Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Senator John McCain admitted months ago that he wasn't an expert on the economy. And that certainly explained his comments earlier this month when he declared, ``You can make the argument that there's been great progress economically'' over the last 7 years. Great economic progress?

Clearly, Senator McCain has not been talking with the middle class families across America who overwhelmingly believe they are worse off today than they were when President Bush took office in January of 2001. And there is a good reason they're feeling that way. Since January of 2001, health care premiums have increased by more than $5,000 per year for the average middle class family, while college costs for their children have shot up $2,500 a year for a public university.

Middle class families are finding it increasingly difficult to find the money for these skyrocketing costs, considering the average median income has actually fallen by more than $900 over the last 7 years. And Senator McCain calls this economic progress?

Mr. Speaker, the American middle class cannot afford another 4 years of failed Republican leadership in the White House.

Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment. I am fortunate and thankful to have had the opportunity to work with Representative Boswell to offer this important amendment, which would require that areas that have lost a major source of employment be given priority when applying for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards.

Representative Boswell, as he described, and I both know firsthand the devastating effects that massive job losses can have on a community when a major employer closes shop. The loss

of good-paying jobs can really hurt when a major employer leaves a community. It's estimated that for every manufacturing job in the United States, it creates as many as four related jobs. So when those jobs pack up and leave, it's a problem.

Focusing funds and awards in areas that have suffered the most, to the areas that have endured major job losses, such as those in my district or Representative Boswell's district, will ensure that the money is helping the people in the communities that need it most. These programs will help keep our communities self-sustaining as we work to revitalize our economies.

Ohio has lost over 200,000 manufacturing jobs since 2001, and unfortunately, Representative Boswell's district in the home State of Iowa have also lost thousands of jobs. With this amendment, applicants from our areas around our country that have suffered from similar circumstances will be considered a priority when applying for funding through these important programs. New, green industries will be able to grow in areas like Lorain and Akron, Ohio, and in Newton, Iowa, as resources are directed where they are needed most.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chairman, I want to begin by thanking Chairman Velazquez, Chairman Gordon, and Chairman Wu for their leadership on this bill, as well as the ranking members for their leadership.

This amendment would require agencies that administer Small Business Innovation Research Programs to give special consideration to pressing transportation and infrastructure research activities when reviewing grant applications.

The devastating state of this Nation's crumbling infrastructure was demonstrated in dramatic fashion last August when the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis collapsed into the Mississippi River. And it is also demonstrated every day as people drive over potholes in their neighborhoods and sit in traffic jams on our crowded highways as they travel to and from work.

Tackling the repair of our Nation's infrastructure is not a glamorous task, but it is absolutely essential to our Nation's long-term success.

Investments in infrastructure are critical for public safety and boost local economies by providing more Americans with good-paying jobs. Building our Nation's infrastructure for a new economy and a new century is vital to revamping our work force and revitalizing our communities.

It is also crucial that as we rebuild our roads and mass transit systems, we act as stewards of the environment and seek greener and cleaner technologies for fueling our economy.

America's working families deserve creative and innovative thinking and policies from us as their representatives. This amendment will ensure that as agencies review small business innovation applications they place a premium on projects that focus on transportation and infrastructure, the building blocks of our economy.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chairman, I want to thank Chairwoman Velazquez for her support of this amendment; that would require that we recognize our veterans in this bill.

We ask our veterans to sacrifice years of their lives to protect our country and our loved ones. In return, we have made a commitment to honor their service.

And last year this Congress provided the largest increase in funding for the VA in history. And this year I am proud that in this bill we will continue to reaffirm our support for the men and women who have chosen to serve their country in uniform.

It's our responsibility to ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve. Our veterans also deserve to receive, as I have proposed in this amendment, priority status when applying for awards through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

This amendment will grant a preference for the brave men and women who have sacrificed for all of us. As they return home and restart their lives, it's essential that the number of veterans who receive SBIR and STTR awards increases. The underlying bill includes a preference as was discussed, for applicants from rural areas and veterans deserve the same consideration.

Madam Chairman, 3 million veteran business owners responded to the 2002 survey of business owners administered through the U.S. Census Bureau. This survey revealed that veterans tend to be better educated and slightly older before starting or acquiring their businesses. This trend can undoubtedly be attributed to their time in the service and their use of one of the most important and successful pieces of legislation this body has ever passed, the GI bill.

Madam Chairman, our veterans will continue to make us proud as they make good use of the funding available through these important small business programs. As I have often said, it is not enough to simply pay tribute to our veterans with words; we must show them our appreciation with our actions.

I appreciate the support that has been expressed for this amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1102 and ask for its immediate consideration.

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 1102 provides for consideration of H.R. 5719, the Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008, under a closed rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of debate on the bill controlled by the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. Speaker, today, April 15, is Tax Day, which has long been a source of stress and anxiety for many working families. However, today we will bring good news. We will consider legislation that will alleviate many of the tax-related difficulties Americans face today and throughout the year. This legislation will streamline the tax filing process for individuals and businesses as well as improve IRS customer service and strengthen privacy protections.

The Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act is also fully paid for by ensuring funds from tax-advantaged health savings accounts will be used for qualified health care expenses, and by temporarily delaying a withholding requirement on government payments to contractors.

It also contains provisions to strengthen the integrity of the Tax Code, making it simpler and fairer for all Americans. It eliminates incentives for U.S. companies to outsource work by ensuring they cannot escape paying employment taxes on government workers.

In addition, this legislation will also prevent thousands of elderly and disabled individuals from owing employment taxes for in-home care workers provided through State and local government programs.

This legislation also improves IRS service and outreach to low-income taxpayers in several ways. First, it allows IRS employees to refer taxpayers requiring assistance with tax cases to qualified low-income taxpayer clinics. It also requires that the IRS notify taxpayers of their potential eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which has been the largest need-based, anti-poverty program in the United States, lifting millions of Americans out of poverty every single year.

GAO estimates that in 2004, Americans failed to claim $8 billion in earned income tax credits, hundreds of millions of dollars in my home State of Ohio alone. These credits have the potential to help strengthen families and their financial security while also benefiting our communities at large by stimulating local economic development and job growth. And in order to ensure that eligible families can continue to take advantage of the earned income tax credit, this legislation authorizes an annual $10 million grant to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, programs. VITA provides free assistance to qualified low-income taxpayers, thanks to these grants as well as the assistance of dedicated volunteers across the country.

The availability of these valuable services makes it unnecessary for working families to turn to high-cost tax preparers and unscrupulous organizations engaging in predatory practices like offering what is called ``Refund Anticipation Loans.''

The Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act also includes several

provisions to strengthen privacy protections and government accountability. Importantly, it prohibits the IRS from providing individual taxpayer information to private entities employing predatory loan tactics. And it requires the IRS to notify taxpayers of suspected identity theft and fraud. It also takes the important step of repealing the authority of the IRS to contract with private debt collection agencies.

Mr. Speaker, there is no duty more central to the functioning of the Federal Government than the collection of its revenue. But under the Bush Administration, this inherently governmental responsibility has been farmed out to private collectors who keep up to 25 percent of the tax revenues they collect. The program has caused confusion and aggravation for many taxpayers because these private debt collectors frequently demand sensitive personal information without revealing the nature of their phone calls, as was documented in a Ways and Means Committee hearing last year.

In addition, the operations of private contractors are not held to the same standard of transparency as required of the Federal Government. There is the danger that sensitive personal information could be compromised through careless handling of these cases without accountability. The Taxpayer Advocate Service has reported over 1,500 complaints related to this program. And not only are there serious privacy and service issues, but the promised cost savings of the private debt collection program has simply not materialized. One needs to look no further than a headline on the front page of today's Washington Post that proclaims, ``Collectors Cost IRS More Than They Raise.''

Private debt collectors are also less efficient than the IRS. As the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service points out, the Department of the Treasury estimates that private collection agencies collect $4 for every dollar it invests in tax collection efforts, but every dollar invested in IRS collections yields five times that amount.

The downside of continuing to outsource the duties of the Internal Revenue Service clearly outweigh any benefits. It's just another disturbing example of a poor governmental function being outsourced to private contractors with subpar results and a lack of transparency and accountability. It is a waste of taxpayer resources, and it is about time that we eliminated the IRS's authority to outsource this government responsibility.

The Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act improves government accountability and makes the Tax Code simpler and fairer for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, before I yield, I'd just like to clarify for the record some of the things that have been presented.

The National Taxpayer Advocate, who is appointed by the Treasury Secretary, reported to Congress that ``the money spent on the IRS Private Debt Collection initiative is an inefficient use of government dollars.'' The Chief of the National Taxpayer Advocate Service testified that the IRS employees bring in $20 for every dollar IRS spends, whereas private debt collectors bring in only $4.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional minute to the gentlewoman.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. Giffords).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana, (Mr. Ellsworth).

Mr. Speaker, I would inquire of the gentleman from Texas if he has any remaining speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I am the last speaker on this side, so I'll reserve my time until the gentleman has closed on his side and yielded back his time.

Mr. Speaker, the Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 is a strong pro-taxpayer bill that adopts legislative recommendations and tackles many of the most serious problems detailed in the National Taxpayer Advocate's Report to Congress.

In this weakening economy, America's working families will face many challenges in the months ahead and we in Congress need to do what we can to help. This legislation will streamline the tax filing process and ease the burden of tax law compliance, it will ensure that we are good stewards of taxpayer funds by eliminating unnecessary and wasteful programs that compromise the integrity of our governmental functions, and it makes the Tax Code simpler and fairer by eliminating unduly burdensome compliance requirements and providing commonsense solutions.

I am proud, Mr. Speaker, to support this legislation, because it makes the needs of working Americans a priority.

Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the rule which I have placed at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, I move the previous question on the amendment and on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1071 and ask for its immediate consideration.

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 1071 provides for consideration of H.R. 4847, the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008 under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate, controlled by the Committee on Science and Technology, and makes in order all three amendments that were submitted for consideration. I am proud to rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, twenty-seven years ago, in 1971, over 12,000 citizens and more than 250 firefighters tragically lost their lives due to fires. In response to those tragic occurrences, this body passed the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act into law, establishing the United States Fire Administration, also known as the USFA, and the National Fire Academy, known as the NFA. The USFA was created to reduce the incidence of death, injury and property loss from fire through public education, data collection, research and training.

Mr. Speaker, we have made great progress. Since the creation of the USFA in 1974, the number of fire deaths has been reduced by more than one-half. Besides providing training and educational programs for over 30,000 fire departments across this great Nation, the USFA promotes fire safety and prevention programs to the public.

Mr. Speaker, these educational and outreach programs undoubtedly have saved thousands of lives and thousands of dollars, and will continue to do so.

Reports published by the USFA provide essential information to help reduce the risk of fires. For example, the USFA releases a report in December to encourage fire safety during the holiday season. According to last year's report, ``Fires occurring during the holiday season claimed the lives of over 400 people, injured more than 1,650, and caused $990 million in damage.'' The report outlines precautionary tests to help American families avoid devastating but often preventable accidents.

The USFA also collects reliable data on civilian and firefighter deaths and injuries. In 2006, there were 3,245 civilian deaths from fires and 81 percent of all civilian fire deaths occurred in residences, which represents 25 percent of all fires. Direct property loss due to fires was approximately $11.3 billion, $755 million of which was the result of 31,000 intentionally-set structure fires.

Mr. Speaker, sadly, 106 firefighters were killed in the line of duty in 2006. For nearly 30 years, the USFA has collected data on the number and causes of firefighter fatalities. The analysis of this invaluable research allows the USFA to find solutions to specific problems and reduce the number of fatalities with our firefighters.

While the number of firefighter deaths has been greatly reduced, approximately 100 brave firefighters make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our loved ones and our communities each year. We must continue to strive to prevent fires, to learn the lessons from unpreventable fires, and to properly train and equip our firefighters. It is vital that our Federal Government ensure that our brave firefighters have

the training and the support they need to keep our families and communities safe.

Mr. Speaker, this reauthorization bill will promote national consensus standards for safe fire fighting at all levels of Government. H.R. 4847 will also help to provide training for firefighters who are increasingly called on to handle modern-day challenges and catastrophes, including fire fighting in the wildland-urban interface and responding to hazardous material incidents.

Firefighters are the first on the scene and the last to leave. Captain Robert Livingston echoed these sentiments in his testimony before the House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation when he said, ``The days of firefighters whose primary function was to `put the wet stuff on the red stuff' are long gone. The men and women of the 21st century fire service have evolved into highly-trained, highly- skilled all-purpose emergency responders with broad responsibilities.''

Firefighters in my district know this all too well. With the recent and reoccurring damaging floods in cities like Barberton, North Royalton, Elyria and Lorain, our firefighters have been called upon to provide emergency flood assistance. And we must never forget, Mr. Speaker, the heroics our Nation witnessed on September 11th as these brave men and women ran into the Twin Towers to save as many people as possible. Three hundred forty-one of New York City's finest firefighters, three fire safety directors, two paramedics and one volunteer firefighter died in the line of duty at the World Trade Center on that fatal day.

It is our responsibility to provide the resources necessary to train those who protect us, and today, with passage of this act, we will be providing the support to meet the needs of our firefighters for the 21st century. By reauthorizing and improving this act, we are ensuring that the USFA continues to provide training, education and the tools to the firefighters we entrust to protect our communities and our families.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to, if I could, just mention this bill. The bill has such wide support, not only within this Congress, but it has been endorsed by some extraordinarily important organizations out there. It has been endorsed by the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the International Association of Arson Investigators, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Firefighters, the International Fire Service Training Association, the National Fire Protection Association, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the North American Fire Training Directors. So this bill has wide support and on both sides of the aisle.

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

Mr. Speaker, we have heard on this floor today why we must pass this rule and pass the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act.

As I have said, we must continue to support firefighters in communities like Sheffield Lake, Brunswick, and Akron, and all across this Nation, and ensure that they have the resources available to do their job to protect our loved ones and our communities.

This bill authorizes appropriations for the fiscal year 2009-2012 for the USFA in the responsible manner the American people expect of Congress. According to the Congressional Budget Office, enacting this legislation will not affect direct spending or revenues, and will impose no costs on State, local, or tribal governments.

H.R. 4847 expands the list of training activities the National Fire Academy is authorized to engage in, which will

help our firefighters manage the demands of the 21st century. These programs include response activities to all types of national catastrophes; exposure of hazardous materials; and increased emergency medical services. This bill also authorizes the USFA to assist the Nation's fire services by improving equipment and sharing best practices to address fire suppression and prevention.

This bill was passed by a voice vote by the Science and Technology Committee with bipartisan support, and has been endorsed by the International Association of Firefighters.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1031 and ask for its immediate consideration

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials into the Record.

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

If there is time available, we will entertain that.

Yes.

If there is time remaining that hasn't already been assigned or requested, we will certainly not preclude opposition.

We're working on the list.

Mr. Speaker, I can't guarantee the time.

Mr. Speaker, I reclaim my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reclaim my time.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 1031 provides for the adoption of H. Res. 895, which establishes an Office of Congressional Ethics in the House of Representatives. I rise in support of this important rule that will allow us to enact one of the most important ethics reforms this House has ever seen.

Mr. Speaker, the issue of ethics and accountability has long been on the minds of the people that I represent. During my campaign to become a Member of this esteemed body, everywhere I went, people asked about it. They believed and, Mr. Speaker, they were absolutely right, that the corruption and unfair influence that existed in past Congresses was having an effect on our policies, deflecting us from making progress on issues important to them and families across this great Nation.

So last year, Mr. Speaker, on my first day in office representing the people of Ohio's 13th District, I was very proud to stand on the floor of the House of Representatives to support the new ethics and lobbying reforms which have now become law. We ended the K Street Project and cut off the gifts and the perks used far too often by lobbyists to woo lawmakers. The historic rules package we passed was extraordinary in its scope and breadth. But it was only the beginning of actions necessary to restore the public trust and to cut off the abuses of recent years.

Mr. Speaker, trust is a fragile thing. It's difficult to win and easy to lose. It finds its hold on promises kept and honesty sustained and unquestionable integrity.

Many of us, Mr. Speaker, came to this new Congress as new Members dedicated to acting to change the way business was being conducted. In May of last year, I stood side by side with my freshman Democratic colleagues, some of whom we'll hear from today, calling for the creation of a nonpartisan and independent body that could initiate and examine ethics investigations. And today, we are acting to make this change happen.

With this bill, we continue the mission of pushing back against corruption. We are forging ahead to restore trust and confidence in this great institution.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 895 will help end the culture and abuses that have hurt the American people, both in policy and in spirit. This legislation is the culmination of hard work of Representative Capuano and the special task force on ethics enforcement. He deserves our appreciation.

Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer also deserve praise for their tireless efforts to move this issue forward, sometimes in contentious times. The independent ethics panel will help cure many of the inherent structural flaws that restrain our present ethics structure by eliminating the conflicts of interest that can be found in our current system. The formation of this office is the next step in our mission to repair the damage to the public trust caused by corruption and to ensure that any potential abuses in the future will be identified and addressed.

And it's important to emphasize, Mr. Speaker, that our bill establishes an independent, bipartisan office of congressional ethics. The words ``independent'' and ``bipartisan'' are worth stressing.

We may hear today about the desire of some who want to delay action on this important measure, but the American people have waited and waited, and this bill has been a long time in the making. This bill was made necessary by abuses of the past that have robbed the public of their faith and trust in this institution, and this new bill was made possible by the commitment of this new Congress to ensure that we will do what it takes to prevent the excesses and abuses of the past and hold those who violate the rules accountable.

Safeguarding the trust of the American people is not a part-time job. The integrity of this institution and the trust of the American people must be paramount. And make no mistake, we take this step not only to restore the public trust, we must take this step to ensure that we will be an institution worthy of that trust. That's why we're acting today. The American people are waiting. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join in support of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to state again, as I did a few moments ago, that we are going to hear, evidently today, about the desire of some to delay action on this important measure. And I just restate that the American people have waited and waited. And this bill has been a long time in the making.

I yield 6 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano), the chairman of the Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman, my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Space).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, my freshman colleague, Mr. Murphy.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill).

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Hodes).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman needs an additional minute, I am going to give him mine.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland, the majority leader, Mr. Hoyer.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia, a member of the bipartisan Ethics Task Force, Mr. Scott.

We have several more speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina, a member of the bipartisan Ethics Task Force, Mr. Price.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), a member of the ethics task force.

We have two and myself to close.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts, the chairman of the ethics task force, Mr. Capuano.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I insert a March 11 letter from the Ethics Committee chairwoman, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, into the Record at this point.

House of Representatives, Committee on Standards of

Official Conduct,

Washington, DC, March 11, 2008.

Dear Colleagues: Today, I am disappointed that the Ranking

Member of the Ethics Committee, Representative Doc Hastings,

would violate the Ethics Committee's confidentiality rules by

releasing a confidential communication between two attorneys

who work for the Committee.

Both Representative Hastings and I agreed that the Ethics

Committee could not and should not give advice to the

committee charged by House Leadership with reviewing the

ethics process itself. In his letter, Representative Hastings

said ``Upon receipt of his letter, I shared Rep. Smith's

request with Chairwoman Tubbs Jones and urged her to join me

in submitting official comments to Rep. Capuano's task force

on behalf of our Committee--a request to which she did not

agree''. That is not true. We did however agree to send a

letter outlining the functions of the ethics committee

process which is signed by both Representative Hastings and

myself. (This letter is available upon request). We also

agreed to allow our counsel to attend some of the meetings of

the outside ethics committee and to address some of the

concerns we raised. Some of these concerns are reflected in

the Office of Congressional Ethics' final product.

Indeed the Oath of Office, Rule 7(a), proscribes this

conduct when we declare ``I do solemnly swear (or affirm)

that I will not disclose, to any person or entity outside the

Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, any information

received in the course of my service with the Committee,

except as authorized by the Committee or in accordance with

its rules.''

Rule 7(d) provides that Members and staff of the Committee

shall not disclose to any person or organization outside the

Committee, unless authorized by the Committee, any

information regarding the Committee's or a subcommittee's

investigative, adjudicatory or other proceedings, including

but not limited to: (i) the fact of nature of any complaints;

(ii) executive session proceedings; (iii) Committee or

subcommittee report, study or other document which purports

to express the views, findings, conclusions or

recommendations of the Committee or subcommittee in

connection with any of its activities or proceedings; or (iv)

any other information or allegation respecting the conduct of

a Member, officer or employee, of the House.

Today, Representative Hastings stated he had no desire to

release ``the memo'' if this matter had not come to the

floor. If Representative Hastings was as altruistic as he

claims to be having had this memo since November 2007, he

would have initiated a process whereby our counsel could have

time to prepare a response that might have been available for

public review after being approved by the Chair and Ranking

Member. This ``memo'' was actually an internal email

communication between lawyers of the Committee and not

approved for release by the Chair or Ranking Member. By

releasing the said internal communication, Representative

Hastings could in fact reduce the confidence that the

nonpartisan counsel has in communicating with members

uncertain that their work product would be kept confidential.

Representative Hastings' reliance on Rule 7(g) which

states, ``Unless otherwise determined by a vote of the

Committee, only the Chairman or Ranking Minority Member of

the Committee, after consultation with each other, may make

public statements regarding matters before the Committee of

any subcommittee, does not relieve him of the obligation to

comply with the rules of confidentiality.

As Chair of the Ethics Committee, I have taken great

strides not to give an opinion on the proposed Office of

Congressional Ethics and I had hoped that my ranking member

could place himself above the fray and not act for a partisan

purpose. I see now that he cannot.

I do not seek to have sanctions brought against

Representative Hastings at this time in hope that we can

continue the work of this bipartisan committee. I do however

want to make it clear that if he continues to release

confidential communication, I will seek to have him

sanctioned for violations of the Code of Official Conduct.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Tubbs Jones,

Chairwoman.

Mr. Speaker, when the laws and congressional rules are violated, the American people suffer. They suffer in policy and they suffer in spirit. They're cheated out of their right to proper representation. When Americans went to the polls in the last election, they sent a clear message that they are concerned about the state of our government. The American people want to know that we are here for them, not for the lobbyists, not for special interests and not for self- interest. They deserve nothing less. That is what this is about.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 9 o'clock and 11 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, communities across this Nation are being devastated by home foreclosures, and my home State of Ohio has been particularly hard hit. This crisis has not stemmed from a single cause, and mitigating its effects will not be achieved with a single solution. Housing problems stem from predatory lending practices, job losses, and situations such as death, divorce and health emergencies.

It is important, Mr. Chairman, that we pursue innovative solutions to deal with this. This includes tying the provisions of Volunteerism and Service-Learning grants to programs that will serve areas that have been adversely affected by the mortgage crisis. This amendment would require the Corporation for National and Community Service to consider whether an area has a mortgage foreclosure rate greater than the national average when considering grant applications from States and other eligible entities.

In a time when so many of our communities are struggling, we need to pursue every avenue to make sure that the cities and towns with the greatest needs have access to the most assistance.

I urge a yes vote on this amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy).

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, as we heard with the last amendment, Ohio and many other States have suffered tremendous job losses in recent years. These workers and their families deserve our support, and they deserve creative and innovative thinking and policies from us as their representatives.

Programs such as AmeriCorps and Senior Corps have done so much to provide opportunities for our youth and seniors. It is time now that we investigate ways to provide similar opportunities for Americans who have lost jobs through no fault of their own.

This amendment would require the Corporation for National and Community Service to conduct a study to identify specific areas of need for displaced workers and how existing programs and activities carried out under our national service laws can better serve displaced workers and communities affected by plant closings and job losses. The amendment also requires the Corporation to develop and carry out a pilot program based on the findings of the study.

Mr. Chairman, workers who have toiled for so long in manufacturing plants have much to offer their communities with their unique skill sets and leadership capabilities. I look forward to seeing how new service programs would reinvigorate America's displaced workforce with a sense of new purpose, so that they may continue to explore new career opportunities and continue contributing to our communities.

I urge a yes vote on this amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the support of the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania. I thank him for his work on this bill. It is greatly appreciated by the people I represent. And to the distinguished chairwoman, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy), I also extend my appreciation, and I yield her such time as she may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for being compassionate and expanding on the amendment. As she indicated, I have a little health issue I am dealing with here.

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

Madam Speaker, let us recall what this is all about. We are here today because the now-resigned Chief of Staff to former attorney, Alberto Gonzalez, ran a plan over a period of just under 2 years during which he maintained a revised list of U.S. attorneys to be fired or retained. If prosecutors were placed on this list for political reasons, or alternatively kept off because of a willingness to engage in political prosecutions, these actions are not only improper and illegal, but they constitute criminal abuse. These are serious allegations, and we have a constitutional duty to pursue this proceeding today.

Congress is not only entitled to look into this matter, we must conduct a thorough oversight of the executive branch. Now, some of my colleagues argue that the United States attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President. However, it is very critical to note that throwing out this term, ``at the pleasure of the President,'' may be accurate in the sense that the President may fire somebody for no reason, Alberto Gonzalez can fire somebody for no reason, but they can't fire him for an illegal reason.

And that is what we are looking at here. The Committee on the Judiciary Chairman Conyers testified yesterday that he pursued documents from the White House and the testimony of Ms. Miers and from Mr. Bolten for 8 long months, and in return the White House did not provide a single document and specifically directed Ms. Miers and Mr. Bolten to ignore the Judiciary Committee's subpoenas citing executive privilege.

This is not a situation of exerting executive privilege, because Ms. Miers did not even show up for the hearings that they were called to testify before to assert that claim. Furthermore, Madam Speaker, it is one thing for them to decline to answer certain questions based on a claim of executive privilege; it is an entirely different matter to defy even orders to appear.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 956 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 956.

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

House Resolution 956 provides for consideration of H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate controlled by the Committee on Education and Labor.

The rule makes in order the Education and Labor Committee reported substitute as an original bill for the purpose of amendment.

The rule makes in order the 27 amendments listed in the Rules Committee report, each of which is debatable for 10 minutes, except the Miller manager's amendment, which is debatable for 20 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, last year Congress passed the College Cost Reduction Act to increase college financial aid by $18 billion, the single largest increase in aid in over 60 years. That legislation significantly increased the maximum amount that Pell Grant recipients can receive at no new cost to taxpayers and was a strong start to this Congress' efforts to make higher education a reality for America's students. But that, Mr. Speaker, was just the beginning.

I'm proud to rise today in strong support of H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. This will continue our efforts to make college more affordable and more accessible for America's students, while making investments in critical areas to strengthen our workforce.

Our Nation is blessed to have the finest system of higher education in the world. There is a breadth of opportunities available to our graduating high school seniors: vocational and technical school, 2- and 4-year colleges, and graduate and professional schools.

Mr. Speaker, the challenge we face today is to ensure that our institutions of higher education are accessible to all, and the legislation we are passing today will make it easier for low-income and middle-class families to achieve the benefits of higher education as they climb up the ladder of success.

Investing in our students not only improves their future, but it helps our economy and strengthens our competitive edge in the global marketplace. This bill continues this Congress' efforts to strengthen America's workforce by creating programs to improve teacher training and bolster student interests in science, math, and technology.

We must also recognize and applaud our nontraditional students, those members of our workforce who are seizing the opportunity to continue their education while holding down full-time jobs and sometimes raising families. These students are often attending school less than half time, and thus, they sometimes benefit very little from traditional student aid. That's why I support my colleague Congressman Baird's amendment, which I hope will be incorporated into this bill, to require the Secretary of Education to study and recommend how best to design a loan program targeted at less than half-time students.

One of the keys to expanding access to our institutions of higher learning is to bring down the exorbitant cost of attending college. Tuition hikes in recent years have been stunning, amounting to a 31 percent increase at a 4-year public college in the last 5 years alone.

This bill enhances transparency in college tuition by requiring colleges to report their reasons for tuition hikes and the plans they have for lowering costs. It also requires the Secretary of Education to publish a higher education price index, providing students with the opportunity to compare institutions by State, sector, and change in tuition and fees from one year to the next. This will allow students to make wiser decisions in choosing institutions that are a good fit for them and the dreams to which they aspire.

A more immediate way to make the possibility of attaining a college degree a reality is to increase the aid available to our students, and I'm proud that this bill does that, doubling the maximum Pell Grant amount to $9,000.

Beyond the sticker price of tuition, any student will tell you that the cost of textbooks is also a challenging cost they incur. The average student spends about $1,000 per year on textbooks, which is nearly 20 percent of tuition and fees at a 4-year public institution. Such high costs for textbooks can be the deciding factor which dashes or delays the dream of obtaining a college degree and a better life for many.

This legislation requires publishers to provide specific information about pricing so that faculty has full information when making purchasing decisions so students can help plan for expenses.

And in addition, Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to support an amendment offered by my colleague from Ohio, Congressman Tim Ryan, along with Representative Jason Altmire, which will create a pilot grant program to assist colleges in setting up textbook rental programs. These programs already exist in 25 schools, and a pilot test at Bowling Green State University in Ohio last spring saved 151 students $11,000.

We must also continue to strive to reduce the achievement gap in higher education between low-income and minority students and their peers. We can do this by ensuring that all students are prepared for the rigorous demands of higher learning. This bill strengthens the proven TRIO and GEAR UP college readiness and support programs for low- income and first generation students. I have seen firsthand, Mr. Speaker, the great things that these programs can do in Elyria in my district, which is a GEAR UP site, and the University of Akron, which has received TRIO funding. I look forward to the expansion of these proven programs so that more students in Ohio and around the country may benefit.

This legislation also addresses the disappointment we saw last year as the student loan scandal unfolded. Those financial aid directors that received kickbacks and payoffs and luxury gifts from private lenders exhibited a spectacular abuse of power and betrayal of the students they serve. This legislation cracks down on that abuse and restores accountability by requiring institutions and lenders to adopt strict codes of conduct and protect students from aggressive marketing by lenders. Institutions will also be required to provide students with information about Federal and private borrowing options.

This bill will also encourage and make it financially feasible for students to become public servants by authorizing up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness for military servicemembers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, first responders, nurses, educators, prosecutors, and public defenders.

This bill also continues the work this Congress has undertaken to support our troops by creating new scholarship and support programs for active duty military personnel, their family members, and veterans. It also establishes support centers to help veterans succeed in college and ensures fairness in student aid and housing aid for veterans to make it easier for them to go to college while also fulfilling their military service duties.

I'm also proud to support an amendment being offered by my colleague Congresswoman Susan Davis that is based on legislation of which I'm a cosponsor. Her amendment will prevent interest from accruing for active duty servicemembers and qualifying National Guard members for the duration of their activation up to 60 months when serving in a combat zone.

Mr. Speaker, the dream of a college education is moving further and further out of reach for middle- and low-income families. We need to put this prospect of a college education and a brighter future back in reach. Passing H.R. 4137 and building on the work we started last year is an important and priceless investment in the future of our children, our communities, and our country.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor), a member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take this opportunity to refresh the memory of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle on past rules.

The last time the higher education reauthorization bill was considered in the House was just 2 years ago, in the 109th Congress. It, too, was done under a structured amendment process using two rules. Those two structured rules allowed a total of 22 amendments out of the 113 submitted, fewer than the rule we are offering today.

This is a very fair rule, and I urge my colleagues to support it and the bill. The rule makes in order 27 amendments on a wide variety of important issues relating to the higher education of our Nation's youth and others seeking a post-secondary education. Members on both sides of the aisle will be able to offer amendments that they believe will further improve this already very bipartisan bill.

This bill is one of the most bipartisan products of the 110th Congress, reported from the Education and Labor Committee by a vote of 45-0. There is no arguing with those facts.

And, Mr. Speaker, the benefits of higher education are undeniable for students, their families, and for our country and society at large. As a nation, we recognize this, having always been a global standard bearer and our high regard for the merits of higher education. Reaching the American Dream of leading a secure and fulfilling life is a goal that we can make achievable when we open the doors of college to all.

The fact that this bill passed 45-0 out of the Education Committee is a testament to the great work that the committee has done on this bill and to the fact that we care tremendously about the future of our children.

Listening to parents from my district, Mr. Speaker, and across the country, I hear about how the ability to send their children to college weighs on their minds. And talking to professors, counselors, and administrators at the University of Akron, Loraine County Community College, and other schools across Ohio, I also know that student debt is a tremendous factor in determining which professions our students are choosing to enter.

Nearly two-thirds of all students at 4-year colleges nationwide graduate with loan debt these days, with the average amount of debt surpassing $15,000. This bill we're passing goes a long way to changing that distressing fact.

By increasing aid and encouraging colleges to rein in tuition, this legislation will enable more students to pursue their passions and give back in service to their communities and our country.

I am proud that this bill continues the work of this New Direction Congress in making necessary improvements for the workforce of tomorrow. We have seen the necessity of investing in stem education, and this legislation continues the effort we began last year in passing the innovation agenda by improving teacher training and development programs and focusing on recruiting teachers into high-demand science and technology fields.

In today's global economy, it's essential that America's workforce remain competitive at an international level.

Mr. Speaker, the Higher Education Act has not been reauthorized in a decade. The Senate has already passed a reauthorization, so we must act expediently to pass this vital bill so the President may sign it into law.

I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in voting for this bill and supporting a brighter future for our students, our families, and our communities.

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I have only one remaining speaker who will close debate for this side. Because we have the right to close, I will reserve the time until the gentleman has closed and yielded back his time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Wisconsin, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Appropriations (Mr. Obey), who will close for our side.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a deep sense of appreciation to pay tribute to former fire chief, Ed Hanzel, who passed away on December 31, 2007 while serving as a combat firefighter in Iraq.

Ed, who devoted over 32 years of his life to his community as a firefighter, embarked on two separate tours in Iraq following his retirement in 2002. Retirement did not suit Ed, who felt he could make a positive contribution in Iraq while continuing to provide for his family.

And although Denise, his wife of 36 years, worried for his safety, Ed was determined to protect our brave soldiers by utilizing his professional firefighting skills on military bases as a combat firefighter. One morning, at the onset of his second tour, Ed informed a coworker he wasn't feeling well and went to rest. Later that day, Ed Hanzel passed away.

Ed was a strong man. He had beaten cancer a few years ago. His death in Iraq surprised his family and friends who knew him for his easygoing nature, his sense of humor, and his ability to light up a room with his bright eyes and genuine smile. After his passing, countless firefighters, emergency medical personnel and other safety forces from 11 neighboring departments joined together to honor Ed's memory. With fire truck ladders extended to form an arch, an American flag was flown at the peak, symbolizing Ed's devotion to his country.

A medical helicopter flew low over the crowd, and a fire truck adorned with a black wreath sounded a traditional last call, concluding a ceremony to celebrate a former fire chief, a humble fire chief, who often appeared embarrassed when called ``Chief.''

The respect and admiration Ed earned as a firefighter, a paramedic and a SWAT medic could not have been more visible as his peers joined together around an empty pair of boots and a firefighter's helmet to honor their fallen colleague.

We will always remember Ed for his ever-present smile, his commitment to his community, his sense of humor, and his dedication to his family. On behalf of the people of Ohio's 13th District, I want to express my deepest sympathies to his wife, Denise, and son, Brian. We have lost a great man, and they have lost a great husband and father who gave all in service to others and our country.

We grieve Ed's passing, but we celebrate his life and service and we take solace in knowing we are better people for having known him.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 1181, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York, the chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, Mrs. Lowey.

We have two speakers remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas, the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee of Military Construction, Veterans Administration and Related Agencies, Mr. Edwards.

Madam Speaker, there are no words to describe the pain we feel when a young life is lost.

To know Josh Miller was to know a kindhearted and generous young man with limitless potential. Josh was a Baberton High School sophomore with a 4.0 grade point average, a linebacker who dreamed of playing football for Ohio State one day.

But one day, without warning, these dreams were cut short. Josh had never shown any signs of heart trouble, but during the final game of the 2000 football season, he collapsed after leaving the field. By the time his heart was shocked with an automated external defibrillator, it was too late to save him.

Josh suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, which, according to the American Heart Association, claims the lives of about 330,000 Americans every year. The vast majority of these individuals, like Josh, will not have displayed any signs of heart trouble beforehand; yet there is an easy-to-use, relatively inexpensive piece of medical equipment that can more than double the odds of survival for someone experiencing such a sudden cardiac arrest.

An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is the single-most effective treatment for starting the heart after sudden cardiac arrest. And because chances of survival decrease up to 10 percent for every minute that passes, every second is critical.

It is incredibly important that we take steps to educate the public about the life-and-death difference that using these devices would make. I would like to thank and to commend my colleague, Mr. Kuhl, for his efforts in promoting increased access to AEDs through the resolution passed this afternoon. Later this week, I will be introducing a piece of legislation that takes another step to increase the ability of AEDs in our communities.

The Josh Miller HEARTS Act will establish a grant program that will help schools across the country purchase these lifesaving devices. Schools are central gathering places in our communities, and placing AEDs in our schools will not only save the lives of students enrolled there, potentially, but they will be available for teachers and staff, parents and volunteers, and the many other members of the community who pass through the halls every single day.

This legislation will be modeled on a similar program recently completed in the State of Ohio. Dr. Terry Gordon, a cardiologist at Akron General Hospital, has dedicated his life to this campaign. And his tireless efforts in Ohio led to the adoption of a statewide initiative to put an AED into every school across the State. Already, this program has saved the lives of 12 children and adults as a direct result.

I hope we in Congress can build on Dr. Gordon's good work and carry out this program at the national level. Losing a young life full of promise, like Josh's, can bring about a sense of helplessness. But today, we have an opportunity to act. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this effort to bring AEDs into every single school across this country.