Date: 2007-05-03
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I would like to begin with a quote from Coretta Scott King: "Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won. You earn it and win it every generation." I rise today .to talk about one of Americas priorities in the emergency supplemental appropriation bill. and that is to fulfill the promise to help rebuild Louisiana and Mississippi from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. In August of 2005. the American people saw something that was hard to believe. They saw a U.S. government that was incompetent. a government that was inept. and a government that did not care about its open people. Unfortunately. 2 days ago. President Bush vetoed the emergency supplemental bill and showed the American people that things havent changed. After the President vetoed the bill. he had the audacity to make the following statement: " . . . the bill is loaded with billions of dollars in nonemergency spending that has nothing to do with fighting the war on terror. Congress should debate these spending measures on their own merits--and not as a part of an emergency funding bill for our troops." Only two other people in the country believe that we are winning the war in Iraq. by the way. Thats President Bush and Vice President CHENEY. The cheese stands alone. The $1.3 billion for east and west bank levee protection and coastal protection isnt pork. The $30 million for K12 education assistance has been debated and has been deemed essential. The $25 billion for small business disaster loans will help rebuild. the $80 million for HUD rental assistance will bring people back home. the $4.3 billion for FEMA disaster recovery grants is an emergency for our fellow Americans in Louisiana and Mississippi who have been waiting 18 months for you to keep your promise to rebuild Louisiana and Mississippi. Mr. President. you were wrong to veto this bill. I have been to New Orleans seven times and going back in June. Sadly. every time I look there. it look looks like a war zone. It is unbelievable that 18 months have passed and the most basic human needs have not yet been met. 18 months later. and residents are not able to move back. There is still debris everywhere. and people are without electricity 18 months later. The roads are not passable. no clean running water. not enough schools and teachers. 18 months later and no street signs. toxic fumes in the air and not enough police. 18 months later. this is unacceptable. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle made the statement over and over again about how we should pass a clean bill. Well. I have been elected 25 years. and I have never seen a clean bill yet. If the President or my Republican colleagues would have done their job 18 months ago. we wouldnt need to have these extra funds in the supplemental bill. It is shameful that the very people who write the checks and pay the taxes in our cities are not given the money they deserve. I remember the Presidents press conference in Jefferson Square in New Orleans. and his promise to rebuild. His veto showed the American people once again that he has no intention of living up to his promise. The Democratic majority has done their job.. They passed this bill. Sadly. the residents of Louisiana and Mississippi will have to keep waiting on you to remember your promise. The good citizens of Louisiana and Mississippi demand good government. This is responding to the caring. and it is also an example of not just talking the talk. but -walking the walk.