[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14742]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 VALUES

  (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, the administration likes to wrap itself 
in so-called middle-class values. Let us compare the rhetoric to the 
record.
  This administration has gutted section 8 housing. America's most 
vulnerable citizens literally may be evicted from their homes as a 
result.
  This administration has refused to extend unemployment benefits, even 
though the money is there to help America's economically disadvantaged.
  This administration has rolled back environmental regulations, 
fouling the air we breathe and the water we drink.
  This administration has lavished tax cuts on the rich, and crumbs on 
the middle-class.
  This administration has underfunded education to such an extent that 
every child is left out, not just a few left behind.
  This administration did such a good job of working with big drug 
companies that they were able to raise prices three times the rate of 
inflation before the prescription drug bill passed.
  These are not middle-class values. Middle class values are common 
sense, common decency and the common good.
  Middle-class values are going to return to the United States in 117 
days.
  Mr. Speaker, let the President know he ought to start packing. They 
are about to leave.

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