[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 27894]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, as we enter what may be the last week of 
this session of Congress, I rise to once again state the need for this 
Congress not to adjourn until we have addressed some of the pressing 
needs of the American people. Three of them loom large.
  One is as we go into this holiday season, America's families across 
the country are receiving high bills for their home heating oil. I 
believe that this Congress should not adjourn until we reverse some of 
the huge subsidies that this Congress gave to oil companies at a time 
when they are receiving record and historic profits. These bills will 
hit home at a time when families can least afford it. Congress should 
act before we leave.
  Secondly, as seniors are bewildered and befuddled by the prescription 
drug bill that has been foisted upon them by this Congress, I urge 
Congress not to leave until we extend the time needed for seniors to 
fully address that bill, also to address in it the prospect of giving 
the U.S. Government negotiating power for lower prices, and address the 
reimportation issue as well to lower the cost of prescription drugs for 
America's seniors. It is clear that this legislation has done nothing 
to lower the cost of prescription drugs for America's middle-income 
seniors.
  Third, all of America mourned the loss of life in the gulf States. We 
have seen destruction in that area of biblical magnitude. And here we 
are over 100 days since Katrina and there are so many emergency needs 
unmet, housing needs unmet, education needs unmet, I do not believe 
that it is fair for this Congress to adjourn until we address some of 
the immediate needs of the victims of Katrina, most particularly the 
housing needs of the survivors of Katrina.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge the Speaker of the House to keep us 
here in session until we address the issue of home heating oil for 
America's families, until we address the needs of America's seniors in 
the prescription drug bill, and until we address the needs of the 
victims of Katrina.
  It is made even more urgent, this staying in session, by the fact 
that rumor has it that Congress will not be coming back until January 
31. That would be six down weeks of no action on the part of this 
Congress at a time when America's families are feeling severe pain.
  Again, I urge this Congress to stay in session until we get our job 
done for the American people.

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