Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, which includes language from legislation I introduced, H.R. 3723, the Small Business Credit Expansion and Loan Markets Stabilization Act.

I commend Chairwoman Velazquez, Ranking Member Graves, and Mr. Schrader for his hard work on the bill before us today.

This year, the House has already passed several pieces of legislation that will help our Nation's small business owners, but it's clear that we still have much work to do. I also want to thank the small business owners in my district for getting together regularly to let me know what is going on with their small business. In fact, we are still hearing from them every day about what's going on and especially the difficulties in accessing credit, which continues to be a major challenge.

Small businesses need capital to grow and create new jobs, but the credit crunch has made it exceedingly difficult for them to obtain loans, which we know firsthand, as my husband owns two small businesses, and that also continually is a difficult time. In times like this, small businesses turn to the SBA. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes several provisions that strengthen the Small Business Administration's ability to help small businesses access capital.

The legislation before us today will enhance the SBA's access to capital programs and build on the progress made by the recovery bill. H.R. 3854 will improve the SBA's flagship 7(a) loan program. It extends provisions in the Recovery Act that reduce borrower fees and increase SBA loan guarantees.

We will also extend the ARC loan program, simplify the application process and increase the maximum loan. To increase lender participation, the bill creates new rural and small lender outreach programs of the SBA.

Finally, we are going to help veteran entrepreneurs by fully implementing the SBA's Increased Veteran Participation Loan Program.

H.R. 3854 will help get credit flowing again for America's small business owners so that they can create new jobs and jump-start our economy.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I rise in support of passage of H.R. 1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, which was introduced under the leadership of Chairman Filner. I want to thank Mr. Filner and the Subcommittee on Health chairman, Mr. Michaud, for their great leadership on this issue. This is an urgent issue for our country's veterans.

Almost 5.5 million people received care in VA health care facilities in 2008, and the VA's outpatient clinics registered over 60 million visits. This is one of the largest health care providers in the country. However, in fiscal 2009, for only one of the third or fourth times in the past 20 years, the VA received its budget prior to the start of the new fiscal year. So it isn't reasonable to expect that one of the largest and fastest-growing health care providers in the country can operate in the most efficient and effective manner if they don't even know what their budget is going to be. So this situation harms the VA's ability to plan services and deliver quality health care.

As we saw again this year, the VA will be forced to defer planning until Congress can complete its budget and appropriations work for the year. Medical staff cannot be hired, equipment cannot be procured, waiting times increase, and the quality of care suffers. So H.R. 1016 will solve many of these problems by funding the VA 1 year in advance. This bill will help the VA spend taxpayer money more efficiently while at the same time providing better and more comprehensive care for our veterans. H.R. 1016 will make sure that the VA has the resources that it needs to provide quality care in a timely manner without having to question what funds will be available next month.

So I'm here today in an attempt to serve our veterans' best interests and to fight to make sure that they receive the best care possible. I urge my colleagues to join me in accomplishing these goals by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 1016, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melvin J. Larson for his fifty-four years of service as a board member and founder of United Cerebral Palsy of Will County, now known as United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois Prairieland.

Melvin Larson's life has been one of service to others. He has said, ``To make life a little easier for someone, I hope I can make some contribution to that end.'' That is exactly what he did. He moved to Joliet, Illinois in 1954 where he became the head of Joliet Junior College's (JJC) Department of Physical Science. Upon retirement in 1975 from a successful career at JJC, he began a quest to help others.

Melvin Larson formed the first Will County chapter of the United Cerebral Palsy organization, with a vision to provide an education to children with disabilities. The organization began with just six families, but quickly grew to 35. It was not long before they outgrew their single room in the former Rehn School and began utilizing an entire grade school building. Thousands of children have benefited from the school throughout the years, and today more than 60 children are currently enrolled.

The dedication, service, and commitment exhibited by Melvin Larson throughout his life merit recognition and should be showcased as an example for selflessness unto others. That is why today we must honor Mel's vision to provide an education to children with disabilities.

Madam Speaker, Rick Daniels of Kankakee, Illinois would tell you he is not a hero, but on Friday, July 3, 2009, he did something heroic.

Rick Daniels conducts himself not unlike the many great citizens of Illinois' 11th Congressional District. He is a normal guy. On July 3rd, he saw a neighbor in trouble. Although he is not a trained paramedic, he saw that 20-month old Savanna Zirbel was seriously injured from a mowing accident and sprang to action. Rick Daniels administered lifesaving first aid until paramedics arrived.

Some in this situation may have been scared to help, but Rick did not hesitate to assist. He focused on what might have happened if he had chosen to simply be an observer. The consequences were life and death. Savanna Zirbel is alive because of Rick Daniel rose to the occasion.

America's history has been one of ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things. Rick Daniels reminds us that we are capable of doing heroic things. On behalf of the entire 11th Congressional District, we thank Rick Daniels for his amazing efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I was privileged to introduce House Resolution 679, supporting the goals and ideals of the American Legion Day on September 16.

This resolution helps to honor the service and the sacrifice of the nearly 3 million members, men and women, in nearly 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide.

On September 16, 1919, the American Legion was granted their Federal charter by Congress, and 90 years later they have kept their commitment to serve not only as a resource and a voice on behalf of veterans across America, but also as an organization dedicated to the betterment of America through community service.

Since their founding charter, the American Legion has not wavered from the guiding principles and vision that can be found in their four pillars of service.

The first pillar is a steadfast commitment to ensure that America has the best fighting force in the world. Towards this end, the Legion has been a tireless advocate on behalf of the American soldier to make sure that they have the resources and the tools they need in order to do their job.

The second pillar is making sure that we proudly care for our veterans. And whether it is providing one-on-one assistance to veterans through what can be the confusing and frustrating experience of filing for a disability claim or walking the halls of Congress to educate Members like myself on the legislative issues that are important to our veterans, they do an excellent job. The original GI Bill, for example, helped set the standard for the benefits that we provide to veterans and was spearheaded by the Legion.

The American Legion has been there for our veterans for over 90 years,

standing up to serve those who have served.

Caring for our youth is the third pillar in the American Legion vision. The Special Olympics, the Children's Miracle Network, the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, the American Legion Family Support Network, those are just a short list of the programs that the Legion supports. This is a testament to their belief that taking care of children in America, not just veterans' children, is something that makes our country stronger.

The final pillar comes from the understanding of the word ``patriot.'' Having fought for and defended our freedom, Legionnaires know firsthand that being a patriot means you must take action to preserve America. They know that being a patriot means not just defending our freedoms, but also defending our heritage, culture, and our flag. This pillar has been the foundation for the Legion's support of programs that instill American values in our youth. From Boy Scouts to Boys State, they've been there setting the course for millions of American children as they learn what it means to be an American and why it's so important to preserve our country.

The commitment to the four pillars of service has been the cornerstone of the American Legion ideals and their successes. It serves as a model that all Americans can use to better themselves and to better America. And it has, without question, helped make the country even greater. Millions of Americans have been encouraged, supported, and inspired by Legion programs, and this resolution is just a small way to say thank you.

I would also like to take a moment to recognize and thank the American Legion Auxiliary. Also formed in 1919, the Auxiliary has shown the same devotion to our veterans and our community, and they too deserve to be recognized.

Finally, I would like to congratulate Commander Clarence Hill for his recent election as National Commander. I appreciate his 24 years of service to our Nation in the U.S. Navy and wish him the best of luck during his tenure as Commander.

H. Res. 679 helps to recognize this extraordinary organization whose members have not only fought to protect our country, but chose to continue to serve long after their military service has ended.

Madam Speaker, on August 14, 2009, friends, family, and colleagues of James J. Bruno will gather to celebrate his 27\1/2\ years of service to the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District and the Kankakee City Fire Department. Today I join the chorus of praise for Jim's service.

After the unfortunate death of his father of a heart attack, Jim took the opportunity to devote himself to saving lives by joining the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District. Just 6 years after becoming a fire fighter, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and was the first paramedic in the department. In 1988, Jim joined the Kankakee City Fire Department. In 1990, Jim received the Distinguished Service Award for his role in rescuing a heart-attack victim from her burning home. With the help of his partner, Steve Born, Jim entered a blazing home, located the woman, hoisted her on his shoulders, and carried her to safety. She made a full recovery. This was an obvious act of heroism. What is less obvious, but no less important, are the lives Jim saved through countless inspections he conducted of homes and businesses as well as the education programs he participated in that prevented fires. Prevention efforts like the ones Jim participated in have been highly effective. Since 1982, deaths due to fires in the home have decreased 36 percent. Firefighters like Jim have made our communities much safer.

Jim has been an active labor leader for over 20 years. He has performed many roles in the Kankakee Firefighters Union including Chaplin and Executive Board Secretary. He completed many labor trainings on how to participate in productive grievance and arbitration hearings. Jim has been an effective advocate for hard-working firefighters.

Jim is also a compassionate father and husband. Jim is a proud supporter of his wife, Captain Stacey Ann Bruno, who will begin her second tour of duty in Iraq in September. He is a loving father of three teenage children.

The 11th District and the community of Kankakee owe Jim Bruno a debt of gratitude. I am proud to represent him and all the wonderful firefighters around my district in Congress. I wish Jim the best of luck as he enters retirement.

Mr. Speaker, this Congress is responsible for putting in place one of the largest tax cuts in American history as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

We can see this benefit of the plan throughout all communities in our country. Because of this legislation, 95 percent of working Americans are receiving tax cuts through the Making Work Pay tax credit, which is a refundable tax credit of up to $400 per worker and up to $800 for couples filing jointly. This is an immediate tax relief for over 110 million working families at exactly the time they need it. Because of this legislation, families can also find tax relief through an expansion of the child care tax credit and through a new $2,500 tax credit for families to help send more of our children to college.

In addition to this tax relief, the recovery plan has provided tens of millions of dollars of investment for improvement projects, like the improvements that have been made to infrastructure and to roads throughout our country.

Thank you, Mr. Filner, for yielding and for your leadership on the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

I rise in support of H.R. 3219. Included in H.R. 3219 is the language from legislation that I introduced which would eliminate copayments from catastrophically disabled veterans who receive medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Right now, some catastrophically disabled veterans are thrown into financial hardship because of copayments they pay to the VA.

Catastrophically disabled veterans have conditions that compromise their ability to carry out the activities of daily living, including such basic self-care tasks as eating, bathing, and dressing. Veterans in these situations have enough challenges to face on a daily basis; having enough resources to make their copayment should not be another challenge that they have to deal with.

This legislation would allow our veterans to receive the health care that they deserve without adding another burden that makes it more difficult to afford.

Also included in this language from my bill, the Families of Veterans Financial Security Act, which would make permanent the extension that totally disabled veterans currently receive from the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program, also known as the SGLI. The SGLI is operated by the VA and provides low-cost group life insurance to members of the uniformed services. This program was developed to make insurance benefits available for veterans and servicemembers who were not able to secure insurance from private companies due to the extra risks involved in military service or because of a service-connected disability.

Currently, a temporary SGLI disability extension exists to allow servicemembers who are totally disabled to retain their SGLI coverage at no cost for up to 2 years. This extension guarantees that veterans most in need--the ones that are seriously disabled as a result of their service--won't lose their

life insurance coverage. This legislation would make the extension permanent and provide financial security to the families of disabled veterans.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3219.

Thank you, Mr. Filner, for yielding. I also want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Michaud, for his leadership on this issue.

As an original cosponsor, I rise in strong support of this CARE Act, which, among other things, will provide the caregivers of our injured heroes access to a wide range of services. H.R. 3155 includes language from my bill, H.R. 2898, the Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act, which authorizes the VA to make supportive services available to our caregivers.

Specifically, the CARE Act provides counseling, better training and respite care for family caregivers. It makes sure that the VA conducts community outreach through PSAs and brochures and informational pamphlets. Finally, it helps caregivers locate resources for additional support from public, private and nonprofit agencies.

Having a stepson that was severely injured in Afghanistan, I have firsthand understanding of how important these support services are. H.R. 3155 will give family caregivers the tools and resources they need to provide the highest quality care to an injured son, daughter or spouse.

I would also like to take a moment to say thank you to caregivers across this Nation. Mothers, fathers, spouses and other family members are sacrificing their time, their energy and, in many cases, their futures to provide 24/7 health care for those who have fought to defend our Nation. For far too long, we have not provided them with the resources that they need to properly protect and care for our wounded warriors.

This bill will allow the VA to care for our caregivers, something that is long overdue. For these reasons, I strongly urge my colleagues to support the CARE Act.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 550, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on June 25th, the Empress Casino opened its doors after a three month hiatus. In March, the casino suffered a nearly catastrophic fire. Being a major employer in Will County, the impact could have been devastating. However, thanks to the tenacity of the casino and its employees, the situation has had a very successful outcome.

Over the past three months, Empress Casino and its employees continued to contribute to their community. Empress Casino maintained their charitable support and paid employees their usual salaries during this time. Empress staff responded to this challenge by providing more than 6,000 volunteer hours to community organizations. Empress Casino and their employees have overcome adversity and despite the obstacles, they have continued to be a caring neighbor.

Empress Casino implemented an aggressive renovation plan, which has allowed gaming revenues to be reinstated and Empress employees to come back to work. Local businesses who provide services at the Empress have also returned. I extend my congratulations to the company and its employees for their extraordinary conduct during this difficult time. They offer a shining example of leadership and compassion.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Aeronautical Engineer John C. Houbolt, an unsung champion of space exploration and intelligence, who is going to be eternalized at the Joliet Area Historical Museum with a permanent exhibit entitled ``The Soaring Achievements of John C. Houbolt.''

Houbolt played a critical role in the infancy of space exploration when he discovered, adopted, and then championed the lunar flight path called ``Lunar Orbit Rendezvous.'' (LOB) In June 1961, LOR was chosen for the Apollo program and this critical decision was viewed as vital to ensuring that man reached the Moon in the 1960's, as President John F. Kennedy had proposed and, in the process, saved billions of dollars and time by efficiently using existing rocket technology.

Houbolt never lost faith in LOR even when his theories faced strong opposition from others in his field. His humble persistence and determination are a testament to his passion for knowledge and his own ideas. It is this fervor and intelligence that allowed him to not only be an inspiration for men and women all over the nation interested in space discovery, but also other important figures in space exploration, like Buzz Aldrin, who has expressed much admiration for Houbolt.

On May 15, 2005, Houbolt was granted an honorary doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for his lifetime achievements, even after earning his Bachelor's degree in 1940 and his Master's degree in 1942 in Civil Engineering. Houbolt didn't stop there, however, obtaining a PhD in Technical Sciences in 1957 from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland.

Although no other human being contributed more in making the Apollo lunar landings possible, Houbolt's contributions to Apollo's mission do not define this man as his contributions will continue to reverberate into the future of aeronautical engineering. John C. Houbolt has left his influential mark on the field of space exploration and will continue to be an inspiration to those just entering the field or becoming interested in the universe around us. It is with great pride that I recognize all of his many accomplishments upon the event of this exhibit.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 543) expressing support for designation of June as ``Home Safety Month''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Unintentional injuries in the home result in nearly 200,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. The top five causes of unintentional home injury deaths are falls, poisonings, fires and burns, choking and suffocation, and finally, drowning.

Falls are the leading cause of home injury death among older adults in the United States, and the total direct costs associated with both fatal and nonfatal falls is more than $19 billion annually for hospitalization, emergency department visits, and outpatient care.

Poisonings are the second leading cause of home injury deaths in the United States, resulting in nearly 5,000 deaths per year. Fire and burn injuries are the third leading cause of home injury death, and almost two-thirds, or 65 percent, of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Deaths due to unintentional choking and suffocation injuries are the fourth leading cause of home injury death in the United States, and nearly 25 percent of all choking and suffocation deaths occur in the home.

Deaths due to drowning are the fifth leading cause of home injury death in the United States, and an average of more than 10,000 events occur in the home each year that require medical care, emergency department treatment, and/or result in days away from work and/or school.

Children and older adults have increased rates of unintentional home injury compared with all other age groups. Home Safety Month recognizes the contribution of home safety-related nonprofit organizations for their ongoing commitment to ensuring families remain safe in their homes.

As part of Home Safety Month, the Home Safety Council recently introduced a new and innovative online tool to help adults identify the dangers present in and around the home designated as www.mysafehome.org. Additionally, the Home Safety Council is also promoting the Hands on Home Safety campaign, whose goal is to educate and empower families, businesses and community leaders to take simple actions that will make homes safe and minimize their risk from potential injuries or even death.

This resolution encourages adults, parents and caregivers to take greater actions to reduce unintentional injuries and educate themselves on the importance of home safety for themselves and their loved ones. At the same time, it also encourages manufacturers to develop innovative safety projects and features to help lessen the numbers of home injuries and accidents, and finally encourages local and national government leaders to support funding for critical home safety education programs to reduce the risks from home injuries.

With that, Madam Speaker, I encourage the passage of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no additional requests for speakers. I would like to inquire whether the minority has any additional speakers.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, first I would like to thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) for helping today with this bill. We in Illinois do a lot of things in a bipartisan way, and I just want to give him another thanks for helping out and for bringing awareness to home safety issues which are important to all of us. It is a topic that could save people money and their health given the ability that they always have to be aware of things so we can prevent accidents in our home.

Each year an average of more than 7,000 adults aged 65 and older die from unintentional home injuries. Falls alone account for 52.5 percent of all home injury deaths for adults aged 65 to 74.

With this, Madam Speaker, I just encourage everybody to support this and to bring about awareness to Home Safety Month.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 2965, the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act. I want to thank Chairwoman Velazquez, Ranking Member Graves, and Mr. Altmire for their leadership on this important piece of legislation.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, which includes language from legislation I introduced, H.R. 2747, the Rural Technology Development and Outreach Act. For nearly three decades, the Small Business Innovation Research program has sought to increase Federal funding for innovative small businesses that seek to develop new technology with commercial potential. Without funding assistance from SBIR, many small businesses would never have the opportunity to develop their research into products that can be brought to market.

Over the years, SBIR has helped build thousands of small startups into successful companies. Unfortunately, SBIR awards are often concentrated in a small number of States or regions. There are promising small firms that don't apply for SBIR because they are unaware of the programs and its benefits. Many of these firms are located in rural communities and other underserved areas.

Today, families living in rural communities throughout the country are struggling. Too many of these rural communities face a tremendous shortage of economic opportunities. As a result, unemployment has skyrocketed. In many communities in my district, the unemployment rate has reached 13 percent. The lack of economic development forces many talented individuals to leave their community to seek out opportunities elsewhere.

Title III of H.R. 2965 includes language from my bill, the Rural Technology Development Outreach Act, that will seek to increase SBIR participation by small firms in rural areas, as well as by firms owned by women, minorities and veterans. H.R. 2965 will provide grant funding to organizations that conduct outreach regarding SBIR to these types of small businesses.

While small business growth is important in any community, it is especially critical in rural and underserved areas. The measure in this bill will encourage entrepreneurship in places where it is currently lagging. By promoting innovation within these communities, H.R. 2965 will set them on the path to economic recovery.

When most people hear the word ``innovation,'' they probably don't think of rural regions, but the truth is that these are the areas with the most room for growth. If we are going to rebuild our economy, then we will have to unlock new markets everywhere, from Silicon Valley to the Midwest heartland. H.R. 2965 will do just that.

I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the service of Pastor John Rice of Chicago Heights, Illinois. Pastor Rice has served his boyhood church, St. Bethel, for 39 years. Since he began his tenure, St. Bethel has flourished, with its membership growing to over 300 families. The church has been able to undertake many new projects under Pastor Rice's leadership, including the construction of the Bethel Community Center. The construction of the community center and the growth of the church would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and faith of Pastor Rice.

I have had the good fortune of working with Pastor Rice and have seen his work first hand. He has touched many lives, including the underprivileged, for whom he is a tireless champion. St. Bethel Church and the community of Chicago Heights are long indebted to Pastor Rice for his great service.

On June 28, 2009, Pastor Rice will be honored at St. Bethel. He will be accepting much deserved praise on that day. It is with great pride that I recognize all of his many accomplishments and wish him a continued success.