Date: 2005-09-14
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. let me commend the congresswoman for her leadership in this area. Let me commend the Congressional Black Caucus for their leadership. and I also want to commend the American people. because the American people have come forward. the private businesses. the private organizations. What has been blatantly clear to all Americans is that the Federal Government has been missing in action. We have two Americas. It is tragic. We have one black. Yes. I said it. black. African American. One white. One rich and one poor. and the poorest Americans are still the most vulner~ble. We need to ensure that all Americans. regardless of where they live. can find a quality of life and work. This hurricane has put a spotlight on the tragic situation that exists with this administration. and I call it reverse Robin Hood. robbing from the poor and working people to give tax breaks to the rich. I am going to repeat that. Reverse Robin Hood. and I have said it over and over again. Robbing from the poor to give tax breaks to the rich. That has been the policy. There are two things that I want to discuss today. In light of the hurricane. why are we doing away with DavisBacon? And. two. why are we doing away with affirmative action contracting programs? Almost as disturbing as this administrations horrible response to the hurricane is their suspension of all labor rules for hurricanerelated contracts. Just like in the past. the Bush administration is taking every opportunity to destroy organized labor but. has taken it toa new level by suspending all affirmative action programs in contracting. This is a new mandate by this administration. and it will do absolutely nothing to ensure quick or better service for those suffering from the hurricanes but will certainly ensure that none of them are involved with rebuilding their homes and communities. The very same people whose tax dollars will be paying for the reconstruction will be shut out of the opportunity to participate in the cleanup. Just like in Iraq. where we never had any oversight. we cannot afford to see the repeat of this situation in the gulf States. And let me say again. Iraq. no oversight. over $1 billion. no accountability. If this had been a Democratic administration. somebody would be in jail. and certainly the Congress would be investigating and investigating. and there would be hearings and hearings and hearings. . Nothing. nothing goes on in the peoples House. The only thing that we do is vote on somebodys courthouse. No discussions about the issues of the day. If it was not for this Congressional Black Caucus. no discussion. As always. President Bush talks the talk. In fact. I have come to the conclusion that our government is a paper tiger. We talk the talk. but we do not walk the walk. He and his political cronies continue their assault on minorities and the working poor. while lining the pockets of their political cronies and filling their campaign coffers. Lo and behold. whom do we see getting the biggest contract in the cleanup of the hurricane? I heard one of my sisters last Tuesday night ask the Secretary. the Secretary that was here. can anybody do any business with the Federal Government other than Halliburton? A $588 billion contract. no bid. no opportunity for anybody else to participate. If I am incorrect. please somebody speak up. None other than Dick Cheneys Halliburton. So while_ the poor in Louisiana. Alabama. and Mississippi suffer from Federal neglect. DICK CHENEY and his cronies keep getting rich. I said it. If Hurricane Katrinas high winds. rain. and furious power. were not enough. the Federal Governments inadequate response to this tragedy just adds gasoline to the fire. I want to take a moment to thank the people locally in my area of Jacksonville. We have sent over 18 tractor trailers full of goods and services. Goods. I asked them to give me their wish list. and evetything on their wish list we filled. And. in fact. I got a call today: We have got another one filled. and we are getting readyto send it to Mississippi. And let me tell my colleagues something. People from Mississippi and Louisiana are calling me. To this day no one has been to their community. They do not have communication. They do not have water. They do not have lights. What is the problem in the richest country in the world? We are not a third world country. We still have not gotten services to these local communities. As I bring it to a close. remember to whom God has given much. much is expected. We cannot continue to run around the world talking about our fighting for democracy. fighting for our neighbors. when we do not fight right here at home for the people who pay the taxes. We have got a lot of work to do in this Congress. and it is not just passing a bill naming a post office.