[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 4895-4901]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2220
                       30-SOMETHING WORKING GROUP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania). Under the 
Speaker's announced policy of January 4, 2005, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Meek) is recognized for half the time remaining before 
midnight, approximately 50 minutes.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor once again to 
address the House of Representatives, and we would like to thank the 
Democratic leadership for allowing us to have this time, Democratic 
leader Nancy Pelosi, Mr. Steny Hoyer, and also our chair and vice chair 
of our caucus.
  I think it is important for us to come to the floor once again in 
this 30-something Working Group to talk about the issues that are 
facing America and how the Republican majority is falling short of its 
responsibility, Mr. Speaker, to fulfill not only the hopes, but 
aspirations of Americans as we come to Washington, DC, to represent 
them in a way that we should, need it be education, health care, what 
have you.
  We have so much to share, Mr. Speaker, tonight, 50 minutes will not 
even give us justice for what we have to share. I must say that the 30-
Something Working Group is very, very, very excited and enthusiastic 
for being here tonight to hopefully drive home the point even better 
than we have done before of why it is important that we need a new 
Congress here in Washington, DC, that is going to represent the 
American people.
  And we are not just talking about Democrats. We are not just talking 
about Independents. We are not just talking about Republicans. We are 
talking about the American people. We want to move in a comprehensive 
way, making sure that we can have true bipartisanship in this chamber. 
I think we have expressed that in the past. I think that we have shown 
that in the past when we were in the majority, and it is nothing like 
third-party validators that we have here tonight, Mr. Speaker, that 
even drives home the point even better.
  We have talked in the past about issues that are facing the American 
people and this Congress. We talked about the K Street Project back 
when no one really wanted to talk about the K Street Project, which is 
a project to encourage lobbyists here in Washington, DC, to contribute 
to one side, to the Republican Party to help not only gain the 
majority, but to also be a part of supporting Republican candidates, to 
have access to this House. We talked about that. We got some dirty 
looks from some Members of the majority side about exposing that.
  And then later, after Abramoff pleading guilty without a trial, 
without a jury selection or anything, the Republican majority said we 
will no longer

[[Page 4896]]

carry out that project because it was wrong. It was the 30-Something 
Working Group that moved boldly in that direction to expose that 
practice here in Washington, DC.
  Even when it comes down to our troops as it relates to equipment and 
supplies that they needed, even though you have some folks on the 
majority side that said we did it in a way that the American people 
should be proud of, it was on this side of the aisle that we did so.
  So it is not all about who made it to the front of the classroom 
first, Mr. Speaker. It is about those of us that understand the 
responsibility of governance, those of us that understand the 
responsibility of leadership and those of us that cherish the 
opportunity to be here as part of this elected House of 
Representatives.
  Like I said, Mr. Speaker, it is so much to share tonight, there is 
not enough time to share it. But I would like to yield to some of my 
colleagues at this time so that we can start the kind of discourse that 
is going to head us in the right direction here in Washington, and 
hopefully the American people will start looking through some of the 
30-second ads, looking through some of the targeted media campaigns 
that are out there. When I say marketing campaigns, Mr. Delahunt, and 
Ms. Wasserman Schultz, that sometimes mislead the American people and 
having them believe one thing when the reality is so evident.
  Like I said before in the past, this is an unprecedented time, Mr. 
Speaker, of the fiscal situation here in this country, unprecedented as 
it relates to unusual things happening here in this House and in this 
Congress that are unexplainable. But every day, we need to be picking 
up the Washington Post or local papers. We are finding that the reason 
why strange things are taking place here in this country is the fact 
that strange things are taking place here in this House and in the 
Senate and in the White House. And I think that it is important that we 
bring this not only to the attention of the American people, but we 
call the American people to action on behalf of their country, not on 
behalf of party, not on behalf of age or gender, but on behalf of 
holding our country together.
  With that I would like to yield to Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman 
Schultz. And I would just like to say congratulations to your Florida 
Gators.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Thank you very much. We were thrilled and I 
had an opportunity to attend the game last night and it was an 
incredible experience, and congratulations to the Florida Gators.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Can I interrupt here? It's tough to tell that she 
is a Gators fan tonight, isn't it?
  Mr. DELAHUNT. What are the colors of the Gators, could you tell us? 
Do they happen to be blue and orange?
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Orange and blue. And each and every Gator fan 
that I know, Mr. Delahunt, bleeds orange and blue.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. Well, congratulations once more.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Thank you so much. But, all lightheartedness 
aside, I am struck, in following what the gentleman from Florida 
touched on, I am struck by a collection of facts that really are 
staring us in the face that are the direct result of Republican 
policies; today, this moment, not 5 years ago, not 4 years from now, 
but the direct result of Republican leadership or, I should say, lack 
of Republican leadership, because they are obviously in charge.
  Let me just go through with you some of the things that we have 
pulled together and that are the economic facts facing this country and 
that clearly show why, when I go home and talk to my constituents and 
have done so recently, I did kind of a run through my district and 
spoke to many different kinds of organizations, many different kinds of 
groups, Mr. Delahunt, and I am sure that you are hearing the same kinds 
of things that I am.
  Americans' confidence in their government has been so badly shaken. 
And it is not just that the culture of corruption and cronyism and 
incompetence that hangs over this building is there by itself. It is 
that, as a result of that corruption and cronyism, the policy that 
results from the corruption that is so deeply disturbing.
  Let me just go through with you some of the things that we have been 
able to pull together just related to the economy. This is as of March 
2006, just last month. 7.2 million Americans remained unemployed. We 
have an additional 4.2 million who want a job but are not counted among 
the unemployed.
  Since this President took office, the economy has posted only 15 
months of job gains of 150,000 or more. That is the number of jobs that 
is just needed to keep up with population growth. So all this talk 
about an explosion in job growth and how we are really on the rise in 
terms of job growth is just baloney.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. If my colleague would yield. I don't want to skip past 
that, because I think it is important to analyze what kind of jobs are 
being created. And I think we all concur that the number of jobs are 
insufficient to move American society ahead to realize the American 
dream, if you will. But the reality is it is not the kind of jobs that 
carry with them the ability to have a living standard that most 
Americans enjoyed 5 years ago, 10 years ago and 15 years ago. These 
aren't good jobs at good wages. These are menial jobs, in many cases, 
at low wages. There is a difference.
  The truth is that the median income for an American family has 
declined. It hasn't grown. So that while there may be jobs out there, 
Americans are falling behind. They are losing their health care. They 
are losing their pension. And what is really tragic is that they are 
losing the hope that all Americans have for their children and 
grandchildren. That is what I am experiencing.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. DELAHUNT. I yield.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. You know, before I yield to the gentlewoman from 
Florida, you can't convince me that we can't do something about this. I 
can't be convinced of this. Proper investment. We can go back, GI Bill, 
space race, you know, we, as a country, transcontinental railroad, we 
had a program, we had a plan that we would invest back into the United 
States of America. And now we know it is not the transcontinental 
railroad. Now we know it is not the space program, at least to the 
extent it was.
  But what is it now? Is it business incubators? Is it math and science 
graduates? Let's figure this out. Is it high speed rail?
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I know what it is not.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. What isn't it?
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. It is not just words in the State of the 
Union, because it was very nice to hear the President talk about how he 
wants to make sure that we can have this.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. We have got to get past the rhetoric. Let's get 
past the words. Words, words, words, no substance.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. What I hear from most people today is it is 
very nice, you can give a whole lot, it is nice to hear the speeches. 
They want the action to back up the words.

                              {time}  2230

  And let us just go a little bit deeper into this whole issue of job 
growth. So go beyond the 7.2 million Americans that remain unemployed. 
Since the President took office, only 15 months of job growth, just 
keeping up with population growth. The Bush administration has the 
slowest job growth of any administration in over 70 years. Since 
January of 2001, 2.9 million manufacturing jobs have been lost. There 
are now more than 1.3 million more unemployed private sector workers 
than in January of 2001.
  And who has been in charge this whole time, Mr. Meek? Have Democrats 
been in charge during these years that talk about the lackluster job 
performance?
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. No, ma'am.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Who has been in charge?

[[Page 4897]]


  Mr. MEEK of Florida. The Republican majority.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Oh, the Republicans. Okay. That is what I 
thought. Congressional Republicans.
  They talk about how they want to grow jobs, that making sure people 
can go to work and earn a decent living is what is important. Then why 
is it that congressional Republicans defeated a Democratic amendment to 
increase the minimum wage, which has not been increased since 1997, the 
longest period of time we have gone without increasing the minimum 
wage? From $5.15, which is what it is now, we proposed to increase it 
to $7.25.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. They prefer jobs at low wages. In essence, it is really 
that simple. Low-wage jobs are being produced by the policies of this 
administration and this Congress that is complicit. Complicit. And we 
know there has not been a single veto by this President because this is 
a Congress that goes along with this administration.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. This is Bush's Congress. This is President Bush's 
Congress.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. The bottom line is this: We have a bobble head 
majority. We have a rubber stamp majority that is willing to do 
anything and everything the President has asked.
  Now, Mr. Delahunt, we talked about this last week, Ms. Wasserman 
Schultz, Mr. Ryan, about the fact that like 90 percent of the American 
people understand what is going on here under the Capitol dome, and 
then the majority runs from the back of the class and runs up and says, 
We want to govern. We are going to stop the President from doing X, Y, 
and Z. Why does it take that, Mr. Delahunt?
  I mean the bottom line is it is about leadership, not how Republicans 
feel or how Democrats feel or how independents feel. It should be 
everyday business here in Washington, DC. But they are so busy trying 
to cater to the President of the United States or trying to cater to 
the special interests, we forget about that individual who showed up on 
a Tuesday on election day in a given community early for 
representation. Not us on this side, but the majority does. And I think 
it is important that we share with the other Members that are watching 
us in their offices or whatever the case may be that they need to get 
back to the days of the morning when they woke up the next day, when 
they were newly elected as a Member of Congress, how they felt about 
representation, how they felt about being a part of the United States 
Congress, how they felt about representing their local community. And I 
think that kind of gets lost between the wine and cheese receptions 
that take place, Mr. Speaker, here in Washington, DC. I am a Member of 
Congress. I am offended sometimes when I see Members taking votes 
against the will of their own constituency.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. I am offended that they are not offended. That 
offends me that they are not offended offended.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I am dying to make this comparison.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Do not die just yet because you have to share 
some information.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I know. We have 6 more months, and I am not 
through my list yet.
  The minimum wage being $5.15 and the Members that you are talking 
about that were so fresh faced and exuberant the morning after the 
election and they were going to come to Washington and do the right 
thing and not be the rubber stamp Republicans, all of them voted 
against increasing that minimum wage. And if the minimum wage had kept 
pace with inflation, today it would be $8.88.
  I am certain that none of our Republican colleagues have done this 
recently because, otherwise, they would have voted for the amendment, 
but have you driven through a McDonald's recently and ordered a number 
one, which is a Big Mac meal?
  Mr. DELAHUNT. I am on a diet myself.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I am kind of a McDonald's fanatic. And since 
it is quick and easy and when you have got your kids in the back of the 
minivan, believe me, the quickest thing sometimes is to go through the 
drive-through. The number one is just about $5.15 at this point. By the 
time you get the meal and whatever else you need, to make sure that you 
have got your soda and your drink and your fries, can you imagine that 
the minimum wage just barely pays for one Big Mac meal? I mean are the 
American people not worth more than a Big Mac meal? That is really what 
it boils down to.
  I think they are. I want to make sure that my constituents can afford 
to feed more than just themselves or more than just one kid. Which kid 
are they going to pick? Which kid do they pick? Okay, who wants to eat 
today?
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. That is about $16,000 a year even if it was 
adjusted accordingly; right? Eight bucks is about $16,000 a year.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Yes. I mean who can live on that?
  In our community, Mr. Meek, look at what housing costs.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Ms. Wasserman Schultz, we are with you 110 
percent because this is information that needs to be shared and third-
party validators can validate this.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. We are talking about the reality.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. This is the reality of the situation. This is 
not fiction; it is fact.
  But if you can, I want you to get through that list because I know 
that Mr. Delahunt and Mr. Ryan are so fired up right now as it relates 
to sharing this information.
  Mr. Speaker, this is almost not fair. I mean this is just so unfair 
that we have this much information to share with the Members about what 
they have done and what they have not done and how we are so ready to 
get in the game, to lead this House in the direction that every 
American can appreciate. Every American does not work at McDonald's, 
but guess what. There are a lot of Americans there and family members 
of Americans that punch in and punch out every day and know what it 
means to make the minimum wage.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. My friend, before we let Debbie go through that litany, 
and it is a long litany, let us also understand it is not just those of 
us here that recognize that. It is not just Democrats. It is 
Republicans.
  I will tell you I find it particularly ironic that the leader of the 
Gingrich revolution that brought a Republican majority to this House in 
1994 recognizes what has happened to the majority in this particular 
body.
  This is what Newt Gingrich had to say about them: ``They are seen by 
the country as being in charge of a government that cannot function.''
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Will the gentleman suspend.
  Mr. Ryan, would you take that chart over to Mr. Delahunt. You all are 
going to share in this information sharing because Mr. Delahunt 
actually served when Mr. Gingrich was around and I think it is 
important that we share that factual information with the Members.
  And, Mr. Delahunt, if you would share that because I know we have a 
plethora of information to share tonight.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. Again, let me repeat it. This is a quote of Mr. 
Gingrich that appeared in the Knight Ridder newspaper this past Friday. 
And this is his observation about what is occurring in this body over 
which he presided: ``They are seen by the country as being in charge of 
a government that cannot function.'' That cannot function.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. ``They.''
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Delahunt, I notice Mr. Ryan and Ms. 
Wasserman Schultz and we are so glad to be joined by Ms. Jackson-Lee, 
who is one of my sheroes in this process. ``They.''

                              {time}  2040

  Mr. Speaker, this is the man who gave the Republican majority birth. 
``Them.'' ``They.'' He is saying he is no longer a part of what is 
going on here. ``They.'' Not ``my colleagues,'' not ``my Republican 
brethren and sisters.'' It is ``they.''

[[Page 4898]]

  This goes far beyond the 30-something working group. This goes far 
beyond Democrats and Republicans. Here is a man who was at the front of 
the line saying charge, that is now calling the Republican majority 
``they.''
  Mr. DELAHUNT. It is us versus them, and he ain't part of ``them'' 
anymore.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Who is with them?
  Mr. DELAHUNT. As he said in this particular interview, if I can 
compose for a moment, here is an additional quote by the former Speaker 
of the Republican Congress. The reporter writes that he cited a series 
of blunders under Republican rule, from failures in the aftermath of 
Hurricane Katrina to mismanagement of the war in Iraq. He said the 
government has squandered billions of dollars in Iraq, Mr. Meek.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Who is the third party validator in the facts 
that you are citing now?
  Mr. DELAHUNT. That is Newt Gingrich, who I know because when I first 
came to Congress, he was the presiding officer of this branch.
  My colleague, Sheila Jackson-Lee, who preceded me in terms of service 
here in this branch, would also know and clearly could articulate that 
Newt Gingrich is someone who, whether you agreed with him or not, said 
it like he saw it. And this is what he sees today: A Republican Party 
in disarray, a Republican Party that can't govern. That is the bottom 
line.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. If the Members could indulge me as well 
just for a moment, because by my good friend Mr. Delahunt calling up 
those memories, Mr. Delahunt, you remember in essence Newt Gingrich 
rode in on a revolution, a revolution of change, a revolution of a 
government that would be smaller and allegedly more efficient.
  His first act was, of course, many of us claim it to be a Contract on 
America, but he called it at that time a Contract with America. A 
balanced budget was allegedly his goal, along with a number of other 
issues.
  Certainly, this whole question of a misdirected war or an undeclared 
war I don't think would have been the kind of effective and efficient 
government, and, of course, I am not in any way characterizing the work 
of our soldiers, but that he would have argued. I wanted to raise this 
point so you can get to that bottom line, Mr. Delahunt, which, if I 
read it correctly, talks about the mismanagement of the Iraq war.
  Many people will condemn the words that we have offered about the 
Iraq war, saying there is a question of patriotism. But this former 
Speaker says mismanagement of the war in Iraq, and that the government 
has squandered billions of dollars in Iraq.
  Let me just cite this point from the International Relations 
Committee. The Special Inspector General for Iraq has cast grave doubts 
on the results and effectiveness of the United States reconstruction 
plan, including the failure to complete three-quarters of oil and gas 
reconstruction projects, half of all the electricity projects and about 
40 percent of water and sanitation projects financed by the U.S. So Mr. 
Gingrich is, like you said, Mr. Delahunt, telling it is like it is.
  I simply leave you with this question: If we are in the business of 
governance, balancing the budget, why do Democrats have to beg for 
hearings so that the American people can find out the truth? Not to 
question the valid, courageous efforts of our soldiers, but why we have 
money that is wasted, so soldiers, for example, have no equipment? This 
is what Democrats are trying to do, clear up the mess.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Do you know why? Because this is a rubber 
stamp Republican Congress. We had an amazing thing happen today, and my 
good friend from Florida, Mr. Meek, he has a much bigger rubber stamp 
that we use to show what is going on in this place.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. You can hold it.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I feel privileged to hold it, although I don't 
want to hold it too long, lest it rub off.
  But we got today more than 100 of these ``Rubber Stamp Republican 
Congress'' stamps from bloggers and people in the communities all over 
the country who are fed up and frustrated and who want us to continue 
to talk about what is going on here. Because it appears as though, and 
I mean this respectfully, that when people on the other side of the 
aisle come in this room, that they are checking, and I don't know 
whether they are checking their brains at the door or their opinions at 
the door or their convictions at the door, but we have watched, all of 
us, the board light up here with yesses and noes, and I know I have had 
conversations with Republican Members on the other side who say, ``I 
know I am going in there and I am voting this way.'' Then you watch it, 
the board, the light next to their name goes from red to green or green 
to red, and you watch their arm being wrenched behind their back, and 
out comes the rubber stamp.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. We have seen tears shed on this floor.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Out comes the rubber stamps. We need to throw 
away the rubber stamps. It is time to be done with the rubber stamps.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. I think the whole thing is that is missing here, I 
think time and time again, there is one little general theme, and I 
think the former Speaker sums it all up for us in that same article. He 
noted that a Congressional watchdog agency recently smuggled a truck 
carrying nuclear material, and we talked about this last week a few 
nights, into the country, smuggled a truck carrying nuclear material 
into the country to test security. This is a direct quote from the 
former Speaker.
  ``Why isn't the President pounding the table? Why isn't he sending up 
16 reform bills?'' Now, nuclear materials snuck into the country, and 
there is no one really even talking about it in the Republican House, 
the Republican Senate or the White House right now.
  All we are saying is, and we come here every night, sometimes two or 
three times a week, to basically say there is no leadership in 
Washington, DC, Mr. Speaker.
  The Democrats in this House want to step up and take the lead, 
because, quite frankly, not only us, you couldn't do any worse than 
this outfit does. We have plans for security, comprehensive plans. We 
have plans for innovation, plans for job creation, plans for health 
care. We have an agenda ready to implement for this country, including 
balancing the budget. But, time and time again, everything is rubber 
stamped. The bobblehead Congress. ``Yes, Mr. President. Yes, Mr. 
President. Yes, Mr. President.'' At some point you have to stop and 
say, hey, wait a minute. The country is going in the wrong direction.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. What we have been asking, what Democrats have 
been asking, is where is the outrage? What is their limit? Where do 
they reach the breaking point, individual Republican Members? When do 
they say ``that is it? There is a point at which I cannot support the 
direction that my leadership is taking this country anymore,'' meaning 
theirs. When do they say, ``I have got to stand up and do the right 
thing?''
  It appears that their tolerance level for being pushed to do exactly 
as they are instructed is unbelievably high, far higher than my 
constituents, and I know your constituents, are comfortable with. We 
have got to make sure that we start moving the country back in the 
right direction and change some of these facts on the ground here.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. I think what we need to do here the last 15 minutes 
or so that we have, I think we need to tell the Speaker of the House 
and the other Members what we are going to do when we get in.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I think that is a good point. May I just 
give some history for a moment, because you set the tone or you set 
sort of the parameters for an indictable offense.
  When the Clinton administration was ending its tenure, as many of you 
are aware, it was one of the most maligned and accused 8 years by this 
majority-controlled House, even though there was a high degree of 
success. But I think the most striking success was the Balanced Budget 
Amendment in

[[Page 4899]]

1997, which generated an enormous amount of surplus, putting us in the 
black, which created the Children's Health Insurance Program that went 
all over America, except for the State of Texas, which returned back 
money because with our Republican leadership we couldn't find children 
to insure.

                              {time}  2250

  But we had at that time billions of dollars of surplus. Now we have 
this gift given to the American people: Republicans increased the debt 
limit by $3 trillion. And we get to $3 trillion. And if you want to 
calculate what that means for each child, each grandchild, each mother 
and father, each grandparent, you can see the enormity of this amount. 
So it is crucial for Democrats to come and to make and select and to 
emphasize priorities.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I would be happy to yield.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Because time and time again, how many debates have 
we had on the floor over the past several years? No one on the majority 
side, Mr. Speaker, has been able to explain to this House or the 
American people how this is somehow good. Somebody explain to the 
Speaker of the House and somebody explain to the Congress how 
increasing the debt limit by $3 trillion is good. Is it good for the 
economy? Is it good for the next generation? Who is benefiting from 
this? Nobody, except foreign countries. This is bad. This is bad for 
the American economy, this is bad for job creation, this ends up 
raising the burden for the next generation. This is terrible. Since the 
President has been in, June of 2002 raised the debt limit $450 billion. 
May of 2003, $984 billion. November of 2004, $800 billion. And get that 
poster ready, Mr. Meek. March of 2006, $781 billion. $3 trillion debt 
limit increase.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Really quick, because we are going to rapid fire 
here because we only have a few minutes left. I just want to quickly 
again, you have seen this, this will be in the National Archives one 
day because we talk about this time and time again. Let me, Mr. 
Speaker, move this education plan that Democrats have and this 
prescription drug plan so the Members can see this chart here. I think 
it is important. This $1.05 trillion that the President has accumulated 
with the Republican Congress in just 4 years versus the 42 presidents 
before this president and this Congress was only able to accumulate 
$1.01 trillion, and that is World War I, World War II, the Great 
Depression, you name it. You talk about the Democratic plan, Mr. 
Delahunt, Ms. Jackson-Lee, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Mr. Ryan, the 
bottom line is that we have countries that are owning America right 
now, not because Americans went out and made bad decisions; because 
this administration has made bad decisions, and this Congress, the 
rubber stamp Congress has allowed it to happen and has been doing this 
all along. All they have to do is be invited to a breakfast at the 
White House and it is like, ``Yes, sir, Mr. President. We will do 
exactly what we have to do. Not only will we do it, we will defend your 
wrong actions.''
  Mr. DELAHUNT. You are saying we have an ownership society, Mr. Meek.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. So, in closing, you want to know the Democratic 
plan? The Democratic plan is paying as we go. Paying as we go. Because 
when you are in debt, you do not continue to use a credit card. So if 
Americans want to do away with the $882.8 billion that Japan owns, we 
will pull this off the chart. China, if you want to do away with the 
$249.8 billion that China owns right now of our debt, and pay as we go, 
and we have evidence and third-party validators that will be explained 
to the American people and the Members, have a Democratic Congress. The 
U.K., you want to get rid of the $223.2 billion in foreign debt that 
they own of our country? I am destroying this chart here. But get a 
Democratic Congress, because we have shown, we balanced the budget, and 
we are committed to doing this because we believe in the way we believe 
when we were elected that we are here to represent the people. 
Caribbean nations, many of our folks are going and traveling to the 
Caribbean and saying, oh, how great America is. Well, when you land 
there, they are owning a piece of the American pie, so you need to 
respect them. We will be able to do away with that $115.3 billion that 
we owe them. Taiwan, $71.3 billion they own of our debt, thanks to the 
Republican Congress and to the President of the United States. Also, 
Canada, $53.8 billion. Korea, $66.5 billion. Germany, $65.7 billion. 
OPEC nations and, you know, Mr. Delahunt, I know that is your 
specialty, I do not really want to talk about that, but those are 
nations that we are very concerned about at this time that they own 
$67.8 billion.
  So if you want to get the reverse factor of what the Republicans have 
done in putting us in unprecedented debt, no other time, Mr. Speaker, 
in the history of the republic, no other time. You cannot say, well, 
the Democratic Congress was once at this level. That was not ever the 
case. In 4 years, this has happened, the mismanagement.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. What we have been trying to do over the past so 
many years consistently and constantly, amendment after amendment after 
amendment, the Democratic Party has offered and we have it all here, 
you will be able to go to our Web site and see these charts: In 2006 
budget resolution, we offered to put pay as you go, that you are not 
going to spend any money unless you get it somewhere else or cut it out 
of a program and pay for it. Democrat, Mr. Spratt, offered that 
amendment. Zero Republicans voted for that. Rollcall vote number 87 
March 17, 2005. 30-Something's aren't making this up.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. But they raised the debt limit. Didn't they?
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. They found the votes to raise the debt limit. Mr. 
Spratt again offered the 2005 budget resolution, H. Con. Res. 393, 
rollcall vote number 91, March 25, 2004, right here in black and white. 
Republicans, how many voted to put spending under control, reign in 
this Republican Congress? Zero.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. It is a lot easier to raise that debt limit, Mr. Ryan.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. We are tired of the rhetoric, Uncle Bill.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Ryan, how many Americans, do you think, 
think it is okay to just put all their debt on their credit card and 
never mind how much money they have coming in?
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. You cannot do it at home, Ms. Wasserman Schultz.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. But I guess the Republican leadership think 
here it is fine.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. They are taking advantage of their power, and it is 
hurting the country. June 17 of 2003, Mr. Obey tried to increase port 
security, which is another huge issue we have been trying to do here. 
$500 million. And we will go through all this. All these charts will be 
on our Web site, Mr. Speaker, for other Members to access and find out. 
We have tried consistently to increase funding for port security, and 
we will pay for it. We have tried to rein in spending. Republican 
Congress will not let us.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. If I may add to your question, if you 
would. I do not think most Americans know that 70 percent of the 
Nation's ports are owned by foreign operators. Of course, to hear this 
administration tell the story, they tell you of course that does not 
interfere with security, the Coast Guard handles it. What they do not 
tell you is the Coast Guard makes checks on compliance; they do not 
handle the security operation of our ports. So this is an important 
issue that was rejected by the Republican Congress time after time, 
every time we try to rebuild America, put America on the right track, 
eliminate a $3 trillion debt limit, Republicans turn the clock back. I 
think the Democrats have a better story to tell for the American 
people.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. No question about it. I want to follow up on 
something that the gentlewoman from Texas focused on, because a lot of 
people in America, even I have a hard time getting my mind around what 
a billion and a trillion is. It is hard to think about it in everyday 
terms. So

[[Page 4900]]

we had it boiled down in very convenient chart form to help illustrate 
what a billion is.
  For example, a billion hours ago, humans were making their first 
tools in the Stone Age. A billion minutes ago, it was 104 AD, and the 
Chinese first invented paper. A billion seconds ago, it was 1975, and 
the last American troops had just pulled out of Vietnam. All of those 
things, a very long time ago. A billion is a big, big number, clearly, 
measured in terms of time.
  But a billion dollars ago, under this administration and this 
Republican Congressional leadership, was only 3 hours and 32 minutes 
ago at the rate that our government currently spends money. That is 
astonishing. That is what it means when you think about what a billion 
means under this Republican leadership.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. We need the American people to give us a chance to 
lead this country. We want it. Put us in, Coach. We will put the PAYGO 
back into effect. We will rein in the spending that the Republican 
Congress that they think they can cut taxes, borrow money, and spend at 
levels unprecedented. And I am sure many of you saw the USA Today 
yesterday. I am sure you made it past the sports section with the recap 
of the games and everything. The Federal Government spending is 
outstripping economic growth at a rate unseen in more than half a 
century. The Federal Government, quote, is currently spending 20.8 
cents of every dollar the economy generates, up from 18.5 cents as one 
White House budget document shows. It is not our documents, it is White 
House documents. That is the most rapid growth during one 
administration since Franklin Roosevelt.

                              {time}  2300

  Now, what happened to this outfit that came in in 1994 that said they 
wanted a balanced budget amendment, they wanted to make government 
smaller, spending it like drunken sailors, get this government under 
control, make it nimble and efficient and address the needs?
  With all the technology and ability to communicate in the 21st 
century, we cannot even respond to a storm we know 5 days in advance is 
coming. It is ridiculous, and this country deserves better. We should 
not expect this comedy of errors that we get from FEMA and Halliburton 
and everybody in Iraq. It is a comedy of errors, and we need to get 
things straightened up here.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. But it is a tragic comedy because the lives of young 
men and women in Iraq are constantly at risk. We all know what we have 
lost in terms of our youth, and we all know what the cost has been in 
terms of the taxpayers' dollars.
  What I find extraordinary is, and Sheila Jackson-Lee alluded to it 
earlier, every Democrat on the International Relations Committee 
recently, in fact yesterday, signed a letter requesting an oversight 
hearing in terms of what is going on in Iraq, why the rampant fraud, 
abuse and corruption. We have been requesting that for 2 years, and you 
know what, we have never received an answer, not a single hearing.
  If I were a Republican Member of this House, Mr. Speaker, and I read 
the op-ed piece by Retired Army Major General Paul Eaton, who was 
responsible for the training of Iraqi security forces, and received 
hardly anything in terms of support from the civilian leadership of 
this Defense Department, if I read what he said, I would insist that we 
listen to this individual, someone who served his country well, and you 
know what, they just want to ignore it. But I have to read what General 
Paul Eaton had to say because I think it is remarkable.
  Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is not competent to lead our 
Armed Forces. In sum, he has shown himself incompetent strategically, 
operationally and tactically, and is far more than anyone else 
responsible for what has happened to our important mission in Iraq. Mr. 
Rumsfeld must step down.
  That is from an individual who has served this country in Iraq with 
valor and distinction and his recommendation to this Congress is this: 
``Congress must assert itself. Too much power has shifted to the 
executive branch, not just in terms of waging war but also in planning 
the military of the future. Congress should remember it still has the 
power of the purse; it should call our generals, colonels, captains and 
sergeants to testify frequently, so that their opinions and needs are 
known to the men they lead.
  ``Our most important, and sometimes most severe, judges are our 
subordinates. That is a fact I discovered early on in my military 
career. It is, unfortunately, a lesson Donald Rumsfeld seems incapable 
of learning.''
  What a damning indictment, and yet not a sound from the majority in 
Congress. If I had read that, I would have asked him to come and 
testify before the committee of jurisdiction the next day.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Gingrich is saying send up reform, lead, do 
something; this government cannot function. This is not just us. This 
is Mr. Gingrich saying the same thing.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. It says shame on them, shame on them that 
they would tolerate this kind of abuse.
  Let me just quickly say, Democrats have been saying this over and 
over again. Democrats have been asking in the most polite way for Mr. 
Rumsfeld to step aside, to resign. Tom Lantos says that Americans will 
not tolerate this waste of tax dollars, but let me give an anecdotal 
story.
  What is happening in Iraq and other places, where Americans go and 
make commitments, we are going to build schools, we are going to 
reconstruct, we give these contracts to no-bid competitor, huge 
contracts. They sit in their offices. They give it to another 
contractor, another contractor, another contractor, who takes a piece 
of the pie. By the time you get down to the reconstruct in Mosul or 
Baghdad, nothing happens. What do the Iraqi people say? Americans have 
made a promise. What do the taxpayers say? You want to pay all this 
money for foreign aid and defense and you give us nothing. Then we get 
bad diplomacy because our allies or who we are trying to help looks and 
says we are masquerading.
  Let me just finish by saying I have spoken to contractors and to the 
independent contractors who say they are living large in Iraq, while 
sadly our soldiers are looking for water, are looking for body armor, 
and some of the contractors are living large.
  Let me say this, there are many who are over there sacrificing in 
danger. I am not condemning the workers who are on the front lines, who 
are civilians, who are in those places where our soldiers are. We thank 
them. But some of those who they work for are layering the contracts, 
and therefore, by layering the contracts, American people are expending 
dollars, and no one is turning on the light like the International 
Relations Committee has asked for, to have oversight to answer the 
question of what is going on. I believe we owe the American people more 
than this.
  Shame on this House, shame on this leadership.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. Amen.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. That is the job. That is the job. That is the 
responsibility that we have here of oversight.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. There is no oversight.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. And it is because the President does not want any 
oversight, and the Republican Congress says, yes, Mr. President.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. There is no oversight. There is no outrage. 
There is no conscience. There is no heart. There is no ability of the 
leadership on the other side to recognize that the country has to move 
in a new direction and that we have to do something to restore the 
American people's confidence in their government. When will that 
happen?
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. As we wrap up, I would suggest that over the course 
of the next few months, Mr. Speaker, the American people will not get 
an answer from the leadership on the Republican side about what why the 
debt limit was increased by $3 trillion, why we are borrowing billions 
upon billions upon billions and even trillions of dollars from foreign 
countries, selling off. You

[[Page 4901]]

will not hear a good answer, reining in spending, the most rapid 
spending growth during one administration since Franklin Roosevelt. 
This is the outfit that wanted to have a revolution.
  Mr. Speaker, www.housedemocrats
.gov/30something for those Members. All the charts that were up tonight 
are on the Web site, www.housedemocrats
.gov/30something.
  Enjoyed it. Go Gators.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, with that, we would not only like 
to say thanks to Mr. Delahunt but Ms. Jackson-Lee who joined us tonight 
from the great State of Texas, also Mr. Ryan and Ms. Wasserman Schultz 
for being here tonight.
  We would also in the 30 Something Working Group recognize the great 
contribution of Dr. Martin Luther King who was assassinated on this 
date and Mr. Ron Brown who was our Secretary of Commerce that went down 
in a plane crash yesterday, the day before, on Monday. We want to let 
both families know we appreciate the contributions of these two great 
Americans to our country. We will be forever better because of their 
contributions.
  At the same time, Mr. Speaker, the evidence that was just 
overwhelming tonight from the Members of not only what we are saying, 
because we are concerned as Americans, not just as Democrats, we are 
saying that we are willing to lead. We are also saying, Mr. Speaker, 
that when you have the past Speaker of this House, the first Republican 
Speaker in 40-something years coming before this body and make the 
statements that he believes the majority will lose the majority this 
time around because of what he identified this time of the evidence of 
why it will happen is just powerful and hard to defend on the majority 
side.

                              {time}  2310

  We are not asking for the majority side to defend what the past 
Speaker has said, but I think it is important to take note and that the 
American people take note of what is happening right now. So I think 
the American spirit will rise up over partisan politics and allow us to 
lead.
  With that, I want to thank our vice chair, Mr. Larson, of the 
Democratic Caucus; Mr. Clyburn, our chairman; Steny Hoyer, our 
Democratic whip; and Ms. Pelosi, who is the Democratic leader, for 
allowing us to have this time. We look forward to coming back to the 
floor to address not only the Members but the American people.

                          ____________________