[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 143 (Thursday, November 2, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H11796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRESS STILL WORKING FOR BETTERMENT OF NATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, we are here Thursday evening, and we all 
know that we are going to be here tomorrow, Friday. What I would like 
to tell my colleagues, all of them on both sides of the aisle, is that 
we are here to continue the process of legislating.
  Some of the things that we are trying to work out here, one, for 
example, is to provide health care prescription drugs for Americans 
that need that service and do not have it right now.
  We are working to create a system where no legal immigrants are 
turned away from our shores. We are working to ensure worker safety and 
much-needed, in certain circumstances, compensation for those who are 
injured in a variety of ways.
  We are working to build schools for those municipalities around the 
country that need new construction. We are working to enhance the 
economy by stimulating productivity in the private sector. Some of that 
is by a tax structure. Some of that is opening new markets overseas.
  We are working here, Mr. Speaker, to find ways to make this great 
country energy independent. We are working here, specifically what we 
will do tomorrow is to ensure that the environment is clean and 
sustainable.
  Now, how do we do all those things while we are here working? Well, 
it is pretty fundamental. We as Members of Congress, both the Democrats 
and Republicans, and the two Independents, we come here every day, we 
exchange information. There is a sense of tolerance for somebody else's 
opinion. Then we vote. If you get 218 votes, you have the majority. Our 
fundamental democratic process is based on the majority. So if we have 
218 votes, then that bill is passed out of the House and goes over to 
the Senate.
  We hear a lot about gridlock and partisan politics, both here on the 
House floor and in the media, certainly. Well, I am here to say that 
partisan politics is actually the strength of our system. That means 
each of us is allowed to come here and express our deeply felt 
convictions without fear of any retribution or retaliation.
  When we stand here and disagree with the Democrats or Republicans 
disagree with Republicans, or Republicans disagree with the President, 
that is the strength of our Nation, which is the diversity of thought.
  Now, one cannot express one's difference of opinion in Cuba. One 
cannot express one's difference of opinion in Iraq to Saddam Hussein 
because one would disappear and never be seen again. But here on the 
House floor, the fundamentals of democratic process is that every 
individual Member of Congress, whether one is the Speaker or a new 
freshman, has an opportunity to be a responsible advocate for what one 
believes. If one can talk to 218 Members, and they see one as credible 
and one has the right information, then one will get their vote, and 
one's bill will pass.
  So the strength of our country is that we each have the availability 
to us, because of our Constitution, to express our heartfelt 
convictions.
  There is one other thing that we need to do here on a regular basis, 
but especially now before this general election, is to tap the energy 
of the American people with all their diversity and their initiative 
and innovation. We need to inspire the American people to participate 
in the democratic process so that all of us collectively together can 
make the possibilities for this Nation and this world limitless.

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