Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the gentleman from California. If it were allowed on the floor, I would say, ``Yippee,'' but I will try to…”

“I thank the gentleman from California. If it were allowed on the floor, I would say, ``Yippee,'' but I will try to adhere to protocol or take a lariat and circle it around out of excitement. {time} 1650 Thank you very much for the years of tenure and leadership that you brought from the legislature in the State of California. You brought it here with a sense of action, and we thank you. I am delighted that our Democratic whip has been at the forefront of this issue. And the gentleman from Rhode Island--I know others may be coming--is a mayor, a former mayor who understands the importance of jobs. Let me just say, to add to your comment, both President Clinton and President Reagan have quotes that suggest that if you build infrastructure, it is an investment that will continue to give and give and give. Since 9/11, my good friend, I have been on the Homeland Security Committee, and the attention of the United States, rightly so, has been on securing the homeland and national security. And just one moment so I can transfer into this discussion, 70 percent of the American people now with the capture and demise of Osama bin Laden still are concerned about our security but, in actuality, believe that our troops can come home completely. I hope that we can move in that direction. This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. Seventy percent of the American people frankly believe our troops have done an enormous tribute to themselves and to the American people.…”