[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H2612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ANTICIPATING THE JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

  (Mr. ENGEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, tonight, when President Obama speaks to a 
joint session of Congress, I will be on the aisle to greet him, as I 
have for the past 20 years. It's always my honor and privilege to shake 
the hand of the President of the United States. And it's really 
electrifying. But I think tonight, Mr. Speaker, the anticipation is 
even more electrifying than usual. Our new President, who has done such 
a wonderful job in bringing us hope, is going to come tonight to speak 
with the Congress and tell us his plans. I hope and I know that under 
his administration, we will fix health care and have it universal for 
everyone.
  We know, and under his administration, we will look at our energy 
policy and wean ourselves off of foreign oil so that America can truly 
be energy independent.
  We need to get our fiscal House in order, and the President's going 
to address that as well.
  So as we anticipate his speech, Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the 
President of the United States, that I am willing and want to work with 
him hand-in-hand, hope we can do it on a bipartisan basis, and I look 
forward to his words tonight.

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