Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. We even want e-mails from Members, but definitely from the American people and others. 30somethingdems@mail.house.gov is our e-mail address. We always look forward to receiving e-mails. As we close, I just want to not only commend the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) for his leadership but for the leadership of this Democratic Caucus here in the 109th Congress and the 108th Congress, which I have served in, and presently serving in the 109th, for standing up and saying what is right, making sure that we watch out for future generations; just for the charts that are being generated out of the gentleman from South Carolina's (Mr. Spratt) committee staff and from the gentleman, I tell the American people and also I tell Members of the majority side, if it is about defense, then 44 percent of our debt is owned by foreign countries, up drastically since President Bush has taken office. This chart that the gentleman showed dealing with retired workers of 62.8 percent that is dealing with Social Security, that the benefits they are receiving, 13 percent of workers that have disabilities. I mean, these are real issues that are facing families in America right now, and this is a moral issue as the gentleman mentioned. Spouses with children, 10.1 percent, and survivor benefits, the highest outside of retired workers, 14.1 percent. These are individuals that their loved ones, mothers and fathers, have passed on, and they are living on the benefits that they left behind. Sometimes that is all they had to leave. The most shocking chart that the gentleman provided to all of us here is how the benefit structure goes down, 34,587 cut. I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Democratic leader, once again for allowing us to have this time.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I thank the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt). I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we have about 3 minutes left. So if the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) wants to make some closing comments, he can.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, if I can, before we walk too far away, before we walk too far away from what the gentleman said, the fact that he was here in 1983. I will tell you how this argument works. In 1983 I was in high school. I was a senior. The gentleman is still a good man. I was a senior in high school. And we know in that year it took a lot of leadership because there was a big Democratic majority here in this House and in the other body across the hall. There was a Republican in the White House, but on behalf of the American people, and there was a true crisis and the gentleman described it. And I just happen to have the vote here. Here in the House it was 243 people that voted for it, voted for that bipartisan proposal. It took leadership in this House and in the White House, and that is what it will take in this debate. In the other body, we had 58 of our colleagues down the hall, 58 of them voting for it at the time. That was a bipartisan bill. It was not something that was one sided, and that is what is wrong with this debate now. I want to make sure that Members and the American people understand. If we were in the majority, we, Democrats, that it would be a bipartisan approach because many folks do not understand, well, why are they talking about it? Why do they not just do it? Well, we want to do it. The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), our Democratic leader, wants to do it. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the ranking member on the Committee on Ways and Means, want to see a bipartisan approach. But that is not happening right now, and that is the reason so many things are happening to the American people in this debate. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. MEEK of Florida. And that is Social Security. And what we do know, and I hope that you would get an opportunity to talk about, the President's plan cuts benefits twice on one of the charts that I know you have there, to let the American people know that and also Members know that when you go to privatization that you lose benefits. I mean, that is what the record is reflecting right now. And I think it is important that everyone understands what is happening.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. If I may, I just want to ask a question, because I think this pie chart really paints the picture, literally. People think that this Social Security debate, some people do, feel that it is just about people that are already retired, and they are concerned about their retirement. Yes, valid point. They should be concerned because we do know, and you were a Member of the 108th Congress and many congresses before that. The President stood in the well there and shared with us, if you are over 55 you do not have anything to worry about. But I remember vividly in the 108th Congress, when we talked about the prescription drug benefit plan, they said it would be $350 billion only, and now we know it is $724 billion and probably climbing as it relates to costs. But disabled workers, that can happen any time in your lifetime.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day, known in Hebrew as Yom Hashoah, to memorialize the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. In 1933, Europe's Jewish population was over nine million. However, by 1945, almost two out of three European Jews had been killed as part of the Final Solution, a policy to murder the Jews. However, the Nazis' cruelty was not just limited to Jews, they also murdered gypsies, the mentally and physically disabled, homosexuals, and those deemed religious dissidents, like Jehovah's Witnesses. We must remember the lives of those who were subjected to unspeakable atrocities, targeted simply because of their religious beliefs. We must remember those mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, and sons who perished so brutally in the camps, in the ghettos, and in the gas chambers of Nazi Germany. This year, Yom Hashoah comes as we mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. We must never forget what can happen to civilized people when bigotry and hatred rule. We all share the responsibility to combat ignorance, intolerance, and prejudice no matter what the form. And 60 years later, it is still entirely unbelievable that individuals contemplated in seriousness the systematic destruction of over 6 million people. On this anniversary, as we honor lives lost, I extend my condolences to those who lost loved ones in the Holocaust. They will always be remembered.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. That would be nice.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. The gentleman was listening. I like that. I think it is important that people understand that what is being said loosely at this particular time you cannot take to the bank as truth. Case in point: during the prescription drug debate we were told, all of us, every Member of Congress was told that it would be a $350 billion program. And then we moved down the line, and slowly it moved up to $400 billion. And then after the debate, after we passed the plan, we find out someone made the wrong calculation. The gentleman talked about math earlier. They goofed up. It is $530 billion. This is real money. And then 3 months ago we find out that it is going to be $724 billion. What is the true number? Is $5 trillion the true number of the President's privatization plan, the majority side's privatization plan? Or is it $9 trillion, $10 trillion, $12 trillion? You want to talk about saying that we are going to do things on a credit card, we are doing it in the worst way. I want to make sure Americans and Members of this House understand that we are not surplus spending here. This is deficit spending in the worst way. I am on the Select Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on Armed Services. We share in that committee; we will have a committee markup. We start working on bringing a bill to the floor for the defense of this country to support our men and women in uniform that are abroad fighting for those that this Congress has given them the ability to do. We are saying that we are fighting on behalf of defense and making our country strong, economically strong. Meanwhile, we are spending on a credit card in the worst way and then finding new ways to be able to put more on that credit card.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we are saying $5 trillion, but do we know if that is the real number?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I wanted to mention a few other things I did not mention earlier. This whole $26,300 and change of the deficit that we are talking about. Mr. Ryan, if you can put that board back up, because I think that is very, very important. Thank you, Mr. Ryan, I appreciate that. This $26,349 and change is something that we need to pay very close attention to. We did some math, and this is good math. The average American that graduates, be it with a postgraduate degree or a 4-year degree or what have you, has on average a $20,000 debt of either student loans, because of the lack of Pell grant dollars or what have you. You can buy a new car with $26,000. You can put a downpayment on a home with $26,000 and still have some left over. You could buy groceries for five families for a year with $26,000. That is a lot of money. You could start a small business with your new education with $26,000. Was this deficit delivered by the minority side? No. This deficit was delivered by the majority side. And I think it is important that Americans understand that. So if folks want to know what we stand for on this side of the aisle, I think we have made the point clear. I think Americans understand and the Members of this House understand that if we are going to approach the Social Security issue, that it has to be bipartisan, like in 1983 with Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan. That bipartisan bill passed this House and that is the reason why Social Security is solvent for the next 50 years. Mr. Ryan, it was a pleasure being here with you once again. I look forward to the future and getting back to talking about this issue and, hopefully, taking some action.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Ryan, I have another Web site real quickly, because we like to verify, verify, verify where people can go on and Members can go on. If you want to learn more about what the President's plan does to the middle class, you can go on www.cbpp.org. That is the Center For Budget and Policy Priorities. That is cbpp.org.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. The gentleman used that distinguished thing quite loosely. ``Everyone Loves Ryan,'' is that your favorite show? I just want to ask. The gentleman used it as an example. Does the gentleman watch it?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I watch it every now and then. I am too busy reading legislation and trying to do the things that I need to do.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. ESPN.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I like to watch the ``Home Shopping Network.'' I like watching things my kids watch. I like Sponge Bob, and I like quite a few other funny movies.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I watch ``Archie Bunker.''

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I am a night owl so I stay up late so I see a lot of shows in syndication. It is good stuff. I like ``VH-1 Soul.''

Mr. MEEK of Florida. That is a very funny show.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Get out of here. He is from Youngstown? Is there a road named in Youngstown after him?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Why not. He is probably in the fight to protect Social Security.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. A lot of hard-working Al Bundy-like guys that are out there.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. What a great American. As the gentleman knows, we like to put a little humor into this.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. We think it is funny, maybe some others may think it is funny. They say if you do not like what you are doing and you cannot talk with a little humor now and then, you will worry about things you do not need to worry about 24 hours a day. I can say it was great hearing the gentleman talk about the deficit, hearing the gentleman talk about the Social Security privatization plan or blueprint or philosophy that the President says he has. But I can tell you this, that I am very concerned. We know in the past whenever we have approached a national program that is a part of the fiber of our country, that the administration and the majority side, there is always a smokescreen there. The numbers are not exactly what they say they are. So since the President last Thursday night talked a little bit about his blueprint and his philosophy, I do not know if I can take that for being the accurate plan that the Social Security, that the President has for his Social Security plan. And I know there are some people on the Hill that are running around sharing some of those numbers and saying how we are going to save Social Security. And I can tell you there is more to saving Social Security than privatization. And private accounts and privatization of Social Security is the backbone of the President's philosophy or plan. I just want to remind the Members and I also want to remind Americans that if they can just remember, and I said this last week and I said it a week before last and I will say it again this week because I think it is just that important, we have started talking about the deficit, the highest deficit in the history of the Republic. Never before in the history of this country have we had a deficit as high as it is now. Never before have we been indebted to foreign nations, because they are buying our debt more than at any other time in the history of our country. Being a Member of the 109th Congress, I always tell my constituents it is an honor serving them here in Washington, D.C. And the reason why it is an honor is because I have the ability to come to this floor because the Democratic leader designated this hour for the 30-something Working Group and other Members that wish to come to the floor to share with Members of this Congress and the American people the importance of focus and paying attention and making sure that they hold us accountable for what we do. Now, this whole privatization issue, I can state that I am very concerned. And what I have read in the paper and what I am seeing of polling numbers, Americans are concerned. There is no place in this Social Security, some may call it reform, some may call it saving, some may say that it is a crisis. And I am glad that American people, they know and also Members of this House know the truth that Social Security is not in a crisis. A crisis is if Social Security were going to dissolve or not be able to provide 100 percent benefits in the next 5 years. A crisis would be even if it was 10 years from now. A crisis would be even if it is 15 years from now. When we are talking about 50 or 47 years from now that the President's Social Security plan will not be able to provide the benefits that Americans deserve and they paid into Social Security, that is not a crisis. Now, there will be some discussion, I believe in the 109th Congress, on Social Security. I think it is important that we talk about fact, not fiction. If folks want to see fiction, there are a number of cable stations that they can go to or Members can go to. We just finished talking about what we do in our leisure time when we are ready to be entertained, but not here in the U.S. Congress. We are not here for entertainment purposes. We are here to handle the business of the country to make sure that the Republic is strong and to make sure that the American people get their taxpayer dollars' worth of representation.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to pay tribute to Bishop Walter H. Richardson, one of Miami-Dade County's quintessential religious leaders. During the Annual Unity Day Celebration held at the Allen Chapel AME Church in Miami last April 24, 2005, Bishop Richardson was honored, along with other distinguished members of our church community. The theme: ``United in Christ, Reaching out to Touch Others with God's Love,'' saliently symbolizes the ministry of this humble Man of God. It was in the mid 1940s when he came down to Miami from his native Ansonville, North Carolina after accepting the Lord as his personal Savior. Indeed, it was a unique calling that evoked God's choice: ``. . . for many are called, but few are chosen.'' As a young man, he supported himself by getting a job at the old Miami Sears & Roebuck Store. He got engaged to his sweetheart, Poseline McLaughlin, whom he left behind in North Carolina, and she later joined him in Miami after she also accepted the Lord. They got married and were soon blessed with two sons. Their marriage lasted for 49 years until her untimely demise in 1996. This tribute to Bishop Richardson comes at a time when his ministry is defined by the primacy of his consecration to God's covenant of love and compassion to all those hungering for the good news emanating from the Lord's Gospel. His calling is symbolic of his readiness to reach out to those who seek refuge and solace in the sanctuary of his Church, and bespeaks of God's preeminence in the conduct of their lives. The longevity of his commitment to the less fortunate has become legendary. When I think of his early work with the civil rights movement, his untiring efforts paralleled much of our nation's history as we struggled through the harrowing challenges of racial equality and simple justice for all. I came to admire him for his understanding and empathy for the ``little people and poor folks'' of our community. Blessed with a lucid common sense and a quick grasp of the issues at hand, Bishop Richardson's influence continues to be felt at a time when our community needs to put in perspective the agony and dissatisfaction of marginalized blacks and other minorities yearning to belong and pursue the American spirit of optimism. This is the magnificent legacy of Bishop Walter H. Richardson. My pride in honoring him today and my privilege in sharing his friendship are only exceeded by my gratitude for everything he has sacrificed on our behalf.