Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 2472, a bill originally introduced by Representative Wynn of Maryland, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Bethany Baptist Church of Brooklyn, its Pastor Dr. David A. Hampton, first lady Hope Hampton and its congregants in honor of ``Golden Circle Day.''

Dr. David A. Hampton is the tenth Pastor-elect of Bethany Baptist Church. Hailing from

Indianapolis, Indiana, he is a former scholar from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, where he graduated Summa Cum laude. As described by his congregants, Pastor Hampton is a dynamic speaker who can reach and encourage persons of all ages. As indicated by his receipt of numerous awards, including the Martin Luther King Human Rights Award, Pastor Hampton demonstrates immense dedication and service to his congregants and the Brooklyn community. He has also been acknowledged by the Center of Leadership Development for his outstanding leadership skills.

Pastor Hampton is fortunate to have a warm-hearted congregation composed of avid Baptists. With his congregants' strong faith and his infallible ability to deliver inspiring messages, Pastor Hampton has encouraged members of Bethany Baptist to continue in their faith and service to their community, which establishes Bethany Baptist as an invaluable community resource. As such, the commitments of Bethany Baptist Church and its congregants transcend their faith and is deserving of due recognition.

Further, the members of Bethany Baptist Church demonstrate devotion to their faith, which is visible in their undying commitment to remaining active members of the church for over 50 years. In an effort to commemorate their contributions, the church has planned ``Golden Circle Day,'' which is dedicated to honoring those who are a part of the esteemed ``Golden Circle.'' This is a tradition that many look forward to because it offers a chance to pay homage to members of the Bethany Baptist Church family. In keeping with the traditions, there will be a host of special services slated for June 8, 2008 at Bethany Baptist Church, located at 460 Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Brooklyn, New York.

The following members are duly recognized as members of Bethany Baptist Church's ``Golden Circle.''

Marian Alexander; Annie Anderson; Charles Allen; Margaret Allen; Norma Applewhite; Virgie Baldwin; Bettie Barbour; Louise Barton; Linda Bascombe; and Patricia Belk.

Gaither Bellamy; Josephine Blaizes; Daisy L. Bryant; Essie M. Brooks; Helen Brown; Mabel Burroughs; Phyllis M. Bynum; Mary Carpenter; and Edith L. Carson.

Pearl Clarke; Wilbert Clarke; Adeline Clinton; Darnley Crichlow; Barbara D. Crosby; Lynda F. Dandridge; Louise Daniels; Gladys C. Drake; Willie Edmond; and Ozie Edmond.

Gloria Ellis; Tommy Felton; Helen Fierce; Ethel M. Folk; Frances Ford; Frances Frayer; Maurice L. Fredericks; Winifred Fredericks; Jusselyn James Gittens; Hyacinth Golden; and Fredrick Gordon.

Katie Graham; Bernice Graves; Iris Hall; Elizabeth Halyard; Malcolm Halyard; Richard Harris, Sr.; Shirley Harris; Miriam C. Hassell; Helen Hill; and Marcia Hill.

Alberta Holt; Willie Holt; Annie Hubbard; Inez B. Hunt; J. Frank Hunt; Thomas O. Irby; Amanda M. Jackson; Daniel Jackson; Donza James- Frasier; and Jusselyn James-Gittens.

Mabel Jenkins; Joyce E. Jiggetts; Eddie Johnson; Girlene Johnson; Alberta Jones; Delores C. Jones; Evelyn P. Jones; Margaret Jones- Chaplin; Kay B. Jordan; and Betty Keith.

Rosa M. Key; Mabel Kellogg; Florence O. King; Ronald King; Harriet H. Kinebrew; Wade N. Lassiter; Lillie B. Lawrence; Jaynette Lawson-Jordan; Juanita Lewis; and Lauriano Green.

Priscilla Lucas; Evelyn J. Lymus; Fannie Marcus; Joseph F. Mariner; Willie Belle Mariner; Norva T. S. Matthews; Clarence McDonald; Joseph H. McDowere; Frances McDuffie; and Eleanor McIntosh.

Ruth McKie; Mona McLaughlin; Emma Miller; Arnold Neckles; Molly Neckles; Netty Brown-Nembhard; Oswald Nembhard; Jacqueline Norris; Dorothy Odle; Herbert Oestricher; and Sidney Oestricher.

Jeff Palmer; Bertha Patton; Mildred Peoples; Jasper E. Peyton; Mildred D. Pittman; Alfred Porter; Fannie Porter; Benjamin Pugh; and Earnest Randolph.

Evelyn Randolph; Juanita Randolph; Leona Rhodes; Mary Alice Ridley; Dorothy Rudisel; Rosa Sawyer; Helen Seaberry; Alberta Scott; Janet Small; and Kittie Sneed.

Esther Smith; Dorothy Spain; Hazel R. Speer; Sadie Stewart; Marie Sullivan; Gertrude Sumter; Mamie R. Thomas; Lula Turner; Eleanor Warren; and Josephine Washington.

Frances Watkins; Virgie Whitaker; Doris Williams; Julia Williams; Teesdale P. Wilson; Jacqueline Winstead; Patricia Wynn; and Ernest Wynn.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to call my colleagues' attention to the historic occasion of the Brooklyn Bridge's 125th birthday. In 1883, citizens of New York City and Brooklyn took the first step toward uniting their two cities. Then, the Brooklyn Bridge opened to the public, bringing to life the dreams and plans of John and Washington Roebling. It is this bridge that captures the imagination of the world, appearing as a symbol of Brooklyn and New York City as far away as Europe and Asia.

After 60 years of political, financial and technical discussions, including a six-lane tunnel proposal in the 1830's, John Roebling's plan was approved, the New York Bridge Company was formed, and in 1869, construction of the bridge finally began. The bridge was built over a period of 14 years in the face of enormous difficulties. Washington Roebling, John's son, had always been a man, who liked to be on site during the construction, and often he could be found instructing others what to do and many times doing manual work himself. Washington actually spent more hours in the working chamber than anyone else for fear that any slip might prove to be disastrous.

Unfortunately, in the summer of 1872, Washington Roebling had to be carried out with caisson disease. From this point on, he remained painfully paralyzed and became known as the ``man in the window'' as he never returned to the site of the bridge, but watched it from his townhouse, directing the construction through his wife, Emily Roebling, who acted as an intermediary. In total, 27 people died during the construction of the bridge, some of the worse accidents happened during cable rigging and others were crushed by swinging blocks.

In the end, John Roebling's claim that ``the great towers will be ranked as national monuments . . . as work of art and a successful specimen of advanced bridge engineering,'' came to life. On May 24, 1883, with schools and businesses closed, the Brooklyn Bridge also referred to as the ``Great East River Bridge'' and costing $15 million was opened with hundreds of people attending the spectacular ribbon cutting event.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor to represent the congressional district that begins once you cross this magnificent structure and is one of New York's most spectacular and evocative landmarks.

Madam Speaker, I rise as a member of the House Azerbaijan Caucus, to honor Azerbaijanis around the world, as they prepare to celebrate Republic Day on May 28. Republic Day commemorates Azerbaijan's declaration of its independence from the Russian Empire in 1918, becoming the first democratic secular republic in the Eastern hemisphere. Despite its short existence, 1918-1920, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan had achieved considerable success in state building and creation of educational foundations for future generations. The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan granted suffrage to women shortly after its creation, ahead of most Western democracies.

Despite all of its successes, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was not in a position to withstand the occupational forces of the then newly formed Soviet Russia. Consequently, Azerbaijan had temporarily lost its independence in 1920 and later was included into the U.S.S.R.

In 1990, Azerbaijan regained its independence from the U.S.S.R., ending 70 years of Soviet rule. Meantime, Azerbaijanis will never forget the tragic events of January 1990, forever known to all Azerbaijanis as Black January, as the Soviet army crushed peaceful demonstrations in the streets of the capital Baku. On August 30, 1991, Azerbaijan's Parliament adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and on October 18, 1991, the independence was approved by the Constitution.

Since its independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan has been an invaluable ally and is among the first nations, who offered unconditional support to the United States in the War Against Terror, providing its airspace and the use of its airports for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Today, Azerbaijani troops continue to serve with distinction in Afghanistan and in Iraq.

Azerbaijan is also a founding member of GUAM--Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, which includes Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova. Azerbaijan is a leading nation in regional economic cooperation through development of various international projects. Azerbaijan is also one of the key players in European energy security matters.

Madam Speaker and dear colleagues, please join me in thanking the people of Azerbaijan for their sincere friendship towards our country, and congratulate Azerbaijanis around the world on the 90th anniversary of Republic Day.

I also would like to thank and congratulate my Azerbaijani-American constituents, lead by Naimi and Naila Amiraliyev, for their tireless efforts in developing and strengthening the friendship and understanding between our nations.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Bedford Academy High School, located in Brooklyn, New York, for the achievements of the principal and faculty.

Bedford Academy opened its doors in 2003 to a group of 100 underperforming students. Principal George Leonard used his 13 years of experience in educating the community's youth to create a unique learning environment that combined strict discipline with an atmosphere of compassion and encouragement.

Bedford Academy graduated nearly all of its students in its first class, the class of 2007. Many continued on to attend various colleges such as, Long Island University, Temple University, Stony Brook, Morehouse, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, to name a few.

Under the leadership of Principal George Leonard, Bedford Academy High School received a 90 percent-plus pass rate on all New York State Regents exams. To achieve this level of success, Bedford Academy conducts rigorous after-school tutoring almost daily and on Saturdays.

As a result, Bedford Academy is now ranked the number one school in Brooklyn and the number two school in New York City.

Lastly, Principal Leonard has stated that his ``vision is for every Black and Latino in the inner city to have an opportunity to learn just like anyone else in the country.'' In addition to his vision and the model set by Principal Leonard and the dedicated faculty of Bedford Academy High School, their commitment has profoundly influenced the student body to achieve academically and personally.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Evangelist Betty J. Wright, founder of ``Apple of His Eye'' Ministries and outreach ministry for those who understand a personal walk with God.

A native of Augusta, Georgia, Evangelist Wright was raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is a graduate of the High School of Fashion and is an alumna of the Fashion Institute of Technology of (F.I.T.). Thereafter, Evangelist Wright matriculated at O.M. Kelly Bible Religious Institute, where she earned her Bachelor of Theology and a Master of Religious Education.

Evangelist Wright is the wife of Elder Timothy Wright, mother of five sons--Danny,

Donny, David, Derrick and Dwayne--mother-in-law to four daughters-in- law, and the grandmother to many grandchildren.

In August 1990, Evangelist Wright's husband, Elder Timothy Wright, began his pastoral duties and founded the Grace Tabernacle Christian Cerner COGIC. Her recent elevation to the office of Co-Pastor resulted from her tireless support of the Grace Tabernacle ministry. In the years prior, Evangelist Wright was a member of Washington Temple COGIC from 1958 to 1990 under the leadership of the late Bishop F.D. Washington.

In closing, Evangelist Wright has proven to be a great example to many young people that she has encountered.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove myself as a cosponsor of H.R. 4749.

Madam Speaker, I would like to share with my colleagues an excellent May 13th article by Steve Politi of The Star Ledger entitled ``Spygate Shouldn't Concern Congress.'' It emphasizes the importance of Congress remaining focused on critical national issues such as the economy, healthcare, education and the war.

[From the Star-Ledger, May 13, 2008]

Spygate Shouldn't Concern Congress

(By Steve Politi)

If Congress really wanted to make a difference in our

lives, it could hold hearings on how to make our most

annoying sports storylines go away. Start with the endless

debate over Joba Chamberlain and his eighth-inning

celebrations, then move to Roger Clemens' creepy personal

life.

Then, and only then, should Washington tackle ``Spygate,''

which has dragged on through an entire season and has the

legs to make it to training camp. No matter what Roger

Goodell declares today after meeting with fired Patriots

video assistant Matt Walsh, the NFL commissioner can't get

rid of this one himself.

Arlen Specter will see to that. The Pennsylvania senator

plans to meet with Walsh this afternoon, and it's hard to

believe he'll emerge from their conversation and tell the

world that the matter is settled. Which means, sometime in

the near future, Bill Belichick could be packing his hoodie

for a trip to Washington and another unnecessary sports-

related hearing.

Specter is another politician who has figured out that the

quickest path to easy publicity--and to getting noticed by

his football-loving constituency--is to take on a sports

issue. Why settle for C-SPAN when you can get on ESPN and a

few hundred sports radio stations, too?

Congress can make an impact on a sports issue occasionally,

as it did with steroids in baseball. Without those early

hearings, Major League Baseball would have continued to take

its time cleaning up the sport and Mark McGwire might have a

bust in Cooperstown.

But what, exactly, would society gain from a hearing into

the Spygate mess? Is it to set an example for kids who might

steal signals at their Pop Warner games? To distract us from

rising gas prices, the struggling economy and the million or

so more important issues?

``Congress has a legitimate reason to conduct hearings on

any number of issues in sports,'' said Stephen Ross, director

of Penn State's Institute for Sports Law Policy. ``The

question is, what are they looking at? Steroids is a

legitimate public problem. Whether a mass on Roger Clemens'

butt is evidence of steroid use is not.''

Specter insisted recently that ``we have a right to have

honest football games,'' but the Founding Fathers must have

forgotten to include that with life, liberty and the pursuit

of happiness. NFL games should be fair, of course, but the

responsibility for keeping them that way belongs to the NFL.

Goodell fined Belichick, who was caught taping signals at

the season opener against the Jets last fall, $500,000 and

docked the team a draft pick. He should have suspended

Belichick, too, to send a message that even the league's most

successful coach is not above the rules.

But Goodell is the one who should make that decision. Walsh

apparently will arrive at the NFL offices in New York today

without a smoking gun--reports from February that Walsh had

taped the St. Louis Rams' walk-through before the 2002 Super

Bowl were false.

Walsh did turn over eight tapes made from 2000 to 2002,

which further confirms what we already know: Belichick is a

cheater. He has been scolded and embarrassed, his legacy as a

coach tarnished forever. Do another eight examples make it

more tarnished?

No one can ever say for sure what impact taping signals had

on the Patriots dynasty. The answer is probably more than the

NFL wants to admit, and less than the posse chasing after

Belichick with the torches thinks. Dragging the coach and

commissioner to Capitol Hill won't clear up a thing.

``If the sole focus of the hearing is, 'What did Belichick

do and when did he do it?' I agree it's hard to see the

need,'' Ross said. ``Whether it becomes the football

equivalent of a discussion of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes,

well, that remains to be seen.''

It is hard to believe that Specter's motives are pure.

Beyond the usual grandstanding for the cameras. his

secondlargest political contributor is Comcast, which is

battling the NFL over fees for the NFL Network. Tops on the

list? Comcast's Washington lobbying firm.

Soaring cable bills! Now there's a good topic for a

Congressional hearing. We love a good conspiracy, but the

only way Spygate resembles Watergate is how long it has

dominated the news. Bill Belichick is not Richard Nixon. He

shouldn't be heading to Washington.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I rise to support my colleague for bringing this resolution forward. I want to congratulate him on that.

I rise today in support of H. Res. 1086, recognizing National Nurses Week on May 6 through May 12. As a cosponsor of this resolution, I'm proud to speak out in honor of our valiant, committed nurses who make our Nation and our loved ones safe and well. I pay special tribute to my esteemed colleagues in Congress who introduced this resolution and who are, themselves, nurses: The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, the Honorable Lois Capps of California, and the Honorable Carolyn McCarthy of my home State, New York.

Additionally, I want to pay special tribute to the nurses who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and the nurses who generally attend to those who suffer wounds from those conflicts.

Along with other health care professionals, a nurse is responsible for the treatment, safety, and recovery of acutely or chronically ill people. They also help to maintain a patient's health and provide treatment to those who are facing life-threatening emergencies like 9/ 11 and Hurricane Katrina. Nurses are also involved in medical and nursing research and provide a wide range of nonclinical functions.

Today, there are 2.4 million registered nurses in the United States; 92 percent of the registered nurses are women. There are 531,000 licensed vocational nurses; 1.8 million is the number of nursing psychiatric and home health aides. We cannot do without them.

I greatly commend the American Nurses Association and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and all of the nursing associations and academic institutions who train nurses and promote the advancement of the profession. I look forward to working with members of the associations, academia, and others in making certain that we continue to increase the amount of nurses.

In closing, I wish to thank my colleagues again, Congresswoman Johnson, Congresswoman Capps, and Congresswoman McCarthy for their leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. And I want to thank very much my colleague from Texas (Mr. Green) and, of course, others who have been involved in this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding time to me, and I appreciate his help on this bill. I think it is an important piece of legislation.

I also thank Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. I guess I better also thank the chairman of the committee, Barney Frank, who also worked very hard on this, and the chairperson of the committee, Maxine Waters, on their assistance in getting us to this point.

Access to affordable housing is a serious problem across America, particularly with the weakening economy and rising gas, utility and food costs.

With a rise in mortgage foreclosures leading to people losing their homes and unprecedented waiting lists for public housing--and the list gets longer and longer and longer--the ability to find affordable housing is crucial. Every time I go back to my district, this is the subject that comes up: What can we do about finding an affordable apartment?

Along with my colleagues in New York, I have been working to ensure access to affordable housing throughout my tenure in the United States Congress. But as neighborhoods developed, residents have been priced out of their homes and neighborhoods. And more and more, this is a cry coming from across the land.

For these reasons, along with my colleagues Congressman King, Congressman Frank, Congresswoman Waters, and Congresswoman Velazquez, we introduced H.R. 5937 which will facilitate the preservation of affordable housing units.

This bill will convert HUD contracts into a new 20-year housing assistance payment contract under the Multifamily Housing Restructuring and Affordability Act of 1997. Conversion of these HUD contracts will allow purchasers of certain affordable housing developments to secure the long-term financing necessary to purchase the property.

By making these properties affordable to the owners, they can in turn keep the housing affordable for the tenants. I hope that you will join us today in voting ``yes'' on H.R. 5937 to help preserve affordable housing.

And let me just say to my good friends throughout this body that there is no additional cost. I think what we are doing here is being creative and making it possible that people who are having difficulty will be able to have apartments. I think that during this difficult time of foreclosures and the problems we are having, I think this legislation is crucial. I want to thank my colleagues for supporting this.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Stanley F. Battle, who on July 1, 2007, assumed the position of chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Dr. Battle majored in sociology at Springfield College, graduating in 1973. After completing a master's degree in social work from the University of Connecticut in 1975, he earned a master's degree in public health (1979) and a doctorate in social welfare policy (1980) from the University of Pittsburgh. He later completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University and the Millennium Leadership Institute of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Dr. Battle began his academic career at the University of Minnesota in 1980, serving as an assistant professor in the School of Social Work with an adjunct appointment in the School of Public Health. Four years later, he moved to Boston University, holding joint appointments in the Schools of Social Work and Public Health. He was named a professor in the University of Connecticut School of Social Work in 1987, where he was promoted to associate dean for research and development in 1991.

In 1993, Battle was recruited to Eastern Connecticut State University as associate vice president for academic affairs. Five years later, he joined the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as the Sullivan-Spaights Distinguished Professor in UWM's School of Social Welfare and Education. In that role, he established scholarships, a summer research institute focused on issues pertaining to adolescent fathers, and a mentoring institute for adolescent African American males. In 2000, he was promoted to vice chancellor of student and multicultural affairs at UMW, a post he held until being named president of Coppin State in 2003.

Throughout his career, Dr. Battle has remained committed to scholarly endeavor, community involvement and collaboration. Battle has numerous awards and honors and is an accomplished teacher, researcher, and speaker. He is also the author or co-author of 11 books and more than 60 articles and book chapters, primarily focusing on social issues involving the African American community.

Battle and his wife, Judith Lynn Rozie-Battle, an attorney, have one daughter, Ashley Lynn, a graduate of Mount Holyoke College who is now pursuing a master's degree from the Columbia School of Journalism.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3033) to improve Federal agency awards and oversight of contracts and assistance and to strengthen accountability of the Government-wide suspension and debarment system, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3033, the Contractors and Federal Spending Accountability Act of 2008, will help give Federal contracting officials the information they need to award contracts to most deserving companies. The Federal Government must spend taxpayer dollars as efficiently and responsibly as possible, and it is our job to make sure that happens. This bill will help Federal officials to decide whether or not a company bidding for a contract is responsible enough to get it.

If someone has to spend a lot of money on something, like a car, the responsible thing to do is to make sure that the person or dealership you will be doing business with is responsible and won't rip you off. You would want to find all the information that you can about how they do business.

The Federal Government must spend taxpayer dollars as efficiently and responsibly as possible, and it is our job to make sure that happens. This bill will help Federal officials to decide whether or not a company bidding for a contract is responsible enough to get it.

H.R. 3033 mandates the creation of a database that will record legal proceedings brought by the Federal Government and State governments against contractors. It will also record suspensions and debarments, whether previous contracts have been terminated for cause, and any previous finding by contracting officials that a company does not have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics. All Federal officials who award contracts will have access to this data, and it will go a long way to help them make informed decisions about the companies they are considering.

The bill also requires that if the database shows that someone is a repeat offender, two or more serious convictions or judgments for the same issue within 3 years, then the contracting officer has to explain in writing why they believe the contractor is currently responsible before a new contract can be awarded. This is another commonsense idea that will save money for the taxpayers.

I want to thank my friend and colleague from New York, Carolyn Maloney, for sponsoring this bill and for putting so much work into it. When she was on the New York City Council, she passed a similar law. The New York City database, called Vendex, has been a great success, and it is the model of the Federal database that this bill creates.

I also want to thank the chairman of our full committee, Congressman Waxman. Of course, I want to thank Ranking Member Davis, and I want to thank the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Bilbray, for his support as well.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3033 will be an important tool to help Federal officials make the best use of taxpayer dollars when awarding contracts. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) who is the person who sponsored the bill and has done some tremendous work.

I yield 5 minutes to the chairman of the full committee, the Honorable Henry Waxman from the great State of California.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5712) to require disclosure by Federal contractors of certain violations relating to the award or performance of Federal contracts, as amended.

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.

H.R. 5712, the Close the Contractor Fraud Loophole Act, is a commonsense solution to a problem that we never should have had in the first place. When the administration wrote a new rule requiring Federal contractors to report fraud and over billing on government contracts, for some reason contracts performed overseas and commercial item contracts were exempted from that requirement.

That didn't make sense to my colleague on the Subcommittee on Government Management, Congressman Welch, because so much contract fraud and waste has been seen on contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He introduced this bill which will close these loopholes, and I salute him for that.

The Justice Department believes the new rule is necessary because few government contractors voluntarily disclose suspected instances of fraud. But the exemptions in the rule as written would leave out contractors like those in Iraq and Afghanistan, where we have spent billions on reconstruction contracts over the past 5 years. Over that period, the Justice Department has uncovered at least $14 million in contract bribes in those two countries alone. Contractors must be held to the same standards no matter where they perform their work.

Since Congressman Welch brought attention to this loophole, introduced this bill, and called for the hearing our subcommittee held last week, the administration has said it is leaning toward including overseas and commercial item contracts in the final fraud reporting rule. I am happy to hear that, but we cannot get them to guarantee that these loopholes would be closed. That is why Mr. Welch's bill is necessary, to make sure that loopholes are closed for good. Another way to put it, this legislation will help them deal with a problem that should not have occurred.

I want to thank Congressman Welch for bringing this problem to the attention of the subcommittee. I would also like to thank the chairman of our full committee, Congressman Waxman, and also thank the ranking member of the full committee, Congressman Davis. And I would like to thank the ranking member of the subcommittee, Congressman Bilbray, for helping us bring this bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when our national security is of paramount concern, criminals who cheat the government must be identified, stopped and punished. H.R. 5712 will help make sure that taxpayer dollars are used for their intended purpose, and not to line the pockets of corrupt individuals or companies. So I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the Honorable Henry Waxman, the chairman of the full committee.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 5 minutes to the author of this legislation, a person that has worked real hard and has done a magnificent job, the gentleman from Vermont, Congressman Welch.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Waxman; I want to thank Ranking Member Davis; and, of course, Ranking Member Bilbray for his work; and, of course, Congressman Welch. This legislation is really needed, and I was happy that we were able to move it to the floor very quickly, because any time we can save money, and I think that this is what this does, it saves the taxpayers money, and I just think we need to salute Congressman Welch for his insight in being able to do just that.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3928) to require certain large government contractors that receive more than 80 percent of their annual gross

revenue from Federal contracts to disclose the names and salaries of their most highly compensated officers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to Chairman Waxman, the gentleman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to Congressman Murphy who is the author of the bill who has done a fantastic job. I think the people in this country should be very proud of him and his work.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to Congressman Welch.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3928, the Government Funding Transparency Act of 2008, will provide more information about executive pay at large organizations that get almost all of their revenue from Federal taxpayers' dollars. It closes a loophole in the current law.

Right now, the salaries of most people who are paid from Federal funds are public information. The salaries of every Member of Congress is public information. However, large private companies that draw most of their revenue from Federal funds have no such requirements. As a result, nobody knows

if the taxpayers are funding enormous executive pay packages.

This bill is intended to apply the same standards of transparency to these large companies that apply to other people and groups that benefit from Federal expenditures. For example, each year the Federal Government spends hundreds of billions of dollars on contracts. In 2006 alone, the Federal Government spent over $400 billion.

This increase in spending has enriched Federal contractors by way of record-breaking profits and escalating executive compensation. Yet, although the government spends billions of dollars on private contractors, the American taxpayers and Congress know very little about the financial and compensation policies of these firms.

This bill is very narrowly targeted. It requires disclosure of executive pay only from private companies that bring in more than $25 million a year in Federal funds and only if those Federal funds are more than 80 percent of the company's revenue.

The executives of companies falling into that category are basically being paid by the taxpayers, and the taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going. I don't have a problem with people making money. That's okay. That is not what this bill is about. It is about getting the information needed to see if taxpayers' dollars are being well spent. That is important.

If a company whose revenue is primarily from government funds can pay its executives millions of dollars, it raises questions about whether the government is getting a good bargain. It suggests the government could spend its money more efficiently through more competition or more different requirements. Enormous taxpayer-funded pay packages should be a trigger for more oversight of the programs involved.

The sponsor of this bill, Mr. Murphy from Connecticut, has put in a lot of work on this bill because he recognizes the importance of greater transparency and the need of safeguarding tax bill dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is an important step towards our goal of improving accountability and transparency in Federal spending. We should know whether taxpayers are footing the bill for high salaries paid to executives. I fully support its passage, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 323, expressing congressional support for the goals and ideals of National Health Care Decisions Day.

As a cosponsor of this resolution, I understand the importance of making our health decisions clear to our family members and other loved ones through advanced directives. While it is very difficult for us to face the prospects of our own mortality, many of us write wills in order to ensure that our loved ones are adequately provided for in our absence. Unfortunately, we often do not take that care in making provisions regarding our end-of-life medical care.

Nobody can predict when disease, tragedy, or other medical conditions will render one unable to make medical decisions for ourselves. Accordingly, we must plan ahead in case of such a tragedy to ensure that our wishes are properly carried out.

Advanced directives are an integral part of any care-delivery plan. They are simply a statement by a competent person that articulates the medical, legal, and personal wishes regarding medical treatment in the event of future incapacity.

Where advanced directives are present, medical professionals, families, and loved ones are best able to make critical care decisions should a patient become unable to make sound judgments about their health care.

The resolution before us commemorates National Health Care Decisions Day on April 16, 2008. Although this specific day occurred last week, the goals and ideals of today should be recognized perpetually.

This resolution encourages those 18 years of age and older to prepare advance directives. It also encourages medical, civic, educational, religious and other nonprofit organizations to promote advance directive preparation, particularly among their constituents.

I would like to thank my colleague on the other side of the aisle, Representative Phil Gingrey, for his work in raising this important issue. Our colleagues in the Senate have already recognized the need to highlight advance directives, and I urge us here in the House to do the same.

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

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