[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18952]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    DOING THE BUSINESS OF THE NATION

  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of this year, the 
Republican majority has committed itself to doing the bulk of its work 
by this summer before Presidential politics overtakes the Nation's 
attention. We know once we return after Labor Day, Congress will focus 
on completing the spending bills and the broader political agenda will 
be dominated by the Presidential campaign.
  We have had this first 8 months to get the work of the people done, 
and I am happy to report we have done so. On issue after issue, the 
House has identified, developed, and passed necessary legislation. We 
passed major bills to further reform Federal welfare programs, to 
promote work and help prepare recipients to find it. We passed the 
President's African relief initiative to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS on 
that suffering continent. We passed a partial-birth abortion ban and 
hope to finally deliver it to a President willing to sign it and outlaw 
this gruesome procedure.
  From education to national security to child protection, the House 
has been addressing the urgent needs of the American people. But we 
have also not lost sight of the three principal objectives we set out 
this year: the war on terror, the economy, and a Medicare prescription 
drug benefit.
  When we began our work in January, Saddam Hussein was still in Iraq 
dominating and terrorizing his people. Thanks to the leadership of 
President Bush and the amazing work of our military, a fledgling 
democracy is now being fostered in Iraq. The American people are safer 
and global terror has lost a sponsor and ally, thanks in part to 
Congress's bipartisan support for the war budget we passed in April.
  On the economy, we passed the President's Jobs and Growth Package to 
create more than 1 million new jobs. The effects of this legislation 
are already benefiting the national economy, leaving more money in the 
pockets of American taxpayers.
  And finally, the House and Senate have each passed versions of a 
Medicare prescription drug benefit. We will continue to work with the 
Senate and White House to negotiate a final bill and put it into law to 
improve the health of American seniors.
  So, Mr. Speaker, this House committed itself to fulfilling America's 
promise from day one; and we are a safer, more prosperous, and 
healthier Nation because of it.

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