Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again, it is an honor to be here before the House of Representatives and have an opportunity to speak to the Members and to the American people. Mr. Speaker, we would also like to thank the Democratic leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), along with the Democratic whip, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and our chairman, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), the chairman of the Democratic Caucus, and also the vice chair, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) for providing the kind of leadership that Americans need and want here in this great country of ours. This week, as every week, we come to the Floor, the 30-something Working Group that was formed in the 108th Congress by Leader Pelosi to talk about the issues that are not only facing the 30-somethings, but also facing the American people in general. We also come to the Floor, along with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), my good friend, we come to the floor to be able to talk about a number of issues, not only Social Security, but also student loans; to talk about issues facing the environment, as well as the ever-growing debt, which is always on our agenda. Without any further ado, I would say to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) how much I appreciate the fact that he commits, and our good friend, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), who will not be here tonight, every night to come to the floor to share good and accurate information not only with the Members of Congress, but with the American people.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we appreciate the time here on floor. We would like to thank the Democratic leader for allowing us to have this time on the Democratic side.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want the gentleman to explain it because this issue is so very, very important. We both are on the Committee on Armed Services, and we know what it means as it relates to not only national security but financial security. What is happening right now, and that is why it is important not only to the 30-somethings but to the 20-somethings and the teenagers and those that are yet unborn and also those seniors that understand what is going on, even the 50-somethings and the 60-somethings because this goes towards, I believe, our national security when we start looking at this issue. Please explain.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. No, I want the gentleman to talk about it because he is doing such a great job.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I would say to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) just briefly, but before the gentleman moves from that chart, I think I know the reason why some in Washington want to try to fool the American public that there is a crisis, because we have individuals that are on Wall Street that have been guaranteed, if the President has his way, if the majority side leadership have their way, that they will receive over the next 20 years $944 billion worth of the taxpayers' money in risky investment, Social Security. So I think that is the crisis of trying to close the deal before the term runs out on the present President and the term may run out on the present leadership. But I can tell the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), I want to talk, when the gentleman is finished, when the gentleman makes the point that the gentleman is about to make, I want to make sure that we share with the Members, if we had the opportunity to lead, not necessarily you and me, but the Democratic side, working with some of our Republican friends that understand the importance of making sure that we work for all Americans and making sure that Social Security is strengthened.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Ohio did make the point of what is actually happening here, and I think it is important that we highlight that. We are going to close out. I see my Republican colleagues that are here. We got a little excited in talking about some of these issues, but I want to make sure that when you mentioned the veterans, like I said before and I have said like three times during this Special Order, we do have some friends on the Republican side of the aisle that see it and get it. Okay? But this is what happens to them when they do the right thing and this is from Fox News. Representative Chris Smith, former chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, passed a Veterans Administration budget that put him on the opposite side of his leadership on the Republican side. Actually doing what he should do as a chairman for the veterans. What happened? Did he get a parade? Did he get a commendation from the Republican leadership in their caucus? No. He got fired. He was ripped of his chairmanship. And so when we start talking about what we want and what we actually get, that is a perfect example. We had nothing to do with him being removed. Nancy Pelosi, Democratic leader, had nothing to do with him being removed. The Republican leadership removed him. It is very unfortunate that that took place. I would say this, it is important that we come to the floor with solutions and not just problems. I am glad that we shared with the American people and also Members of this House what we have in store for them. Before we close, does the gentleman want to give this e-mail out quickly?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as I look at the printed material that I have before me, I cannot help but say this maybe is at the crisis level. Maybe what the gentleman just pointed out, maybe the fact that we have the highest deficit in the history of the Republic, maybe because we have a number of Americans that are still cutting pills in half after we, the Congress, or the majority side, has said we have done all that we can do. Maybe that is the crisis. Maybe it is important to let not only the majority side know, but also the American people know that it is about who is running this House and who is not raising an objection to what has happened already, let alone what is going to continue to happen. If left up to the mechanics of the majority right now, 41 percent will be the early years of foreign countries buying our debt. Mr. Speaker, it may very well go to 55 percent if the American people do not hold us accountable for the decisions we are making, or the decisions we are not making. I think it is important, and we have to talk a little bit about extreme measures in the Congress. We know there are a number of issues that have come before us, and the American people are saying, When are you going to do something about the problems that we talk about every day? However, we spend more time in this Congress, especially in this House, getting involved in personal matters of families, taking the rules like the other side has attempted to do, which I understand some sort of deal has been worked out now on the other side of this Capitol as it relates to the filibuster, the other body. It is unfortunate we have to go to these extreme measures to threaten our way of democracy before we start to try to bring the best out of many Members of Congress. I am concerned when the majority side in the 108th Congress made it illegal, prohibited the Medicare powers-that-be within the Federal Government to negotiate with drug companies for lower costs. They could have not addressed it and left it as a gray area for the administrators to say, maybe we can do something. But so indebted to big pharmaceutical companies, they prohibited it from happening. That means if the administration said, Yes, we can bring diabetes or heart medication down $15 if we were to use our buying power with the drug companies. If you do it, you are not only making a career decision; it has been prohibited in Federal law. I am so glad that so many of us on this side of the aisle, I mean record numbers, voted against that prescription drug scheme, because it is not providing what the American people were told it would provide. AARP, along with others, understand that now and that is why they are fighting to bring those prices down. Let me tell Members something. Being from Florida, prescription drug costs are a very important issue. Being a middle-aged American, 30- something, or heading to middle age, this is an important issue to my constituents. Mr. Speaker, I have said this before: We were not elected to have better health care than our constituents. I did not run into anyone at the polling place at 7 a.m. who walked up to me and said, ``I am voting to make sure you and your family have better health care than I have. I cannot wait to go in there and vote for you so you can be better off than I am.'' Mr. Speaker, they elected us to come to this House and fight on their behalf to make sure that that individual voter and their families and future generations have better opportunities than what they have. We are not doing that now. If we were in control, because I want to make sure that we really emphasize, if Democrats were in the majority, again I will say it, and I said it earlier in this hour, we would not be having a debate on privatization because privatization is bad. Individuals lose benefits under the privatization scheme that the President has put forth, if you are in the plan or not. That is the reason why the President has lower approval ratings as it relates to his Social Security privatization scheme. I would be worried out of my mind if it was the other way around, but people are getting it. I can tell you another thing, we would not be having a discussion about why 46 million American families that are working do not have health care because this House would be moving in that direction to provide the health care that I talked about in our six-point plan, and also our partnership with America, which is a real plan that has accountability and has follow-through. It would not be a discussion, to point out the issue of the deficit and the fact that every American at birth, when we started this hour, at birth already owed the Federal Government $26,349.67 and it has gone up since we have been here on this floor. It would not be a debate because we would be doing something about it. We understand if we are going to do something in this Congress, we are going to start a new program, we are going to point out how we are going to pay for it, and that is not what the majority side is doing now. The last point, because I can go on about the issue of responsibility and accountability, there would not be a what-if discussion as it relates to how we conduct business in this House and the real issues that are facing American families, programs that are working. Cut out the devolution of taxation to local governments and also to our State governments. There would not be a crisis as it relates to Medicaid and States ever running deficits in the States due to the fact that they have to balance their budget. Unlike our Congress, they have to balance their budgets on the backs of cutting programs that are helping so many young people stay out of trouble. It would not be a what-if discussion; it would actually be reality. And the good thing that I am excited about, because of the leadership we have, the Democratic Caucus, it would be bipartisan. That is something that every American wants. They want to take the politics out of doing business here in Washington, D.C. That is the reason why our work is so important, making sure we come to this floor week after week, and letting it be known that we are doing all we can in the capacity that we are serving in to not only let the Members of Congress know about responsibilities and what we can do versus what we cannot do, but also letting the American people know what is happening here as it relates to individuals taking leadership positions, wanting to take action, and those that do not want to take leadership positions and do not take action. That is the real issue here. That is the reason why if there is a Republican, Independent, Democrat, Green Party, what have you, these issues get those individuals together because it is talking about real-life issues. The information that we are providing here, this is not something we were in the back of the room saying, Let us use that number, it looks good. It is bipartisan Congressional Budget Office information. This is information from outside sources that have a credible way of receiving their information, have credibility in the United States of America. So I think it is important for us to not only challenge the majority side because competition is good. I believe in that. Challenge the majority side, but also let the American people know if we had the opportunity to lead this House what this Congress could be and what it needs to be. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, before the gentleman moves that chart, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office where the gentleman got this information from, am I right?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Before the gentleman leaves that chart, would he please let the Members know and, Mr. Speaker, we definitely want the American people to know where this information comes from, because I want to make sure we are clear.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. But still, if we were in control of this House, if the American people said they were going to allow Democrats to be the majority in this House, we would have the following: We would have a Social Security debate about strengthening Social Security, not privatizing it. We will have not only a debate but we will have a bipartisan bill to make sure we can combine buying power to take prescription drug costs down for everyday Americans. We would not only have legislation that will be true environmental legislation, but it would be bipartisan legislation because we believe in working together with, at that time if we have a perfect situation where we are in a majority, working with the minority party in doing that. We would also have a health care plan, a health care plan that is a 6-point plan that would bring about health insurance for everyday working Americans, and also allow those Americans between the ages of 55 and 65 to be able to buy into Medicare early so they would have an opportunity to take advantage of good health care at a low cost as they reach their years of the 60s and 70s. So that is so very important. I am not laying ``what if,'' but I am saying what could be. And so I am saying this more of a challenge to the Members on the majority side because they do have the power. They have the power to be able to set the agenda and say what will be able to come to the floor. They have the power to be able to say that this is what we are going to work on and this is what we are not going to work on. I think it is important that the American people and I think the Members of this Congress also understand, Mr. Speaker, that the power of the majority sets the agenda and what happens in this House, nothing comes to this floor without the authority of the Republican leadership in this House. Now, I am going to tell you, because I always, I do not use it as a disclaimer, I am seeing it as a Member of this House and someone that communicates with Members of the majority party, there are a number of Republicans that will go unnamed because of repercussions that want to see that kind of environment return back to this House, a true bipartisan environment that we had in 1983 when Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill brought about the kind of bipartisan partnership we needed to save Social Security at that time, a true bipartisan vote, not bickering, not we are going to run Social Security into the ground in some sort of schemey privatization plan, but a true approach to making sure that we do the right thing. So it is important that individuals understand that bills like the bill that we have here on the floor to drive down prescription drug costs that we would like to pull out of on this discharge petition that is right here behind the gentleman for Members to sign to be able to have a true debate as it relates to bringing down prescription drugs costs, the buying power which AARP is on board with us on. But I think it is also important for issues as it relates to the deficit. Mr. Speaker, I hope that the gentleman does not leave out what is happening to the American worker and our negative trade balance. If I can say the word China, I would like to say that, because I think it is important that not only Members of Congress understand our responsibility but the American people also understand what is happening right now. It is not on the 6 o'clock news, but if someone is at home right now without a job wondering where their job went, wondering why the factory, especially in the gentleman's State of Ohio, the whistle in that factory is no longer blowing when they knock off, like a blue collar worker would say, for the evening, while no lunch box is there, be it a man or woman. The reason why we are continuing to put forth trade agreements in my State that are putting agriculture industries out of business or having them to give away jobs like the citrus industry, like the sugar industry and the nursery plant industry that is in my county of Miami Dade County that are concerned about these free trade agreements that are taking place. Now, I voted for some free trade agreements, but I will state that some of those agreements that are coming down the pike are going to hurt the American worker and continue to give away the kind of apple pie that we have been talking about for so many years.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I think it was a blown opportunity here on this floor by the majority side saying they were carrying out true prescription drug reform and failed to do so by not allowing us to negotiate with drug companies to have lower prices, not only for seniors but for people with disabilities. Also, guaranteed American consumers the right to deal with the whole issue of importation. I have some reservations about that, but the real issue is the fact that we have Americans that are now making a choice between groceries and prescription drugs. We still have Americans, and I am not just talking about older Americans, I am talking about middle-aged Americans and even children, because a number of children are on prescription drugs, be it for allergies, or middle-aged Americans taking heart medication or medication for diabetes or other ailments that we found that through prescription drugs that can prevent death or prolong life they are making decisions. They have to make decisions. So they are excited about the fact that we are looking at prescription drug reform, but it was not a true bipartisan effort because if it was we would have negotiating power. And I will tell Members right now, because I want to make sure that my Republican colleagues on the other side of the aisle and I want to make sure, Mr. Speaker, that the American people understand that the Democrats have a bill filed right now to allow that to happen. Prescription drug costs would go down if we were in charge of this House right now.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. That is the question.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. When you have employees that are healthy, you have what? A more productive company. And then what do you have then? You have more productive American workers that will be able to compete against other countries that are competing against us now. Before the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) goes to the chart, I think it is important we talk about the fact that health care costs, when we start talking about cutting health care costs, we have to look at the issue as it relates to prescription drugs.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we bring about great clarification of our message to make sure that individuals do not get confused of what the real issue here is. The real issue, I think, the reason why individuals want to, leadership on the majority side and the White House, want to talk about a crisis situation in Social Security is because they do not want to talk about health care. They do not want to talk about the issues that many Americans have to deal with on a day-in-and-day-out basis. I call it drugstore health care; when your child is sick, because you do not have health insurance, 46 million Americans without health insurance that are working families without health insurance, they have to go to a CVS or a Walgreens or a Rite-Aid or whatever the case may be, or Wal-Mart pharmacy, to make their kids better or try to hope that they just have a cold because they do not have the proper health care. And I am so glad that House Democrats are committed to taking the bold necessary steps to move us in the right direction of making sure that we do what we are supposed to do for Americans. In the 108th Congress, we worked very hard with Partnership for America's Future that reaffirms our commitment in six core areas. And those six areas are, making sure that we have American values, prosperity, national security, fairness, opportunity, community, and also accountability. And I think it is important that we think about that, and that is something that is not happening right now. Now, one may argue, well, what is stopping you from doing that? I can tell you what is stopping us from doing that, not being in the majority here in the House of Representatives. And I say to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) that I think what is important is that we have to share with our colleagues and also with the American people, Mr. Speaker, that it is important that we hold the individuals that are sent here to Washington accountable not only for their actions but also for their inactions. And so when we start talking about crisis, look right, but we are really going left. And I think it is important that we point these issues out. It is important that we take bold steps in expanding affordable health care and the health care coverage, including mental health coverage, making sure that we cut health care costs, increasing biomedical research, and also reducing racial and ethnic disparities, expanding affordable health care as it relates to coverage for small businesses by creating a new purchasing pool that will allow 50 percent tax credit to help small businesses and self-employed individuals in their health care costs. That is Democratic legislation that is already filed in this Congress that should move, would move, if we had the Democratic leadership that we talked about early on in this hour. If they were in control, it would not be an issue of saying that is what we would like to do. And I think it is important, it is very important that not only Members of Congress understand our responsibility in standing up to the real needs of Americans that are out there now, but to make sure that we are able to stand up and say that health care is a crisis, the issue of our environment is a crisis, the deficit is a crisis, and not just say it as buzz words or in a speech or a punch line.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Because we are, I think those of us that are in 30-something, and Members of the Congress, are sick and tired of individuals in Washington using Social Security as though there is some sort of imminent danger or, going back to the definition, an unstable situation.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. There is no money. And I can tell the gentleman from Ohio right now, from what the gentleman has just said, and it is not just the gentleman from Ohio's (Mr. Ryan) report. That is from the Congressional Budget Office of this House of Representatives that put forth the kind of information that we need here in Congress, that we need to share with the American people and the Members of this Congress. I think it is also important to understand that, yes, we do want to work on Social Security and strengthen Social Security on this side of the aisle, but we will not buy into the rhetoric of a crisis. I would say to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), a crisis, in my opinion, is what we are in on the deficit. We are at a crisis level when it comes down to the deficit. Highest deficit in the history of the Republic. You want to know what a crisis is? And I hope that we continue to share this with our colleagues. A crisis is that family right now that is a part of the 46 million American families that are working that do not have health insurance. That is a crisis. A crisis is the fact that small businesses cannot provide health care insurance for their employees. Many businesses are telling their employees you can get a better plan if you apply for Medicaid. That is a crisis. Furthermore, if you want to talk about a crisis, a crisis is families trying to put gas in their tank. That is a crisis, because some families have had to put their car down to try to figure out some sort of way that they can be able to take their kids to school or football or soccer or Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, to be able to conduct themselves in the way that they want to. That is a crisis, these gas prices that have doubled and tripled in some cases. And then we talk about issues that are facing our veterans. Providing health care for our veterans, that is a crisis. And so there are a number of issues that are out there. And I say to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) this whole issue of abuse of power, I am sorry, I just want to point out a few things.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), just one moment. I want to ask just a quick question. What is a crisis? I mean, the President is saying, and some of the Members of the majority side leadership are saying that Social Security is in a crisis. And I cannot help but look in the dictionary when we start talking about crisis, because a crisis, there are a number of things that we can point out that are actually a crisis. And as the gentleman from Ohio knows, we received some e-mails that I hoped the gentleman would read early in our Special Order here. But we took a look at Webster's and exactly what does crisis mean. And basically it says, an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty. Now, 40 years from now, as the gentleman from Ohio had the other chart here, I could say that it would be a crisis if Social Security, like the administration and the majority side use words like, is going bankrupt. What does bankrupt mean? Bankrupt means that there is no money coming in or no money going out, and it is tomorrow, and it is eminent danger.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of my colleagues the passing of Captain Alexander Ashe, Jr., an accomplished law enforcement professional and tireless community servant and activist, who died last Friday, May 13, 2005. Captain Ashe joined the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) in December 1973. He leaves behind a legacy of achievement and inspiration, for he was an example of what genuine caring and unrelenting commitment can accomplish. His passing is a great loss for our community. To let you know the kind of man Captain Ashe was, I want to share with my colleagues this passage from his last job evaluation, in 2002, which included the following: ``He has demonstrated concern for his subordinates, making himself available for guidance and direction. He encouraged his personnel to seek personal growth through departmental training and the promotional process.'' MDPD Major Chester Butler described Captain Ashe as ``. . . someone who thought along the same line as I did . . . it was the best working relationships I've been fortunate to have in my career. I could always depend on him to be there for me.'' As a resident of our community, he provided great wisdom and inspiration on issues affecting the Miami-Dade Police Department and was willing and ready to give of himself and put his problems on the back burner to help others. His colleagues remember him as someone who always had the knack for providing excellent insight and courageous guidance on countless situations aimed at enhancing the professionalism of the MPDP. He was helpful to many junior officers, assisting them in their professional growth and development to help them qualify for higher rank and responsibility, and he did this without asking anything in return. A respected member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, he was a golf enthusiast who was also fascinated with computers. Captain Alexander Ashe, Jr. is survived by his wife, MDPD Officer Patricia Ashe, son James Ashe IV; daughters MDPD Officer Deidre Ashe, Jasmine and Rene; his mother, Jefferine Richards, his extended police family and numerous other relatives and friends. As a public servant, Captain Ashe truly exemplified a unique leadership whose courageous vision and genuine caring for his fellow officers and the people whom he pledged to serve and protect evokes the character of his humanity. This is the legacy he left behind and it is how we will always remember him.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Jacqueline H. Smith, North Miami Beach City Councilwoman. On May 20, 2005, the Commission on the Status of Women of the City of North Miami Beach and Women in Politics will gather at a farewell luncheon to ``honor one of their own.'' Throughout Ms. Smith's 10-year term on the North Miami Beach City Council, she is best known for her work on programs for children and senior citizens. Ms. Smith is a liaison to children's ``Read Aloud Program.'' This tremendously rewarding program stimulates children's interest in reading and also promotes a decrease in television time by allowing children of all ages to listen to volunteers read books aloud. In addition, Ms. Smith is affiliated with the North Dade Children Center, where she is involved in youth and senior health fairs. Ms. Smith has touched many peoples' hearts in North Miami Beach through her accomplishments as a member of numerous organizations. I want to applaud her tremendous commitment to community service, dedicating her time to organizations such as the National Organization of Women, the Carl Byoir Neighborhood Association, the Governing Board of Parkway Regional Hospital and the Board of Directors of United Democratic Club, just to name a few. Besides serving as an elected official and community activist, Ms. Smith takes pride in being a teacher at Gertrude K. Edelman Sabal Palm Elementary School. Ms. Smith has truly demonstrated that public service and education are achievements never beyond the reach of those willing to dedicate all their energy to accomplish the goals for the greater good of the public. I extend her my heartfelt gratitude for a superb job and wish her the best of luck in her retirement.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the late Einez Yap. Einez Yap, who passed away unexpectedly on May 18, 2005, was a quintessential community activist who went about helping others in a quiet and dignified manner. Her passing is tragic, not just to her family, but to all those who knew her. She was the visionary behind the establishment of LEASA Industries in 1977, when it began as a small family-owned business. Since its humble beginnings in Liberty City, the company has grown to become one of the largest growers of bean and alfalfa sprouts and one of the largest manufacturers of tofu and suppliers of fresh fruits and vegetables in the state of Florida. A dutiful partner and wife to George Yap, President/CEO of LEASA Industries, Einez was a doting mother and proud grandmother. Her business acumen was instrumental in enabling LEASA Industries to become a recipient of the prestigious National Minority Manufacturer of the Year Award for 1997-1998 and the acknowledgement of LEASA Industries as one of Florida's fastest growing private companies by the University of Florida's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The tremendous success that Einez enjoyed in business, however, was secondary to her impact as a community leader. A member of several community organizations, Mrs. Yap was the resilient president of the Chinese Cultural Foundation and founder of the Organization of Chinese Americans, as well as the untiring entrepreneur spearheading the annual celebration of the Chinese New Year Festival in Miami-Dade County for the past decade. Additionally, she served on the Board of the Asian- American Federation of Florida, as well as Advisory Council of the National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Young (NANAY), Inc. She has been the patroness and benefactress of many more community organizations that are at the forefront of seeking equality of opportunity for minority groups; and she has been a featured leader for the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board as it deals with the challenge of inclusion of the disenfranchised and the underrepresented in our community. Her contributions to our community were recently acknowledged in March of 2005, when she was honored as a Pioneer at Miami-Dade County's ``In The Company of Women'' Awards--a distinction previously bestowed on the likes of former Congresswoman Carrie Meek and U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, among others. Her Catholic faith was the source of inspiration and motivation for her reaching out to the downtrodden--as evidenced by her commitment early on at LEASA Industries to employ hard-to-place and at-risk residents. ``They're God's people, too--and are in need of a second or third- chance in life . . . if we can't help them, then who will . . .'' is often the stance that defined her commitment to the community she so loved. Einez Yap was truly a woman of active compassion and a leader in our community, and her passing is a heavy blow to our community. I know I speak for all my colleagues in extending our deepest sympathy and condolences to her husband, George Yap, and son Andrew.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would like to just close by saying that this amendment is just a simple accountability amendment. Yes, I know it mirrors the Department of Defense. But the Department of Defense has the duty to protect not only Americans but also make sure that our men and women that are in harm's way are protected. The Department of Homeland Security has a similar responsibility of making sure that we protect the homeland and make America safe and sound for future generations. So, Mr. Chairman, I would urge the Members to vote in the affirmative for this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Chairman, we argued this amendment in committee, and I have some concerns about it because I used to be a State trooper in Florida. I know exactly what happens when we feel that we are doing something, but we are really not doing anything. With all due respect to my colleagues on the other side and their hard work, which I join them in the theory of making sure that we reimburse local law enforcement agencies that have invested time in doing what is a Federal agency responsibility, but the 9/11 report called for more ICE officers, it called for more Custom border protection officers, and it called for a Federal agency, like the Department of Homeland Security, to have what it needs to carry out its duties. I must point out to the Members at line 10 on this particular amendment, on the front page, page 7 here of the overall bill, it says that the Secretary of Homeland Security ``may'' reimburse State and political subdivisions for the expenses that are carried out in this subsection. Now, I am going to tell you right now this is the kind of language, and I want to make sure the law enforcement communities understand this, that this is not a guaranteed reimbursement. We are not guaranteeing them that they are going to be reimbursed. So I want to make sure the Members understand that wholeheartedly. I understand the intent of this amendment, but I believe that if we are going to run, let us run. If we are going to walk, let us walk. But let us not jog on an issue such as this. I believe that that language should say ``shall'' if we are going to come to the floor and say we are going to reimburse local subdivisions and State law enforcement agencies.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I am glad that the chairman pointed out the good points about this amendment and also maybe pointed out a few other issues as it relates to the budget issue. This is the Homeland Security Authorization bill, not the appropriations bill. We are authorizing the Department, hopefully, to be able to move towards this $200 million to be able to take care of some of the issues that we hear about and read about in newspapers daily, about mismanagement, about contractors not following through on their obligation to the Federal Government. I mean, it is not fine if it was just wasteful spending, but this is the protection of the homeland. And when we look at accountability and protection, I think it is important that we move in this direction. I would also like to argue the fact that the Government Accountability Office, in report after report of issues and unmet mandates by the Department, reports by the Department to help this Congress make wise decisions are backlogged in the hundreds. And I think it is important that we as the oversight committee do as much as we can to bring about the kind of accountability that the American people deserve and that this Congress hopes to get. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.