Louise Slaughter

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney). (Mrs. MALONEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro). (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky). (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee). (Ms. LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum). (Ms. McCOLLUM asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, we have so little time to try to make any points here. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), a member of Committee on Rules.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney). (Mr. TIERNEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the minority leader. (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez). (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters). (Ms. WATERS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps). (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson). (Mr. THOMPSON of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel). (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, we will pay attention to that. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson). (Ms. CARSON of Indiana asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind). (Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am sure the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is pleased that the Democrats tried to make the gentleman's amendment in order last night. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen). (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley).

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Today, the House votes on the biggest change in Medicare in its 40- year history, a change that will affect 40 million Americans; but the Republican leaders have rigged the rules to prevent the House from voting on serious alternatives offered by Republicans and Democrats alike. Mr. Speaker, I will call for a ``no'' vote on the previous question in the hope that the House gets the chance to consider an additional alternative that the Republican leaders fear. If the previous question is defeated, I will offer an amendment to the rule that will make in order the Dooley prescription drug alternative substitute. It makes all senior citizens enrolled in Medicare part B eligible for prescription drug assistance without increasing their premiums. Unlike the Republican bill, it has no sickness penalty or doughnut hole that seniors can fall through. Unlike the Republican bill, it does not encourage companies to drop seniors' existing drug plans. Let me make it clear that a ``no'' vote on the previous question will not stop the consideration of H.R. 1. It will simply allow the House to vote on the Dooley substitute. However, a ``yes'' vote on the previous question will prevent the House from voting. I urge a ``no'' vote. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the amendment be printed in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 858, a bill to extend the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. History recognizes Abraham Lincoln as one of this Nation's greatest and most visionary Presidents. Born in rural Kentucky, Lincoln rose from humble roots to the highest office in the land. He was renowned as a masterful orator and legislator. He led our country through its greatest internal crisis, our Civil War, with a decisiveness balanced with humanity. In 1863, Lincoln issued the revolutionary Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in the South. And he professed himself committed to rebuilding our Nation into a strong, united entity through a generous, practical reconstruction program in the South. Tragically, Lincoln never had the opportunity to act upon his vision for Reconstruction. Just 5 days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln was shot at nearby Ford's Theater. He died of his wounds the next morning. An outpouring of grief swept across the Nation, with thousands meeting his funeral train at every stop. Abraham Lincoln embodied the principles and qualities our Nation values most highly. He was scrupulously honest, forthright, and moral. In all matters of governance, he made decisions based on his desire to do the greatest good for the largest number of people. He was utterly committed to the fair treatment of all Americans and to healing the wounds of our internal divisions. As a Member of Congress, I strive to emulate Lincoln's example. In doing so, I am deeply proud to say that I am deeply proud to say that I am carrying on a family heritage. I can trace my own ancestry back to Lincoln himself; our families lived in the same part of Kentucky. His portrait hangs in my office as a constant reminder of his noble spirit and eloquent example. The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission was established in 2000 to inform the public about the impact Abraham Lincoln had on the development of our Nation and to identify the best possible ways to honor his accomplishments. The Commission has already done a great deal of excellent work and looks forward to doing much more. Under the original legislation, however, the Commission is scheduled to expire this year--3 years before the actual Lincoln Bicentennial in 2003. This legislation would extend the Commission's life through the bicentennial it was established to celebrate. Just last month, I was deeply honored to be appointed to the Commission's advisory board. It will be my privilege to work with my fellow board members and the Commission to educate our Nation about my kinsman and role model. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 858 and honoring the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Without his leadership, our Nation would not be the strong, unified United States we are today.