had a tool box that dealt with a war that is not being managed appropriately; an energy crisis within the country; containers as it relates to coming into this country going unchecked; families that are not able to provide health care, and neither are small businesses able to provide health care; States that are suing the Federal Government, Leave No Child Behind legislation, Democratic and Republican Governors are suing the Federal Government because of a lack of funding to the Federal Government's own initiative; that environmentally we have a number of issues going on on top of a natural disaster where the response and recovery were not managed well; CIA leaks at the White House; Members of this body in question of ethical violations and a culture of corruption and cronyism under the Capitol Dome. And better yet, Madam Speaker, the reason why we do not have a Democratic Member serving as Speaker or serving as the majority leader is the fact that we are in the minority. But the only good thing about that whole thing that I pointed out, because as an American it turns my stomach that that is even the environment in the United States of America as we speak, partisanship has nothing to do with my being an American and my responsibility as a Member of Congress. So, Mr. Delahunt and Ms. Wasserman Schultz, maybe for the next 4 minutes let us just talk about if Democrats were in control of this House and hopefully in control of the Senate to be able to say no to the administration when they want to put the country in this posture. Democrats, Independents, Republicans, what have you are all concerned about what is going on. The polling has indicated that. Now, I just want to take out this document that we have held up several times, our innovation agenda. Wow, here is a plan. The Democrats' energy plan. Here is a plan. I want to say this to my Republican colleagues because they have the audacity to come down to the floor saying, They do not have any solutions; so how can they criticize our inability to carry out the energy policy? Well, here is the solution right here. It has been on our Web site, and I encourage everyone to go to www.housedemocrats.gov and pull up the innovation agenda. We did not just put it on there before we came to the floor. It has been there for months. Months. They are talking about it. We want to do it. Energy independence in 10 years. Energy independence in 10 years, to change the investment from counting on the Middle East and counting on the Midwest. Ethanol, making sure that we promote petroleum-based ideas of rapidly expanding the production of synthetic bio-based fuels. It is right there. It is just an investment. But what is stopping the Republican majority from taking our plan, as I am going to point out here as we talk about price gouging, and running with it? Well, Ms. Wasserman Schultz just had the chart up with all the oil companies. It has to be the relationship with the oil companies. The American people, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, are paying through the nose as we speak. Some folks are putting a quarter of gas in their tank because they cannot afford it. These are the constituents, unfortunately, of individuals of power and influence in Washington, D.C. I did not get a vote from any of these companies. Maybe the folks that work for the companies say maybe I want to vote on behalf of education and good representation in Washington, but they did not say, hey, you know, these are my constituents, and I am going to stand in the way and make sure that they have what they need. Let me just talk fact, not fiction here, because I think it is important. Oil companies, record profits. Record profits. Folks want to talk about Wal-Mart? Goodness gracious, these oil companies make Wal- Mart look like a five and dime store.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Can I reclaim my time from the 20 seconds?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. You can have 20, if you want it.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. But that was good information. Talking about the program a little further, we have a Stupak bill, which is a Democratic bill here in this House, that is going to give relief to consumers, small businesses and farmers and provide relief from skyrocketing heating home costs that they are taking on right now. It is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and basically it comes from the fines which I am going to go into now, Mr. Delahunt, of what the Republican majority blocked, Madam Speaker. And guess what? That is not what Kendrick Meek is saying, that is not what Bill Delahunt was saying or Debbie Wasserman Schultz has said in the past or even Mr. Ryan in his absence has said in the past. This is the Congressional Record. Republicans voted against imposing tough criminal penalties on price gouging companies and also tough civil fines up to $3 million in price gouging as it relates to protecting consumers. This is CQ vote number 500, H.R. 3402, taken September 28, 2005. The motion was rejected on a 195 to 226 vote. Republicans voted against this overwhelmingly, Democrats voted for it. 194 Democrats voted for it and I believe 226 Republicans voted against it. Another vote, CQ vote, this is all stuff Members can look up, vote number 517, H.R. 3893, taken October 7, 2005. Again, Republicans voted overwhelmingly against this measure from being placed into legislation on price gouging, 199 to 222. The majority prevailed again. I think it is important for us to understand, Madam Speaker, that time after time again, and I know we have another example, Republicans killed the amendment. Which one did I not share? Those are the two that were there. But they are continuing to kill these amendments. So, Madam Speaker, it is kind of mind-boggling when we look up, open the local hometown paper, whatever it may be, it could be the one in Florida where I represent or it can be right here in the Beltway, to read that Republican leaders are thinking about going after folks as it relates to price gouging. Now, I am just going to give the Republican majority a little. They will say okay, that is not true. We did do something. What they did was nothing. I am not a black man with a conspiracy theory, but I am here to tell you that I am concerned, especially when I see headlines, the Washington Post, November 16, 2005, that says ``Document says oil chief met with the Vice President of the United States on his task force.'' So how in the world can folks sit down with the very people that are making record profits? This was put in motion long ago, and now folks are acting like they don't know what is going on. You know why they are acting like they don't know what is going on? Because the American people are pulling their car and saying you know something, Mr. Congressman, madam Congresswoman, you said you were there to protect me. You are not doing a good job, because I can't even put gas in my tank to take my children to school, I can't even make it to work. We are trying to car pool. Even that is becoming a little difficult. And you have folks, they don't have enough money. Some of these pumps in some communities won't even allow them to pump all of the gas they need to pump to fill their tank. Hello? We have also gas stations here in Washington, D.C. that are out of gas, and South Florida. Maybe those small businesses, independent businesses within these oil companies, can't even afford the gas. And we are going to find out. You know what is going to happen again? We are going to find in this time, and let me just say, Johnny Carson used to have the envelope he would put to his head.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. He would say something like ``high prices, backroom deals.'' He would open the envelope and later we would see oh, wow, and they made record profits while this was going on. I am going to go ahead and crystal-ball this thing, because that is what is going to happen, and folks are going to say, well, we really need to do something about it. If I was in the Republican majority right now, that is very hypothetical, I must add, I would be concerned. If I am home in the bed right now, Madam Speaker, and I was a Member of the majority, I would sit up in my bed and say, you know, maybe, just maybe, we need to go see the wizard, get some courage, get some leadership, and say, you know something, enough is enough, because I am going to be in the minority, not because of the fact that folks did such a great job as it relates to raising money, because you know we cannot raise more money than the other side, not the fact that, you know, our ties are better or our dresses, you know, the dresses that the female Members on this side wear are better. But I think it is important, Madam Speaker, that we look at the facts. It is not fair. It is not fair to the American people, and it is not even fair if I was on the Republican majority side, we tell the Republican majority, come out and defend the selling of America. All of these countries here are owning a part of America. I do not care if you are a diehard Republican, and that you are the chair of the local Republican committee, you have to have a problem with this. You tell your Members, explain this to me. Why are we selling America away? Why are we giving tax breaks we cannot afford? We are we allowing the oil companies to do this? Why? Why? Why? Do not tell me to vote Republican because we are Republicans and that we always did it, and that my mama did it, and that my grandmother did it, and that my great- great-grandmother did it. We cannot do it because of that. We have to do it because we salute one flag. People have died for us to have this opportunity. I am so happy that we come to this floor, Madam Speaker, every day, because history will reflect that there were Members in this body in the minority fighting with what they had, with a nub, fighting night after night, day after day, filing amendments, failing on this floor, arm-twisting happening on the other side, and we prevailed because I am going to tell you, the American people are sick and tired of it, and change is going to happen, and it is going to happen for the better.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Let me just say this, Mr. Delahunt. Folks want to go knocking companies and start talking about who is making what, and folks are upset about it. And there are some folks out there. But the bottom line is, like you said, ``profits'' is not a bad word, and we believe in profits. It is the American way, and capitalism rules. And I am the first one in line when it comes down to that, and I am not faulting those oil companies. I am not mad at Exxon Mobil or any of those oil companies that are out there. I am upset with the Members that are allowing them to get away with literally a crime of ripping dollars out of everyday working Americans' pockets and then the majority leadership in both Chambers having the audacity to send a letter over to the White House, saying, ``We would like for you to investigate this issue of price gouging,'' when they set the playing field for it to happen. They set the playing field for it to happen.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. The real issue here is the fact that, Madam Speaker, I am done with trying to beg the majority to lead. I am just done. I mean, there is nothing more that we can say. They have had their opportunity. They have their opportunity now. They are still not moving as a majority. We have said what we would do as Democrats. The bottom line is Ms. Wasserman Schultz talked about the rubber stamp. It is now so big, Mr. President, whatever we can do, whatever you need us to do, we are with you. Just, that is it. Done. What else do you want us to do? And that is just where it is. And we are going to make this as obvious as possible.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Say it is not so, Mr. Delahunt.