Floor Statements

Thank you, Mr. Kind, for your great leadership on this important issue.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 7006, the Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008. It's a good bill that deserves passage so citizens in disaster ravaged areas across the country have the assurances they need to rebuild their lives.

On Labor Day of this year, Hurricane Gustav tore across the Sixth District of Louisiana, packing winds of up to 90 miles per hour, while downing trees and power lines across the district and destroying and damaging homes and farms and businesses in its wake. It was, as nearly everyone has concurred, the worst storm that has ever hit the Baton Rouge area.

We are now facing the challenge of rebuilding. One problem that has become glaringly apparent is the named storm deductible issue. Instead of paying normal insurance deductibles to rebuild, constituents in Louisiana are now faced with a deductible of up to 5 percent of the value of their homes, sometimes thousands more than they had paid in the past.

This has been one of the most important issues to me after Hurricane Gustav, and we have asked the House to act and provide relief to these homeowners. I am proud to say that the legislation before us today will do that by expanding tax deductions for people who incurred damages during hurricanes such as Gustav and Ike. By waiving the minimum 10 percent adjusted gross income requirement for deducting losses, this will provide homeowners with much needed relief.

We will also continue to push FEMA on this issue that FEMA recognize these losses as covered by its individual disaster assistance programs.

In addition to expanding tax deductions for disaster-related losses, the bill also contains important tax provisions for businesses recovering from disasters across the country, such as extending the net operating loss carry-back period from 3 to 5 years, and allowing businesses to immediately write off certain expenses relating to Federal disasters. It also increases private activity bond financing for States to issue to businesses following a disaster.

Furthermore, it allows States to use their tax-exempt housing bonds to provide loans to repair or reconstruct homes and rental housing units damaged by storms. It also allocates additional low-income housing tax credits for States suffering a loss of affordable housing as a result of a Federal disaster.

This is a solid start to the long-term recovery for regions trying to rebuild. This year should be a wake-up call for everyone around the country, from Florida to Louisiana to Iowa and California, that we cannot avoid natural disasters but we can hope to mitigate their effects.

This bill shows that Congress is committed to helping our citizens recover, and it deserves our support.

Mr. Speaker, this past Labor Day, Hurricane Gustav made landfall in Cocodrie, Louisiana. It packed sustained winds of up to 110 miles per hour and tore across the State, uprooting trees and damaging property along its way.

Many across the country watched as the levees of New Orleans held. Miraculously and thankfully, they held. As the levees held, the media left and did not see the vast destruction left behind in the Baton Rouge area. It was the worst storm to hit the Baton Rouge area in its history. Louisiana has many people to thank for their efforts in helping in this time of great need, the first responders, its parish and local officials, the National Guardsmen and women, and the States who sent their men and women to Louisiana to help in this time of need.

Since then, Hurricane Ike has hit and has reinforced the notion that natural disasters and the damages they inflict cannot be avoided. We can only hope to respond as best as possible to minimize that aftereffects. It is our job as Congressmen and women to aid our fellow citizens in this time of greatest need.

Over the next 2 weeks, I urge my colleagues to ensure that the victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike are not left behind and that we continue to improve the Federal Government's, and particularly FEMA's, response to natural disasters.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment.

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

I would like to thank Congresswoman DeLauro for this thoughtful legislation that is long overdue. It is imperative that hardworking women be fairly compensated and that they are not being shortchanged by longstanding practices. Far too long in this country many American women have suffered pay inequities that have denied them the earnings they deserve. In America, this is unacceptable, and this bill aims to rectify those inequities.

However, as we seek to protect the legal rights of American workers, we must also protect their rights from being abused by those who work here illegally. The amendment I bring to the floor today serves to ensure that nothing in this legislation or in any amendments to this legislation will affect the obligations of employers and employees to comply with immigration laws. That means that anyone found to be in violation of our immigration laws, whether they are employers or employees, will be subject to all fines and penalties imposed by those laws regardless of the protections for all workers, male or female, contained within this Act.

Again, I thank Chairwoman DeLauro as well as Chairman Miller for this meaningful legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6445. I'd like to thank the members of the Veterans' Affairs committee-- especially Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, Subcommittee Chairman Michaud, and Ranking Member Miller--for not only supporting my legislation, but also for adding provisions that go even further in improving health care for our veterans.

My original legislation prohibits the VA from collecting co-payments for hospital and nursing home care from veterans who are catastrophically disabled. This provision aims to ease the burden on veterans who have a permanent, severely disabling injury, disorder, or disease that compromises their ability to carry out the activities of daily living. Currently, those veterans must make co-payments for non- service related injuries at VA facilities. This includes veterans who suffer with, among other things, spinal cord injuries, stroke, diseases such as Parkinson's and ALS, and multiple amputees.

As you could imagine, these disabled veterans are oftentimes some of the poorest of the poor and cannot afford adequate health care, much less the enormous cost that these burdens place on them and their families. This bill hopes to change that and make a positive impact on the 25,000 veterans with catastrophic disability that receive care through VA.

H.R. 6445 incorporates other meaningful provisions authored by some of my colleagues on the committee. It contains a provision that expands the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide counseling for families of veterans receiving non-connected treatment. It directs the VA to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain experienced by veterans receiving VA care. It improves billing and accounting procedures at the Veterans Administration by regionalizing the process. Finally, this legislation makes it easier for veterans to get HIV testing if they choose.

Mr. Speaker, we have no greater duty as Members of Congress than to take care of those who have sacrificed life and limb in service to their country. We need to instill faith in the public that when we ask you to serve we will take care of you when you return.

This often repeated quote from George Washington still rings true today: ``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.'' This legislation helps us fulfill this most sacred duty.

I again thank my colleagues for their excellent contributions to this legislation, and I ask my colleagues in the House to pass this bill without delay.

As you know, I guess, in an assessment you can consult outside sources where an estimate you cannot. We thought it would be a more comprehensive report as an assessment.

Thank you, Mr. Ruppersberger.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6545, the National Energy Security Intelligence Act of 2008. This bill will task the Director of National Intelligence to provide to Congress accurate and timely information on the effect of the current energy crisis on national security.

Since I joined Congress almost 3 months ago, there has been a lot of discussion in this body about energy supply, energy prices, how our energy needs affect our place in the world and what effect worldwide demands for energy have on America.

I introduced this legislation so that we will have a better understanding of these critical issues. This was an idea that was discussed last week during the vote on the Intelligence authorization bill, which was just referenced, which I voted for. In fact, this would have already been passed if not for the choice of wording on the motion to recommit in politics, but a good idea is a good idea. I, along with my colleagues, who supported me on this legislation, thought this was important enough to bring it up for a vote.

This bill will require the DNI to submit to Congress no later than January 1, 2009, a national intelligence assessment on the national security implications of rapidly escalating energy costs and the short and long-term outlook for prices, supply and demand for energy sources like crude oil, natural gas and alternative fuels.

In addition to better understanding our short-term and long-term energy situation, the report will also examine the geopolitical consequences of our dependence on foreign energy sources, especially in regards to the relationship between the U.S. and adversarial oil- producing nations.

Specifically, the report asks for an assessment of plans and intentions of key energy-producing and exporting nations with respect to production and supply. It will address the national security implications of potential use of energy resources as leverage against the U.S. by Venezuela, Iran, and other potential adversaries as a result of increased energy prices.

This assessment will also analyze whether increased energy prices will directly or indirectly increase financial support for terrorist organizations.

I believe this report is important, and I urge its passage by my colleagues. There are no two issues more current and more salient than our energy situation and our national security. Additionally, there are few other issues as intertwined and interconnected as energy and national security.

By conducting this national intelligence assessment, we will have a better understanding of how our long-term

energy needs will affect our national security. This report is needed and will help lawmakers and officials develop sound policy on these critical issues.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the hard work and dedication of a local Louisiana manufacturer. The manufacturer that I am recognizing has demonstrated innovation in manufacturing operations and a commitment to community involvement.

Syngenta, a global agribusiness with operations in my district in Louisiana, manufactures the active ingredients atrazine and benoxacor, and formulates Touchdown', Karate', and HalexTM GT brands, among other products, for the agricultural sector. The economic impact that Syngenta brings to St. Gabriel, Louisiana, is significant. The chemical facility employs more than 700 company and contract employees with an annual payroll of $58 million. This local manufacturer has made noteworthy advances in productivity through the implementation of lean manufacturing methods and processes that transform and streamline operations through the company. Because of these accomplishments, Syngenta will be honored by the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana (MEPOL), with the fourth annual Platinum Award for Continued Excellence (PACE) Award.

MEPOL, a non-profit business resource based at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, serves to provide business and technical assistance to emerging and established manufacturing firms throughout the State of Louisiana. Since 1997, MEPOL, based on a philosophy of education, encouragement, and empowerment, has worked with manufacturers such as Syngenta to increase their productivity and profitability.

Working with MEPOL, Syngenta developed a steering committee to assist in developing the ideal state with benchmarks to identify quantifiable impact. In less than 6 months, more than 150 ideas were generated, and within 1 year, $1.7 million cost savings were validated. The problem solving process included visible metrics and methods to assure continuous improvement projects are a daily focus during each shift.

Syngenta also participates in numerous community outreach programs and charities. Each year, the company educates more than 5,000 public and private school students and contributes over 1,200 to promote the field of science. Syngenta has also made substantial financial contributions to the local United Way campaign. I congratulate Syngenta on being a respected leader in manufacturing whose commitment to advancement and continued success has led to this outstanding achievement.

Madam Speaker, I gladly join Congressman Matheson in our discussion regarding a balanced comprehensive energy policy that the Blue Dogs such as Congressman Matheson and others support.

I believe that the high price of gasoline is an immediate problem that requires both swift action and long-term planning. It is the number one issue facing America today. It is one that hits home every time that we fill up our vehicles to go to work, when we attempt to go on summer vacation, and even when we go to the store to buy food.

I support expanding domestic drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf and in ANWR. This will not only reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower gas prices, it will help our economy and create jobs. In fact, in Louisiana it was recently announced that a new oil lease in the Gulf of Mexico would generate $78 million for Louisiana to restore its coast.

I believe that one of the root problems of the high price of gasoline is our outdated refining capacity. That is why I support building new and improved refineries and updating old ones. We haven't had a new refinery built since 1972. We have to do a better job at allowing companies to build these refineries and incentivizing companies to build refineries so that we can expand our refinery capacity and stop importing refined gas and refined oil.

In addition to the issue of supplying gas prices, a strengthening economy and subsequently a strengthened dollar will also go a long way to improving fuel prices. I believe, and the experts support this, deficit spending is one of the root causes of our reduced dollar, and that is playing a huge role, I believe, in the price of oil and the subsequent price of gas in our economy. If we can start spending within our means in Congress, we believe that the dollar will become a stronger dollar, we can buy more foreign oil, because we are now importing 60 percent of our oil, we can do that in a more effective way and, therefore, the price of gas should go down.

But the talk of drilling, we should not stop there. That approach is a narrow approach. It is an approach I support, but it is not the end all. We have to have a multi-pronged approach to reach energy independence and security in the long term as well as the short term. That is why we voted to increase the oil supply by temporarily diverting oil shipments from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Experts estimate this will lower gas prices anywhere from 5 cents to 24 cents, and this just went into effect this past week and hopefully we will see some real lowered costs at the pump very shortly.

Also, I personally voted for an amendment to the Congressional Budget Resolution that would open up drilling in ANWR and the Outer Continental Shelf.

We as a body passed the Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act, and that allows the Justice Department to investigate foreign oil companies who conspire to drive up prices for American consumers.

We passed the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, which will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil by providing tax credits for renewable energy, including solar, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, and wind. We need to be aggressive in making sure that we harness the technological energy of our Nation, and this bill goes a long way in doing that.

We passed the Energy Markets Emergency Act, which directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to use all its powers, including emergency powers, to determine whether excessive speculation in energy futures markets is driving the price of oil up.

We passed the farm bill, which included a strong provision for biofuel production. And we know, the experts suggest that, without the use of biofuels, we would see gas prices 15 percent higher than they are now.

The bottom line is we need to work hard to create energy independence. That work must start today. In the words of one of my constituents: These cars just won't run on hope.

So we need to act to continue to increase domestic drilling, to increase our ability to harness our technological energy that America has succeeded in solving most of our problems and all of our problems in the past. And so we need to bring relief to hardworking Americans by reducing gas prices now.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6276) to repeal section 9(k) of the United States Housing Act of 1937.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6276, the Public Housing Disaster Relief Act of 2008. I am proud to stand here with my colleague, Congressman Childers, in bringing this legislation to the floor.

This legislation is the product of a joint subcommittee hearing with the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity and the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response.

The purpose of the hearing was to examine the roles and responsibilities of both HUD and FEMA in responding to the affordable housing needs of the gulf coast following emergencies and natural disasters.

Nearly 3 years after Katrina and Rita, we are still struggling with how to better streamline the process of delivering relief through our administrative agencies. This burden is very well known to members of my delegation, Congressmen Melancon, Jefferson, Boustany, and Scalise, whose districts were directly impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The testimony at the hearing revealed that the Office of Capital Improvements within HUD, which awards capital funds to public housing authorities to maintain and repair public housing stock, also administers the public housing emergency and natural disaster grant program.

The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act included a provision, provision 9(k), which permits HUD to award natural disaster grants to housing authorities. However, since 2000, Congress has prohibited HUD from using appropriated amounts under section 9(k) and provided a separate appropriation for emergencies and natural disasters. However, since its inception, this fund has diminished every year.

In 2005, the year that Katrina and Rita struck the gulf coast, the funds appropriated for this purpose was $29 million. According to HUD, this funding was quickly consumed in New Orleans and Biloxi.

The current funding level for 2008 is $18.5 million, which is woefully inadequate for any disaster, especially ones on the scale of Katrina and Rita. HUD has not asked for funding for this purpose in 2009. In fact, HUD's proposed budget for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 request no funding for disaster relief.

Normally, public housing authorities' losses in natural disasters are mitigated through insurance. But the magnitude of the damage caused by these hurricanes was more than preexisting insurance could handle. When the PHAs that faced these shortfalls sought public assistance funding through FEMA pursuant to section 405 of the Stafford Act, they got caught in a bureaucratic mess.

Despite a memorandum of agreement between HUD and FEMA in 2007 that would have made it possible for PHAs to apply for FEMA assistance as a last resort when insurance proceeds and disaster grants from HUD were inadequate, because section 9(k) exists, FEMA funding is not available because FEMA states that it violates congressional appropriations law.

The administration has called for the elimination of section 9(k) and the set aside disaster grants to eliminate this confusion and to make it possible for housing authorities to have access to section 406 of the Stafford Act through FEMA.

I agree with that assessment, and it is my belief that repealing this section will cut some of the bureaucratic mess that has prevented public housing authorities from doing the work of reconstruction in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita.

We see today the importance of this legislation as our hearts go out to the people of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri who struggle against the flood waters that continue to threaten and wreak devastation on their homes and on their communities.

While we are still learning the extent of the damage caused by the flooding in Iowa, and the anticipated flooding in Illinois and Missouri, we do know that this legislation will help them when it is time to rebuild. When this change is enacted into law, funds will become

immediately available for public housing authorities struggling to rebuild affordable housing for Americans devastated by natural disasters whether in the gulf coast or in the heartland.

We in Congress should always work to streamline government so that assistance gets to you where it is needed most as quickly as possible.

I would like to thank Chairmen Frank and Thompson and subcommittee Chairs Waters and Cuellar for bringing this issue to light. I would also like to thank Ranking Member Capito for her support of this important legislation. In the nearly 3 years since hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the gulf coast, they have worked tirelessly to help our residents get the assistance they need. The entire gulf coast is thankful for their diligence on these matters.

I hope that my colleagues join me in passing this bill today so we can eliminate one more bureaucratic hurdle that hampers the efforts of our citizens to rebuild in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time, and I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Childers), and I ask unanimous consent that he be permitted to control that time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to express my support for the PAYGO principles by which the Congress has committed to govern.

As a newly elected Member of Congress, PAYGO simply makes sense to me. Thomas Jefferson realized the importance of PAYGO principles nearly 200 years ago when he said, ``It is incumbent upon every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.''

In the 110th Congress, we have made PAYGO a priority, and I hope it continues to remain a priority. My Blue Dog colleagues and I are cosponsoring H.R. 2686 that will extend the PAYGO rules through fiscal year 2012. I urge all Members of Congress to support this important piece of legislation.

I believe that balancing a budget and paying down the debt can be done. We will have to make tough choices now to ensure that our future remains financially solvent for our children. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight, and thank you to all my Blue Dog colleagues for their work in furthering the PAYGO principle.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1235, by my fellow delegation member, Congressman Scalise. This resolution thoughtfully commemorates the sacrifices of our armed services on that fateful day, 64 years ago on the beach of Normandy.

I was reminded of that sacrifice when I visited veterans over Memorial Day at a ceremony at the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge. I also attended an event for the Louisiana Honor Air Program, which helps our World War II veterans, many themselves D-day survivors, visit the World War II memorial for the first time.

The D-day assault was the most extensive amphibious invasion in history. Its success was a shining example of the strength and professionalism of our armed services.

As our thoughts and prayers go out to our young men and women who fight for us in Iraq and Afghanistan, we pay tribute to their predecessors by supporting this resolution to designate a National D- Day Remembrance Day.

Louisiana played a huge part in the Allies' success at D-day. Indeed the amphibious Higgins boat itself was developed in Louisiana and based on boats built to navigate our swamps and marshes. For this reason, New Orleans is home to the National D-Day Museum and is designated by Congress as America's National World War II museum.

I support the resolution, and strongly encourage this House to designate June 6, 2008, as National D-Day Remembrance Day.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 367, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Thank you, Madam Speaker, Members, for the warm welcome. I am honored to be the newest Member of this body.

I want to thank my family, who is here; my wife, whose goodness inspires me, Cherie; my children, Michael, Chavanne and Katie, who remind me why we are here, why our decisions are so important for the future.

I want to introduce you to my parents, Donald and Ann Cazayoux; Ann, whose compassion taught me to be compassionate; my father, whose sense of humor taught me to have a sense of humor, especially about myself; my Uncle John Wayne Jewell, who has a small-town private practice of law and taught me all about public service. I want to thank him and my Aunt Martha for her commitment to justice; my mother-in-law, Bonnie, for her goodness; Lindy Boggs, my model of leadership. Thank you for being here, and for the rest of my family and friends, without whose help I could not be here, physically here, period.

I also want to thank the members and the constituents of my district for electing me and for challenging me to come here to work with you to meet the demands that they face every day to solve the problems in a commonsense, fiscally prudent manner in terms of health care, the price of gas or what have you.

Thank you so much for welcoming me, and I look forward to working with each of you.