[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 116 (Thursday, September 23, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7563-H7567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ELECTIONS: THE U.S. AND IRAQ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McCotter). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 7, 2003, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) is 
recognized for half the time until midnight, which is approximately 
42\1/2\ minutes.
  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

[[Page H7564]]

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.

                              {time}  2245

  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).
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding 
me this time. It is a privilege and a pleasure to be a Member of the 
House of Representatives. I represent the great State of Ohio, 11th 
Congressional District, city of Cleveland.
  The first constituent whose family I stood with after his death was 
Brandon Sloan. Brandon was 19 years old. When I had an opportunity to 
talk with his dad, Reverend Tandy Sloan, he was miffed by the fact that 
his young son, 19 years old, over in Iraq as a part of the 507th 
Maintenance Group was there without equipment at the end of a long line 
of some 600 vehicles, without an artillery group around him and was 
required to try and hold onto a truck that he was driving. Young 
Brandon was killed at 19, at the height of his life, having graduated 
from Bedford High School. The list goes on.
  There was a Sergeant Robert Toudy, part of the 507th Maintenance 
Group over there, trying to speak on behalf of the people of America, 
fighting for his country, over there trying to work for the freedom of 
the Iraqi people. The reality is, here we stand in September 2004 with 
so many young men and women. Disproportionately represented among this 
group are minorities and low-income folks who went into the National 
Guard, who went into the service hoping to get a college education, 
being required to give full-time service to our country in an Army, in 
a war that really they cannot figure out why they are over there.
  As we stand here this evening as Members of Congress saying to the 
American people, why are we there? What is it that put all of us in 
harm's way? What is it that put 1,000 young American men and women in a 
war that we still cannot figure out; no weapons of mass destruction, no 
real reason to be over there. The whole couching of the terms of a war 
on terrorism is not what should have been said, but that we are there. 
What do we do now? How do we protect the young men and women in the 
Armed Services?
  They are fighting, and they will say, we are fighting for America. We 
are there fighting for freedom, but behind all of that, and we know 
they are standing up and I am so proud of the young men and women I 
have met over there doing what they believe our country wants, but the 
reality is, it is time for a wake-up call. It is time for the people of 
America to say, is this the best thing we can do? Do we have an exit 
strategy?
  Even more interesting is the people who are working over there for 
private companies who are being kidnapped, beheaded. Why does this 
President not have a way for us to get out and for us to get out 
without feeling like we have deserted the people of Iraq? The people of 
America need to ask the right questions, make this administration tell 
us what is the resolve for us to get out of Iraq.
  Earlier today, on another note, we voted on another tax cut. I admit 
I voted for the tax cut, but I was concerned about the people of Ohio, 
some 60,000 who have lost their jobs since President Bush took office 
in the city of Cleveland alone. In East Cleveland, there is a 14.3 
percent unemployment rate while the national rate is 5.7 percent. Jobs 
are going overseas. What are we doing in the tax relief bill to help 
the working poor making less than $10,000 who are working for a minimum 
wage of $5.25 that keeps them in the poverty range?
  What are Members of Congress doing? What is Congress doing to help 
those who work every day with no health care and with children in 
poverty? My own city was recently named as the number one city of 
poverty in the United States of America. It is time for a wake-up call 
for the people of America to say, in this election, what are we going 
to do?
  I know people are saying, I cannot make the connection. My vote does 
not count. There are many who want to suppress our votes and say, like 
our Secretary of State, Kenneth Blackwell, who issued a ruling this 
past week saying to the people of Ohio, I am going to have a more 
restrictive ruling on how voters can use a provisional ballot than I 
had in the primary. It is voter suppression.
  I am pleased to join my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Meek) to say to the people of America, join the family plan. What 
family plan? Not a health care plan. Not a dental benefit plan. But a 
plan to get all of your family out to vote on election day. Make sure 
everyone is registered. Make sure everyone has an absentee ballot who 
cannot be in town. Make sure everyone gets out on election day. This is 
the most important election of our lifetime.
  This election is going to impact what happens with children in Head 
Start, in public schools and private schools. It is

[[Page H7565]]

going to impact Pell Grants, a diminishing number of dollars available 
to college students. What is going to happen to the children who decide 
not to go to college? Are there training opportunities for people who 
decide not to go to college? What about mothers on welfare who want to 
go to work but do not have the income and the type of job that allows 
them to be in a position to pay taxes?

  I am asking all those who are listening to say this is the most 
important election and our vote is our voice. It is time to step up and 
speak up and say to the people of America and the people of the world 
that we are going to be heard. Our voices are not going to be silenced. 
Our voices are not going to be suppressed. We are going to voice our 
concern about what is happening in the world.
  We have 435 elected Members. Americans have an opportunity to be 
heard in November. Do not sit back and say, I am not going to be heard. 
My voice is going to be heard. I am going to let the people of America 
and the people of the world understand that I wanted to be a part of 
this. I am America. My face is America. I am part of this whole effort 
that is going on in this Nation, and I want to be heard.
  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.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, the Louis Stoke's Veteran Facility 
is right around the corner from my house in my congressional district. 
I was over there the other day talking with the administrator about the 
new programs that are going to go into this veterans' facility.

                              {time}  2300

  But the reality is we have not treated our veterans like they ought 
to be treated. We have not given them the benefits that they deserve. 
We have not given them the health care that they deserve. We have not 
given them the opportunity to engage in a new business when they come 
out. We have not given their families the kind of support that they 
deserve.
  And I am thinking back, my dad, Andrew Tubbs, 84 years old, served 
back in World War II. And my son Mervyn had an opportunity to interview 
my father about his service. And my dad told him things that he had 
never even discussed with me. And I said, Dad, why did you not tell me 
about this? He said, Because it hurt. Every time I talked about it, it 
hurt me. I did not want to talk about it. I did not want to tell you 
about it, but there came a time in life when I was much more 
comfortable.
  Today, my dad has got dementia, is suffering from Parkinson's, and I 
think about what are we going to do for veterans who have come after 
him. Are we going to give the benefit to the Vietnam veterans who have 
posttraumatic stress syndrome, who suffer from Agent Orange? And we are 
talking about young people across this country about how we want them 
to join up with the service. What I am worried about is what is going 
to happen to the young people right now. Are we going to have a draft 
that is not an official draft? Are they going to be forced to go into 
war in Iraq, as the President, as has said, that after the November 
elections, should he be successful, he is going to call them up? He is 
going to call more troops to go into Iraq and to possibly lose their 
lives.
  The people of America need to understand that. They need to know the 
possibility of that fact. They need to know that the National Guard, 
who are overtaxed, overworked, are working very hard, doing double duty 
on behalf of America, when they really never anticipated that they 
would be any more than a part-time armed services.
  And what about the people that are in full-time service? I have a 
cousin who told me, Stephanie, we are working 48 hours, not 24 hours in 
a day; 48 hours.
  So I am just saying to the American people it is time to wake up. 
Remember that old song, ``Wake up, everybody, no more sleepin' in bed, 
no time for backward thinkin', time for thinkin' ahead''? The world has 
changed so very much from what it used to be. There is much more hate 
and war and poverty. So we need to understand the dynamics that are 
coming to play in these next 40 days and be ready to step up to the 
plate and voice our opinion about what is happening.
  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

[[Page H7566]]

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.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to 
yield, the interesting thing is this whole discussion about security 
right here in the United States and what has this administration done 
to secure us. I would ask the people of the United States of America to 
contemplate this: the COPS program, we were supposed to give money to 
cities to increase the number of police officers available in cities, 
first responders. That amount of money has been reduced. I think about 
the first responders, the law enforcement, the firefighters, the EMS. 
The money that was supposed to go to cities across this country is 
locked up in State capitals across this country, not going into the 
neighborhoods where they deserve it.
  We are still trying to figure out about what do we do about the 
tankers or the freighters coming over into our country that are not 
being perused. We are still thinking about the number of things that 
are on the planes. The other day I was flying from Cleveland into D.C. 
I mean, the woman frisked me, totally frisked me. The TSA person. They 
were trying to be in place because of what happened with the Russians. 
But what about all the things we are not doing? And this President 
talks about securing America, and people are talking about how this 
President has done all these things to make sure we are safer.
  I bring to the American people the reality that those things are not 
happening right here in the United States of America. There are so many 
things that have not been funded by this administration that would make 
us more secure. So we should not get fooled by believing that this 
President has done enough to see that we are secure at home.
  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.

                              {time}  2310

  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.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield further, 
I want to say this, that I am so excited and privileged to serve in the 
House of Representatives with this fine young man, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Meek). He comes from great stock, my former colleague, 
Carrie Meek, serving on the Committee on Armed Services, serving on the 
Committee on Homeland Security, and he is talking about what he knows. 
He is not just speculating. He has the opportunity to be on the 
committees that know about all of these issues about Iraq, about all 
these issues about National Guard, the Armed Services.
  I am just so pleased and proud to be able to stand with the 30-
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Group here on the floor of the House, having celebrated my double 
nickel birthday just last Friday of 55. I am pleased and privileged to 
stand here, to be a part of the House, to have an opportunity to be 
heard.
  I just want to salute the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) for all 
the great work that you are doing. I am just pleased to be in your 
aura.
  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.

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