[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 27634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         CORRUPTION IN CONGRESS

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is astonishing how badly this 
administration and the Republican Congress has veered off course. 
Bribery. Perjury. Allegations of insider trading and money laundering. 
The majority leaders in both Chambers of the Congress, one under 
indictment, the other being investigated by the SEC.
  The American people understand full well the consequences of this 
culture of corruption. They saw it in New Orleans. The administration's 
incompetence was more devastating than the storm itself. They see a 
President all too willing to cover up waste and profiteering here and 
abroad where, again, incompetence has contributed to the loss of 
American lives, more than 2,000 and climbing.
  More than 15,000 wounded, many of whom would go back and fight again 
for their country if only they could. We have defense contractors 
bribing Members of this institution. No wonder we are so ill-prepared 
for another terrorist attack.
  This week, the chairman of the September 11 Commission gave this 
government's response, since that terrible day, five Fs and 12 Ds. The 
facts more than speak for themselves. Democrats believe that the time 
has come to restore the values of responsibility and integrity to our 
way that our government does business.
  Mr. Speaker, it starts with putting the needs of families before 
special interests of the lobbyists. It starts here in this building, 
and it starts with new leadership.

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