Rightful Election

RIGHTFUL ELECTION

(Mr. FOLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, we are delighted to be here today to swear the electoral votes from all the States in the Union. Having witnessed in 2000, very upfront and personal, there were a lot of charges made at that time that votes were stolen, elections were rigged. Time and time again evidence proved that those charges were false and malicious; and the President of the United States, who was elected and sworn into that office, was in fact the rightful recipient of that title.

Now, I understand today that there may be more mischief relative to another State in the Union who is having the laser beam of focus on it and that is Ohio.

Now, Florida was declared victorious for President Bush in 2000. In 2004, for a larger plurality of Floridians, the Democratic party worked tirelessly to provide workers in Florida, having witnessed new faces from around almost every county, participating in the democratic way of trying to help their candidate. No excuses can be made. The President of the United States, George W. Bush, won reelection; and we are here today to do our constitutional duty to convey those electoral votes as properly counted and tabulated and declared for the candidate who received the majority.

Ohio declared the victory for George W. Bush. Florida did as well, as did many other States; and our Commander in Chief and President of the United States is duly entitled to receive the swearing-in ceremonies on these grounds on January 20.

Now, having Floridians subjected to a lot of catcalls and acrimony over their voting habits, we are delighted another State has taken that honor; but without question, having analyzed the documents, having witnessed committee hearings on allegations and yet no one brought meaningful charges, we are pleased and delighted that President Bush again will serve this Nation for the next 4 years.

This weekend I would like to remind our Members that we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 104th Congress. We are proud of the class that was elected. My colleague, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), has made arrangements for us all to go to Arizona to think back on what we have achieved the last 10 years and what we hope to go forward with. A lot of important issues like Social Security, Medicare, prescription drug coverage, things of that nature, will be discussed at this conference.

The gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller) have been leaders in the effort, and I see my colleague approaching the mike.

Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FOLEY. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona.

Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida, especially in terms of the fact that a quick check of the weather map indicates that his district may enjoy temperatures in the 80s this weekend; and in Arizona, we are just creeping back up to 65 in the Sonoran Desert. So I appreciate the fact that he is willing to pack a sweater. Hopefully, no umbrella will be needed in the wake of the moisture. We very much needed it in the desert earlier this week and in the high country in terms of snow.

But weather aside, we hope that all our friends from the class of 1994 and the 104th Congress will enjoy their time as we take a look at where we have been and where we are headed in this 109th Congress.

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I was not going to brag about the weather in Florida, but I have repeatedly on either Fox News Channel or in other circumstances.

If I could also make one other mention on Social Security while I have the floor reserved. Social Security is a very, very important issue for Americans. There have been a lot of comments in the newspaper about potential damage, destruction of Social Security; and I can assure my colleagues, as one Member who comes from the fifth largest Medicare-eligible population in America of all 435 districts, that this truly is an important endeavor for our Congress, and we should not be using brick bats to demonize one side or the other about plans.

We should talk constructively about the opportunities to engage, both sides of the aisle, whether it is the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) or the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), who have significant ideas about how to improve the structural nature of this important program.

No one's trying to destroy it. Nobody's trying to uncouple it, but we are trying to look at rational ways in which we can deliver the benefits not only to those who are currently enrolled in the system, but those who are starting their first job or just born.

It is much too important to have polarization on a topic that is so critically important to our citizens. Our seniors need not be frightened. Forty-five-year-olds need not be wondering whether it is going to be there for them. A 30-year-old should not consider Social Security like UFOs, unattainable, unavoidable or unlikely.

The system is going to be preserved. How we do that depends on the willingness of both sides of the aisle to talk constructively about how to create a financial network, strengthen the system in order that recipients in the future may, in fact, receive their full benefits.

END

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