[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11995]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    SLOGANS DO NOT REPLACE SOLUTIONS

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, if there is one thing we have learned from 
the Republican Congress in the last 6 years, it is that slogans do not 
replace solutions. On America's most pressing issues, they have failed 
to act, and on others they demonstrated an uncanny Midas touch.
  Take the $800 billion prescription drug benefit. Rather than reducing 
costs for seniors, it is nothing more than an ATM machine for HMOs and 
drug companies. Two studies released yesterday show that the prices of 
medicines used by seniors are rising twice the rate of inflation. 
Consider the energy bill. In June 2005, a month before the bill passed, 
gas was $2.07; today, it is more than $3.
  On immigration, the House Republicans have sent up a white flag, an 
issue which they have ignored for 6 years. They offer more talk, less 
action. They won't pass a bill. They want a single-issue election on 
something they haven't done a single thing on.
  Even yesterday's conviction of the Bush administration chief 
procurement officer for influence peddling won't shame them into 
passing real lobbying or ethics reform. They deny an increase in the 
minimum wage and a vote on that legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, one thing is clear: When it comes to addressing the 
issues important to American families, the Republican Congress is all 
hat and no cattle. It is time for a new direction. It is time for a 
change.

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