[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RIGHTFUL ELECTION

  (Mr. FOLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, we are delighted to be here today to swear 
the electoral votes from all the States in the Union. Having witnessed 
in 2000, very upfront and personal, there were a lot of charges made at 
that time that votes were stolen, elections were rigged. Time and time 
again evidence proved that those charges were false and malicious; and 
the President of the United States, who was elected and sworn into that 
office, was in fact the rightful recipient of that title.
  Now, I understand today that there may be more mischief relative to 
another State in the Union who is having the laser beam of focus on it 
and that is Ohio.
  Now, Florida was declared victorious for President Bush in 2000. In 
2004, for a larger plurality of Floridians, the Democratic party worked 
tirelessly to provide workers in Florida, having witnessed new faces 
from around almost every county, participating in the democratic way of 
trying to help their candidate. No excuses can be made. The President 
of the United States, George W. Bush, won reelection; and we are here 
today to do our constitutional duty to convey those electoral votes as 
properly counted and tabulated and declared for the candidate who 
received the majority.

                              {time}  1115

  Ohio declared the victory for George W. Bush. Florida did as well, as 
did many other States; and our Commander in Chief and President of the 
United States is duly entitled to receive the swearing-in ceremonies on 
these grounds on January 20.
  Now, having Floridians subjected to a lot of catcalls and acrimony 
over their voting habits, we are delighted another State has taken that 
honor; but without question, having analyzed the documents, having 
witnessed committee hearings on allegations and yet no one brought 
meaningful charges, we are pleased and delighted that President Bush 
again will serve this Nation for the next 4 years.
  This weekend I would like to remind our Members that we celebrate the 
10th anniversary of the 104th Congress. We are proud of the class that 
was elected. My colleague, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), 
has made arrangements for us all to go to Arizona to think back on what 
we have achieved the last 10 years and what we hope to go forward with. 
A lot of important issues like Social Security, Medicare, prescription 
drug coverage, things of that nature, will be discussed at this 
conference.
  The gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Weller) have been leaders in the effort, and I see my 
colleague approaching the mike.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FOLEY. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida, especially in terms of 
the fact that a quick check of the weather map indicates that his 
district may enjoy temperatures in the 80s this weekend; and in 
Arizona, we are just creeping back up to 65 in the Sonoran Desert. So I 
appreciate the fact that he is willing to pack a sweater. Hopefully, no 
umbrella will be needed in the wake of the moisture. We very much 
needed it in the desert earlier this week and in the high country in 
terms of snow.
  But weather aside, we hope that all our friends from the class of 
1994 and the 104th Congress will enjoy their time as we take a look at 
where we have been and where we are headed in this 109th Congress.
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I was not going to brag about the weather in 
Florida, but I have repeatedly on either Fox News Channel or in other 
circumstances.
  If I could also make one other mention on Social Security while I 
have the floor reserved. Social Security is a very, very important 
issue for Americans. There have been a lot of comments in the newspaper 
about potential damage, destruction of Social Security; and I can 
assure my colleagues, as one Member who comes from the fifth largest 
Medicare-eligible population in America of all 435 districts, that this 
truly is an important endeavor for our Congress, and we should not be 
using brick bats to demonize one side or the other about plans.
  We should talk constructively about the opportunities to engage, both 
sides of the aisle, whether it is the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Rangel) or the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), who have 
significant ideas about how to improve the structural nature of this 
important program.
  No one's trying to destroy it. Nobody's trying to uncouple it, but we 
are trying to look at rational ways in which we can deliver the 
benefits not only to those who are currently enrolled in the system, 
but those who are starting their first job or just born.
  It is much too important to have polarization on a topic that is so 
critically important to our citizens. Our seniors need not be 
frightened. Forty-five-year-olds need not be wondering whether it is 
going to be there for them. A 30-year-old should not consider Social 
Security like UFOs, unattainable, unavoidable or unlikely.
  The system is going to be preserved. How we do that depends on the 
willingness of both sides of the aisle to talk constructively about how 
to create a financial network, strengthen the system in order that 
recipients in the future may, in fact, receive their full benefits.

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