[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 23089]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              THE DO-NOTHING CONGRESS AND A NEW DIRECTION

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, the differences between this session of 
Congress and the one that will begin next month will be vast. In this 
tale of two Congresses, let us compare the current ``do-nothing'' 
Congress, led by the Republican Majority, and the upcoming Democratic 
New Direction Congress.
  The Republican ``do-nothing'' Congress that ends this week has set 
abysmal records for the fewest number of days worked and for defeating 
numerous important bills, or simply not bringing them forth at all. Now 
they will adjourn for good at the end of this week, long before they 
need to, without passing a budget for 9 of the 11 appropriation bills. 
It is shameful, Madam Speaker, but fortunately it is about to change.
  In January, when the Democratic Majority takes control of this body, 
we will immediately begin to pass legislation that will benefit working 
families all across our country. Democrats will raise the minimum wage, 
pass ethics reform, lower the price of higher education and 
prescription drugs, and repeal the needless tax breaks to big oil all 
within the first 100 hours of the next Congress.
  Madam Speaker, Democrats will turn this do-nothing Congress into a 
body that works hard for all Americans.

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