Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today on a motion offered pursuant to this order, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in House Concurrent Resolution 93, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation does one simple thing, Mr. Speaker--it requires health insurance companies to be upfront and honest with their policy holders when they place limitations and restrictions on benefits prior to selling them an insurance policy.

Currently, the way insurance regulations are set, many Americans are unaware that their health insurance may not cover injuries resulting from certain recreational activities because their policy is unclear or very broad.

This lack of clarity has created a confusing situation for individuals that may ride motorcycles, horses, snowmobiles, or participate in other recreational activities.

While millions of Americans enjoy these activities safely every year, when an individual is injured, they often find that their insurance will not cover their medical expenses.

H.R. 1253 would require that any limitations and restrictions on insurance benefits be explicit and clear. Insurance companies would be required to make available to participants and beneficiaries in an easily understandable manner a description of the limitations and restrictions included in the policy.

By passing this straightforward legislation, we will protect our constituents that ride motorcycles, horses, snowmobiles, or participate in other recreational activities from being caught by surprise when they thought that their policy covered any possible injuries from their accident.

I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation.

I want to thank Congressman Burgess for his work on this legislation as well as Chairman Waxman, Dingell and Barton.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding to me.

I rise in support of this resolution and to pay tribute to the four Oakland Police Department officers who were fatally shot in the line of duty on March 21.

Sergeants Mark Dunakin, Ervin Romans, Daniel Sakai, and motorcycle officer John Hege were brutally murdered on a Saturday afternoon during the course of what began as a routine traffic stop and resulted in a massive manhunt.

The shootings were the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since 9/11 and the deadliest in California in 40 years. Although these tragic events occurred more than 2,000 miles from my district, the people of northern Michigan join Oakland, California, and the Nation in paying tribute to these true heroes.

Sergeant Ervin Romans, who died of gunshot wounds in the second of the two shooting incidents on that day, was the son of Chester and Sueko Romans of Ironwood Township in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Family and friends in Ironwood and across the Upper Peninsula have, in recent days, shared fond memories of Sergeant Romans. Although he was living and working in California as a SWAT team leader for the Oakland Police Department, Sergeant Romans grew up in Ironwood, where he graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1983 before leaving to become a decorated Marine.

After his service to our Nation in the Marine Corps and as an Oakland Housing Authority police officer, Romans dreamed of joining the Oakland Police Department. That dream came true in 1996. In 1999, Romans received the department's highest honor, the Medal of Valor, for helping save residents in a West Oakland fire.

He was promoted to sergeant in 2005 and worked narcotics cases and on the crime-reduction team, which was worked to combat street-level narcotics problems and associated violence. Ervin Romans was also a firing range master sergeant.

Sergeant Romans was one of the SWAT steam members who on March 21 stormed the apartment where parolee and suspect Lovelle Mixon was hiding in a closet. Sergeant Romans was shot inside the apartment and died of gunshot wounds later that day.

Ervin, or Erv to his family and friends, was a son, husband and father of three. He lived in Danville, California, with his wife, Laura, and three children, Kristina, Justin and Kayla.

Childhood friends and family remaining in the Ironwood area will pay tribute to Sergeant Romans at a funeral service in Ironwood on April 4.

As a former Escanaba City Police Officer and Michigan State Police Trooper, the loss of a law enforcement officer is especially painful. When I came to Congress, I founded the Law Enforcement Caucus, which exists to advocate for police officers and their families all across our country. This shooting reminds us how men and women in law enforcement face unknown dangers every day to keep us safe and our families safer.

Like so many law enforcement officers across our country, Sergeants Romans, Dunakin, Sakai, and Officer Hege dedicated their lives to our safety. Madam Speaker, I join Congresswoman Lee and all of my colleagues in honoring these men for their service and sacrifice, and in offering the condolences of the U.S. House of Representatives to their families and friends.

I thank the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, I rise this morning to bring attention to Cover the Uninsured Week and to encourage the Congress to enact comprehensive health care reform this year.

Our Nation's health care system--which leaves more than 45 million Americans uninsured and millions more underinsured--is badly in need of reform. Practically $56 billion in uncompensated care for the uninsured is absorbed annually by the health system, driving up the cost of insurance for everyone. Health care costs are consuming more of individuals', families', and businesses' budgets every year and represent the fastest growing piece of the Federal budget.

The economic crisis is also shedding further light on a system that is inefficient, unaffordable and out of reach for too many Americans. Americans cannot simply wait any longer to ensure greater access to quality affordable health care.

I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together to enact comprehensive health care reform this year. So during this week, Uninsured Week, when Congress recognizes the plight of those Americans without health insurance, let us strive to provide all Americans with comprehensive, affordable health care now.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the Escanaba Daily Press on its 100th anniversary. The Daily Press has survived the ups and downs the newspaper industry has faced over the past century and watched several local competitors fold, yet remained as a strong and independent voice for the Escanaba, Delta County and Schoolcraft County communities. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in honoring the Escanaba Daily Press and the men and women, past and present, who work so hard every day to bring the community its news on this historic milestone.

In 1909 the Escanaba Morning Press was founded by John Norton and Herbet Little. After only a few months of operation, Little left and Norton took over sole management of the paper. The first edition of the Morning Press was published on March 19, 1909 at 1119 Ludington Street. Within two years the paper was moved to its present building at 600 Ludington Street where it has operated ever since.

In 1922 the Escanaba Morning Press changed its name to the Escanaba Daily Press and became an afternoon paper on September 29, 1947. In 1954 the paper was sold to Frank Russell of Marquette, Michigan and George Osborn of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. In 1966 it was purchased by the Panax Corporation, which sold the Daily Press to Thomson Newspapers in 1980. Since 1998 the Escanaba Daily Press has been under the ownership of Ogden Newspapers.

Despite changes in ownership over the years, the Daily Press has remained an independent voice for the people of Escanaba and all of Delta and Schoolcraft Counties. As community newspapers across the country have confronted consolidation, closure and downsizing, the Daily Press keeps going strong because of this independent voice and the trust of their readers.

In the late 1970s it was the reporting of the Daily Press in a series on insurance scams that was the driving force in updating state insurance laws. In 1988 the Daily Press won the Associated Press sweepstakes award for doing the best work of any paper of its size in Michigan for a series on the shotgun slaying of four family members and the subsequent week-long search in local woods by the FBI for the suspect and his kidnapped ex-wife.

The Daily Press has won countless awards over the years for editorial writing. In one contest, Michigan Press Association judges said they were ``well written editorials that take a clear position even when those positions might be unpopular.'' In another instance, the MPA wrote that the ``Daily Press takes seriously its role as a government watchdog.'' In an AP annual news writing contest, judges commented, ``Every editorial submitted dealt with local issues, with two taking aim at city government. These are issues that newspaper editorial pages are supposed to address. Good job.''

Madam Speaker, newspapers like the Escanaba Daily Press are a vital part of our communities. Their reporting is a valuable resource in tracking the history of our communities, reflecting and reporting on our daily lives. The Daily Press has served the Escanaba community and all of Delta and Schoolcraft Counties well over the past century. I ask that you, Madam Speaker, and the entire U.S. House of Representatives, join me in congratulating the Escanaba Daily Press and its past and present staff on 100 years of operation.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, as I rise in support of H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009. I wish to personally thank Chairman Oberstar for his work and for including a provision I requested, which will improve water quality in the Great Lakes.

Water pollution in the Great Lakes comes from both Canadian and U.S. sources. In my district, residents of Sugar Island, located within the St. Mary's River Area of Concern, have to deal with water contaminated with E. coli, coliform, and other bacteria along their shoreline.

The problem is neither they, nor Federal or State regulators, have a clear understanding of how much the pollution is American in origin, how much is Canadian, resulting in a great deal of finger-pointing over responsibility for cleanup.

My provision within the manager's amendment would require the EPA to conduct a study, in consultation with the Department of State and the Canadian government, on all pollution discharges from wastewater treatment facilities into the Great Lakes. When the study is complete, the EPA is to provide recommendations on how to improve information- sharing and coordination between the two countries to protect the water quality of the Great Lakes. It is my hope that, with the conclusion of the study, our two countries can coordinate to meet our mutual goal of protecting Great Lakes water quality.

Again, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for addressing our concerns. This legislation will play an important role in helping communities upgrade and repair their aging water infrastructure, which will ensure the health of the Great Lakes, a source of drinking water for 45 million people.

I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I have held nine hearings to examine the safety and security of our Nation's food supply over the past 2 years. A recent peanut butter salmonella outbreak is just the latest in a string of food-borne illnesses that affects 76 million Americans every year. For this reason, I joined with my colleagues, Chairmen Dingell and Pallone, to introduce H.R. 759, the Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2009.

H.R. 759 would give the FDA not only the financial resources, but also the regulatory tools to ensure the safety of food we eat and the drugs we take. If this legislation would have been in place, the FDA would have had the authority, as well as the resources, to prevent the current salmonella outbreak from occurring, tools such as resources for increased inspections, access to inspection records, mandatory recall authority and strong penalties that will require testing facilities to send their results to the FDA.

Congress faces an ambitious agenda in the coming months, but more than 600 illnesses and nine deaths linked to the current salmonella outbreak underscore the importance of wasting no time in enacting this legislation.

Mr Speaker, I am troubled by the manner in which this bill, S. 22, the Omnibus Public Lands Act, was brought to the House floor with no opportunity to amend and little input from members of this chamber.

We are all aware of the challenges in moving legislation, particularly this legislation, through the Senate. But that does not mean we should defer to the judgment of 99 Senators and let the voices of the 435 members of the House and their constituents go unheard.

There are a lot of good things in this bill. For example, I am pleased S. 22 includes stand alone legislation I have introduced, H.R. 488, to decrease the matching funds requirement and authorize additional appropriations for Keweenaw National Historical Park in Michigan. Another provision in the bill would support the North Country National Scenic Trail, which snakes more than a thousand miles across my state.

Despite the inclusion of these provisions, this could be a stronger bill with input from the House. There is no better example of this than the one amendment that was allowed, that offered by Mr. Altmire. His amendment protects access to public lands for recreational activities otherwise allowed by law or regulation, including hunting, fishing and trapping and clarifies states' authority to manage fish and wildlife populations.

I have drafted an amendment, which due to the way this bill was brought to the floor I was unable to offer, to strip a provision designating 11,739 acres at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as the Beaver Basin Wilderness Area. The proposed wilderness designation is located entirely in my congressional district and lacks the support of the local city and county governments. This issue deserved debate and consideration by the House before pushing through this public lands bill.

Quickly adding S. 22 to the suspension calendar and effectively blocking input and changes is not appropriate regular order. Ultimately, the good things in this bill outweigh my frustrations over the process so I will support final passage. But I urge you, Mr. Speaker, to restore regular order to the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I must stand in opposition to allowing immigration extensions or reforms without addressing a temporary extension of the H-2B returning worker program.

The H-2B visa program was created to provide access to nonimmigrant, temporary workers for seasonal and peak load needs when no American workers can be found. Foreign workers offer small and seasonal businesses short-term help, and they return to their home countries at the end of the season. H-2B visas are capped at 66,000 visas per year. Even with 66,000 visas per year, it does not meet the labor needs of seasonal businesses.

To help fill these needs, Congress established the H-2B returning worker program in 2005. This program exempts returning workers who have received an H-2B visa in one of three previous fiscal years from counting against the 66,000 cap. However, this exemption expired on September 30, 2007. In the 110th Congress, this exemption had the support of 158 bipartisan Members of Congress--88 Democrats and 70 Republicans. In the 111th Congress, the bill has just been introduced, and we already have the support of 32 Democrats and 23 Republicans. As of January 7, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had already received enough visa petitions to exceed the cap for H-2B visas for the second half of this fiscal year.

This demand highlights the immediate need for Congress to extend the H-2B visa returning worker program to help small and seasonal businesses fill their seasonal labor needs and to keep full-time Americans and businesses working. These returning workers have provided relief to small businesses throughout the Nation, covering a broad spectrum of industries like landscapers, tourism, restaurants, hotels, and seafood processors.

H-2B workers offer short-term help. They cannot and do not stay in the United States. More importantly, the H-2B program contains strong provisions to ensure American workers have the first chance to work.

Without an extension of the returning worker program, small and seasonal businesses will face significant labor shortages this year as they did last year. We have constantly been told we cannot bring this bill to the floor until we address comprehensive immigration. Then why are we bringing up the J-1 program when we're letting H-2B expire?

Therefore, regrettably, I must oppose H.R. 1127.

I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank him for his friendship.

As you know, I have been to Pittsburgh. We went to the new stadium in Pittsburgh when the Steelers played. When they opened up the new stadium, we were there. I congratulate the Pittsburgh Steelers on their sixth Super Bowl ring and their championship this year. But the last part of your resolution, and every football fan knows, that the standard for the entire NFL for championships is the Green Bay Packers with 13, with 13.

So I would ask the gentleman, you don't want to lower the standard, obviously, that we should recognize the fact that the standard for championships, as your resolution says, in the entire NFL belongs to the Green Bay Packers, and not to my other nice team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

So I just want to make note of it that I think all of us being football fans recognize the fact that the standard for NFL championships is with the Green Bay Packers.

Mr. Speaker, 5 minutes is not nearly enough time to do justice to Congressman John Dingell's record-breaking 53 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, but I wish to highlight the profound impact his work has had on the lives of Americans.

It is not the length of time you serve here but rather what you do with that time that counts. Today we are honoring not only John Dingell's record tenure but also his many successes over the past 53 years that have improved the lives of all Americans and made our country a better place. Whether it was passage of landmark environmental laws, implementation of Medicare or passage of the Civil Rights Act, the history that dominates the past half century was being shaped by John Dingell.

From his first days in the House, Mr. Dingell has carried on his father's fight to provide health care for every American. He has proposed a national health insurance bill in every Congress since 1957.

In April of 1965, Mr. Dingell was presiding over the U.S. House of Representatives for the historic vote to create the Medicare program. Those who have had the pleasure of visiting Mr. Dingell's office know that the gavel he used on that occasion sits on his desk. Congressman Dingell was there to see history in the making as President Johnson signed the Medicare bill into law at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.

More than 40 years after that historic day, Chairman Dingell was instrumental in expanding and improving Medicare, to make it a widely successful effort at improving health care for our Nation's elderly and preventing them from falling into poverty.

In 1993, Mr. Dingell took the lead in the House in working with the Clinton administration to push for universal health insurance coverage for all Americans. Although Mr. Dingell

points to that effort as one of his ``biggest disappointments,'' it was that debate that kept the issue of universal coverage alive for the past 16 years. We are now poised with John Dingell once again serving as the lead House negotiator to work with President Obama to make health insurance for all Americans a reality in this Congress.

Mr. Dingell and I share a passion for oversight. When I first came to Congress, and particularly once I became a member of the Commerce Committee, Mr. Dingell provided valuable mentorship that has enabled me to continue his tradition of aggressive oversight through the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. Mr. Dingell not only understands the role of Congress to oversee the executive branch, he, perhaps more than anyone else before him, used this authority to uncover abuses of power including corruption, waste and fraud that jeopardized not only taxpayer dollars but also the health and safety of the American people.

John Dingell has proven that investigations can accomplish as much as legislation. As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Mr. Dingell used broad jurisdiction over the committee to effect changes on issues such as defense contracting, insider trading, Superfund cleanup, medical device safety, unfair foreign trade practices, food and drug safety, blood banks and pipeline safety.

In an age when State legislatures are quick to enact term limits, John Dingell is a shining example of how valuable tenure can be. The perspective and knowledge he brings to the table after 53 years of service is a critical part of the legislative process that allows us to avoid repeating past mistakes and continue to push for longstanding goals such as universal health care.

Whether it is battling in committee or on the floor, teaming up in an investigation or relaxing with John and Debbie Dingell on Mackinac Island, I have valued Mr. Dingell as a colleague, mentor and friend.

Our country is a better place, and Congress is a stronger institution because of the contributions of John Dingell.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time on this important issue.

In the last 2 years, we've held over six hearings on this transition to digital television and highlighted the problems that we find across America with this transmission date and the set date of February 17 and the need to extend the time. We need to extend the time because, in all honesty, the Department of Commerce has made many mistakes in this program, and to ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to make the transition and to get their converter boxes, we have to make this delay.

The other side has argued that converter boxes are readily available. Time and time again in my district in rural northern Michigan, we've gone to the stores. There are no converter boxes available. Our coupons are only good for 90 days, and then they expire, and we have got to start the process all over again.

Even though we repeatedly warned the Department of Commerce this would happen, they did nothing until Christmas Eve when they notified us that they've run out of money, there's no more converter boxes, and this is a disaster waiting to happen.

So I'm very pleased that the Obama administration has stepped forward, and this situation has now required that we delay the transition to allow this new administration the opportunity to properly prepare the Nation for DTV transition.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have stated that a delay would jeopardize public safety. This is simply not true.

As a former Michigan State police trooper and as a Member who's focused on strengthening our Nation's public safety and as a founder of the Law Enforcement Caucus way back in 1994, I've got to tell you the rhetoric about jeopardizing public safety is misplaced. And also as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I've worked with my colleagues, public safety, and the FCC to promote the construction of a national, interoperable, wireless broadband network for law enforcement.

Congress must act quickly to modernize our public safety infrastructure, and we can do that. Basics such as access to television, before this transition and after the transition, we need access to the emergency alert system, as well as news information for local communities. This is access that's a critical component of public safety.

As a result of this legislation and our bill here today, a number of public safety groups support the delay of the DTV transition and have repeatedly said it would not jeopardize public safety. This legislation still preserves the right to make the switch, soon as you're ready, to make a switch from analog to the digital spectrum before the new transition date of June 12.

Public safety officials recognize that a one-time delay is necessary, and in a letter to us from public safety officials it says, ``Specifically, the bill makes it clear that a public safety agency can use its existing license in the 700-megahertz band to commence operations after a broadcaster has voluntarily ceased operations on a channel before June 12. All 50 States and some local governments have FCC licenses for the 700-megahertz spectrum.''

It will not delay public safety. It will not jeopardize public safety. Vote ``yes'' on the legislation.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

With unemployment at its highest level in nearly 30 years, millions of American are struggling to pay for basic necessities as food, housing and health care, it is clear Congress must act.

In my district, our manufacturers have been hit hard by the crisis in the auto industry; our tourism economy has taken a beating as fewer Americans can afford to take a vacation; mining and forestry are suffering as the demand and price for raw materials has plummeted.

Unemployment ranges from the national average of 7.2 percent in Menominee County to 19 percent in Mackinac County. The Congress must act.

This legislation is not perfect; it is not everything I would put into an economic recovery legislation. Still, the Congress must act and act without delay!

My staff and I have been contacted by dozens of local officials from across Northern Michigan who have identified more than $360 million in road, bridge, water infrastructure and construction projects that could help jump start their local economies.

I expect only a portion of these projects may be funded--but Congress must act.

While I have reservations about this legislation, Congress must act to invest in the Americans who need a helping hand, not a hand out.

Michigan's unemployment rate is at 10.6 percent. We must act to extend unemployment benefits to help 3.5 million Americans who have exhausted their benefits.

We must act to increase food stamps to help 31 million Americans, half of whom are children.

We must act to protect health insurance coverage for Americans who have lost their jobs and are one illness or sickness away from bankruptcy.

Mr. Chair, this bill is not perfect. But the needs of the millions of Americans struggling through this deep recession demands the U.S. Congress to act. We must act. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 39, honoring Catholic Schools Week. Since the beginning of our Nation's history, Catholic schools have played an important role in American education. Catholic schools have an excellent reputation for providing a strong academic and moral education, as well as teaching social responsibility.

The Catholic schools in my district work hard to create an environment where academic excellence and value-driven pride can be fostered and embraced.

My wife Laurie and I and our two sons, Ken and B.J., attended Catholic schools in northern Michigan, and realize the benefits of the Catholic education system.

This week, let us pause, reflect and congratulate the administrators, faculty, staff, students, and parents as we celebrate the dedicated tradition of promoting education through our Catholic faith.

The long rich history of Catholic education would not be possible without the financial commitment of those who make up our local parishes and dioceses across our Nation.

H. Res. 39 acknowledges the hard work and dedication that Catholic schools have contributed to building our local communities and our Nation.

I am proud to cosponsor House Resolution 39, and support the many Catholic schools in my district and across our Nation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

I rise today in support of the rule on H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, the CHIP program. The CHIP program was enacted under President Clinton with bipartisan support to help reduce the number of low-income uninsured children by expanding eligibility levels and simplifying the application process.

In 2006, CHIP provided insurance to 6.7 million children. In Michigan, roughly 31,000 children are enrolled in MIChild, making Michigan one of the States with the fewest number of uninsured children in the country. Eighty-six percent of the children enrolled in MIChild are from working families that are unable to afford private health insurance for their children.

Meanwhile, health care through the CHIP program is cost-effective. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it costs a mere $3.34 a day or $100 a month to cover a child under the CHIP program. Furthermore, CHIP is vitally important to children living in our country's rural regions. Of the 50 counties with the highest rates of uninsured children, 44 are rural counties, with many located in the most remote parts of our country.

Today's legislation would reauthorize and approve the CHIP program to protect and continue coverage for 6.7 million children, plus an additional 4 million children that are eligible but are currently uninsured.

During these difficult economic times, this legislation does not raise income levels for families whose children would be eligible for health care coverage. It is time to cover and support all of our Nation's children.

Again, I support this legislation and urge all my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation.