Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H. Res. 607, a resolution that celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. This resolution honors Neil Armstrong, Edwin Eugene ``Buzz'' Aldrin, Michael Collins, and the countless number of individuals and organizations who helped the United States become the first Nation in the world to set foot on the Moon.

I want to thank Congressman Ralph Hall for introducing this resolution, which celebrates the anniversary of one of our country's most important accomplishments. As a former Member of the House Science and Technology Committee, I am proud that this resolution recognizes the first human spaceflight along with those organizations, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Mission Control Center, located in Houston, Texas, whose efforts played an instrumental role in extending our country's reach to new frontiers.

President John F. Kennedy set a goal to reach the Moon by the end of the 1960s. He expressed admiration for this goal during a speech he gave before a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961. During that speech, President Kennedy said, ``I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.''

Nearly 8 years later, on July 16, 1969, the Eagle landed, making Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin the first people to ever walk on the Moon. This accomplishment launched the United States to the top of the science and space world. Armstrong and Aldrin represented not only themselves, but the entire Nation, as the United States became the first country to put men on the Moon.

As we prepare for future space explorations, the Apollo spaceflight will continue to inspire us to push the limits of future missions, especially as we tackle some of our most pressing problems, like climate change. This resolution reminds us that we must once again reach for the stars. And, with the confirmation of General Charles Bolden, the first African American to head the agency, the United States is poised to reaffirm its prominence by boldly pushing the boundaries of space, aeronautics and exploration in the 21st century.

Again, I would like to thank my good friend Congressman Hall for introducing this resolution and I encourage all my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Mr. Speaker, today I was unavoidably delayed and missed the vote on Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 3183--Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (H. Res. 645).

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on this vote.

Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 538, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 135, a resolution which pays tribute to the contributions of African American slave laborers in the building of the United States Capitol.

We owe a great debt to the enslaved African Americans who played an instrumental role in the construction of the United States Capitol. Their labor was responsible for erecting this massive building, a place where the hopes and dreams of this nation are represented, voiced, and debated each and every day.

Thank you to my colleague, Congressman John Lewis, for introducing this resolution which directs the Architect of the Capitol to place a historical marker in the Capitol Visitors Center to acknowledge the toils of slaves who helped construct the U.S. Capitol.

The history of this country and her most enduring symbol of democracy, the United

States Capitol, cannot be told without fully and accurately reflecting the contributions of enslaved African-Americans. According to the History of Slave Laborers in the Construction of the United States Capitol report, there is documentation that slave labor was employed from 1795 to 1801 for the construction of this building. African American slaves participated in almost every aspect of construction of the U.S. Capitol, completing such tasks as removing tress, quarrying stone, painting, and roofing. Evidence of their work can be seen in the columns of Statuary Hall and the Old Senate Chamber. Their story is a story that must be told for it is our collective story, the great American story.

After nearly 200 years, it is time for America to acknowledge these individuals who contributed to one of our nation's symbols of freedom while never having the opportunity to experience it themselves. Constructing a historical marker that includes the original stone used to build the Capitol is an outstanding tribute to African American slaves that will teach all who visit the Capitol of our nation's past as well as her future.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and recognizing the work of enslaved African Americans in the building of the U.S. Capitol by voting in support of this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act.

The men and women who have served our nation in combat deserve to be provided with the very best that we have to offer. One part of achieving that is getting these men and women the best health care that they can possibly have. In turn, it is critically important that the Veterans' Administration (VA) have assurances regarding their funding in a timely manner so that the VA can deliver health care in an efficient and timely manner.

This important legislation authorizes Congress to approve VA medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. While we still have much further to go in terms of making sure that every hero returning home has all the care that they need, this bill will at least ensure that the VA will be able to plan ahead of time and get the most out of each health care dollar that they are allocated. Furthermore, because many VA budget cycles have, in recent years, started on continuing resolutions, some decisions may have been made on the basis rather than on the basis of the most effective treatment. We cannot jeopardize the health of our nation's finest because of what amounts to nothing more than a bureaucratic difficulty.

I was proud to work with a number of colleagues to include a similar VA advanced appropriations provision in this year's congressional budget resolution, S. Con. Res. 13. Nevertheless, there is no reason why our veterans should need to count on Congress taking action every single year to keep this sensible policy in place. For this reason, it is imperative that we pass the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act.

I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this important bill. I thank my good friend, the Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Congressman Filner for introducing it and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in support.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 403) to provide housing assistance for very low- income veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 403.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Representative Capito. She is an active member of the Financial Services Committee, and I thank her for managing today.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank Representative Michaud--also known as Michaud, depending on where you're from--for his outstanding work in helping with this bill. He is a cosponsor. I thank the ranking member, Spencer Bachus. Of course I thank the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, Mr. Barney Frank. I also would like to thank the Housing Subcommittee Chair who has worked closely with me on this project, Representative Maxine Waters.

Mr. Speaker, the question may be posed in the mind of someone as to why we should pass the Homes for Heroes Act. I would like to answer this question. We need to pass this bill because, while many of us are sleeping in the sweets of life, too many of our veterans are sleeping in the streets of life. We need to pass it because, while many of us have homes and good jobs, too many of our veterans are homeless, with no jobs at all. We must pass this piece of legislation because America can't continue to be the home of the free and the land of the brave if too many of our brave veterans continue to be homeless.

Mr. Speaker, the statistics are shocking; they literally shock the conscience. Veterans are 9 percent of the population and more than 25 percent of the homeless. On any given night, 131,000 veterans are homeless, and 300,000 veterans will experience homelessness at some point in the course of 1 year. One-half of the veterans who are homeless suffer from mental illness, two-thirds suffer from alcohol or substance abuse. About 47 percent of homeless veterans are Vietnam veterans.

In Texas, there are about 16,000 homeless veterans. In my city of Houston, Texas, we have about 2,500 homeless veterans. Per the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 467,000 veterans spend more than 50 percent of their income on rent; 1.5 million veterans have incomes below the poverty line; and 643,000 veterans have incomes below 50 percent of the poverty line. Mr. Speaker, America needs to pass Homes for the Heroes because our veterans need homes.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 403 would establish a Special Assistant for Veteran Affairs within HUD. It would give this person the authority to coordinate services for homeless veterans. And this would be with the States, with local authorities, and with nonprofit organizations as well.

This bill establishes a $200 million assistance program in HUD for veterans for supportive housing and services for low-income veterans. It expands the very popular and very successful HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, authorizing 20,000 vouchers annually when funded. It authorizes $1 million in HUD grants to assist housing providers to help them provide the supportive services and the planning necessary to fulfill the needs of our veterans.

This bill would require HUD to submit an annual comprehensive report to Congress on homelessness among the veteran population. And this bill will do what is necessary as a great first step to ending homelessness among our veterans population. This bill is supported by 12 anti- homelessness and veterans organizations.

Mr. Speaker, if America is to continue to be the land of the free, America must provide homes for the brave.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the gentlelady for her generous comments and her appeal to colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record a letter that has been signed by 16 organizations that are supporting this piece of legislation.

June 12, 2009.

Hon. Al Green,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Green: We are writing to express our

overwhelming support for H.R. 403, the Homes for Heroes Act

of 2009, legislation that would provide housing assistance

for very low-income veterans. We urge the House of

Representatives to pass this bill on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials recently

reported on any given night, 131,000 veterans are homeless.

Veterans are at a greater risk of becoming homeless due to

health problems (post traumatic stress disorder, substance

abuse issues, mental health disorders), economic issues

(extremely low or no livable income), and a shortage of

affordable housing.

While most currently homeless veterans served during prior

conflicts or in peacetime, the newest generation of combat

veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom

(OEF-OIF), both men and women, are returning home and

suffering from war related conditions that may put them at

risk for homelessness. A growing trend in homelessness among

these new veterans points to a need to develop a coordinated

approach to reduce and ultimately eliminate homelessness

among all veterans.

Your bill, H.R. 403, the ``Homes for Heroes Act of 2009,''

will provide shelter for homeless veteran families and help

prevent low-income families from falling into homelessness.

The undersigned organizations are pleased the following

legislative actions are contained in this bill:

1. Establish the position of Special Assistant for Veterans

Affairs within the Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD).

2. Establish permanent supportive housing and services for

very low-income veterans and their families through a $200

million assistance program.

3. Authorize HUD to provide housing assistance to private

nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives to expand

the supply of permanent affordable housing.

4. Require HUD to coordinate with the VA to provide

supportive services tailored to the needs of the very low-

income veteran families occupying supportive housing.

5. Expand the highly successful HUD-VA Supportive Housing

(HUD-VASH) Program, authorizing 20,000 vouchers annually and

making the program permanent.

6. Place additional priority on veterans and require all

local public housing agencies to develop plans to address the

needs of homeless veterans.

7. Authorize $1 million in HUD grants to assist housing and

service providers to execute their housing projects for very

low-income veteran families.

8. Require HUD to submit a comprehensive annual report to

Congress on the housing needs of homeless veterans.

To meet the current and future needs of our Nation's most

vulnerable veterans, we ask the House of Representatives to

pass H.R. 403, the Homes for Heroes Act of 2009. Supporting

this historic veteran homelessness prevention initiative will

be a giant step forward towards ending veteran homelessness

in America.

Corporation for Supportive Housing

Goodwill Industries International

Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Military Officers Association of America

National Alliance to End Homelessness

National Association for Black Veterans

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

National Coalition for the Homeless

National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty

National Leased Housing Association

National Low Income Housing Coalition

National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness

Vietnam Veterans of America

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

Services For the Aging

National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders

National Equity Fund

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I close by urging my colleagues to support this piece of legislation and to please consider the fact that our veterans have been there for us; this is an opportunity for us to be there for them.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 614) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP").

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge and compliment the Member from Florida, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, and commend her on what she has done to get this piece of legislation to the floor. She has worked with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has had this piece of legislation pass the Senate. She had 75 cosponsors; hence, the legislation is now before us in the House.

Mr. Speaker, there should be a compendium of knowledge, if you will, styled ``The Greatest Stories Never Told.'' Perhaps therein would be the story of the Buffalo Soldiers, a story rarely told of how they had to fight their way into the military so they could fight for their country. Perhaps contained therein there would be the story of the Filipino soldiers who died in the struggle at the Bataan March.

Such a collection would not be complete, however, without the story of the WASP. These are the first women to fly military aircraft. They are the women in the Air Force, the Women Airforce Service Pilots known as the WASP. It's a story of gender bias, Mr. Speaker, the notion that flying is a man's work. It's a story of culture bias, the belief that a woman's place is in the home. It's a story of injustice, the notion that women could apply but never qualify. It's a story of inequalities and inequities, the notion that women could have rank but not always have their rank respected. Mr. Speaker, it's a story of never say never, a story of persistence pays off, a story of success because of some, and a story of success in spite of others.

It's a story of how a famous pilot, Jacqueline ``Jackie'' Cochran, became the first commander of the WFO in 1942. That's the Women's Flying Training Detachment. It's a story of how a test pilot, Nancy Love, became the commander of the WAF, the Women's Auxiliary Flying Ferrying Squadron in 1942. It's a story of how the WFO and the WAF merged in 1943 to become the WASP.

The WASP would go on and fly 60 million miles. They would fly every type of aircraft. They would be stationed at 120 bases across the country. And on December 20, 1944, when victory was at hand, the WASP were quietly and unceremoniously disbanded. Thirty-eight lost their lives in the course of serving their country; however, families and friends had to pay for their burial expenses. Survivors had to pay their way back home because they were not considered a part of the military in an official capacity. Many of their records were sealed and unavailable to historians until the 1980s. They didn't get veteran status until 1977, and this was done without a White House ceremony, and it was done without the kind of fanfare that we would expect them to receive in this day and time.

The story, Mr. Speaker, is one of few being honored, and their honors being accorded them too late, and not enough thank yous having been accorded them at all. The story of the WASP is one that is, in my opinion, the greatest story never told and one which we should acknowledge with this bill when it is passed today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to thank the gentlelady for the outstanding work that she has done on this piece of legislation. She has worked tirelessly to bring it to the floor; and I compliment the gentlelady, along with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, for the outstanding job that she has done as well. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume for a very brief closing.

Mr. Speaker, the story of the WASP is, without question, among the stories that are rarely, if ever, told. In fact, I have contended and continue to contend it's among the greatest stories never told. But for this reason, we should accord this Congressional Gold Medal. I beg all of my friends to support it if a vote is called for. I shall not call for one.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 529 and to express my outrage at the violent attack on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on June 10, 2009, along with my deepest sympathies to all of those who knew Stephen T. Johns, the brave and honorable security guard who tragically died in the attack.

Stephen T. Johns, 39, died tragically in the line of duty as he defended the Holocaust Memorial Museum from an attack by acknowledged white supremacist, racist and anti-Semite James von Brunn. He leaves behind his sister, his wife and his 11-year-old son.

It is tragic that, as this incident demonstrates all too vividly, racism and anti-Semitism are still alive in America. It is tragic whenever there is a revolting act of violence that takes the life of an innocent person. It is especially tragic that, in this situation, the forces of hate and violence were unleashed at this august institution that is dedicated to memorializing and preventing a recurrence of the Holocaust that appallingly took the lives of millions of innocent civilians.

Mr. Johns and all the rest of the security guards in the Holocaust Memorial Museum deserve our fullest commendation, as they acted heroically to prevent the museum's despicable attacker from enacting even more harm.

I condemn the shooting completely, fully and without reservation. This type of attack is totally unacceptable, as are the racist and anti-Semitic motivations underlying it. I thank my friend, Rep. Klein, for introducing this important resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'm supporting this legislation because it addresses both war and peace. And if I may, I'd like to focus on the peace initiative because, truth be told, the great issue of our time is not whether a superpower can police the world. A superpower can police the world. The great issue of our time is whether a superpower can bring peace to the world.

This piece of legislation helps us not only with war but also with peace because it helps us with economic development. It helps us to give people the opportunity to take care of themselves and sustain themselves, but it also helps us with education. The wealth of a nation is the education of its people. It helps us to bring the peace and stability that will be needed when the war is over. War can help us to provide a certain degree of security, but it won't provide the salvation that we need to have the peace.

I support this bill because it helps us when the war is over to have the peace and stability that Pakistan will need. I thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's a great piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I support H. Res 502, recognizing June as National Homeownership Month and the importance of homeownership in the United States.

Since the founding of this great nation, homeownership has been fundamentally tied to the American Dream. However, the right to own land or a home has not always been an inclusive one--for many generations homeownership was denied to communities of color and women. While we have taken great strides to rectify past injustices, much remains to be done, which reflects the importance of this resolution.

Owning a home represents much more than a roof and walls to protect one's family from the elements, or a space to raise a family. A home is the single most valuable asset one can own, and the wealth it can generate over time is crucially important for rising out of poverty. This reason alone, reflects the irrevocable damage that the foreclosure crisis is inflicting on our communities.

The bursting of the housing bubble and the economic crisis have resulted in the loss of countless American homes; countless dreams have been disrupted, and countless Americans are now struggling to deal with the ramifications of the actions of greedy, dishonest businesspeople more focused on personal gain than on truly honoring the dream of homeownership.

We now find ourselves at a critical point in American history. The housing and financial markets are undergoing fundamental changes; and while the Administration and this legislative body continue to work to implement programs to sustain homeownership, we must not forget those of us who are still working to realize the dream of owning their own home.

I firmly believe that homeownership should be a dream realized by every responsible American, and believe that we should continue to work to provide opportunities to make those realizations possible.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in support of H. Res. 498, a resolution honoring and celebrating the United States Border Patrol on its 85th Anniversary.

The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Border Patrol was founded on May 28, 1924 as an agency of the United States Department of Labor to prevent illegal entries along the Mexico-United States border.

The Border Patrol's mission remains as the deterrence, detection and apprehension of illegal immigrants and individuals involved in the illegal drug trade who generally do not enter the United States through designated ports of entry.

Ever since its founding, the U.S. Border Patrol has been there defending our borders and homeland. They were there to prevent Ahmed Ressam, also known as the ``Millennium Bomber,'' from entering this country and killing our citizens with explosives he intended to detonate at the Los Angeles International Airport during the holiday season prior to the 2000 millennium. They were there to apprehend Richard Goldberg, a suspected child molester, after he was arrested in Ottawa, Canada. Goldberg was on the FBI's ``Top 10 Fugitive List'' and was featured on ``America's Most Wanted.'' Further, just this month, they were there to seize close to $1.5 million in cocaine and marijuana along the Southern border.

The Border Patrol is this nation's first line of defense against many threats. They patrol over 8,000 miles of international borders with Mexico and Canada as well as the coastal waters around Florida and Puerto Rico.

The brave men and women of the Border Patrol work tirelessly to secure and facilitate trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws. They keep our country safe from threats such as terrorists, illicit drugs, weapons, and criminals. Today over 18,800 Border Patrol Agents risk their lives in defense of our country. These brave men and women join thousands of others who have served our country in the Border Patrol over the last 85 years.

America can rest assured that its borders and homeland will be protected by the courageous men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol. I commend the U.S. Patrol on its proud and distinguished history of protecting the United States and strongly urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Perlmutter.

I want to thank Chairman Thompson for his leadership. I am reminded, friends, that there is a difference between leadership and management. A manager wants to do things right, and a leader wants to do the right thing.

Chairman Thompson has not only wanted to get this right procedurally; he has wanted to make sure that we do the right thing. He has proceeded on the premise that there is safety in the counsel of the multitudes. Everybody who wanted to be heard was heard on this bill. Labor was heard. Industry was heard. Republicans were heard. Democrats were heard. Everybody who wanted to be heard was heard. I know of no one who wanted to be heard at the subcommittee level more than the Honorable Sheila Jackson-Lee, who was not heard. There was nobody on the committee who had an issue that was not embraced and heard. I was there. What I'm about to say is not something that I know from secondhand, or secondarily. I don't know it tertiarily and I don't know it quarternarily. I know this from being there in person.

This issue about the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay was aired adequately, sufficiently, totally, completely, and absolutely. The man who spoke, who is my friend and who is a man I respect greatly, had his issue heard, and he did not vote against it. He did not vote against it. He was the only abstention. My brothers and sisters on the Republican side supported this as well. I say ``brothers and sisters'' because I believe there is just one race--the human race--and we're all related. We're probably cousins if we're not brothers and sisters. But my point is this:

This was totally, completely and absolutely thoroughly aired. Everybody had a say. I am going to support the rule because I support the notion that there is safety in the counsel of the multitudes and that the multitudes were heard.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this bill because this bill is inclusive in approach and comprehensive in scope. It's not perfect, Mr. Chairman, yet it does help perfect Homeland Security.

It provides for surface transportation, security enhancement by tripling the funds available. It provides security training and performance enhancement for significant employees. It provides that airport security and screening enhancement policies be put in place. It provides, Mr. Chairman, that foreign repair stations' security be elevated to U.S. standards. It provides transportation security credential improvements to guard against intruders. It provides for domestic air cargo and checked baggage security to better protect the traveling public. It provides for a general aviation enhancement grant program to help general aviation airports. It provides K-9 detection resources to sniff out drugs. It provides research and development to integrate transportation and security technologies.

It's not perfect, yet it does help to perfect Homeland Security. It is inclusive in approach in that we had the inclusion of all parties interested--the partners, all of the stakeholders were brought into this, Republicans and Democrats alike, labor and industry as well. It is comprehensive in scope.

I support this bill. I thank the chairman for the wonderful work he has done, the ranking member, and also the subcommittee chair, Sheila Jackson-Lee, the Congresswoman from Texas, my colleague, as well as Mr. Dent, the ranking member.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Madam Chair, this bill allows OPM, that is the Office of Personnel Management, to increase the amount of paid parental leave up to 8 weeks. It allows this after considering a variety of factors: benefits to the Federal Government, cost to the Federal Government, trends in the private sector, the government's role as a model employer, and such other factors as the director considers necessary.

This amendment, Madam Chair, will require the Office of Personnel Management to consider the needs of some of our lower-level employees. This amendment would not require any additional funding. It merely requires the office to consider the impact that increasing the number of weeks will have on some of our lower-level employees.

Now, I would like to introduce a term that I'm not exceedingly pleased with. It is called a ``poverty spell.'' A poverty spell is defined as entering poverty for at least 2 months. Twenty-five percent of all poverty spells begin with the birth of a child, 25 percent. I would also note that 78 percent of the persons who are eligible for FMA, this leave that we have been discussing today, do not take it because they cannot afford to lose a paycheck.

No one should go into poverty because of the birth of a child if we can prevent it. This bill will help many of our lower-level employees avoid a poverty spell.

I will reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I will yield to the manager such time as he may consume.

At this time, Madam Chair, I'm grateful to Mr. Lynch. I'm also grateful to Mrs. Maloney for her outstanding work on this. It has been a tireless effort over many years, and I'm honored that they are accepting this amendment. And I am going to ask all of my colleagues to please vote for it if a recorded vote is called for. I shall not be calling for one.

I yield back.

Madam Speaker, I wish to honor our fallen veterans this Memorial Day on May 25, 2009. Our veterans, as well as our troops, risked their lives and their livelihoods for their country and for our freedom. They deserve our utmost respect and appreciation.

Memorial Day was initially called Decoration Day. After the Civil War, Americans honored fallen soldiers in the Union and Confederacy by decorating the soldiers' graves. After World War I, Memorial Day became a day to honor all American soldiers who died in war. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day as a national holiday celebrated on the last Monday in May. Today, the national celebration of Memorial Day is held at Arlington National Cemetery. It is a ceremony of sincere solemnity, as well as one of great pride because it pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice while defending the American flag.

While we pay tribute to our fallen heroes, it is important that we also recognize those veterans who fought valiantly and returned home to their loved ones. Our nation's heroes who fought so bravely to defend the American Dream also deserve the opportunity to achieve it. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), on any given night in this country, between 150,000 and 200,000 adult veterans live on the streets, in shelters or in community-based organizations. Unfortunately, approximately 150,000 homeless heroes do not have access to the vital permanent housing and supportive services they need each year.

Last year, I introduced H.R. 3329: The Homes for Heroes Act to address this problem. My bill will provide shelter for homeless veterans and their families and help prevent low-income veteran families from falling into homelessness. On July 9, 2008, the Homes for Heroes Act passed the House by a vote of 412-9, but did not make it through both chambers. Fortunately, the author of the Senate companion bill, former Senator Barack Obama, is now the President of the United States. Therefore, I look forward to working with this Congress and our current President to pass this very important legislation in the 111th Congress. The Homes for Heroes Act will truly honor those who have sacrificed for our country by providing them with the assistance they deserve and have so deeply earned.

I ask all of my colleagues and fellow Americans to pause and observe the great sacrifice that our fallen heroes and veterans made for our beloved country. Our military men and women were there to answer their nation's call to duty and now our government must prove that we will be there for them. In words, deeds and actions, our nation's heroes have earned it. This is the least a grateful nation can do.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009. I supported H.R. 1106 when it left the House, and while lacking the provision to allow for judicial ``cramdown,'' I am pleased with many of the improvements that S. 896 brings.

This bill reflects an affirmation of this legislative body's dedication to ensure that the American dream of homeownership is not lost for millions of American families. The foreclosure crisis has devastated our economy and this bill is another step towards stabilizing our housing market and restoring confidence in the American people.

S. 896 improves the HOPE for Homeowners program, making it a more viable option for helping families sustain homeownership; it provides a safe harbor for those who would engage in legitimate loan modifications or utilize the HOPE for Homeowners Program. The bill strengthens the FDIC and credit unions to ensure the availability of credit for consumers, which is crucial in this time of economic downturn.

S. 896 reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Grants for the first time in 20 years, and authorizes $2.2 billion for the programs for FY 2010 and 2011. It also provides funding to HUD to increase public awareness regarding foreclosure scams.

Finally, the tenant protections included in the bill ensure that bona fide tenants are not unfairly removed from their residences when foreclosures occur that they could not control.

Overcoming the foreclosure crisis and the damage that it has wrought will take time and dedication. However, by passing the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, we are taking a critical step forward in protecting the American homeowner.