Through the harsh design of fate, Florida was dealt the unfortunate circumstances of bearing the brunt of not one but two hurricanes, and it appears more dark clouds are poised to visit the Sunshine State.

We all know that, unfortunately, the media does not always portray the good things that are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, and this will be a great opportunity for us to glean some information from the Iraqi women who are here for us to also take back to our constituents.

While all of these are important and significant events, it is the United States' foreign policy that furthers the advancement of freedoms and rights for women that is the most striking for me.

While Kuwait is not a democracy, giving only half the population a voice in their government is not a policy this Congress should support and one that I am glad that Kuwait's leaders are changing.

While women certainly have made great strides toward pay parity in the past 30 years, there is still a gap in earnings between men and women in equivalent professions.

The United Nations is a mess, riddled with scandals. In fact, the U.N. itself is a scandal.

Allowing Texas to display the Ten Commandments on State property but disallowing Kentucky courthouses from doing the same is a poor and flawed interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.

American government was founded on a belief and a faith in God and in doing what is right and just.

First, women are more likely to live in poverty during their retirement years than are men.

I have noticed a marked improvement in FEMA and with the coordination of FEMA and the State agencies.

In fact, Social Security is the only source of income nationwide for 29 percent of unmarried elderly women.

Let us face it, the U.N. has failed. It has failed in its mission to promote world peace.

The list of non-democratic regimes that have seen significant reforms since 2001 is long and significant.

The United Nations has come under the control of outlaw nations and self-serving special interest groups.

The world today is changing rapidly, and we are helping to make it better for our children's future.

Under the current pay-as-you-go Social Security system, not one person is actually guaranteed benefits.

When given the chance, women have proven they will participate in the electoral process.

As is the case with many Middle Eastern nations, women are nowhere near equal to men when it comes to basic freedoms and rights that we take for granted every day.

For centuries, the world has heard the oppressed, the downtrodden and the vulnerable cry out for their freedoms, for their rights and for a chance to emerge from the shadows of the tyranny and bloodshed that they had lived with.

I have the highest number of Social Security recipients of any Member of Congress, and it is always good to hear about how women in their districts are affected by any changes, by the need for changes in Social Security.