Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay this tribute to Ms. Thelma Stinson, Principal of Lillie C. Evans Elementary School located in Miami's Liberty City area of my district. This honor is richly deserved, for Ms. Stinson has truly made a huge contribution to our community and a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of youngsters. Upon the leadership of Ms. Stinson, Lillie C. Evans Elementary School proudly rose from an F-graded school in 2001-2002 to an A-graded school in 2003-2004. She took the helm of this school in 1999, and through personal touch and professional acumen defined by a no-nonsense approach, Ms. Stinson was able to put together a marvelous staff and a well-motivated support system composed of paraprofessionals, parents and community leaders. At the same time, however, I am cognizant of the countless hours of meeting and lesson planning that have exacted nothing but the noblest of her efforts. I want to applaud Ms. Stinson for having proven to us that, regardless of background or socio-economic class, every child can learn and can succeed, given dedicated teachers, able and supportive administrators, and a manageable class-size that affords teachers the opportunity to devote more time to diagnose each student's individual learning needs and problems and, thereby, enable them to teach each child accordingly. I believe strongly in solid classroom management . . . if the class is not under control, the teacher cannot teach,'' was her honest answer when asked recently about her secret of success. Above all, however, I am particularly pleased that Ms. Stinson seized the challenge of putting an inner-city school in my district in the highest ranking of achievement in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth largest school system in the nation. While teaching and learning continue within the halls of Lillie C. Evans Elementary School under the auspices of its dedicated and highly motivated faculty, Ms. Stinson has reached out to the community by ensuring that the parents are also schooled in the basic skills of reading, math and the sciences through regular sessions at night. Simply put, Ms. Stinson has literally bridged the gap between her school and her students' homes, making parental involvement an essential part of the teaching and learning process. In spite of the odds, Ms. Stinson has truly demonstrated to all those called upon by public service that excellence and achievement are never beyond the reach of those willing to make the sacrifice and dare the impossible on behalf of tomorrow's leaders. This recognition truly honors her leadership and defines the nobility of her profession as an educator. I extend to her my heartfelt gratitude for a job superbly done and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Chisholm charted a whole new course for black Americans. She was the first black woman elected to Congress and paved the way for dozens who came after her, including my mother, former U.S. Rep. Carrie P. Meek. Shirley Chisholm was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, a pioneer in civil and women's rights issues, and was the first black of either gender to run for President of the United States. Her determination and passion for the issues she believed in was always perfectly packaged by her charm and eloquence. The daughter of Caribbean immigrants, she never ceased to push for a better country for all Americans. Congresswoman Chisholm is an inspiration to me and every Member of Congress. Her legacy will never be forgotten, and I will always consider her path-breaking career as a motivation to serve the people of Florida's 17th Congressional District as best I can.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of Miami's unsung heroines, the late Ms. Samaki Variety, who we recently lost at the very young age of 47. Her passing on Sunday, December 19, 2004 leaves a deep void in our community. Throughout her life, Samaki raised a brave voice to the struggles of the poor and the homeless, especially those afflicted with the deadly virus of HIV-AIDS across our community and beyond. She also portrayed the unjust and inhumane treatment of newly arrived immigrants, particularly the Haitians, against the backdrop of policies and regulations that continue to negatively impact their lives to this very day. Samaki worked as a Community Outreach Coordinator to my mother, former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, where she was noted and loved for her dedication, effectiveness, positive attitude and happy spirit. I reserve to her the highest respect and admiration for her insatiable quest for simple justice and fairness for the less fortunate among us, particularly the children and the youth. Ms. Samaki Variety symbolized the resilient and unyielding voice for those who were disenfranchised and who bore the brunt of inequality of opportunity. She was a loving mother, an indefatigable community- builder and a catalyst par excellence who was completely unselfish in her endeavors. The authenticity of her stewardship on our behalf was defined by her utmost consecration to her calling as God's faithful servant, bringing laughter, hope and optimism to hundreds of ordinary folks and countless teenagers whose lives she deeply touched, never holding anyone at arm's length. This remarkable lady was our community's friend and confidante. She will be an indelible reminder of the noble commitment and awesome power of community service on behalf of the less fortunate. Her faith was deep and genuine, and her love for us was real and unforgettable. No one who knew Samaki--and having been struck by her sunny disposition and unfailing optimism--went away unchanged. She was truly a caring and passionate person who brightened the lives of all who knew her. We will truly miss her, and we will never forget her. I ask that the following article from the Miami Herald be included in the Record: [From the Miami Herald, Dec. 23, 2004] Former Outreach Chief Raised AIDS Awareness; Samaki Variety (By Monica Hatcher) Samaki Variety, admired for her work within South Florida's HIV/AIDS community, died Sunday in Atlanta of pneumonia. She was 47. Variety, the former community outreach director for Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, spearheaded several city-sponsored AIDS events, including the Tree Lighting Ceremony commemorating World AIDS Day and the Youth March for Life, which brought thousands of school-age children marching through downtown last year to raise AIDS awareness. ``Her passion for HIV education may have had a great deal to do with the amount of HIV we see in the black community here,'' said Alex Paulmer, who worked with Variety on AIDS- related projects. Variety was born in San Francisco and studied psychology and social science at Fort Valley State University. After college, she met Lee Variety. The couple married and moved to Miami in the mid-1970s. The couple worked as entertainers and owned Boo-key Productions, which booked and promoted acts. ``She had a gift for singing, dancing and acting, but God also gave her a gift for helping people,'' recalled her mother, Annie Lacy. In the late 1980s, Variety used her talents and her own money to host a Saturday radio youth talk show on 1490 WMBM called ``What's on Your Mind.'' The call-in program, aimed at teenagers, tackled such issues as pregnancy and child abuse. Samaki and Lee Variety had two children together, Leronce and Dom'Unique. The couple later divorced. ``She had a high spirit and was a positive thinker,'' said Dom'Unique, 14. ``She was dedicated to her job and loved to help people and she pushed people to be the best they can be.'' Variety worked in the public sector as an aide to Congresswoman Carrie Meek for five years. ``She was a rare combination of talent, intelligence and ability,'' said U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, who knew Samaki when she worked with his mother. Variety worked for a time in the Miami-Dade County School System and with former County Commissioner Charles Dusseau. In 2002, she joined Diaz's office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Outreach. ``Samaki will be deeply missed by all of the people she encountered and the many, many lives she touched,'' Diaz said in a statement. Variety left the mayor's office in October to care for her mother in Georgia. In addition to her mother and children, Variety is surved by a grandmother, Nazaree Foster; brothers, Roland and Wayman Hindsman; and sisters Jaqueline Shire, Jakki Kidd and Betty Wallace, as well as three grandchildren.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a pair of heroes whose courage has served as an inspiration to many in South Florida during this past holiday season. Shortly after 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2004, an unattended candle sparked a flame that engulfed a home in the City of Miami Gardens, FL; fourteen-year-old Ramon Butler who lives next door immediately responded to cries for help. Ramon entered the burning home without regard to his own personal safety, located and rescued a one-year-old child and then reentered the home in an attempt to locate the baby's five-month-old sister. Unfortunately, the roof began to collapse and he could not proceed any further and exited the home. At this point, City of Miami Gardens Police Officer Corey Jones arrived on the scene. Aware that the baby was still inside and told which room she was in, Officer Jones rushed back to the home, pulled hurricane shutters open, cranked the window open and leaped inside. Though the flames were intense and smoke filled the home, Officer Jones was successful in locating the infant and bringing her out to safety. The Miami-Dade County Police Department recently presented its highest civilian honor, the Silver Medal of Valor, to Ramon Butler, and both he and Officer Jones have been acknowledged by Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson for their acts of bravery. It is with great pride that I too pay tribute to the efforts of these two community heroes and extend my congratulations to each of them for a job well done.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sorrow that I rise to pay this tribute to the late Mrs. Mabel Yap. She was one of Miami- Dade County's matriarchs who contributed immense good to our community. Mrs. Yap's passing on December 27, 2004 leaves a deep void, especially for those of us who have known her quiet and dignified spirit in urging her children and grandchildren to advance the common good of our beloved community in an unselfish manner. The funeral Mass to celebrate her life is being held today, Tuesday, January 4, 2005, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church, and will be followed by her interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in South Miami. She was the loving and devoted wife of Mr. Patrick Yap and the mother of eight children, 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Yap symbolized the dutiful mother whose home offered sanctuary and solace to all those who sought her help. Her nurturing spirit and perseverance amidst overwhelming odds transformed her into a matron of love and caring for all those who came to her seeking her advice on a myriad of things. Buttressed by her unflinching faith and her willingness to pay the price, she went about doing good, especially on behalf of the less fortunate. Though a highly private individual, the late Mabel Yap consecrated her life to raising a family of achievers, and has been a resilient voice in articulating the need for responding to the plight of our community's immigrants. In so doing she symbolized all that is good and noble about the American spirit of idealism and optimism, and she worked long and hard in hopes that our nation truly become a land of opportunity for all. This is the legacy Mrs. Mabel Yap bequeathed to us. Indeed, I am privileged to have been touched by the magnificent contributions she has made to our community through her family. I now join our community in thanks for her grace and for her noble and giving presence during her time with us.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 496, a bill I cosponsored, which expresses the sense of Congress on the need for humanitarian assistance to hurricane-ravaged Caribbean countries. As you know, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne struck the Caribbean, leading to widespread destruction and devastation. This is a matter of great concern to me because many of my constituents in Dade and Broward Counties are from, have ancestors from, or have relatives presently living on the islands of the Caribbean. I also represent the largest Haitian constituency in the country. Of all the islands in the Caribbean, Haiti was particularly hard hit. As of today, the toll was more than 2,900 dead or missing and presumed dead. An estimated 300,000 Haitians are left homeless. The extent of this destruction has severely strained the already meager resources of the government, law enforcement authorities, and the United Nations forces in Haiti. Haiti especially has suffered. Just yesterday, the Washington Post reported the heartwrenching story of Monise Alsenor, a Haitian mother, two of whose children are missing after water tore through her house and swept her family away. She could not reach her children as they yelled ``save me!'' in Creole. She and her husband spent the night holding onto a tree while the water tugged at them and the tree thorns ripped off their clothes. There are still reports of people living on roofs and of food and water shortages. The New York Times reported that two men were found lying in a semi-conscious state on the ground near an Argentine- run clinic. Doctors said that the two men appeared to have not eaten in several days and demonstrated signs of psychological trauma. I cite these accounts as examples of the terrible circumstances under which Haitians have suffered. Similar stories could sadly, easily be found thousands of times over throughout this poorest of nations and other countries in the Caribbean. After Hurricane Jeanne ravaged the city of Gonaives, the international community's response was impressive. Trinidad-Tobago pledged $5 million in aid. Venezuela pledged $1 million and sent food, water, and medicine. Argentina dispatched rescue workers and supplies. Brazilians sent medical supplies. Chile also sent emergency aid, as did the Spanish, and the French. Incredibly, the Bush Administration has been slow to respond to this tragedy. In the first several days after the disaster, as news reports out of Haiti detailed the widespread death, destruction and suffering, the United States was virtually silent while other nations, including European Union countries and Venezuela, immediately stepped in to help. For this reason, I wrote to President Bush to ask for substantial and immediate aid to help the flood victims. A copy of my letter follows this statement. President Bush has proposed $12.2 billion for hurricane relief and recovery in Florida and the Southern states. $50 million of these funds are set aside for the Caribbean nations, and almost half is intended for Haiti. However, in the words of the Washington Post: ``The amount set aside for the Caribbean nations is a pittance--not to mention a fraction of what was spent on U.S. military interventions in Haiti and Grenada.'' Millions more will be needed to help Haiti alone recover from Hurricane Jeanne's aftermath. The Bush administration should be supportive in a more substantial way. It is because of these horrendous conditions that I support Congresswoman Lee's resolution. I call on this administration to provide greater humanitarian and emergency assistance to Haiti and other Caribbean nations. September 22, 2004. President George W. Bush, The White House, Washington, DC. Dear President Bush: I write to bring to your personal attention a humanitarian crisis of the highest magnitude in Haiti and to ask that your Administration follow the lead of other nations and provide substantial and immediate assistance to help ease the desperate suffering of the people of Haiti. Tropical Storm Jeanne caused devastating floods that ravaged this impoverished country this past weekend. As of this morning, the death toll in Haiti exceeded 800, with 1,000 missing. The death toll increases steadily as the water recedes. Haiti is already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and this latest crisis has made conditions there even worse. This crisis also comes on the heels of ruinous floods four months ago when over 3,000 Haitians were killed, missing, or presumed dead. According to eyewitness accounts, there are bodies scattered in the streets. Some are forced to camp on the roofs of mud-filled homes. Unimaginably, families were sleeping in trees because of the destruction. Numerous news reports document a desperate need for food, water, medicine, shelter and clothing. The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gonaives said that the possibility exists that several thousand Haitians may die of starvation. ``We have nothing,'' he is quoted by the Associated Press as saying. ``About 80 to 90 percent of the houses are under water.'' The present interim government of Haiti is totally unequipped and unable to deal with this massive crisis. It has neither the necessary resources nor the organization. Private voluntary groups are also reportedly overwhelmed by the enormity of this crisis, and there are numerous reports of mobs seizing aid vehicles. Transportation in Haiti, extremely difficult even in the best of times, is particularly crippled now. However, despite the fact that this crisis struck Haiti over four days ago, the Administration reportedly has released only $60,000 in relief assistance to CARE. This is wholly inadequate to properly respond to this disaster. It pales compared to the $1.8 million provided by the European Union and $1 million and rescue supplies from Venezuela. Other nations are already acting. It is a national embarrassment that the United States of America should respond so slowly and inadequately to so great a crisis in a country so close to our shores. While your Administration assesses, monitors and watches, the suffering in Haiti gets worse. Haiti does not need expressions of sympathy; it does not need promises. Haiti needs concrete help, and it needs it right now. Your Administration has a responsibility to immediately send significant U.S. emergency assistance to Haiti in the form of food, medicine, fresh water, clothing and emergency shelter and to immediately coordinate, with the international community, the manpower, transportation and distribution of these needed commodities to provide immediate relief to the people of Gonaives and the surrounding countryside. The time frame for this aid should be hours, not weeks or months. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to your prompt reply to this urgent matter. Sincerely yours, Kendrick B. Meek, Member of Congress.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 106 before the House of Representatives today. The Constitution has never been amended to mandate discrimination. It is historically served to expand liberty and equality. This proposed constitutional amendment, if passed, would set a precedent at odds with the values and freedoms upon which the nation was founded. Further, it is an attack on the United States Constitution and the system of government that has made this country so great and has served us so well. Supporters of this resolution complain loudly about the decisions of ``unelected judges,'' but it is important to remember that those very unelected judges are a key part of our system of government--it is how the authors of the Constitution saw fit to protect the rights of minorities. By trying to amend the Constitution, conservatives are trying to cut off the emerging national debate on same-sex marriage. Amending the Constitution has only been done 27 times before in our history. It is something that is traditionally done only when there are no other options, but the country has only just begun to try to work through this issue. Even for people who, like myself, believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, this measure does nothing to strengthen or protect those bonds. It seems to me that if a threat exists to marriage, it is that too many of them fail. For every two marriages that occurred in the 1990s, one ended in divorce. The stresses on marriages today are great, but they don't have to do with the jurisdiction of the federal courts. This bill does nothing to deal with problems like affordable housing, quality education and training, daycare for young children, high costs of gasoline, electricity and food, high unemployment rates and underemployment, and the lack of health care coverage and other benefits that place severe strains on many families. Today, the very nature of the typical American family is changing. Just as families headed by only one adult were rare only a few decades ago but are common today, non-traditional couples are now a widespread fact of American society. Nearly 200 Fortune-500 companies and numerous municipalities and organizations have already recognized this fact on their own and provide benefits to same sex couples. In addition, several municipalities have adopted local ordinances prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing and employment. This proposed constitutional amendment is heavy-handed and unnecessary. The companion amendment in the United States Senate not only failed to meet the required two-thirds vote for adoption, but it failed to even receive a simple majority of the membership, failing 48- 50. At best, it is bad policy that does not get to the core of the problems that face American families today. At worst, it is a ruinous attack at the very foundation of this great country--A Constitution that protects the rights of the individual over the tyranny of the majority. No matter one's individual beliefs, there can be no excuse to putting limitations on one person's rights for another person's beliefs in a document under which we all live--the Constitution of the United States of America. I hope that my colleagues will join me in opposing this ill-advised, unnecessary, and bad precedent-setting amendment.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again it is an honor to come before the U.S. House of Representatives to be able to share a few things with the American people. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we reflect on this period as we stand as a country. A lot has happened today and a lot will happen in the future, and I think it is important that we reflect on what happened today and the direction our country needs to go in and should go in. We all know that there are 40 days and some hours, just about to be 39 days before the national election on November 2. I think it is also important for us to reflect on the responsibility that every American has to participate in that process. I would like to share with the American people that for a couple of weeks, we have not had an opportunity to have a 30-something hour, but I think it is important for us to address some of those issues that are affecting young people in this country. I want to commend those organizations that are out there supplying information to voters between the ages of 18 and 30 to make sure that they participate in this election. What has been happening for the last 4 years, and what is going to happen in the next 4 years is very, very important for the future of our country and also for the future of our families. I want to thank Rock the Vote and also the WWE Association, and many other individuals that are out there, like Mr. Russell Simmons, what the NAACP is doing, what the people for the American Way are doing, and also thank what Puff Daddy and other folks out there are doing in making sure that people have good information. Voter suppression is very real, Mr. Speaker, and I think it is important for parents or grandparents or even Members of Congress listening tonight that we share with them that their loved ones who might be in school do have the opportunity to register to vote. In the beginning of October, that clock is going to run out throughout the country, so we need to make sure they know they can register. We did have some supervisors of elections or those election officials in those local communities that were telling them they could not. Now we are getting that information out. I believe there is a 1975 Supreme Court decision that said that if one is in school and registered in school, they can be from another State, but they can register to vote there, because nine times out of ten during the early voting periods and the election period in early November, they will be there at that location. Mr. Speaker, I have my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Cleveland, Ohio (Mrs. Jones), joining me here tonight, but I first just want to take a moment, since we are talking about democracy, to reflect on a country that we are saying that we want to institute democracy in. I think we should be very careful in being the promoters and also the hood ornament for democracy in the world. We are promoting elections in Iraq at a time when we know that it is very unsafe, not only for U.N. workers but for our U.S. troops and the very limited coalition that we have in Iraq right now. On the floor here today, Mr. Speaker, we had the interim prime minister of Iraq addressing the U.S. Congress. He also went over to the White House and was with the President in a Rose Garden ceremony. It is one thing to be able to say that we have to be there for the long haul. As a member of the Committee on Armed Services, I support the effort of making sure that we achieve our goals in Iraq. I may not support how we got there, which I do not, that being the preemptive strike, which is something this country has never engaged in before. There is no ``may'' about it, I do not. But I think it is important we reflect on where we are right now. We have had the arguments, hours of arguments on this floor, of how we got there. I think the American people are fully aware of who made the decision and who decided that we should take a preemptive strike in Iraq, without a real plan that provided for a good measured outcome. The people who made the decision to go with the willing I think is something that we are going to remember in the future as it relates to the art of war and in taking a move like we did several months ago. I could not help but reflect on the prime minister's comments today, and I also could not help but reflect on what was said at the Rose Garden about the fact that we are ready for elections in January. Now, this is not the Kendrick Meek report, this is the report of many news articles I am holding here in my hand from the events of today. This is not only the reports of these news organizations but also of anyone turning on the television and looking at cable or at network television. Guess what, things in Iraq are not going as well as we are being told here around the beltway and in Washington, D.C. Mr. Speaker, I think it goes beyond my obligation and the obligation of all the Members here in the House, be they Republican or Democrat, to level with the American people about the realities of Iraq, the realities of taking on an effort in the Middle East where we have had terrorism for years and years and years. Fact: Saddam Hussein. Yes, he was a bad guy and he needed to go. But at what cost? Fact: Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups were not running the streets of Iraq prior to the preemptive strike. That is a fact. That is not fiction. That is not the Kendrick Meek report, that is reality. The President today said, well, we have to continue to fight the war in Iraq, because if we leave, then the terrorists will have a hub to be able to carry out terror on other democracies on the face of the earth. Well, Mr. Speaker, I cannot help but to reflect and to comment on that remark. Who set that stage for that mecca or hub of terrorism? Now, I am not here to point fingers, I am just here to say that the world community knows the reason why we have all the terror in Iraq right now, that could and would be and is a part of global terrorism at this particular time. And I think it is important if we are going to build a broader coalition now, and I want to make sure, because Secretary Rumsfeld today, I must add, was over in the Senate and he said, well, what is wrong with the elections? We can have elections in January, but what is wrong with having elections in some places and in other places where we cannot have them, it is not a perfect world, so let us just move on with the elections. Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but I beg to differ with the Secretary, in all due respect. That is not the way a democracy operates. Next thing you know, here in the United States, and thank God for the U.S. Constitution and some people of goodwill who would stand up against such an action, if it were said that, well, we can have an election in Georgia, Alabama, or Mississippi, but in other places we cannot have it, so whatever the results are from those States, then so be it. Those are the elected officials that will represent that legislative body or those cities in those areas or this country. Mr. Speaker, we need to watch what we say. Just because we can say it, does not mean that it is right. It is very, very unfortunate that the Secretary of Defense feels that he can make those comments. And I wanted to make sure that I came to this floor tonight to share not only with Members of Congress but also with the American people that we should disabuse ourselves of such statements made off the cuff when we are trying to create a democracy. The coalition in Iraq is not expanding with individuals or countries that are there to be able to help us in our mission and our goals. The coalition is getting smaller. I think it is important if we are going to build a true coalition, then we have to make sure that we have strong leadership. Mr. Speaker, 1,041 American lives have been taken. We honor and respect them. As a Member of this Congress and as an American, I respect their contributions to our country. I think it is important that Americans not only reflect on their contributions and their sacrifices, but we need to also make sure that when we hear something here in Washington, D.C. by individuals that are being driven around in cars with tinted windows, who have prepared comments to be able to draw an audience and who believe what they say should be law, we beg to differ. It is our responsibility and our resolve and our commitment to this country and to the lives of those troops and their families goes beyond that. So whether it be an independent, a Republican, or a Democrat, we have the responsibility to stand up and say that is not so, Mr. President, the administration, or whoever it may be; these individuals who would sit here and give the American people the Potomac two-step that everything is okay. It is not okay. We have 7,032 troops injured, and we are at 96 percent of the cost in Iraq. We do not have a coalition, as the administration will share with you that they are running the costs and they are taking on the casualties. Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are trying to train the Iraqi army, but this argument goes beyond partisan politics. This goes to the very fiber of every veteran that has served this country, every veteran that allowed us to be able to breathe and celebrate the very democracy that we live in today. Their memory, their honor, their sacrifice is on the line right now in the world community. The boldness of some folks here in Washington, D.C., to be able to say that something is going on in Iraq that the American people cannot see. I want to share a few facts here. Security failures in Iraq, we need to get down to what it is worth. I mentioned the casualties, and I mentioned the injured. Our forces are coming under attack 90 times a day. That is a twofold increase since winter. Also, when we look at the new al Qaeda terrorism generated throughout the world, we are at a cost of $145 billion, and 41 percent of our debt is handled by foreign countries right now. That is 96 percent of the bill. I think it is unacceptable for people to talk about things are going so well. We need to tell the truth. The truth is no weapons of mass destruction, no link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. This is not the report of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek); this is what the President said in the Roosevelt Room when questioned about it. The facts show there was no link. The mission is not accomplished. The transition is not a peaceful and stable one that is happening right now. The attacks on the troops are increasing, not decreasing. Terrorist opportunities are growing in that region. The fact that the failures of this administration to come to grips with the reality with what is happening in Iraq right now is detrimental to our mission. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I will try to live up to that as we move on. It is a great pleasure to serve with the gentlewoman from Ohio, with all of the trials and tribulations that her constituents and the people of Ohio with the loss of jobs. As we know, in Florida when we talk about health care, 240,000 people in Florida lost their health care that are working under this administration. We have an opportunity to turn that around. I am very proud of the opportunity that we have. Once again, it is an honor to serve in this House. It is also a greater honor to be here, to be about the solution. I will tell you, it is not just Democrats. There are people of good will in this House that want to do the right thing. It all comes down to the leadership. It is like our troops in the field. Who does not support the troops? That is what I want to know. We all support the troops. We speak in our vote, we speak in our support on the floor, we speak in our prayers for the troops. But it is important that we are not blinded by bipartisanship and about the fact that, oh, well, I have to do this because the leader of my party or the leader in the White House says that I have to do it, and we have to stand in solidarity with him or her or whoever it may be. We stand in solidarity with the American people, and the American people have an opportunity through the partnership that we have built here in this House with our leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), about what we should do and what we have to do, given the opportunity. I must say, it has been 10 years since this House has been controlled by Democrats, and I think it is important with Democrats and some goodwill Republicans that we put this country on the right track. With that, I want to thank the gentlewoman for joining us here tonight.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I will just say, since our time is drawing near to the end, that the American people have an opportunity to vote and they will. There are record numbers of new registrants out there in this country, and they are registering to do something. And they have an opportunity once again to vote for a new direction as it relates to health care; education; environment; energy; security for our country, making sure that we have more containers that are being checked, coming into this country, which has been found to be one of our greatest terrorist threats. They have an opportunity to make sure that there are sound decisions, and a real opportunity for the world community to feel that they can come to the United States and we can build a real coalition in Iraq; to be able to make sure that we put on a real hunt for bin Laden; to make sure that individuals that were responsible for 9/11, that they are not only brought to justice, but shut down. So they have that opportunity, and I believe very strongly they are going to take that opportunity and they are going to swell that vote, and they are going to vote early, and they are going to make sure that every member of their family votes, because this election, I believe, this election, I say it again, is the greatest opportunity that Americans have had who are able to cast their vote in a very, very, very long time. So, I am glad that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) has led us in the direction of the New Partnership with the American people, and that we are going to do the things that are going to be able to help not only working Americans, but those Americans that have contributed to our country. If you are on Social Security, you have a place in our partnership. If you are looking for a job, you have a place in our partnership. If you are a mother that is trying to make ends meet, you have a place in our partnership. If you are a veteran that wants to go to the VA and get assistance within 6 months, you are in our partnership beyond 6 months. That is the situation right now, if you want to see the eye doctor or whatever the case may be. If you want to make sure that we build a sound America with sound education funding and policy and making sure that students that are crushed by student loans right now, that they get the opportunity to attain a graduate education so they can compete with the rest of the world, you are in our partnership. If you do not want to have to train someone to perform your job overseas, you are in our Partnership with America to bring about change. So I am excited about our leadership here under the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) and so many others that are out there, along with our Democratic Caucus, but I think it is important that we make sure that American people understand the opportunity they have.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, this election is going to be about who votes and who does not vote. This election is going to be about the future of every American family. We know that every election is supposed to be about that, but this one is for real. The President of the United States said today to the interim prime minister of Iraq, do not worry, the American people will be with him all the way to help him accomplish the goals that the Iraqi people want to accomplish. Well, I am not one to hang my hat on polls, but I will tell the gentlewoman this: the Iraqi people see us as occupiers instead of liberators. And that is not a reflection on the job that the troops are doing on the ground. I want to make sure that Members of Congress understand that there are a lot of proud men and women who are laying it down right now. I pray for them every day. I make sure that their families understand that we appreciate their service to our country. But at the same time, it is our obligation as leaders here in Washington, D.C. We are citizens elected to this Congress to make sure that we run this country in a way that it should be operated and that we make sure that our troops have what they need and when they need it and we make sure that we make sound decisions based on what the situation is today and what the situation will be in the future; and that is the reason why I am sharing tonight with all of the people that can hear my voice that it is important that they look at it for what it is. There is a term out there that a lot of young people use: it is what it is. And right now, if I were, hypothetically speaking, the President of the United States and I am looking at what is going on and I am getting the CIA reports and I am hearing things that the American people are not hearing right now and I am turning on the news and I see what is going on and I am picking up the paper and I am reading the articles and I am getting all this good information but, better yet, I am still going to hold on to the fact that we are going to have elections in January, that lets the world's community know that we are putting, I believe, politics over principle and over sound thinking. And the great thing about our democracy is we have the opportunity to come here and voice our opinion and to be able to share it with the people who live in our democracy for them to act appropriately, and acting appropriately would be to think about the facts. A commercial over here and a commercial over there. That is fine. Some of it is true, and some of it is fiction. But the bottom line is when we speak from the White House and when we speak here on this floor, we have to speak the truth. There is not a lot of time for us to play around and start talking about, well, I am going to just sway over here and I am going to embellish a little bit. The American people deserve better. Congresses before our Congress, the 108th Congress, knew and hoped that this democracy would move as it relates to truth, honesty, and dignity. And it is important that we do not even reflect that. With all due respect, we do not even want to brush up against that. I am not saying that that is not the case now. But I am saying we do not brush against that honor that has been laid out. When I talk about veterans that have served this country, those that are in Arlington Cemetery right now, resting in peace, we appreciate their contributions. Every time I go to the airport, I see Arlington; and I swell up about their contribution. We would not be in Congress if it were not for them. So when we look at that, it goes deeper than the politics that we are hearing right now. So the American people have an opportunity, Mr. Speaker, those who are voting for the first time and those who have voted 100 times, to be able to make the right decision based on the facts. If their voter registration card says Green Party, Reform Party, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent, whatever their party may be, they have an obligation on behalf of their family. Family, that is personal. So we have to make sure we reflect on that. I am excited. I am just going to let the gentlewoman know I am in no way feeling that woe is this country because I have faith in the American people. I know they will make the right decision. We have got to give them the facts about what is happening, what is really going on, and let them make their decision.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to let the gentlewoman know how excited I am, not about the prospect but about the reality of the number of individuals who will vote this election. The stakes are high. This election is beyond personalities. It is personal. It is about families and their future. I once said on the floor that the goal of every grandparent and parent is to make sure that their children and grandchildren have better opportunities than they had. That fits everyone, Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The American people are going to have an opportunity to have a new direction. There are 45 million Americans without health care. These are working Americans without health care. We have the highest deficit in the history of the Republic. We are knocking on the bank door of China saying, please help us with our debt because we cannot manage our own money. At the same time, we are in a war with no real end. I will repeat again, I support making sure that we reach our objectives in Iraq, but what I do not support is for us to continue to carry 96 percent of the costs and 96-plus percent of the casualties without being able to go to the world community to build a real coalition in Iraq. It is not good thinking to be able to say we are going to hang in there and go from a shooting-from-the-hip way of doing things; we cannot do that. We have the moral authority in the world so we cannot behave like others. We cannot afford to behave like others. The rest of the world is looking at this election to see what the American people do about the future of the world. People talk about a global war on terror, yes, a number of countries are involved in the global war on terror, but the real issue is who is involved in Iraq. Just for a moment, what happened to Osama bin Laden? We had efforts on Osama bin Laden and also in North Korea and making sure that we kept the pressure on Iraq as relates to their nuclear programs; maybe we will be securing the world more. Maybe, just maybe, we will not have the kind of terror incubator that we have in Iraq now. This is not the Meek report. The CIA report said either civil war or a lack of not being able to accomplish our goals that we set out to do in Iraq, one of the two. When you follow Secretary Rumsfeld saying we can only have elections in three-quarters of the country, the rest of the country, we will get around them, it is not a perfect world; you want to talk about a prescription for civil war, that is one. That is why it is important that the American people understand their responsibility in this upcoming election season. I am encouraged by the 18- to 30-year-olds who are registering to vote. I am encouraged by the grandparents and the veterans who are saying, young person, make sure you carry out your vote. To those individuals and seniors who are cutting pills in half because they do not have a prescription drug benefit, they have an opportunity to voice their opinion.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sorrow that I rise to inform my colleagues of the passing of Orange ``Buddy'' Hays, one of Miami-Dade County's most quietly effective and dignified patriarchs and a community leader and mentor who had the ability to transform the lives of everyone he met. Mr. Hays death on Sunday, September 12, 2004, has cast a veil of deep sadness over our community. The funeral services to celebrate his life were held Saturday, September 18, at Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church in Miami, Florida. Buddy Hays was a good and decent man who contributed greatly to our community, professionally, as a City of Miami police officer and as the District Manager of HUD for more than 30 years. But I knew him, much more closely and at a young age, as someone who was wise, and strong, and fair--a great role model. He was like a father and mentor to me, and I've been blessed and inspired by the good words and magnificent examples of this ordinary human being who went about quietly helping youngsters in our community, simply because of his great goodness and the fact that there were youngsters out there who needed his help. My friend, State Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall described Mr. Hays as someone who ``. . . will be missed by so many. He was steadfast and relentless in his mission to make this community a better place, and he did.'' Buddy Hays was a delicately drawn character of quiet demeanor and dignified commitment to the well-being and growth of the neediest and most vulnerable in our community. He projected a vision of service and faith. His passing is a terrible loss, but the legacy of his caring and love lives on, and I am part of that legacy. The world is a better place because of Orange ``Buddy'' Hays. It would be a high goal for anyone to set to follow the path that he blazed.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Chairman, it is a pleasure to present a position on this amendment before the House here today. I just want to qualify the fact that I live in south Florida, and I do have some good friends that are Cuban, and I do represent many of those individuals. I must say that I voted against this very bill last year in solidarity with many of my friends who are against embargo and want to put pressure on Castro. I believe in that, but I believe that we have crossed the line now as it relates to going into family. There was some discussion from my good friend and colleague from Miami Dade County talking about, well, folks are going to stay in hotels. Well, if a person is going to see a family member that is sick, nine times out of 10 they are going to stay with that family member. What has happened now, we are putting on Cuban Americans, I must say Cuban Americans want to go over and visit their family members when they are sick. Now if they have an aunt that is sick, under the new Bush restriction they cannot visit an aunt or a cousin or an uncle that helped to raise them. They could very well be the last living member of their family in Cuba, but they cannot go. Let us just say that their mother or father is terminally ill and they would like to go and consult with the doctors; they would like to go and give them moral support, spiritual support. They are going have to make a decision now, because President Bush put this restriction in 4 months prior to a major election, I guess because the polling said it was appropriate to do so, they are going to have to make a decision, are they going to visit their family members to give them that support, or are they going to the funeral. If they go to the funeral, they only have a couple of days to do that. Guess what, God forbid if another family member gets sick. Now, if we want to present democracy to families and we want to hurt Castro, then let us hurt Castro. Let us not hurt families. I have been around Miami Dade County in South Broward for a very long time; and I will tell my colleagues this, there are a lot of people that are hurting and feeling the pain and suffering of this particular restriction. This is far beyond politics and partisanship. This is dealing with families. I want the people that are paying attention to this debate here today to really understand, if a person has a family member that is on their death bed and they have to make the decision if they are going to be there while they are living and support them or they are going when it is time to put them down to rest, think about that and think about is America trying to present democracy to a Communist country and to Cuba. Castro is going to turn this around by saying, they will not even allow you to see your son and your daughter for the last time because they came a year before. This will not deter the Castro government from doing what they are doing. This will make sure that he has another tool to say how bad the United States is. I tell my colleagues, I for one want to see Castro go. I want to see his regime go, and the way to present democracy is not hurting families.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a human crisis of the highest magnitude. It demands a strong, unequivocal and immediate response from the international community and particularly from the United States. The latest storm struck Gonaives on Saturday. So far, the only aid from the Bush Administration has been $60,000 in relief assistance. This is just a drop in the bucket compared to the desperate need of the Haitian people. It is wholly inadequate. The Bush Administration needs to exercise leadership in coordinating immediate assistance from our own country and the international community. While the Bush Administration is watching the development of this disaster and assessing what its response will be, thousands of Haitians are suffering. This situation demands an immediate emergency response from the United States Government. As reported in these Miami Herald and the New York Times articles, nearly 700 lives have been lost in Haiti because of the flooding and mudslides triggered by Tropical Storm Jeanne. Already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, this new crisis has made conditions in Haiti even worse. And the desperate situation that Haiti faces today because of this disaster comes on top of the catastrophic floods only 4 months ago with over 3,000 Haitians killed, missing, or presumed dead. The press has reported widespread human suffering in Haiti, with unburied bodies in the streets; hospitals and hospital equipment rendered unusable because of water and mud, grave shortages of fresh water, food and antibiotics, a very real threat of public health epidemics, and thousands without even rudimentary shelter. The government of Haiti is totally unequipped and unable to deal with this massive crisis, because they have neither the resources nor the organization. Private voluntary groups are reportedly overwhelmed by the enormity of this crisis. Given the gravity of this situation, in which thousands of Haitian lives hang in the balance, I call upon President Bush to immediately send significant U.S. emergency assistance to Haiti in the form of food, medicine, fresh water, clothing, and emergency shelter, and to immediately coordinate, with the international community, the manpower, transportation and distribution of these needed commodities to provide immediate relief to the people of Gonaives and the surrounding countryside. We know from the storm damage in our own country that fast action is imperative in natural disasters; Haiti's poverty and the size and scope of the disaster there makes the need for speed even greater. If ever there was a time when the people of Haiti need the help and support of the United States Government, it is now. I urge President Bush not to delay this aid any further, but to act immediately. [From the Miami Herald, Herald.com, September 21, 2004] Storm Floods Kill More Than 600 in Haiti (By Amy Bracken) Gonaives, Haiti--.Rescuers dug through mud and ruined homes for bodies Tuesday, expecting the death toll of more than 600 from Tropical Storm Jeanne to rise even further, with half the crowded northern city of Gonaives still under water from the weekend's devastating winds and rain. Gonaives was hardest hit in the latest tragedy to beset Haiti in a year of revolts, military interventions and devastating floods. Bodies, including many children, were stacked at the city's main morgue, where weeping relatives searched for loved ones. At least 500 people were killed in the city, according to Toussaint Kongo-Doudou, a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti. ``I lost my kids and there's nothing I can do,'' said Jean Estimable, whose 2-year-old daughter was killed and another of his five children was missing and presumed dead. ``All I have is complete despair and the clothes I'm wearing,'' he said Monday, pointing to a floral dress and ripped pants borrowed from a neighbor. Floods are particularly damaging in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, because it is almost completely deforested, leaving few roots to hold back rushing waters or mudslides. Most of the trees have been chopped down to make charcoal for cooking. Aid workers were struggling to get relief to victims amid worries over looting and crime, said Hans Havik from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. ``Security is little bit tense. We have to be careful with bringing in the materials because we risk looting,'' Havik said. Three trucks carrying Red Cross relief supplies rolled into Gonaives Monday, but before they could reach their destination at the mayor's office, two of them were mobbed by people who grabbed blankets and towels. U.N. troops stood by watching. People tripped over each other to grab tiny bags of water thrown from a Red Cross truck in front of City Hall, where officials said about 500 injured were treated Monday. Dieufort Deslorges, a spokesman for the government civil protection agency, described the situation in Gonaives as ``catastrophic.'' He said survivors need everything from potable water to food, clothing, medication and disinfectants. ``We expect to find dozens more bodies, especially in Gonaives, as . . . floodwaters recede,'' Deslorges said. Floodwaters destroyed homes and crops in the Artibonite region that is Haiti's breadbasket. ``Everyone is desperate,'' said Pelissier Heber of the Artibonite Chamber of Commerce. Elsewhere, 56 people were killed in northern Port-de-Paix and 17 died in the nearby town of Terre Neuve, officials said. Deslorges of the civil protection agency reported another 49 bodies recovered in other villages and towns, most in the northwest. Although there were fears of many more dead on La Tortue island, Deslorges said: ``The government has been in contact with officials on La Tortue. Nothing happened there.'' Jeanne lashed Haiti on Saturday, four months after devastating floods along the southern border of Haiti and neighboring Dominican Republic. Some 1,700 bodies were recovered and 1,600 more were missing and presumed dead. Gonaives, a city of about a quarter million people, also suffered fighting during the February rebellion that led to the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and left an estimated 300 dead. All this in a year supposed to be dedicated to celebrating the 200th anniversary of the country's independence from France. Haiti, the only country to launch a successful rebellion against slavery, was the world's first black republic. Jeanne regained hurricane strength over the Atlantic on Monday but posed no immediate threat to land. At 5 a.m. Tuesday, it was moving east-northeast with 90 mph winds, about 445 miles east of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. The storm entered the Caribbean last week, killing seven people in Puerto Rico before heading to the Dominican Republic where it killed at least 18. The overall death toll from Jeanne stands at 647, 622 of them in Haiti. Waterlines up to 10 feet high showed the passage of the storm waters, which turned some roads into fast-flowing rivers. Argentine troops who are among more than 3,000 U.N. peacekeepers in Haiti treated at least 150 people injured by the floods in Gonaives, mostly for cuts on feet and legs. One man stood outside the flooded base used by Argentine troops, asking soldiers to remove 11 bodies that were floating in his house, including four brothers and a sister. ``I would like to see if the soldiers could do something about these bodies,'' said Jean-Saint Manus, a 30-year-old student. ``The door was closed. Everybody was trapped inside.'' He said he had been outside and could only get in once the floods subsided. Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue toured flooded areas Sunday and declared Gonaives a disaster area, calling for aid. The U.S. Embassy announced $60,000 in immediate relief. Meanwhile, Hurricane Karl and Tropical Storm Lisa remained far out in the Atlantic. Karl's sustained winds were 140 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane. Lisa had winds of 60 mph. [From the New York Times, nytimes.com, Sept. 21, 2004] Death Toll Nears 700 From Haiti Flooding (By Reuters) Port-au-Prince, Haiti (Reuters).--The death toll in Haiti from flooding and mudslides triggered by Tropical Storm Jeanne rose above 660 on Tuesday and government officials were still struggling to reach areas cut off by flood waters. The storm swept north of Haiti during the weekend, drenching the impoverished Caribbean nation, inundating cities and sending deadly mudslides through towns and villages. Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, who declared three days of national mourning for the victims, planned to visit some of the hardest hit areas on Tuesday. The government put the death toll from the floods at 662 people and expected the total to rise as relief workers recovered bodies and reached areas isolated by the now receding water. The known toll included 550 deaths in the coastal city of Gonaives, 65 in Haiti's Northwest province and 47 in other towns. ``There's not one house in Gonaives that has not been affected,'' Latortue said before leaving Port-au-Prince to tour the city. Officials estimated half of the 200,000 residents needed immediate assistance with shelter, water and food. The city is the birthplace of Haiti's independence from France 200 years ago and it was where an armed revolt began that led to the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide earlier this year. Latortue's entourage hoped to land on the island of La Tortue off Haiti's north coast to assess damage there. U.N. workers said on Monday it was barely visible beneath the flood waters and rescue workers have been unable to reach it. U.N. peacekeeping forces sent to stabilize Haiti after Aristide's departure were helping with rescue efforts and providing transportation for relief shipments. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, is frequently inundated by flash floods and mudslides because of extensive deforestation. Around 2,000 Haitians died when extensive floods washed away villages near the Dominican-Haitian border in May. Tropical Storm Jeanne also killed 11 people in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, and two in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. The storm meandered in the Atlantic about 445 miles east- northeast of the Bahamas' Great Abaco Island on Tuesday but posed no immediate threat to land, forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the work of one of my constituents, Debra Barron, who suffers from a debilitating disease called scleroderma. Debra and her family have been tireless advocates in drawing public attention to this painful condition. Her work demonstrates her strength and resolve, and I ask that her remarks from the March 20, 2004 Scleroderma Foundation Wine Auction & Dinner in Broward County be entered into the Congressional Record. Imagine for a moment you're a 26-year-old newlywed . . . young, healthy, athletic, and pursuing a serious career. That was me in September 1981, when, one afternoon as I'm washing my hands the color in them suddenly changed from pink to stark white. There was no warning, no pain or discomfort. Two weeks later, after a battery of tests requiring copious amounts of my blood, a doctor at the George Washington Hospital Center in D.C. informs me I have a ``condition'' known as Raynauds, which is basically a loss of circulation to the extremities. Raynauds is easily manageable with medication and isn't a problem except when the circulation returns; some will experience a minor sensation such as tingling while others endure severe pain as the blood vessels return to normal and the color returns. So there I am, I'm 26, having never been seriously sick a day in my life, and I think to myself . . . ``This is nothing. Go home and don't worry.'' My husband, Gary, and I moved to San Francisco in 1982. My doctor in DC suggested I seek out a physician to monitor my condition in the event. I needed follow-up care. Since I needed a physician anyway I'm not too concerned. From 1982 to 1983 the Raynauds become aggressive. The first to go was my left index fingertip which developed a gangrene-type sore, and had to be removed by a doctor, also losing my fingernail and some bone matter. No problem . . . I still had nine good fingers but, as time elapsed, more fingers became infected and each episode brought new horrors, as well as physical pain, as I watched my fingers literally die. Needless to say there went my regular manicure appointments. By the spring of 1983, my condition had become more aggressive. Chewing and swallowing food was now something I actually had to think about because food would get stuck or caught in my esophagus. My doctors were supportive and encouraging, but they were running out of options and I wasn't responding to experimentation with medication. Basically, I was still taking medication for a ``condition'' that was supposed to be manageable. The pain was also getting worse. Many scleroderma patients experience severe pain and it becomes a way of life, day in, day out, sometimes for months on end. The sores don't heal quickly because the blood vessels clamp down, which suppresses the flow of oxygen to the blood and thereby causes poor circulation. Chronic pain gets old very quickly and it affects everything in your life: I no longer felt young, I certainly didn't feel healthy, I was suffering from fatigue, my career was suffering, and the biggest insult of all was the total loss of my sexuality and how I felt about myself as a woman. I was broken in all the ways that matter to any human being. It didn't help that my family was on the other side of the country, my husband was traveling, and the only thing my doctors could do was offer encouragement. It was at that point I made a conscious decision to do something and as I drove over the Golden Gate Bridge one afternoon, crying from pain, I intended to end my life. San Francisco police don't like speeders on the Golden Gate Bridge and I got pulled over. I knew I was about to receive a whopper of a ticket when the officer realized how hard I had been crying. I explained about the pain and told him I was in a hurry to get home to take my pain medication. He offered to escort me home, which he did, took me upstairs to my apartment, waited while I took my medication and stayed with me. He never spoke of God or having faith, nor did he try to offer encouragement. He just sat there with me and let me do the thinking. Realizing the consequences of what I tried to do to myself hit me hard. The state of my health was no longer something I could deny and from that point on I chose to become more aggressive regarding my condition. I was basically being monitored, not treated, for a disease no one understood and it still took another 12 years before a doctor finally recognized my symptoms as Scleroderma. I still get sores and have to deal with pain but life is good again. I'm in remission now thanks to my scleroderma doctor, Frederick Wigley, at Johns Hopkins plus the myriad physicians that oversee my healthcare. I'm very fortunate to have a loving and supportive family, both my immediate family and Gary's family. But, most importantly, the two people I live with have been tremendously supportive.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life and acknowledge the great accomplishments of a talented actress, Isabel Sanford, who passed away on July 9, 2004. Ms. Sanford and Sherman Hemsley co-starred as Louise and George Jefferson in the sitcom The Jeffersons. Isabel Sanford was also known affectionately to many as ``Weezy'' Jefferson. She was a native New Yorker and performed at the world famous Apollo Theater in her youth. Ms. Sanford made her film debut in the historic Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. The Jeffersons was one of the first television sitcoms to showcase the black family on national television. The Jeffersons moved on up from being the neighbors across the street from Archie Bunker, and moved into a skyscraper in New York City. She, along with Sherman Hemsley, changed the way America looked at African Americans; breaking down barriers and eliminating stereotypes. Ms. Sanford was the first black woman to receive an Emmy for Best Actress in a comedy series for her work on The Jeffersons. Ms. Sanford's legacy will live on through her movies and her television but most of all her family and her fans. She will be greatly missed.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be on the floor not only with the gentleman from Wisconsin, but also with the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations. Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important not only for Members of Congress, but the rest of the United States to understand that Florida has gone through quite a bit, and there are other States that are affected as relates to the flooding and some of the aftermath of the hurricanes. But I also want to add, and I want the Members and I know it is not in this bill, I know we have $2 billion that is going to FEMA. We have, I believe, $30 million going to the Small Business Administration. But I think it is important to remember that the VA was also hit in this storm. In Palm Beach, I know some of the Members can attest to it, that it is important that we have emergency funding in a bill, not in this particular bill, but in another supplemental coming up for the losses that the Department of Veterans Affairs was not included in this bill. The VA in West Balm Peach and in the middle of this storm, clinics in Brevard and also Port Charlotte received lesser damage than their main facility in West Palm Peach. In the middle of the storm, it was flooded. They had to move people to the second floor. That is something that we definitely need to think about, and I know it is something we will include, hopefully, in the future for these patriots that have laid it down for the very democracy that we celebrate today. But I am excited about the fact that not only Floridians but also others can count on the Congress responding in the way that we are, because we are spending their tax dollars. It is not like we are giving them something. This is something that they have invested in our government, rightfully so; and we are responding to them in their time of need. Mr. Speaker, I encourage, like I know that Members will, when they open the board up to allow an opportunity to vote on this emergency supplemental, I am pretty sure that every Member of this Congress will be in support of that. I would like to commend the local governments and their response to our recent natural disasters and their continued support and commitment. Also to those Floridians that have lost time and wages from their jobs and small businesses. This is very timely. I want to thank the ranking member for allowing me to have time, but let us also remember our veterans and VA hospitals.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, I know a wise man such as himself is fully aware of what I just shared with the other Members. I want to thank the gentleman for sharing that with the rest of us.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Once again, this is not the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) and/or the 30- something Democrats working group report. This is a report from the Senate, or the ``other body'' Intelligence Committee. I must say that the Democrats on that committee did file a dissenting view, basically saying intelligence analysts were subject to political pressure. I will say this: We had some very honorable Members whom I respect and, we are both members of the Committee on Armed Services, I am also a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, and this is serious business. We have men and women right now getting sand in their teeth over in Iraq right now based on intelligence. Right here in this well, right above the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), our Commander-in-Chief shared with us information that we know now is false, or was given bad information. This is serious business. This is the reason why we have got to deal with voter suppression. This is the reason why everyone who has a voter registration card or will become eligible to get a voter registration card should make sure they let their voice be heard at the polls. I for one and the gentleman for one and the 30-something Democrats for one are not scared of American people voting. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Green Party, whatever party you are a member of, we want you to vote, because in this democracy things will happen better for our future. This report will be coming out. There will be a lot of rhetoric about who did what, who did not say this. We know the CIA director, Mr. Tenet, resigned. We know that there are others that should resign. No one gets fired from this administration, I must add. For all of the issues that have gone on in this country, no one has been asked to resign. Everyone has done a superb job.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. You can talk about it later. Young people concerned over the prospect of another Cheney swearing in. Oh, wow, that is interesting.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Wow. Is that not a news flash?

Mr. MEEK of Florida. That saves lives. Mr. Speaker, we are going to talk a little bit about intelligence for a minute, if we can. Then we are going to get into our top 10 list after intelligence. I am just going to talk about that for a minute, because the American people are going to get an opportunity to hear more about intelligence as the week gets a little older. We know that there has been a lot of talk, that there has been a Senate report released. The Senate Intelligence Committee put out a 511 page report, which is a bipartisan report. It gave a pretty good picture of what was going on in the CIA, of what possibly went on in this administration as it relates to intelligence analysts that were subject to political pressure. There is going to be a second tier to this report, and guess what? It is going to be after the election.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Let us go from there. Number 6: MTV spring break coverage lacking. Only 15 students able to afford the Cancun getaway. Worse teen unemployment since 1949. That is very serious. Go ahead. We have got a couple more here. Number 5: Students dismayed that 10 Crackerjack box tops now worth the same as Bush's Pell Grant. Go ahead, number 4: Because John Ashcroft has got to go. So, number 3, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) has got to move faster. Number 3.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I played a little defensive end. That was when I could legally hit someone. But we will leave that out here because there is no hitting in the Congress, I must add.