[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E78]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     FAIR MINIMUM WAGE ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 9, 2007

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, this week presents Congress the chance to 
deal with some long overdue business.
  It's been more than nine years since the Minimum Wage was increased. 
It's been nearly six years since the President cut off federal funding 
for stem cell research. And, it's been nearly two and a half years 
since the 9/11 Commission released its recommendations.
  Its recommendations were a clear road map to what the Government 
needed to do to reduce the chances of another terrorist attack and 
prepare if we were to be attacked again. But many of the 
recommendations went unheeded.
  In December 2005, the Commission gave the government a shameful 
report card--17 D's and F's. An F because our first responders still 
can't communicate with each other. An F for failing to screen airline 
passengers. And an F for basing Homeland Security funding on politics 
instead of risk.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, we will turn these F's to A's--from failure to 
action.
  The bill before us is a strong first step for this Congress towards 
securing our country and preventing another 9/11. I am proud to say 
that this bill includes a provision to create a director of non-
proliferation within the White House to coordinate efforts at the 
Departments of Defense, Energy and State.
  This provision was introduced in the 108th Congress, and again in the 
109th Congress, by myself, Mrs. Tauscher and Mr. Spratt, and believe 
that it is crucial to our efforts to create a comprehensive strategy to 
deal with the threats of Weapons of Mass Destruction. I was proud to 
work with both Mrs. Tauscher and Mr. Spratt on this provision and I 
thank them for their leadership on this issue.
  After today, America will be a safer place. 9/11 must never happen 
again. I strongly encourage members to vote in favor of it.

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