Date: 2006-09-12
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. DELAHUNT. I would like to talk about what we havent done. and a little bit about what we have done. I can tell you last week. this is truly unbelievable. I mean. I think that there would be unanimous agreement in this room. no matter what party you represent. that we have a couple of issues that are pressing in this country. I cant imagine anybody would disagree with that. whether it is the 46 million people that dont have access to health care. whether it is the fact that gas prices are hovering at or near or over $3 a galion. whether it is the fact that we havent raised the minimum wage in 9 years. You know. there is a laundry list of problems. Yet. last week. we spent our time. we spent 2 days here. Wednesday and Thursday. During that time. if you remember what did we do. We named some post offices. but we always name post offices. that is a ceremonial thing that we do as parts of our regular routines and rituals here at the high school we adopted some resolutions. expressed the House sentiment. But that is what we usually do Tuesday. the first day we are here and sometimes extending into Wednesday. Wednesday and Thursday is when we get into the meat and substance of why we are here. we are addressing the Nations problems. Last week. we addressed the critical problem that I know I am stopped in the supermarket every day. the prevention of horse slaughtering. That is the only bill that we passed of any substance last week. We passed the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. I can tell you that I voted for it. because I believe that we should prevent the slaughter of horses. But. when it comes to what should be at the top of the national agenda. I dont know. Somehow that doesnt come up in my town hall meetings. I can tell you that our priorities for last week included implementing the 9/11 Commission recommendations. raising the minimum wage. lowering prescription drug costs for seniors. increasing Pell grants for people who want to pursue higher education for students. rolling back the subsidies for big oil. which have been implemented by the Republican leadership in Congress. and their rubber stamped colleagues. restoring the PAYGO rules so that we arent continuing with outofcontrol spiraling deficits. so that we can make sure that we only spend what we take in. and comprehensive immigration reform.. That was on our agenda last week. and the Republican agenda was making sure that we prevent the slaughter of horses. I dont know. I think after November 7. I think most Americans are hopeful that we will move in a new direction. That when they get out of bed in the morning. they will not have to worry about whether there is a plan to make sure that it doesnt cost them more than $50 to fillup their gas tank. that the agenda that is addressed by the Congress of the United States doesnt include whether or not children will be reciting "under God" in the pledge. I mean. most moms. with a young man or woman fighting in the war in Iraq. they are not worrying about whether their little ones are saying "under God" in the pledge. They are worrying about whether their baby is going to come back to them. The father of four. before he leaves the house in the morning. do you think he is worried about whether or not we burn the flag that day somewhere in America. as objectionable as flag burning is. or do you think he is more likely to worry about whether he is going to be able to afford to fill up his gas tank with than $50 coming out of his wallet. I mean. where are their priorities? How is that? How are those things the top of their agenda?