once again Republicans insist on a fiscally irresponsible bill that will benefit the wealthiest and in this case the healthiest at the cost of at least $174 billion added to our already soaring national debt. Mr. Speaker, despite the…

just to complete the record, it is very clear that the office of Inspector General did not explore anything other than one aircraft. They did not explore the other misuse of the response of the Department of Homeland Security; and, second…

as I am sure is the case with each of those who have spoken tonight, I come to these remarks with a heavy heart, one of the more difficult remarks that I make here I guess for two reasons, both because of my affection for Al and because he…

what incredible nonsense we have heard here on the floor of the House this afternoon, this attempt to raise the flag and besmirch Members of this House over their stance on the American flag practically on the eve of Flag Day. Let me tell…

how very timely is the old warning of Abraham Lincoln about those ``trusting to escape [the] scrutiny [of war] by fixing the public gaze upon the exceeding brightness of military glory.'' Our troops deserve our fullest support for their…

this is a martial law rule, and that is appropriate because there are those in this House and in this country that think the role of all the representatives here is to march in a martial fashion behind the leadership of the majority…

There is no more fragile construct than a stone wall. In any scandal, the shortest route to safety is always the truth. And yet one full week after asking the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice to come clean about the reported…

I know the gentleman was expressing concern about using the Federal Bureau of Investigation with reference to political purposes. The gentleman is aware that it was the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) who himself talked about calling out…

not content as U.S. House commander, redistricting czar, and mapmaker for the Texas Legislature, J. Edgar DeLay apparently seeks a job directing law enforcement. His first response to political differences is to call in the G-men, the FBI…

In other words, the very same room, the very chamber of the Texas capital that is under lockdown tonight is where President Bush chose, on his own, to go and introduce himself to the Nation. Is the gentleman aware of the individual that he…

there is no doubt that the action of leaving the State of Texas and going from Austin to Ardmore, and I have yet to find anyone in Austin that goes to Ardmore for a vacation, but I am sure it is a nice place, and I know it has the Gene…

Well, the gentleman's position is very well founded, trying again to tie themselves to our sons and daughters who stood in harm's way in our American military, proudly, for our country. But right, at that very microphone this morning, our…

First, I would say that it is really important to the future of our democracy that we permit diverse points of view to be heard. I believe that our country is stronger when we respect and show tolerance for opposing points of view. And the…

Of course we have the tragic history of Watergate that led to the departure of a President and growing disrespect and cynicism of our people as a result of the Watergate scandal, the misuse, the invasion of people's personal information…

He is a pretty good farmer up there. Mr. Laney is a farmer, a citizen legislator. I doubt there are that many Texans outside of west Texas that know precisely where Hale Center is. I do not know. Maybe that is why the current Speaker of…

And certainly our concern is that resources that are very much needed to protect our families not be diverted for a personal political police force.

I think it is a sign of desperation, a sign of extremism, a sign of the same kind of arrogance that goes to the Texas Legislature after the Governor, after the Lieutenant Governor, after the Speaker, all Republicans, as well as a number of…

That would appear to be the report not from me, but from this morning's Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a very credible newspaper in our State. It is the Air and Marine Interdiction and Coordination Center. I would suppose that is the same…

In addition to those very persuasive statements from Republican leaders in Texas, is the gentleman aware of where President Bush, after he had been declared the President-elect by the Supreme Court, where he had his initial speech to…

To those who say that these Texas State representatives essentially "took their marbles and went home," remember that this game was fixed by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) before these folks ever had a chance to play. To our…

George Bush made his first address to the Nation as President-elect from the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives. Today that same House is in lockdown. He was introduced by Democrat Speaker Pete Laney. Today, Mr. Laney is at work…

A distinguished predecessor as President of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower, pledged, ``I shall go to Korea.'' To achieve peace, why don't you simply pledge, ``I shall go to Austin.''

when it comes to turning around this economy, assisting the many who have lost their jobs since President Bush got his, this Administration does not have a clue. With a deficit larger than a fleet of aircraft carriers, these Republicans…

when we think of Texas stereotypes, we think of cowboys and oil wells, longnecks and roughnecks. While we are proud of our past south of the Red River, the future of Texas increasingly lies, like the future of this country, with…

I am so pleased that the last speaker raised this issue of corporate loopholes, because it is the same crowd that stood in the Committee on Ways and Means repeatedly and on the floor of this House and has defended corporations that…