On the recordOctober 26, 2011
I thank the gentleman from California. Connecticut, Rhode Island--you know, when you're from California, I'm sure we all look like one of your counties there. But it's eastern Connecticut. At least I abut Rhode Island. But thank you for the invitation to speak this evening. I wanted to start, first of all, by just sharing with you that I am in the final day of a 1-week challenge that myself and four other Members of Congress have engaged in to live on a food stamp budget for a week. That's $4 a day, which is what the budget is for millions of Americans today. And my wife and I and my daughter got through it in one piece--although I had to kind of take my little care package down to D.C. with me. And frankly, it has been harder than I thought and a real eye opener. I mean, a cup and a half of coffee----
