Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Yes, that is the next President's issue. Mr. Speaker, we talked about the other night, Mr. Ryan and I were talking, and the next thing you know, it is like Mr. Ryan or my constituents walking up to me in Miami and saying, hey, Congressman, you really need to do something about economic development. Well, that is for the next Member of Congress. It is not for me. So the real issue is this: Do we want to represent the people that have fought that are veterans, and the American people that are paying taxes for us to be able to salute one flag here today? Or do we want to represent someone that is publicly on the stock market that has an issue that wants to use the U.S. taxpayer dollar to carry on their business when they are making record profits, when they are doing very little as it relates to investment? So we have to make sure that the rubber hits the road and that everyone understands. Because we know there is going to be a big marketing campaign going on later on this year about who is doing the best job up here in Congress. And what I am seeing of the polling numbers and what people are saying and how they are concerned, the party has nothing to do with it. It has everything to do with governance. And, Mr. Ryan, if they want accountability in Iraq, and if they want accountability as it relates to paying as we go, and if they want accountability as it relates to us following up and saying what we are going to do, and we have all these scandals going on under this situation, what will happen? And what would happen if we had real oversight? If we had oversight, would Halliburton be able to get a blank check?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, we need it.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, when you start talking about our stakeholders here, and who is a stockholder in the United States of America or a stakeholder that has stock, you know, I am a Member of Congress and I guess I put on a suit and a tie this morning and a shirt, and I am wearing a decent pair of shoes here today, but that doesn't make me a stockholder in America, just the way I dress. This voter registration card here does. That is the bottom line. Anyone that is carrying one of these, Mr. Speaker, are the folks that will be able to speak to us in a way versus another person who is not registered to vote. And the real issue comes down to this: Are we going to be accountable to the American people? That is one question. Are we going to be accountable to those that are not old enough to vote yet and carry one of these voter registration cards? That is another question. Are we going to be accountable to those Americans that do have a voter registration card and know what it means to have a responsible government? People want governance, Mr. Ryan. They could care less about the Republicans did this and the Democrats did that. They want governance, they want security, they want to make sure their children are educated and they want to be sure we are responsible, being the overseers of the Government of the United States of America. And the bottom line is this: we have some folks that have gotten confused, Mr. Speaker, on the majority side. There are some votes that have taken place on this floor, this education bill that just passed today that did very little to address the issues of innovation in education, even though the majority side says we are for innovation; even though we are for education, just a little tiny increase here and there, and this is the best bill since bills have been passed. And, Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for us to just step back for a minute and say the reason why we are here. We are not appointed here in this House of Representatives. In the other body across the Hall, in the Senate, if a Senator was to say, hey, you know, I can't do this any more, I am gone. That is it. Hey, it was great serving for 20- something years, or even 5 years in some cases, but I am not going to do this any more. I have to go take care of my grandkids, my mother is ill, or whatever case, and they go on. In that particular case, a Governor can appoint a U.S. Senator. But if a Member of the House, as we all know, Mr. Speaker, says, you know, family issues, personal issues, I can no longer come back to Washington every week to represent my district, I am gone, there has to be a special election set. And that is what holds us to a higher power as it relates to representing the people of the United States of America. It is important that Members realize that folks early one Tuesday morning in some given community woke up one day and stood in line to vote for some representation. And I can tell you right now, the bills that are passing on this floor that are benefiting folks that are very powerful in this capital city, that I feel are not really benefiting the folks back home, I am concerned about. I know my card happens to say Democrat, but there are some cards that say Independent, and there are some voting cards that say Republican, and there are some voting cards that say Green Party and other parties. And guess what, they feel the way we feel. I share with some Members sometimes that we have to act as though it was our first night being elected, all the things we wanted to do before we hit Washington, D.C., until someone started telling us how we should vote and how we shouldn't vote. We should have those feelings of representing the group of people that have sent us up here. And by the fact they have sent us here, Mr. Speaker, many times we have to look on behalf of the greater country. We have been federalized once we have been sent here to serve in this body. So, Mr. Ryan, when we talk about stakeholders and stockholders, the stakeholders and stockholders in the United States of America are the people we serve. And folks are getting confused about that, or we wouldn't see this out-of-control borrowing and spending. Folks are coming before the people of the United States of America and saying, you know, the President is asked, what about Iraq? Well, we are going to be there as long as we have to be there. That is not an answer.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Because from this point on, you can only buy what you can afford, not just continue to put it on the credit card because you are going to continue to go into the hole.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Ryan. I just want to let you know that it was a pleasure coming down to the floor with you again. We got out a lot of good information.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the Bethel Apostolic Temple on the occasion of its Golden Anniversary. On Saturday, April 1, 2006, the Reverend Carol Nash will lead her congregation, along with several guests, to celebrate this milestone at the Church's Humanitarian Awards Banquet to be held at the Miami Embassy Suites Hotel Grand Ballroom. This event will also honor two distinguished members of our community, former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, my mother, and the Reverend Dr. George E. McRae, my pastor and the pastor of Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church. Founded by the late Dr. Doris R.L. Atkins in January 9, 1956, this citadel of faith in Miami-Dade County has been an unerring witness to the spiritual revivalism that undergirds the power of fasting, faith and prayer. Dr. Atkins was the resilient leader of this church and an inspiration to a remarkable group of pastors, evangelists and bishops who are now ministering to a number of churches throughout South Florida. Dr. Michael Moss took over in 1988, and through his dynamic theological teaching and progressive preaching, Bethel Apostolic Temple experienced a period of tremendous growth. This visionary pastor led his congregation in 1997 to what has now become one of the landmark churches in South Florida. Reverend Nash assumed the pastorate in 1998 from Dr. Moss, and under her leadership, its burgeoning membership has taken on a tremendous renewal of faith and its outreach mission has gone above and beyond the confines of our community. With its vision of holistic empowerment, grounded in biblical principles, Bethel Apostolic Temple evokes a spirit of excellence grounded in compassion and charity not only to its members, but to all those who seek refuge and solace in its sanctuary. With the establishment of the Bethel Temple Community Development Corporation, My Sister's Closet (a boutique for women and families going from Welfare to Work), along with the Bethel Computer Lab, the Bethel Institute for Living, Bethel Partners in Dominion, and its Youth Ministry Council, this faithinstitution has truly become not only an instrument of spiritual enrichment, but also a vehicle for economic development. It is in this context that I commend the tremendous work of Rev. Nash, and cherish the memory of Dr. Atkins and Dr. Moss who bequeathed to her a vibrant Church and an active congregation. Through the longevity of its faith-action service, Bethel Apostolic Temple has truly persevered in showing us the Way and expounding for us the Truth that emanate from our knowledge of the Gospels. It is through this ministry that its role has been defined and is wisely articulated by the injunction that the genuine measure of our love for God is conditioned by our commitment ``* * * to the least of these.'' Indeed, Rev. Nash's timely and inspiring leadership is genuinely admirable. As a servant of God and as a community leader, she has indeed earned our deepest respect and superlative commendation. This is the legacy of Bethel Apostolic Temple on its 50th Anniversary. Our entire community shares the joy of this occasion and extends best wishes for the future.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

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

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. To the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts and also the gentleman from Ohio and the gentlewoman from Florida, I just want to say that our whole reason for coming to the floor is to be able to share with the Members what is happening right now under the Capitol dome, not what happened 6 months ago, but what is happening today or a couple of days ago, and about how we can correct ourselves. The other message is letting not only other Members know, Madam Speaker, but the American people know that we are ready to lead. I always use the football analogy by saying, I am going to buy Debbie Wasserman Schultz a mouthpiece because she is ready to go. And I can tell you, there are a number of people, Madam Speaker, who are ready to lead. Have you ever heard of ``lead or get out of the way''? We are willing to do that. Do you want to talk about plans? This is just one binder of plans. Do you want to talk about innovation? Do you want to talk about homeland security? Do you want to talk about Iraq? Do you want to talk about education? Do you want to talk about health care? Do you want to talk about respecting our veterans and giving them the health care that we said we would give them? Do you want to talk about military families being dealt with in a way that they should be dealt with; and the men and women who are in harm's way, equipment for our troops? Do you want to talk about those things? Well, other folks can talk about it. We are ready to act. The only thing that is stopping us right now, Madam Speaker, are a couple of votes on this floor. And we want the American people and we want the majority to know that we are not on their heels, we are in front of them on this issue. And that is the only thing that is stopping us. Now, either one of two things is going to happen. Either there are going to be some of our friends on the other side of the aisle saying, I am going to join with the Democrats and we are going to be bipartisan and we are going to do what we have to do on behalf of this country, or some individuals on the other side of the aisle, with all due respect to the gentlemen and the gentlewomen on the other side, are going to be unelected and we will lead. And we will show the American people, Madam Speaker, how we want to govern. With that, we want to thank the Democratic leadership for allowing us to be here.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. We owe OPEC $67.8 billion, but let us not leave Iraq and Iran and other countries that we have concern about where our troops are getting sand in their teeth right now. Let us not leave them out of the OPEC nations and allies and people of interest. We have China, Red China, Communist China, China where U.S. workers are training their replacements in China to take their jobs, to make them unemployed. They own $249.8 billion of our debt. And Japan, the island of Japan, they own $682.8 billion of our debt. Now let me just say real quick to the Members, the Republicans have voted to put this on a credit card. They voted to put us into debt with interest. The Republican majority says we want to cut the budget in half by, and I do not know what the new number is, 2010, 2020. We have balanced the budget. The Democrats have balanced the budget. There is no other party in this House that can claim that something has been accomplished. The bottom line is when these countries call in the tab on the United States of America, what are they going to say? Are they going to say, sir, ma'am? Or are they going to say ``pay me.'' They are going to disrespect not only our seniors and others, but they are going to disrespect future generations. The bottom line is if the Republicans wanted to govern, they would have done it by now. They set up the atmosphere to allow this administration to be out of control. What are the Democrats going to do? We are going to bring them back into control. We are going to make sure that we have accountability. We are going to make sure that folks come to the Hill and talk about why Osama Bin Laden is still running free. And without any great deal of fear of U.S. troops bearing down upon him once upon a time, why is he still out? Why is he still releasing audiotapes and videotapes and recommending books for the American people to read to understand him more. The bottom line, Madam Speaker, people like Osama Bin Laden long ago should have been tracked down and killed, period. That is just where it is and that is what we need to move towards. Mr. Ryan.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. You are 110 percent right, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. We can't say it enough. The bottom line is the message that we are giving out to the American people and to all the Republican majority: As a matter of fact, we don't need permission from the Republican majority to lead; we just need the numbers in this House to lead. And we are leading in many ways. We call the first play when it comes down to many of the pieces of legislation that move through this House of Representatives and bringing some level of accountability to it. Sometimes we are successful, Madam Speaker, in getting an amendment or two onto a piece of legislation because it is so abundantly clear the reason why they are useful to a piece of legislation. But why does it have to be abundantly clear? Why can't it just be good governance? Why can't it just be a bipartisan approach? I will tell you, and I commit, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Delahunt, when we get in the majority which--I believe the American people will start asking questions and will take action against those that are allowing this history in all the wrong ways to take place, and elect Democrats to be able to allow us to come here and run this House in the way that all the American people can be proud and feel accountable, we will not bow down to the strong special interests and say, well, wait, we have to take care of them and then we will take care of you. And when we come down to take care of you, we are going to question you about why you need this assistance. And so I think it is important that we go through that. As we make closing comments here, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, I don't know if you closed but you can go ahead.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, it comes down to who is telling the truth and who is not. I mean, just because I may put something behind me and say that I stand for homeland security, do I really stand for homeland security? We are in the minority. When you are in the minority, Madam Speaker, I think it is important for us to explain to Members and staff, in case someone did not get the memo, that when you are in the majority you set the agenda that comes to the floor. You raise your hand thumbs up or thumbs down for your caucus to vote in the way that you want them to vote, when I talk about the Republican majority. I think it is important for us to understand that the White House has said, oh, we have a strategy for Iraq, and then we find out that they all along never had a strategy. Oh, we do not know anything about outing CIA agents. Some folks forgot about that. We do not even know the lady's name. Later, we find out through an independent investigative counsel that they knew everything about it. What are you talking about a port deal? We do not have any knowledge of this. What is going on on this, someone told me in the hall. I mean, they knew exactly what was going on and the reason why it is happening and the reason why folks are getting away with it. Like Secretary Rumsfeld, I am on the Armed Services Committee. It is an outright joke, to come before an Armed Services Committee to tell us whatever they want to tell us, and so shall it be written, so shall it be done; why are you asking questions. Matter of fact, I am bothered to come to Capitol Hill and have to respond to the Armed Services that constitutionally you have oversight over the Department of Defense. We have individuals that are in shirt and tie, have the look of frustration. I mean, you are going to ask us? Yeah, we have a war, and now, the President has just said, well, you know, as it relates to troop withdrawal, I guess that is up to another President. Mr. Ryan was talking about it earlier. He represents Youngstown. Someone says, Congressman, are we ever going to have a strategy as it relates to education?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Let me say. Mr. Ryan and I were talking a little earlier, and it is like Mr. Ryan telling his constituents, well, I know we have to have an education strategy, but that is not my job; that is up to the next Congressman that represents Youngstown. Madam Speaker, the reason why the President is saying whatever he wants to say, when he wants to say it, is because this Republican Congress has allowed him to say it and get away with it. Our job is not the day-to-day operation of the war in Iraq. It is our job to bring in this presidency, making sure that we are accountable to those troops that are on the ground and our mission. The bottom line is, what is our mission? I mean, these are the individuals that gave this Congress bad information, and then the minute that they gave the Congress bad information got away with it. There were weapons of mass destruction. Then apologize, well, we got bad information on weapons of mass destruction. I am sorry, you know, hey, it happens, but individuals have died. Now, we have Iraqi troops that are now being downgraded; they cannot even fight without U.S. troops backing them up. Then the Secretary says, well, you know, there may be a civil war. There is a civil war going on in Iraq. Let us just say it. Let us put it out there. The coalition, you do not hear anything about the coalition getting bigger and greater. No, it is not getting bigger and greater. Matter of fact, the Brits are leaving this year and a number of other countries have said, hey, you know, I am willing to take the training wheels off the Iraqi Army. Let me just say this, Madam Speaker, because I think that Mr. Ryan laid it out so that everyone can understand. A new Member of Congress could understand what you just set out. The bottom line is that trying is not good enough. We need the American people to chime in and make their Member of Congress stand up on behalf of the American people. Mr. Ryan said correctly, and backed it up with the Congressional Record, the fact that we have a Republican majority that is more loyal to an individual riding around here making $1 billion or $1 million a year or record profits, or whatever their industry is, than they are committed to container security. It is not just what Kendrick Meek is saying. That is the fact, and Mr. Ryan laid it out, and yes, we do have a level of frustration. Folks say you seem like you are upset. Well, we should be upset, and I do not care if it is Democrat, Independent or Republican. Mr. Delahunt said it earlier, as far as ports. Containers come into a port. Guess what. There are trucks that they go on the back of and trains that they go on the back of. They go throughout America, and next thing you know, this issue makes it to the heartland or Sioux City, Iowa, or whatever the case. The people may say, well, that is a coastal issue. That is not a coastal issue. It is an American issue. And they have been allowed to do whatever they want to do, whenever they want to do it because this Congress hasn't reined them in. I am going to close in 1 second, but I just want to also point out, Madam Speaker, since we are pointing out a few things here, that we have turned on the lights here in the Chamber. This whole Dubai thing and the Republicans marching around, ``We stopped that from happening; we blocked that deal.'' Well, guess what, there were a couple of votes before that where they tried to block it, but procedurally they blocked the Democrats from doing that. It is not who blocked it, it is about how we got there. How did an under secretary level individual make this kind of decision; the outsourcing of American Security? It happens every day, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. And I can tell you this, ``We are standing up to the President.'' No, you are not standing up to the President. But guess what? When all of America is standing on this side of the line and saying, are you representing us or who are you representing, are we standing up for Dubai? What did the President say? I got a little confused there, Members. I am sorry. The President said, well, we have got to keep our word. What about keeping our word to the American people on security and health care and all those things he talked about during the campaign? And all the Republican Members won the majority because they said, trust us on security, trust us on fiscal responsibility. Don't get me started on fiscal responsibility. It is almost like the guy running from the back of the class, who is an F student, who says I want to be the valedictorian of the class because I say that I am. Did not work, did not study, did not do the things that he needed to do to be the top person in the class, but better yet, because they say it, that makes it right. What does this mean, Mr. Delahunt? This means if the American people see fit that the Democrats are in charge of the Congress, that the White House will not be making statements and saying, well, we have said it publicly so that means you can't do anything about it, Republican Congress. And if folks want to talk about a Democratic plan in Iraq, it is accountability, it is making sure we take these no-bid contracts and put them on top of the table and really get down to the reason why we are still in Iraq. I am just talking about what I am talking about, Mr. Delahunt. I am not saying there are some shady deals, but there are a number of articles that are out that are pointing to this. Every day this stuff is coming out, Madam Speaker, and I think it is very, very important that we focus in on that.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, that is a Blumberg news agency.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, the real issue is this. We want to talk about listening to the military commanders on the ground. I heard time after time again about oh, yes, whenever our commanders tell us what we need, we will give it to them. Well, if it has anything to do with America, if it had anything to do with Hurricane Katrina, and all of America saw the video that Michael Brown, of all people, said, Mr. President, we think that the levees will break. We think that we need assistance immediately as it relates to evacuation. We need resources. Silence. Afterwards we have a partisan committee appointed by the majority, and they have findings with no solutions. Madam Speaker, I have a solution right here right now. The bottom line, if we were in the majority, and this is not make believe, this is a possibility, I believe those individuals who are not registered to vote are going to register to vote to bring about some sort of change from what is going on right now. I feel very good Members coming to the floor and sharing with American people, not just Democratic folk because if I wanted to just share with Democratic folk, I would send some sort of blast e-mail out to a Democratic list of individuals, or I would go down to the Democratic National Committee and say I just want to do a Webcast and I just want to talk to Democrats. No, Madam Speaker, we committed to the American people that we would uphold the Constitution and represent them, if they are Democrat, Independent, nonvoter, Republican, whatever the case may be. They are going to get representation. On this issue of national security and accountability, this administration has moved in an unprecedented way and is making history in the wrong areas, putting us in debt to foreign countries that we have never been in debt to, but putting us in debt to where it is going to be very difficult to get a plan to get out of debt. We on this side want to pay as we go. Mr. Ryan knows. Ms. Wasserman Schultz knows, as does Mr. Delahunt. Once upon a time and youthful indiscretions, hey, I was a little loose with the credit cards. I will put my hand up. It happens. But I will tell you this, when those creditors call your house, they disrespect you from hello. They do not say, ``May I speak to Mr. Meek.'' They say, ``May I speak to Kendrick. Is Kendrick home?'' That is what is going to happen. I want to talk about the third-party validators. Let me move my Republican rubber stamp; that is for later. When we talk about this debt, it is wide open. I challenge, I will say it again, I challenge any Member of the majority to come over and take a mike and tell us how this can be positive for our country, for us to be in debt to foreign nations. I am going to put Canada up here. They are our neighbor. They own $57.8 billion of our debt. Taiwan, toys are made there, and some American flags are made there, too. They own $71.3 billion of our debt. The U.K. has decided to take the training wheels off the Iraqi government and withdraw a number of their troops because they know it is time for the Iraqis to stand up for themselves. They own $223.2 billion of our debt, and climbing. Folks want to get all concerned, I know some folks who fought wars before, Germany owns $6.57 billion of our debt. Korea owns, and I know that is something to our veterans, too, $66.5 billion of our debt, U.S. debt they own. OPEC nations, and Mr. Delahunt, please name a few of the OPEC nations for us.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Delahunt, we are making closing comments, sir.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. They are in the money, and I believe Florida will be able to do some great things. Let me just say, Madam Speaker, as you know, we come to the floor to talk about a number of things, talk about what we as Democratic Members here in the House have to offer the American people. We want to make sure that there is no secret about our plans, about our initiatives, and what we are trying to do to be able to make sure that this country gets back on fiscal discipline, track, be more physically, fiscally sound, I am sorry, I am trying to get it out, it is a little late, but also just to make sure we are accountable to the American people, not just accountable to the Democratic citizens of the United States of America, but to make sure that we are accountable to all Americans. I think that is the approach that we are taking, through the polling that I am seeing and reading, not only in periodicals, but also that I am getting individuals that are e-mailing what people are saying and how they feel. Madam Speaker, to my e-mail, a number of them, I am very pleased about how the Democratic Members of the House and Senate have stood up to this administration. As you know, Mr. Ryan, there are a number of issues that have been unearthed through what we do here on this floor, by sharing with the American people, Madam Speaker, with third-party validators and making sure that we share our plans with the American people and make sure that they are not what we say in some parts of the country, hoodwinked, bamboozled, or what we say here in Washington DC to be a recipient of the Potomac two-step. I believe now more than ever, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Mr. Delahunt that the American people should and deserve to be leveled with. I think that is what we are looking for. They are not looking for who is the greatest party on the face of the Earth, and who has the best mascot or who wears the best tie or the best dress or the best suit or whatever the case may be. They are looking for individuals that are willing to govern above the table and not under the table. I know, with great confidence, that we are there 110 percent. On terrorism, we are there 110 percent. We are on the side of making sure that we track down the individuals who are responsible for 9/11. Not only track them down, but kill them if necessary. I think it is important that we lay that on the table right here, right now. The bottom line is the fact that we on this side of the aisle have fought on behalf of increasing container security at the ports. We just had an example last week, Mr. Ryan. Mr. Sabo had an amendment here on the floor. Another example that we are going to talk about a little later on is we tried to increase security at the ports on the heels of the whole lack of security at ports, Mr. Delahunt, and still the American majority voted it down. I am excited about the fact that we are back. I am excited about the fact that we are going to talk about some of these issues tonight.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, this is 30-something Part 2 here. I am glad Ms. Wasserman Schultz and Ms. Bean had the opportunity to claim the first hour. I see Ms. Wasserman Schultz is proudly wearing her Florida pin, her Gators pin.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. We definitely appreciate the contributions of women. If it weren't for women, there would be no men. And the way I look at it, being a mamma's boy, Madam Speaker, and I will admit to that even though I am a big rusty Congressman now, we appreciate all the contributions of women. And it is definitely good having women in the House, in this House, and in the U.S. Senate. I think it is also important to reflect on the future, the opportunities. We talk about innovation here within our caucus. We look for a bipartisan way of approaching that to make sure that we can have more engineers. There are very few women engineers that are in higher education right now, and we have to make sure that they have access and opportunity. We do not want women or men to go overseas to work when we should have jobs here in the United States of America. So when I look at the opportunities and the success that women have had in the past, I know that in the future we still have to fight and make sure that we have inclusion, and that is important. Madam Speaker, I am also proud to say that there are a number of individuals, younger girls, that are trying to develop themselves right now educationally, and we need to make sure that we provide them opportunities for the arts, opportunities in the area of physical education, and to allow a childhood to be broader than just taking a standardized test. And that creativity is going to be important. But I am so glad you and Congresswoman Bean were really getting heavy, and I wanted to just jump in a little bit because I grew up in a household with three women, my mother and my two sisters; and, of course, you know I have my wife and my daughter and my son. So we look forward to making this celebration even greater and greater every time, but also we have to be mindful as policymakers of making sure that we allow women and young girls to be able to have opportunities greater than women before them.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Words are inadequate to even describe the way she explained to us her struggle as a woman, and it is hard for Liberia and the United States to be able to reflect on what her life was all about. She was sharing with us here, Madam Speaker, that you see the glory; but let me share the story with you and how she still has one foot in on the uneducated woman in Liberia and Africa and the Harvard- educated woman one foot in the United States. And I think it is important for us to remember that we have to remember when we have the opportunity to lead. And I think she is grounded in that, and I think Liberia is going to be better because of it. And she shared with us that she didn't want our pity, but she wanted to be able to receive our assistance because they will perform. She talked about the reforms she has made in her administration, making sure that she has accountability, making sure that she wipes out and stamps out cronyism, and to make sure that children can smile again, and that is important. It is important to build an environment in a community where children feel safe of where they live and where they go to school and all of their contributions. So I was excited about her visit. I got down here a little early so that I would get a chance to shake her hand; and I look forward, Madam Speaker, hopefully, that we can help Liberia, one of the true allies of the United States of America, and has been so for a very long time. As you know, Liberia is one of the countries where slaves, once they were freed, went back to Liberia, and many of them have American last names because they brought them back from slavery. So we do have a connection with that country.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, the way I look at this whole homeland security issue, and I am concerned, and I was over in the Senate, had an opportunity to sit down with some reporters, with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and also Senator Schumer from New York and some others, and I think it is important that we look at this for what it is. The line is 95 percent of the containers that come into our ports are not checked. That is the real issue here. We can't really jump up and down about the 5, some say 6. I think it is important for us to remember, Madam Speaker, that this bipartisan effort that we should have as it relates to homeland security, I speak from the standpoint of being a member of the Homeland Security Committee, having the opportunity to serve on the oversight subcommittee and management and integration. I can tell you right now, for us to go to 100 percent check is not a hard thing for us to do. But we have to set our priorities on what we want to do and how we want to do it, and when we want to do it. I think the American people want to be protected, and I think it is important that we provide them that opportunity. As you know, we cry out for bipartisan support in this. I will tell you, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green Party, you name it, any individual that is thinking about voting, I can tell you this right now. They believe in the security of our country. They don't care who brings about this security, who appropriates this money, they just want the job done. We don't need a situation where a container is being shipped from the port of Mobile, Alabama, or through Illinois, what have you, and end up, God forbid, some sort of chemical agent is in this container because it was not checked. Too many people in the world know that we don't check 95 percent of our containers, and that is dangerous on both sides of the ball. I think we are far beyond politics when we start talking about making sure that we increase our containers, container security and screening our containers. There are other countries that have 100 percent check. I think that if other countries can do it, I know that the United States of America can do it. But it is all about our priorities. It is about how we set them, and it is about how we work together. Unfortunately, we have some difficulty in that area right now, but hopefully we will be able to improve on that through pressure from the American people.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of H. Con. Res. 353. I think it is important for this House to recognize the Republic of Haiti for recently holding successful, democratic elections, and to congratulate President-elect Rene Garcia Preval on his electoral victory. Haiti is the world's oldest Black republic and the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States. While street violence, kidnappings, and political instability have plagued Haiti in recent years, and are still threats, the democratic will of the people persevered and elections were embraced by the nation. The presidential and legislative elections on February 7, 2006 saw unprecedented voter turnout. A member of my staff traveled to Haiti as an election monitor. Many Haitians were required to walk for miles to their designated voting centers and then were forced to wait for hours in line; nonetheless, more than 60 percent of those registered exercised their right to vote and participated in electing a new, democratic government. This election marks a significant moment in Haiti; it not only serves as the basis of hope along the road to democracy, but also serves as a testament to the resolve and character of the Haitian people during their long struggle for peace, reconciliation, and prosperity. Now is the time for the United States to commit itself to long-term support to Haiti. The task facing President-elect Preval is daunting; he must establish a new government, reform the judiciary, establish and maintain domestic order, create jobs, jumpstart the economy, and end Haiti's endemic malnutrition and crushing poverty. In the past, this Congress has turned a deaf ear to Haiti's needs--specifically by not passing the Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act, which I have introduced in this Congress, along with Senator Mike DeWine in the Senate. It is my hope that President-elect Preval's election will mark a new, more supportive era in Haitian-American relations, in this Congress and in this administration. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to the attention of my colleagues the retirement of Dr. Albert Emanuel Smith, President of Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, Florida, a remarkable educator, administrator and leader who has left an indelible mark on our entire South Florida community. According to Dr. Smith, ``The primary mission of any worthy institution of higher education is to produce graduates who understand that education is a lifelong endeavor.'' Throughout his career, Dr. Smith truly lived that creed. He dedicated his life's work to opening the doors of educational enlightenment and opportunity to thousands. A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Dr. Smith earned a Bachelors of Science degree from North Carolina A&T State University, a Masters of Science degree from George Williams College and his Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh in 1971. Dr. Smith's early professional career included a brief stint as a minor league baseball player for the Saint Louis Cardinals; two years in the United States Army Medical Service Corps where he was a commissioned officer and company commander; and five years as the director of athletics at North Carolina A&T State University. In 1971, Dr. Smith was appointed executive assistant director of athletics at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1974, he was named director of athletics and associate professor of education at Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Smith served as Vice Chancellor for Development and University Relations, professor of education, and Executive Director of the North Carolina A&T University Foundation in 1976. He served in this capacity until he became the sixth president of South Carolina State University in 1976. In 1993, Dr. Smith moved on to become the 10th President of Florida Memorial University (then Florida Memorial College). Under his leadership, FMU has truly experienced a renaissance and metamorphosis. Dr. Smith implemented a major capital improvement program, including the dedication of the Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts, and he achieved an important educational milestone in expanding its offering of academic programs and guiding the college to University status. I know that everyone in our community thanks Dr. Smith for a job well done. We wish him and his wife, Sadie, our very best for continued success and much happiness in the future.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay belated tribute to one of our community's unsung leaders, the late Marvalyne W. Henry, whose life was remembered and celebrated on January 9, 2006 at the Range Memorial Chapel in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Ms. Henry left a wonderful legacy for all of us, and she will be sorely missed, especially by those who looked up to her as a model of utmost benevolence and caring. I want to take this opportunity to honor her faithful stewardship over those who came to her for guidance and understanding. The hallmark of her life's excellence and commitment was defined by her compassion, which evoked the ever-enduring presence of God in her life. Born to the late J.C. Woodson and Margaret ``Maggie'' Williams on August 16, 1937 in Smithville, Georgia, Ms. Henry demonstrated an immense love and compassion for others, especially the less fortunate and the downtrodden. Despite the problems she had had with her health, her faith was unshakable and served her well in ministering to those who needed her help. Her nurturing spirit transformed her home into an oasis of love and encouragement--not only for the immediate members of her family, but also for countless others who came to seek much-needed comfort and solace from her. Indeed, the genuine kindness she extended to others transformed a rather sad occasion into a celebration of her life when they could take comfort in memorializing the magnificent example of a life so nobly lived. Despite the sobering challenges of her health problems, Ms. Henry managed to exude a great soul and a beautiful spirit that evoked an unshakable belief rarely shown and tested amidst so much trial and tribulation. Ms. Henry is survived by her children: Nedra Henry, Lynnette Mathis (Larry), Tammie Coney (Michael), Gidget McLean (Charleston), Tameka Benbow, Derrick Henry (Alisia), Gary Mays, and Sherman Henry; sister, Wendie Williams; brothers, Samuel Williams (Mary), Richard Williams (Vanessa), and Leon Williams (Ann); two aunts: Loraine Humphries, and Doll Calbert of Detroit, Michigan; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Buttressed by her unflinching faith, Ms. Henry's life has indeed been bountifully blessed. This is the celebration of a remarkable woman, and I know that my colleagues join me in honoring her.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, I want to thank you. I want to thank Mr. Delahunt for being a part of this 30-something hour. Mr. Speaker, we would like to thank the Democratic leadership for allowing us to have the time. It is an honor to address the House once again.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, I want you to get the Web site information up because I want to make sure Members have accurate information. Also, I would just like to say that Members can go onto the Web site and get any of these charts that we have shared with them in the past and tonight so that they can see exactly what we are talking about if they need further information, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Ryan.