with that, i yield two minutes to the gentleman from new york, mr. meeks. mr. meeks: thank you, madam speaker. last week, i received hundreds of calls and emails from my constituents across the rockaway peninsula, broad channel, jamaica bay in new york's fifth congressional district. most had been struck hard by the devastation of superstorm sandy and were eagerly hopeful that relief was finally under way with the senate passage of the flood insurance relief bill. my constituents then asked, how long will it take and when will the house pass the senate bill? why is the house not taking up the senate bill? why is it being delayed? when will the house leadership -- let's put politics aside. if there's ever an issue that should not involve politics, it is this issue because this storm struck democrats and republicans, it struck everybody, rich and poor. everybody was affected by it. when will we put those differences aside so we can get something done? why, they asked, madam speaker, it is time for us to respond to these americans who have suffered too long and who

the chair now recognizes mr. meeks. >> thank you, mr. chairman. it's with great pleasure that i welcome you this morning, madame chair. your historic position speaks volume, i believe for our nation and the continued progress our nation is making in the inclusion of women and minorities to positions of leadership and will be another source of inspiration for young women, like my three daughters. especially those looking for career in the finance and banking industry. let me just say i'm pleeased tht you have the job. not just because you're the rig -- a woman. because you're the right person for the job. >> thank you, congressman. i appreciate that. >> let me ask you something. i know mr. clay touched on this. this thing about the wealth gap and when you look at what that 95% of the income gain system recovery have gone to the top 1%, you know, there's always been a big question between the relationship between main street and wall street. for me it's been difficult, especially sitting on the committee to try to explain wall street to main street

chair now recognizes the gentleman from new york, mr. meeks. >> it's with great pleasure that i welcome you this morning madam chair. your historic to the position speaks volume, i believe, for our nation and continued progress our nation is making in the inclusion of women and minorities to positions of leadership and will be another source of inspiration for young women like my three daughters and especially those that are looking for careers in the finance and banking industry. and let me just say that i'm pleased that you have the job, not because you're a woman but because you are the right person for the job and you've got to be old-fashioned way, you've earned it. >> thank you, congressman. i appreciate that. >> let me ask, and i think that the ranking member touched on this. i know mr. clay touched on this. this thing about the wealth gap and, you know, when you look at what that 95% of the income gain since the recovery have gone to the top 1% there's always ban big question between the relationship between main street and wall street