[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        REGARDING THE ``ACCOMPLISHMENTS'' OF THE 109TH CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am so glad my colleagues on 
the other sIde of aisle feel that they can look the American people in 
the eye and say ``we have done enough for you this session in Congress, 
we have earned a vacation. It is high time for us to adjourn.''
  Now, Mr. Speaker, let me translate what the Republicans are actually 
saying: ``We choose rather to go on vacation then to attend to the 
needs of the American people.''
  It seems the Grand Old Party's leadership had a grand old time this 
year, deciding to recess after having spent the fewest number of days 
in session in our lifetime.
  Pitifully, in comparison to the typical American worker who spends 
approximately 247 days a year laboring, Congressional members will have 
worked less than 100.
  Mr. Speaker this is not simply a ``do nothing Congress'' as so many 
of my colleagues have said before me. This is just as much a ``do 
nothing right Congress.''
  And the American people understand this reality all too well. 
Remarkably, a recent CBS News/New York Times poll found 75 percent of 
voters can't name one thing Congress has accomplished this session.
  Well my friends, I can't really either. Republican priorities rolled 
out this session were strictly those that helped them advance 
politically. They chose to fritter away scarce time debating frivolous 
proposed constitutional amendments banning flag burning and gay 
marriage instead of real issues Americans at home are concerned with.
  As we end this session, Republican leadership has only passed 2 of 
the 11 required spending bills--quite a feat when you consider that 
both chambers of Congress are of the same party.
  If this Congress were a school, students here would certainly receive 
an ``F.''
  The list of their failures reads like a laundry list almost too long 
for me to recount right now:
  In a gross display of negligence, Congress has failed to enact an 
annual budget this year.
  Even though for nearly a decade the federal minimum wage has remained 
stagnant, Congress this year has again failed to negotiate a pay raise 
for working class Americans. And Congress also failed to negotiate 
deals on vital tax breaks for college tuition costs or research and 
development tax credits for businesses.
  In response to the profusion of the Republican culture of corruption 
this year, Republicans have decided to do . . . zilch. Add 
Congressional failure to enact lobbying reform this year to the list.
  Congress has failed to achieve health insurance reform and failed to 
finalize nuclear negotiations with India.
  In response to sky high gas prices, increased signs of global warming 
and even President Bush's admission that America is far too reliant on 
foreign oil, Congress has failed to produce a real energy plan this 
session. Congress packs its bags to go, refusing to mandate higher 
levels of fuel efficiency standards or propose incentives for consumers 
or product makers to utilize alternative energy sources.
  Congress leaves while nearly 12 million undocumented workers are 
hiding in the shadows of our society. After all the hype and rhetoric 
of passing an immigration bill, no true immigration reform has been 
realized this Congress.
  Is the list of things left undone too lengthy, too repetitive, and 
too tiresome? Am I boring this Congress? There are still many more 
demonstrations of what little progress this Congress has made.
  And what little has been done has been done badly! Important bills 
are being rushed through to secure a Republican majority in the next 
Congress. The latest example being the tyrannical anti-terror law, 
allowing Congress to reinterpret international law to authorize 
torture. A law that despite its name, nonetheless makes our troops less 
safe, leaves our Nation unprotected, and successfully damages our 
international credibility.
  Of all the bills that have actually passed this Congress, how many of 
them have actually improved the lives of Americans?
  What do have to show our constituents back home in our districts? An 
unstable economy, ridiculously high health care costs and gas prices, a 
loss in life abroad and a loss of our basic freedoms here at home.
  More than 5 years after 9/11, numerous reports have shown that the 
war on Iraq is hurting our Nation in the war against terrorism. Our 
borders still remain exposed and our first responders still lack 
adequate resources to respond to either another 9/11 or another 
Katrina.
  While we spend approximately $2 billion a week on defense, Osama bin 
Laden is still alive and well, and Al Qaeda is resurging in Afghanistan 
stronger than ever before. Iraq is engulfed in sectarian violence and 
civil war and has become the breeding ground for a new generation of 
terrorists.
  The war in Iraq has stretched our resources and troops thin, leaving 
us exposed to potential global terrorists and nuclear threats from 
nations such as Iran and North Korea.
  Americans, I insist that you ask this question to yourself before you 
go to the ballot box this November:
  What has the Republican Congress done for me these last 2 years? If 
you can not think of a single thing, you are not alone. Please think of 
a new Congress that would attend to your priorities here and overseas 
before you select your next elected official.

                          ____________________