Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I guess as we really start to look at this and as we wrap up in the next 3 or 4 minutes, I just want to say tomorrow one of those groups that I did not mention, Rock the Vote, will be having a townhall meeting with some Democratic Senators and will also have a college campus tour as they start to go around and talk about this issue, and Republican Senators that have spoken out against this. And I must add that the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) and I join, in the single digits, I must add, members of the Florida delegation in this House that are opposing the President's philosophy at this time, rightfully so, because their constituents are not with them on this. And that is the way democracy is supposed to work. We are not up here to fly up here every week and walk around with congressional pins on and showing our card, walking in and out of this Capitol, and saying that we are here to represent ourselves. We are here to represent the people that have sent us here. And believe me, if I were walking around here saying I support the President's philosophy and the majority's philosophy, my constituents, and the gentlewoman from Florida knows them well, would be up in arms. So I am a representation of what they voted for. So that is the reason why we are here. I want to just add a few more things, and then I will yield to my colleagues to make closing comments. I must say I want to share with the American people again that 48 million Americans are receiving benefits of Social Security; 33 million are retirees already. That is the AARP group, and the AARP is against this. We also have seniors that would be in poverty if it were not for the 48 percent of those are within the 48 million. The average monthly benefit is $955. And Social Security will be solvent, will be there at what we see at present levels for the next 47 years-and-some-change. So I just want to make sure that people understand there is an issue, but there is not a crisis. There is a concern, but it is not an emergency. So it is important that we realize we have a war going on in Iraq, as a matter of fact, two of them, in Afghanistan. We have this other little thing that we are calling, which is a big issue, $724 billion in the prescription drug plan, and then we also have, and I must add, this supplemental. We have an $80 billion supplemental that is coming before us, and the Department of Homeland Security to protect the homeland is only $40 billion. So when we look at it in the big scheme of things, sheriffs, mayors, elected officials on the local level, they are looking for the dollars to come down, and they can see where they fall as it relates to receiving their fair share of protecting the home front.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, one has to be at least middle-aged, and one would have to have experienced life. So they are opposed to this plan, this philosophy of a plan. Nothing is concrete, but what they have heard thus far as it relates to privatization of Social Security they have a problem with. So does the A. Phillip Randolph Institute. So does the African American Ministers' Project. So does the Alliance for Retired Americans. So does the American Association of University Women; American Baptist Churches, USA; the AFL-CIO; the Association of Community Organizations for Reform. Also we have the Campaign for America's Future, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Center for Economic Policy and Research, Children's Defense Fund, Coalition on Human Needs. I mean, I can go on and on and on of these groups, and I have pages and pages and pages. Older Women's League. The ``wiser women's league,'' let us put it that way. But all of these groups, the League of Rural Voters, I have pages upon pages, and they would fall on the floor if they were not in this binder, of groups that have said it is not a plan; but from what we hear and from the individuals that are saying that they are trying to serve up something to young people, trying to get them to believe that it is cool, that it is okay to gamble on their retirement, they do not agree with it. A. Phillip Randolph Institute. African American Episcopal Church. African American Ministers' Project. Alliance for Retired Americans. American Association of University Women. American Baptist Churches, USA.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, let me just say the list is endless for those who are opposed to the President's philosophy and the majority side's philosophy on this. I mean, it is not just House Democrats. It is not just the Democrats of the other body. It is not just Democrats that are out there hopefully wanting to be President one day. I mean, we have a number of individuals. I just want to name a few while we are here to let them know that we are paying attention to what they are doing. Along with the 300 townhall meetings that House Democrats had, we had a number of other groups that were out there and still out there doing good things and sharing with the American people. I just want to start off with an organization that is out there of retirees, the AARP. They are opposed to the President's plan. And to be a member of the AARP, one has to be kind of middle-aged, I must add. I have been elected a long time. I am not going to call anyone old. But let me tell my colleagues this: one has to be at least middle-aged.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. But that is the reason why we are here. People are asking for the Democratic plan. I am asking where is the President's plan? Where is the majority plan? I do not want to go back to 1978 again. We are still talking about philosophy, but if I can just for a second, I have said this and I will say it again verbatim, for the last 3 weeks we have talked about Social Security. Democrats want to strengthen Social Security without slashing benefits that Americans have earned. Private accounts makes Social Security's challenge worse, makes the challenge worse, the private accounts do, we will talk about that in a minute and we have been talking about that, as far as massive benefit cuts and it will increase the national debt. Already in the projection, $427 billion. Who is counting? I am.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. No, I am not okay.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Forty-eight percent of the 43 million.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. No, I have not. I was on my way. Seniors who are living in poverty, that are receiving the benefits, 48 percent of those individuals, of the 43 million, receive Social Security.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I literally could not wait to get here tonight, even though we are here after supper and many of our Members are probably cracking their toes now getting ready to go to bed. But I will tell you this, that it is important. This is so important, not only do I have this notebook, but I have two other notebooks on this issue. This is not, as far as I am concerned, an attack on a Democratic program. This is an attack on the American people. It is our responsibility to make sure that we inform the American people what is going on. Once again, I am not saying that the President is not telling the truth. I am not saying that the majority side is not telling the truth. I am just saying they are inaccurate as it relates to the facts. It is important that we share these facts. I just wanted to share with the gentlewoman from Florida when she shared that the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), the ranking member who is a respected Member of this House and has been here for a very long time on the Committee on Financial Services as the majority side and the chairman of the committee and he could not answer the question if he would have voted yes or no. Forty-eight million Americans receive Social Security. Forty-eight million. Not 4, not 48, not 4,800, not 48,000; 48 million Americans. These retirees and 33 million retired Americans that are already retired receive this information. It is not the Kendrick Meek report.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. The gentleman is correct.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I want to be able to share with my colleagues here, and our other colleagues, Mr. Speaker, that this is important. As I explained earlier in this hour, maybe 5 or 6 minutes ago, we do not have the power within this institution, within the House to be able to agenda committee meetings, or agenda meetings or inquiries, or whatever the case may be, although we look forward to that day. Do not get me wrong, I look forward to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) one day becoming Speaker Pelosi. Because some of the things we talk about here on this floor we want to be able to use the power of this House to be able to make things right on behalf of the American people. Now, we are not just talking about Democratic American people. We are talking about Republican American people, Libertarian, what have you, the Green Party, Democrats, on and on and on. We are talking about the American people in general. But I wanted to take about 4 minutes sharing about what happens when we move in haste. The President wants us to move in haste. The majority party wants us to move in haste. The majority of the other body wants us to move as though there is some sort of Federal emergency. But there is not a Federal emergency. Social Security will be here. It will not collapse tomorrow or the next day or 10 years from now or even 20 years from now, thanks to the Democratic Speaker and the Republican President Ronald Reagan making sure that Social Security was sound. I can see the gentleman from Ohio is right there. He is ready. But let me just make my point. I am not giving a locker-room speech; I am just letting our colleagues know that there is not a Federal emergency as relates to Social Security. Now, here on this floor, and I pointed this out a couple of weeks ago and I want to point it out again, because maybe some of the Members that are watching us now might have missed it. During the Medicare debate here on this floor, when we were locked in this Chamber, well, I would not say locked, I do not want to sensationalize it, we were held here in this Chamber and the vote board was open for over an hour and some change, maybe getting close to 2 hours while the majority side went around twisting arms. And here, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend some of my colleagues on the majority side that stood on behalf of their constituents but had to break because there were a lot of arms being twisted on the other side. During the Medicare debate as relates to prescription drugs, the majority hid the true costs that it would cost to deal with prescription drugs. First they said it will only cost $350 billion. That is a lot of money. We were all taken aback by that because that is borrowed money. That is money on a high-interest credit card. That is money that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) talked about earlier, about knocking on the bank of China, saying, Please buy more of our debt. Then as we move down the road a little bit, it moved up to $400 billion. This is not $4, not $400,000, this is not even $400 million, it was $400 billion. After the debate, the cost jumped up to more than $530 billion. But still that was not enough because when we move in haste, we make mistakes. It is important that we move in a way that not only Members can pay very close attention to what is going on, and that Members will have an opportunity to analyze plans and legislation. And I must add, as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) knows, we do not have a plan from the President or the majority, and I will talk about that later. Now just before we left, just a week before the President's District Work Period, the cost went to $724 billion. Where are we headed? This is borrowed money. We have that going on, let alone the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are about to have an $80 billion supplemental. The majority side here in the House would like for the American people to believe that there is a Federal emergency and Social Security will collapse if we do not act now. I will tell Members we have a lot on our plate right now. Members heard the gentlewoman from Florida talk about the fact that she will be 84 and still look the same in the future. I am making fun of it, but this is a very serious situation. I had this on my chart the last time we were here on the floor but I thought I would blow it up because some of the Members I saw said I want a copy of that. I want to make sure Members can see it. There are people running around saying where is the Democratic plan? Our plan is already institutionalized in Social Security. The benefits that people are receiving, the survivor benefits Americans are receiving, that third rail when the Enrons of the world go south on America workers that have been paying into a retirement plan, Social Security is the safety net. And Democrats, our position, is making sure not that we have a Democratic plan, shoring up and making sure even beyond those years far out that Social Security is here for a long time, a bipartisan plan between Democrats and Republicans, and that is what the Democratic leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the Democratic whip, are talking about constantly. In 1998, President Bush was quoted as saying that he wanted to privatize Social Security as a solution to the financial problems. Chairman Greenspan on the House and on the Senate side said privatization alone will not solve or will not resolve the issue of Social Security. As a matter of fact, if they were to deal with that, then they would have to have tax increases and also cutbacks in traditional programs. In 2000, during his campaign, Governor Bush basically said he wanted to privatize Social Security. Then in 2001, now President Bush appointed a commission to develop a privatization plan for him. In December 2001, they followed their charge, and if you were on that commission, you would have had to have made previous statements that you were in favor of privatization, so of course you are going to get recommendations from this commission. In 2001, the commission gave the President three options for privatization of Social Security. From December of 2001 through 2004 when the President came here and walked down and spoke in front of us, he was silent on the issue of privatization. Absolutely nothing. No statements, nothing. Did not talk about it. And now in 2004, while running for reelection, there was some mention but no plan. No plan came about after the three options. Members would assume the plan would come the year after, nothing. Then days after the 2004 election he thought he had the political clout to be able to privatize Social Security. That did not happen. January of this year while at the White House, once again he talked about it and said there is a plan. Now the budget was submitted at the beginning of February, no privatization plan was included. When I say the President said nothing, he is saying nothing because he is not putting forth a plan. Now press accounts say it is not clear if the President is going to offer a plan this year. Now for all the American people that are sitting at home watching us now and for all those individuals concerned about their benefits, I want to let you know right now it is important that you call your Member of Congress, it is important that your Member of Congress pay very close attention to this. In closing, I want to let the Members on the majority side, for those that are not with the President, and I must add there are some, there are some from my State, that I commend for their courage and for their standing up to the majority and the President saying they will not sell out their constituents on a hasty plan saying we have to move it through. Remember I talked about the Medicare issue and how that ended up going all of the way to $724 billion from $350 billion. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, I can tell my colleague that I am at a loss for words when it comes down to all the Federal jet fuel that has been burned on the U.S. taxpayers' dollars on the flying around the country with no plan and talking about privatization of Social Security. There are millions of Americans that are benefactors of Social Security. We cannot break our promise to them. For anyone to go and say we will privatize and everything will be fine, the evidence, which we will talk about later on in this hour, is leaning towards benefits being cut as it relates to the privatization. We will be talking about that a little later on. I am glad to have my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), who was here with us in the past. She had a townhall meeting, a couple of them I think in her district, and so I will now yield to her.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Something

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleague to please repeat that.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for the opportunity, and also Democratic Leader Pelosi, for one more hour, one more week for the Democratic 30-something Working Group. As you know, over a period of time, from the 108th Congress now to the 109th Congress, we have been coming to the floor sharing information, not only with Members of the House and the other body, but also with the present administration in the White House and with the American people about what is happening for America and what is happening to America. I must say that it is discouraging to hear some of the things that are coming from the majority side and also coming mainly from the White House on Social Security. And we come to the floor week after week to give voice to those Americans that are educating themselves through the survivor benefits, through Social Security, and also those Americans that are 20, 30, 40, and 50-something that are looking for Social Security to be there for them when they retire; and to make sure that they can get the maximum benefit, especially for those that are in their 50s and 40s, as they start to think about retirement, making sure that Social Security is there for them when they are eligible. I must say that during the break, as you know, we were on the Presidents' break for some time. And many House Democrats, and some enlightened Republicans, I must add, went back home and started asking their constituents how they felt about Social Security. And many of them came back with positive responses. In fact, they want the maximum benefits out of Social Security, and they want to make sure that it is not privatized. And that was overwhelmingly the message during the Presidents' break. It is not what I am saying; it is what the press reports are saying, either via print or TV media. And the House Democrats have been out in America and united about opposing the privatization, in opposition to the privatization of Social Security. And over the past 2 weeks, 160 House Democrats have held over 300 townhall meetings, Mr. Speaker. I just want to make sure that that is definitely a note. Not only with the Members, the Members note that that is the case, but to make sure that the American people that we are here to serve understand that we are trying to do all we can. And in the minority, I must say, here in this House, I want to remind the majority party that if we had the power to call a committee meeting, if we had the power to look into things that may be questionable as it relates to some of the decisions that are being made and some of the abuse of power that is taking place on the executive branch end, then we will have better accountability. But as it relates to Social Security, we are fighting the good fight. We are working with what we have to go out to the American people to let them know what is going on here under the dome. Once again, 160 Democratic House Members have gone out and had over 300 townhall meetings in their districts and around their States. And I think that is so very, very important. Mr. Speaker, we have the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) here, who co- chairs this 30-something Working Group with me, who I must say that it is just a pleasure being here with the gentleman from Ohio just one more week. I am looking forward as we continue to hit the road and share the information about Social Security and why it is important to many young people throughout the United States of America. But it is just once again a pleasure to share this hour with him.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again it is an honor to be before the House of Representatives to speak directly to our colleagues. I think it is important for us to remember that in this democracy of ours it is important that we share good information and accurate information on the issues that are being debated here in this Chamber and in the capital city, and I think it is also important for us to remember that many Americans counts on us to represent them in a way that is an honorable way, a way that will give them good information so when they stand in time of judgment on who their leadership will be here in Washington, D.C., that they can make a sound decision. There have been a lot of things that have been going on in the last couple of weeks. We have heard reference by other Members on both sides of the aisle to the President's budget and also to the President's State of the Union, but we also have a great deal of responsibility to the American people to make sure that we represent this branch of the government, which is the legislative branch. This is our 30-something Hour that has been designated by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), Democratic leader. This is now going on our third year of putting voice to many of the issues that are not only facing young people in America but also facing their parents and their grandparents. We try to make the direct connection between those that are trying to help themselves, that go to work every day, go to school every day, to those parents that know what it means to punch in and punch out every day to supply the necessary resources for their family to have a better opportunity than what they have had; all the way to the grandparents that, of course, their hope and prayer is to make sure that their grandchildren and their children are able to provide for future generations. And so this brings us to Social Security, and in the 30-something Hour I am so glad to be here once again with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), whom I admire quite a bit, who serves with me on the Committee on Armed Services. I just want to briefly say, as it relates to Social Security, when people think of Social Security they think of silver and blue hair. That is not necessarily what Social Security is all about. There are millions of Americans, I must add, that count on that Social Security promise that they were made in their years of working and providing for this great country of ours. And I must say that there are 48 million people that are receiving benefits, and they are not all over the age of 60, and they are not over the age of 55. They go all the way down into the younger years, and 17 percent of our young people are benefactors of survivor benefits of Social Security. Also, when we look at it, there are 33 million retirees that are receiving Social Security, and we also have seniors that are looking at an average of $955 from their Social Security benefits every month. So when we talk about Social Security, we are talking about the real backbone, the real backbone of what we do and what we are all about here in the U.S. Congress in providing the leadership to make sure that it is solvent. We do know that it will be solvent for another 47 years, and we even know that after that period, 80 percent of the benefits that are being paid out now will still be able to be paid out. So the fact that there is a three-alarm fire on Social Security, that is not necessarily the case. But to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), it is just such a pleasure. I was really looking forward to this. Last week when we left, I just could not wait until Tuesday night when we could get back in this Chamber again and share very good information with our colleagues and hopefully continue to stay in the fight to make sure that Social Security is here not only now but also for future generations.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their time and for being allowed to address the American people.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want my colleague from Ohio to get to those e-mails. I want to make sure we talk about if someone starts in a company with a hammer and two nails, and then works for that company, not own that company, but that paid into Social Security, and maybe became the foreman or forewoman or whatever it may be, the supervisor, that that individual is counting on one thing. They may not be able to count on the company pension plan, but they can count on Social Security being there for them. Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green Party, what have you, it is there. And that is what it is intended for. If my colleague from Ohio could, so we can let some of the folks know that our e-mails, of course we cannot bring in the reams of paper and e-mails, and I am not being funny, I am just saying that I want to commend those that have e-mailed in and voiced their opinions.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Once again, there is no plan. It is almost like saying I want to build a house but we do not have a blueprint, but we are going to build it and we are going to build it on philosophy and we are going to build it on what we may put out as guiding principles. I do not know if you heard us a little earlier, but at the top of this hour we talked about the majority side are saying, well, you are saying that we need to do something about Social Security, but where is your plan? The same thing, where is their plan? I mean, the President came into this Chamber there at that podium and said there was a state of emergency, urgency, about dealing with Social Security. This is not the Weiner-Ryan-Meek report saying that Social Security will be solvent for years. They made the tough decisions back when Reagan and Tip O'Neill was running this House, this House and even the leadership in the other body. So it is important that we come clean with the American people. If we can, I know that we have some e-mails that some folks sent to us, but we have to make sure that we are asking that the American people and also that Members of Congress are even asking some of the tough questions of the administration. I want to commend especially some of our colleagues on the other side that have said I am not comfortable with this guiding principle thing; I am not comfortable with the fact that people may lose benefits or will lose benefits under these private accounts. And I do not believe that I can support it. Now, I hope that their back is strong, because I can tell those on the majority side that that is the same debate we had with the Medicare vote. The gentleman from New York was here on the floor. He saw that debate. We all have constituents, and now we are up to 740-something billion dollars, starting from 350.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman has an issue of concern, I just want to say that it is important that the American people understand that Social Security is not a program for the poor. Social Security is a program for everyone in America. It does not matter if you started off with a small business, a hammer and two nails, and you became the largest business in your community. If you are paying in your contributions to Social Security, you are going to receive a benefit from it. What is important is that people understand that this is not, and when we say Social Security program, I want to make sure people understand, this is for everyone. This is also dealing with survivors, and so many of them are helping themselves through the contribution of their parents, and many of them are no longer with us. So this is the only real legacy that they have, financial legacy, to be able to move on their aspirations. One thing that I must say that we are saying on this side of the aisle, and I think the majority needs to take some responsibility for this, too, you mentioned how can you say you are conservative, meanwhile you are seeing a nose-dive there at 450 with a ``t'' trillion, to 425 trillion, I mean down, nose-dive. How in the world can you say that you are a conservative? Now when we look at it, we know that. Our colleagues, some that put it on the line literally for us to go up to the 236, it was a price to pay.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. The gentleman is sharper than he thinks.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio for his comments, and I am very excited about the fact that some Members of the Congress are watching out for our veterans, making sure our veterans are receiving what they deserve. We talk about silver and blue hair once again, but there are a number of veterans that were in the first Gulf War, in Korea, even some in Grenada, definitely in Vietnam and World War II, and other conflicts that we have been involved in over the years; and it is important they receive the care they need not only at our veterans hospitals but also because these veterans were told when they signed up and they went into harm's way on behalf of this country, on the philosophy of our leadership and this Congress, that we would provide those kind of benefits. That is the reason why in the President's budget, as we heard in the last hour where we said how can we talk about Social Security and not talk about the budget, that it is important that we realize that this budget is deplorable as it relates to keeping our promise to our veterans and to our young veterans. We have a lot of young veterans out there that are trying to raise families and dealing with real issues. Some are on 50 percent benefits, some are on 100 percent benefits because they laid it down for this country, Democrats and Republicans. I will tell you once again, when you see the land of milk and honey, when it comes down to the top 1 percent and what they get and the promise that is kept to them by this administration and by the majority side, it is really night and day. If you are in the top 1 percent, you are in good shape right now. You are receiving every tax cut that you could possibly get at this particular time, and I am pretty sure there are some Members of this body that would have some other great ideas for you. But what happens to that individual that works every day? What happens to that individual that puts it on the line every day? We are talking about Iraq Watch, and this is the hour that usually our colleagues come to the floor to talk about Iraq. I just recently returned with a bipartisan group going to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit our troops and also to visit some of the civilians that are over there. I will tell you that news reports are not even covering half of what is happening there. Tomorrow we will have the opportunity on the Committee on Armed Services to hear from Secretary Rumsfeld. We will have an opportunity to hear the administration's vision as it relates to Iraq, and also to talk about this budget in the Department of Defense. But it is important that we have past statements and hopefully not to say that we want to have the Secretary responding to misstatements or anything of that nature, but we want to make sure that we are giving voice to those future veterans and we are giving voice to the troops that are over there in harm's way right now. There are individuals, and God bless them, they want to do and they are doing the right thing that they are being told to do. But we just had the Iraqi elections. New elections are going to be coming up in December. Hopefully the Iraqis will be ready or close to being ready for taking responsibility for their country and for the security of their country.