Thomas Foley: “I am delighted to be here at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday passing a bill that will help Americans. We have heard a…”

“I am delighted to be here at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday passing a bill that will help Americans. We have heard a lot of conversation this morning about deficits on the other side of the aisle, and they probably know a lot about them because they created them through their 40-year rule. They talk about Social Security and restoring it. Well, the other side borrowed from Social Security for generations to pay for ongoing government spending. Yes, we had deficits, and I have heard the blame cast on Ronald Reagan. However, the majority party at that time was Democrats who had to bring to the floor the bills that the President offered to the American public. Bills do not just become law because the President says so. The exercise over the last couple of weeks demonstrates that the President can merely recommend to Congress. But I am delighted to see that the Senate, some Democrats, some Democrats seeking reelection, are, in fact, supporting this package, because it is a balanced approach. Mr. Speaker, we can talk about dead of night, deals cut in the midnight hours, but we are here on a Saturday on a Memorial Day weekend to ensure that the American public recognizes that we are looking out for their interests. Yes, we can increase education funding, as we did on this House Floor last week, and the bill passed in a bipartisan fashion.”