Charles Rangel: “Let me thank you for the tremendous job that you and the leadership have done during this historic period in our…”

“Let me thank you for the tremendous job that you and the leadership have done during this historic period in our Nation's history. There is a common expression that we have in our committees, and that is, ``How is the gentlelady and gentleman recorded?'' You don't have an opportunity to say you were confused, you didn't know what you were doing, or you wish there was another way. And I gather when you get back home, people will be asking, ``And how were you recorded?'' How were you recorded when you had an opportunity to give some assistance to the working people in this country, where 95 percent of them will be receiving a tax cut so that they will be able to assist them in keeping their kids in school, paying their rents, their mortgages, keeping up their health insurance? How were you recorded when we said that this Nation should take care of those people who unfortunately lost their job, lost their dignity, lost their health insurance? Are we going to explain that we thought there was a better idea? How were we recorded when there comes a time that we're saying that we have to find alternative ways in order to fuel the country's energy needs? How were we recorded when the bridges and the tunnels and the hospitals and the schools are in trouble, when the mayors and the governors are asking and screaming for help? How is history going to record what you have done at a time when everyone is screaming out, every economist is asking us to come to our Nation's economic savior?”