[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 15676]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IT IS TIME FOR A NEW DIRECTION

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. The Republican do-nothing-of-substance Congress is 
unwilling to tackle issues of importance to the American people because 
they might upset their wealthy special interest campaign contributors 
in an election year. There is so much they could do and so little being 
done.
  We could take care of the 7 million seniors who are about to fall in 
the doughnut hole of the so-called Medicare prescription drug benefit, 
getting no coverage, having to pay 2,600 bucks out of pocket. But that 
would upset the pharmaceutical industry.
  We could increase the Federal minimum wage for the first time in 7 
years. But tax cuts for millionaires take precedence.
  And this week as every oil company announces record-breaking profits 
exceeding last year's record-breaking profits, what action is being 
taken to rein in the price gouging? None, because that would offend Big 
Oil.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a lot the United States Congress can do. The 
problem is the Republican-run Congress is tied down by special 
interests.
  It is time we take America in a new direction.

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