[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TOOK BACK THEIR GOVERNMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to lend my voice with all of 
the people who voted for a change for America, but especially to lend 
my voice with my fellow new Congressmen, the freshmen. I rise because I 
believe that we were sent here to pursue an agenda for America, to set 
our country on a new course, a new course which put the public good at 
the center of our efforts, a new course which said that politics must 
be in service to the average citizen.
  This past November, the winds of change took on a gale force in 
American politics. American people took back their government. They 
sent a loud and clear message that the government was here for them, by 
them and of them. No more, no big contracts. No more legislation 
written behind closed doors by and for the special interests, no more 
whittling away the constitutional rights that we were fighting, and no 
more bridges built to nowhere. No more rubber-stamp administration.
  We are going to have an active and engaged Congress that really 
believes in the principle of oversight, and no more escalating an oil 
war that we believe is sacrificing innocent young Americans for no 
legitimate purpose. The American people voted in record numbers and 
demanded that their voices be heard. They wanted their government to 
respond to their needs, and their needs are not the needs of the big 
oil companies, the big pharmaceutical companies or the Halliburtons of 
this world.
  American people want a new politics of inclusion, of generosity. The 
American people want a new politics which says everybody counts and 
everybody matters. The Democrats heard them.
  In record time, 100 hours, we made history by passing a people's 
agenda. Yes, within 100 hours, minimum-wage workers were able to say 
that they were getting a raise; within 100 hours, lifesaving research, 
so that people could have a real chance at a cure for their loved ones 
and themselves. Within 100 hours, real implementation of the 9/11 
Commission recommendations, and within the 100 hours we made a real 
statement about education being affordable for all Americans.
  I am proud to be a Member of this new class of freshmen, proud to be 
a Member of these folks who came here to make a change to put the 
public interest first. The public interest is a very good idea, and I 
am very proud to say that I have been a part of it.

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