Cliff Stearns: “These are all rhetorical questions. You can use your time. You worked as hard as you could to represent a 2 percent cut…”

The Chair now recognizes the president of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress, the Honorable Martin Frost of Texas, to address the Members.

Barbara, thank you very much. And thank you, Members, for your confidence. I think in light of the hour here, we will go right directly to honoring our past president and our vice president. Pete, if you will give me the plaques, I would…

Thank you, Connie, very much for that report, and thank you also for the continued leadership that you have provided for the former Members of Congress. Your counsel is always appreciated and is invaluable. I now will lead to another…

Barbara, if you will come up. Barbara, your plaque is inscribed: ``We thank Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly of Connecticut for her leadership and guidance for the past 2 years as president of the U.S. Association of Former Members of…