Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Clara White, a native of Michigan and Pontiac resident, for her lifelong dedication to volunteerism and community service. As a Member of Congress it is both my privilege and honor to recognize Mrs. White for her many accomplishments and to thank her for her dedication to strengthening our shared communities.

At 86 years old, Mrs. White has spent over six decades giving back to the people and institutions of Pontiac through her countless hours of volunteer work. Her volunteer efforts are even more impressive considering that for 20 years of this time she also worked as a social worker for Oakland County Children's Village and raised a family with her husband, William, to whom she was married for 52 years.

A major facet of Mrs. White's 60 years of volunteer service centers around her work with the National Urban League's local organization in Pontiac. The Urban League is a national civil rights organizations dedicated to improving the lives of urban area residents. Her involvement with the Pontiac Urban League even included two terms as Chairman of its Board of Directors. In 1996, for her outstanding dedication and service, she was awarded the honor of ``Living Legend'' from the National Urban League. After 50 years of volunteerism with the National Urban League Mrs. White was awarded with the Diamond Urban League Pin, an honor very few Urban League members ever receive.

In addition to her work with the Urban League, Mrs. White shared her vitality of spirit and passion for community service with many other community organizations which have had a profound positive impact on the Pontiac community. Mrs. White's served on the Executive Board of Pontiac Youth Assistance, aiding the organization is its efforts to support Pontiac youth and prevent truancy. Mrs. White's

work as a Vice President of the Pontiac Area PTA Council and President of PTAs for several Pontiac schools furthered her work with local schools to strengthen and empower all sectors of the Pontiac community. Additionally, Mrs. White's volunteer efforts with the United Way and March of Dimes supported causes serving those in need in our area and beyond.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor Mrs. Clara White's dedication to the Pontiac community through public service and volunteerism. Mrs. White's recognition from organizations in Pontiac, Oakland County, and Michigan make evident that her positive impact has been felt far and wide. I wish her many many more years of health, happiness, and productive service to our shared communities.

Madam Speaker, there is no way I can in good conscience vote for an almost $2 trillion increase in the debt limit, without first exploring other alternatives. We need a plan for reducing spending in both the short and long term, and a workable path to balance our budget and shrink our national debt. For example, reducing the authorization for TARP, cutting wasteful agriculture subsidies to corporate factory farms and cracking down on offshore haven tax cheats could help reduce the debt while Congress works toward enacting a long term, bipartisan solution that will aggressively reduce our budget deficits.

This year, Congress needs to cut spending and create a bipartisan debt commission, as well as enact a strong PAY-GO law that requires any new spending programs be offset elsewhere in the budget. We must find a way to control budget deficits or another debt increase will likely be inevitable. That's the responsible strategy for generating surpluses like we enjoyed in the 1990s.

Last week, the Senate had a genuine opportunity to take on our national debt in a bipartisan manner as proposed by Senators Gregg and Conrad. Their proposal, which was supported by a majority of the Senate including moderate Democrats and Republicans but unfortunately killed by a stubborn minority, would have created a bipartisan commission that would craft fiscal reforms that Congress would then have to vote on as a single package.

I am voting to reject the Senate's almost $2 trillion debt increase. Any debt increase that Congress considers going forward should include a plan for long term debt reduction, such as Senator Gregg's debt commission.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Farmington/Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families. As a Member of Congress, it is both my honor and privilege to recognize this important milestone and pay tribute to this outstanding organization.

The Foundation was created in 1995 with the focus of assisting youth through supporting after-school programs. Over the Foundation's 15 years it has awarded almost $500,000 to 37 different non-profit groups. The Foundation has since grown and expanded its focus to support a wide-range of community based programs which work to enrich the lives of Farmington and Farmington Hills residents. Each year the Foundation holds an annual gala to highlight the work of programs it has supported, as well as raise support and awareness for future projects. At its 2009 gala, the Foundation introduced its ``Bountiful Backpack'' program, which arose out of the need to ensure that the substantial number of children who are on free and reduced lunch in our schools continue to have those same healthy nutritional options outside of school.

This year the Foundation honors George and Delores Riley, whose philanthropic work has left a profound positive impact on the communities and citizens of Farmington and Farmington Hills. After nearly 30 years of running a highly successful communications business, in 1998 George Riley sold his company and started the Riley Foundation. According to Mr. Riley, he started the foundation to ``really help children.'' Mr. Riley's vision and commitment continues today with the Rileys' children.

The Riley Foundation's latest major project created a park in downtown Farmington which has been a haven for children and their families in the Farmington area. Beyond local projects, the Riley Foundation has done extraordinary work for the less fortunate world- wide and has recently partnered with public television to develop a new broadcast center for the Metro-Detroit market.

Madam Speaker, I am honored today to recognize the Farmington/ Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families on the occasion of its 15th anniversary and wish them many more years of continued success in creating a stronger Farmington/Farmington Hills community through its support of projects which enrich the lives of area residents.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers (AFPD). As a Member of Congress, it is both my honor and privilege to recognize the AFPD on achieving this most impressive milestone.

Since its founding in 1910, the AFPD has acted as a strong advocate for the food, beverage and petroleum industries in the State of Michigan. Based in my district, in the city of Farmington Hills, the AFPD currently represents 3900 retailers in the States of Michigan and Ohio. The AFPD boasts a diverse membership ranging from independent supermarkets, convenience stores, service stations and auto repair businesses to the wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers who support them. Many of the small businesses which the AFPD supports are important economic and philanthropic pillars within our shared communities.

Going beyond advocacy for its respective industries, the AFPD established the AFPD Foundation in 1999 to support the philanthropic work of its members in the communities which it serves. To date, the AFPD Foundation has awarded over $300,000 in academic scholarships to extraordinary and deserving students in the States of Michigan and Ohio who are attending accredited higher learning institutions. The AFPD Foundation also partners with the Salvation Army during the holidays to promote its Red Kettle program, which allows the Salvation Army to provide food, toys, and clothing to families in need.

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize the Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers on the occasion of celebrating its 100th anniversary. The philanthropic work of the AFPD Foundation has enriched the lives of many within the communities its members serve. The celebration of the AFPD's 100th anniversary is indeed an impressive milestone and I wish it and its members many, many more successful and productive years to come.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the Schauer amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.

Like many Americans, my Christmas Day spent with family was interrupted by the news of the attempted terrorist attack on Northwest Flight No. 253 to Detroit.

As a lifelong Michigan resident whose friends, family, and constituents regularly fly in and out of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, the Christmas Day attempt was especially chilling. While it was certainly fortunate that no lives were lost in the Christmas Day attempt, the attack exposed serious and unacceptable shortcomings in our ability to gather intelligence and to connect the dots.

I believe that protecting the American people is Congress' number one priority and responsibility. The Christmas Day incident showed us that security officials need to work more closely with their counterparts overseas and within the United States intelligence community to ensure tougher and more coordinated screening.

I appreciate my friend Congressman Schauer's leadership on this important issue, and I am proud to support the Schauer amendment because it will help ensure that we learn as much as possible about the failures that allowed the events of Christmas Day 2009 to transpire.

I urge the adoption of this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to honor Congressman Dale Kildee on the occasion of his twenty thousandth vote.

Congressman Kildee has proudly represented Flint area residents in Michigan's State House, State Senate and U.S. Congress for over 46 years.

Only missing twenty seven votes during his thirty three years in Congress, with a large portion of those during a hospital stay, Congressman Kildee has been nicknamed the ``Cal Ripken of Congress''. His strong work ethic demonstrated in his exceptional voting record has also translated into many legislative victories.

Throughout his career, Congressman Kildee has been a champion for children, from serving as a local high school teacher, to Chairman of the House Page Program, to working to establish child protection measures and additional development programs for children as a Member of Congress.

As a senior member of the Education and Labor Committee, and as the Democratic Chairman of the Congressional Auto Caucus, Congressman Kildee has been a tireless supporter of auto workers in Michigan and around the nation, helping to establish worker retraining programs and new job opportunities. Through these efforts, Dale was able to establish a Job Corps Center in Flint to provide vocational and academic training for young people with the goal of helping them to improve their own quality of life.

I am proud to serve alongside my good friend Dale Kildee, who has been a fighter for the people of Michigan; from his avid protection of our Great Lakes, to his support for worker protection laws and support of children's education. Dale has served as a mentor to me throughout my career in Michigan public office and I am proud to call him a friend, and happy to be able to congratulate him on the occasion of his 20,000th vote here in the House of Representatives.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding the time.

While the majority of Iraqis are Muslim, there are many communities of religious and ethnic minorities whose history in Iraq goes back thousands of years. This includes Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and other Christians, as well as Sabian Mandeans and Yazidis.

Since 2003, approximately 2\1/2\ million refugees and asylum seekers have fled Iraq, and millions more have become displaced, forced to flee their homes and neighborhoods because of sectarian violence. In fact, there were approximately 1\1/2\ million Christians in Iraq in 2003, and today there is less than half of that amount.

Many of these Iraqis would like nothing more than to return home. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 2008, approximately 221,000 Iraqis returned to their home village or neighborhood in Iraq and the vast majority settled into areas where members of their own religious community controlled the neighborhood or local government.

Unfortunately, Iraqi religious minorities do not have militia or tribal structures to defend themselves, and they do not receive adequate protection from the police or security forces. Not only does this make the possibility of return nearly impossible for Iraqi religious minorities, it also leaves them particularly vulnerable to violence.

Iraqi Christians and other religious minorities are often specifically targeted in gruesome and random acts of violence such as murder, rape, and abductions. This includes the Chaldean community, who this week is mourning the kidnapping and murder of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho on February 29, 2008.

Archbishop Rahho spent almost his entire life living in Mosul and serving its Christian communities which are among the oldest and largest in Iraq. For years, the archbishop was threatened with violence because he spoke out against discrimination against Christians by Muslim extremists. Sadly, the archbishop was murdered because he refused to lend the support of his church to terrorists in their fight against U.S. forces in Iraq.

These stories continue to be tragically common, and more must be done by the United States Government and by the Government of Iraq to protect religious minorities.

This resolution calls upon the United States and the Iraqi Government to protect religious minorities by encouraging free and fair elections, training Iraqi security forces, and providing safe places to worship. It also seeks an investigation into human rights violations and calls for an end to the abuse of Iraqi religious minorities. Finally, the resolution calls for the United States to work with the Iraqi Government to ensure the physical and economic safety of those wishing to return to Iraq.

I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Wolf and Ms. Eshoo, who, as co-Chairs of the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus, have shown great leadership on this issue and for their support of this resolution. I would also like to thank Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for their support and for their staffs' work in helping me bring this resolution forward today.

It is no longer possible to stand by and watch as millions of religious minorities are subject to torture, abuse, and discrimination, which is why I ask my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me as I recognize National Wear Red Day this Friday, February 5, to raise awareness of and support women's heart health.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. In Michigan, more than 43 women die each day from heart disease and stroke. In fact, since 1984, more women than men die of heart disease each year and the gap between men and women's survival continues to widen.

These deaths are largely preventable. For too long, medical professionals and the public at large have viewed heart disease as a ``man's disease.'' This attitude is still manifested today. Women comprise only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies. Women wait longer than men to go to an emergency room when having a heart attack and physicians are slower to recognize the presence of heart attacks in women because ``characteristic'' patterns of chest pain and EKG changes are less frequently present. After heart attack, women are less likely than men to receive beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and aspirin--therapies known to improve survival. This contributes to a higher rate of complications after heart attacks in women, even after adjusting for age. Consequently, 38 percent of women, compared to 25 percent of men, will die within one year of a first recognized heart attack.

Heart health is just one area of the health care disparities between men and women, so the Wear Red Campaign is critical to leveling that playing field. But along with heart health, we must do more to ensure health parity for women in all aspects of health care. So, I am so proud today to stand with the American Heart Association and the hundreds of thousands of women and men who support this important cause and I am proud to continue to fight in Congress and support health parity for women in all aspects of health care.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Construction Association of Michigan on the occasion of its 125th anniversary. As a Member of Congress, it is both my honor and privilege to recognize this important milestone. In the Association's 125 years of operation it has grown to become both the oldest and largest regional construction association in the United States.

This historic occasion is even more impressive when considering the Association's modest beginnings. The Association was originally founded by 21 prominent Detroit-area construction industry leaders as the Builders and Traders Exchange in 1885. Their vision was to create an organization to provide assistance, information and service to the Michigan construction industry as well as foster opportunities for industry growth and development of relationships between the Michigan construction industry and their clients.

That spark of a vision 125 years ago of what could be has grown into an organization of over 3400 members, which acts as a critical element in creating, perpetuating, and strengthening profitability, efficiency and integrity within the Michigan construction industry. The services that CAM offers to their members now extends to providing leadership and guidance in such significant issues as economic development, continuing education, complete safety training programs and ongoing legislative relations and public awareness efforts.

Madam Speaker, in these tough economic times it is the work of organizations such as CAM that is critical in helping to shepherd their members and our men and women in the construction industry through the perils of economic instability. The 125th anniversary of CAM's founding is indeed a historic milestone for Michigan's construction industry. I would again like to offer my heartiest congratulations to the executive board for achieving such an impressive milestone and I look forward to CAM's continued success in its future endeavors, as well as many many more years of productive service to the State of Michigan.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, legislation that I co-sponsored because of my concerns about the Iranian nuclear threat. We in Congress must act swiftly to make sure a nuclear Iran is never a reality.

I know how destabilizing a nuclear Iran would be to the region. While serving on duty with the U.S. Navy reserve in the United Arab Emirates, I could look out each day over the Straights of Hormuz. I could see the line of oil tankers waiting to transit the straights and I saw what a choke point that was for the world's economy. This year, I traveled to Israel, a trip which reinforced just how critical and grave the threat from Iran is to Israel's security and America's interests in the region.

Despite being a leading producer of crude oil, Iran cannot adequately meet its own needs for refined petroleum products. Enacting sanctions to restrict the imports of those products into Iran is important leverage we must have to ensure the security of the united States, Israel, and our allies around the world.

Passing tough sanctions today will show Iran, and the global community, that the United States will not stand idle as Iran attempts to amass a nuclear arsenal.

Madam Speaker, the threat is real and the time to act is now. I strongly urge passage.

I have an amendment at the desk.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Today we are debating legislation that will end the ``too big to fail'' doctrine and provide a mechanism for ensuring that in the future, taxpayers will not be asked to foot the bill to clean up Wall Street's mistakes. My amendment improves this legislation by ensuring that taxpayers are not asked to foot the bill for Wall Street's past mistakes as well.

My amendment will firmly establish that the financial industry--not taxpayers--will be responsible for making up any TARP shortfalls, and the TARP program will not add to our deficits or our national debt.

Section 134 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 requires the President to identify a mechanism for recovering any shortfalls in TARP funds after 5 years so as not to increase the budget deficit or national debt. However, the mechanism for recouping any shortfall is not identified.

H.R. 4173 already empowers the FDIC to make risk-based assessments on the Nation's largest and most systemically risky financial institutions that will be used to create a Systemic Dissolution Fund used to seize and unwind any failed nonbank financial institution in the future, ensuring that there will be no more ad hoc bailouts of too-big-to-fail institutions.

My amendment would give the FDIC authority to make additional assessments to these same large firms, whose excessive risk-taking caused the current financial crisis, and use those assessments to pay off any TARP shortfalls and ensure that the taxpayers are made whole.

My amendment gives the American taxpayer certainty that all TARP funds will be recouped from the large financial companies that caused this financial crisis. It will allow Congress to show that we have a plan in place for the recoupment of any shortfall, consistent with the promises made during the debate over the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. It will also ensure that the American public understands that we are not turning the page on TARP, but instead we have a clear and decisive plan for making sure that taxpayers are made whole.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I would like to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schauer).

Madam Chair, I would like to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

Madam Chair, the amendment before us is a commonsense attempt to make sure that we recoup to the taxpayers the money that has been loaned to the financial industry. The gentleman from Texas mentions we should just end TARP, but that doesn't relieve us of the fact that we've got $140 billion that needs to be paid back so that it's not a liability on the taxpayers.

This is a way in which we can recoup the money from the financial institutions, the very institutions that were responsible for bringing this financial meltdown to our country and the problems that have impacted my State and States all across this country. This is a commonsense approach, and I urge adoption.

Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution designed to raise awareness and express support for Iraqi religious minorities. The war in Iraq and the subsequent ethnic and sectarian violence has created a massive humanitarian crisis, and led to the displacement of millions of people. Iraqi religious minorities are particularly vulnerable, and are often specifically targeted in gruesome and random acts of violence, such as murder, rape, and abductions.

Many who have escaped Iraq to seek refuge in neighboring countries are forced to live in poverty, unable to legally work and lacking sufficient support from their host government. Those who remain in Iraq live a life of constant fear. They are forced into hiding and are vulnerable to emotional and physical attacks. Iraqi religious minorities lack the resources and sturdy community foundation necessary to defend themselves, and thus remain underrepresented politically, legally, and economically. Muslims and non-Muslims alike are exposed to such attacks, but the smaller religious sects remain more vulnerable, including Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and other Christians, Sabean Mandeans, and Yazidis. Catholic Christians have witnessed the killing of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho and the ancient Iraqi Jewish community has seen itself diminish to a population of only ten members.

This resolution calls upon the combined efforts of the United States Government and United Nations to ask the Iraqi Government to protect religious minorities by encouraging free and fair elections, training Iraqi security forces and providing safe places to worship. It also seeks an investigation into human rights violations, and calls for an end to the abuse of Iraqi religious minorities. Finally, the resolution calls for United States to work with the Iraqi government to ensure the physical and economic safety of those wishing to return to Iraq.

It is no longer possible to stand by and watch as millions of religious minorities are

subjected to torture, abuse, and discrimination, which is why I ask my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the selection of St. Hugo of the Hills in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, as a 2009 Blue Ribbon School. This prestigious award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Department of Education. That St. Hugo earned this designation is a testament to the dedication of its administration, teachers, staff, students, parents and community members, whose hard work of self-evaluation, review and goal-setting for the future has proved exemplary.

The Blue Ribbon Schools designation is reserved for schools that provide only the most rigorous academic programs or which have made only the most dramatic strides in improving their students' academic achievement. In fact, St. Hugo School was the only private school in Michigan to receive the award this year. St. Hugo of the Hills has a long-celebrated and exemplary tradition of striving for academic excellence, with standardized test scores that reflect a deep commitment to high achievement. St. Hugo of the Hills provides its students an outstanding program of nationally recognized excellence in an environment in which the teachings of the Catholic faith are instilled, nurtured and demonstrated. Since 1940, it is this combination that has enabled St. Hugo to count among its alumni scores of community leaders and dedicated, productive citizens.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my recognition of St. Hugo of the Hills on the honor of its outstanding achievement for being designated a 2009 National Blue Ribbon School.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor James Poppelreiter, Fire Chief of West Bloomfield Township, for his 44 years of dedicated service to the safety and well-being of his community and its citizens.

Since beginning his career as a sergeant with the department in November 1965, Chief Poppelreiter has served West Bloomfield Township with the distinction, valor, and tenacity that have been essential in creating this vibrant and diverse suburban metropolis. In recognition of his 35 years of outstanding work and leadership with the West Bloomfield Fire Department and the greater community, Chief Poppelreiter was bestowed his current responsibilities as Chief in April 2000. Chief Poppelreiter's ascent to one of the top public safety offices in the township was a product of decades of perseverance and strong work ethic.

Chief Poppelreiter's career spans a transcendent period for the West Bloomfield community. At the start of Chief Poppelreiter's career the West Bloomfield Fire Department was a small volunteer force serving a mere 14,000 residents in a rural hamlet of Oakland County. The township has since grown to over 66,000 residents and is one of southeast Michigan's

most economically and ethnically diverse communities. During the years spanning Chief Poppelreiter's career, the Fire Department grew to a full-time professional staff of over 100 that serve West Bloomfield and several of the surrounding communities. During his tenure, Chief Poppelreiter's commitment to excellence has ensured that the residents of West Bloomfield have received outstanding fire safety protection.

Chief Poppelreiter's career illustrates exemplary public service in its truest spirit and finest tradition. His absence in retirement will surely be felt by his colleagues and the residents of West Bloomfield. Madam Speaker I ask all of my colleagues to join me today in honoring the courageous work and unwavering commitment of Chief Poppelreiter to the community and citizens of West Bloomfield.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Today we are considering important legislation that will provide borrowers, lenders and the government with a number of important tools to assist the survival and growth of small businesses. Small businesses are the prime engine of innovation, economic expansion and job creation, and supporting our small businesses should be the cornerstone of any plan for economic recovery. For areas of high unemployment, small businesses are particularly important, and the jobs they provide are particularly valuable.

While the economy is beginning to show signs of improvement, there is no doubt that in some areas unemployment remains at an extreme high level. For example, the State of Michigan has the Nation's highest unemployment rate at 15.3 percent, and in the city of Pontiac, which I represent, the unemployment rate is a staggering 35.2 percent.

My amendment would ensure that businesses that want to invest in high unemployment areas and create jobs can do so competitively at a time when innovation and investment is needed most by making high unemployment areas eligible for more expansive American Recovery Capital, ARC, loans and the New Market Venture Capital program.

In order to assist these high unemployment areas, my amendment will increase the maximum ARC loan amount from $50,000 to $75,000 and defer repayment until 18 months after final disbursement of the loan is made. This would give struggling firms room to breathe and help avoid further layoffs and closures.

My amendment would also give entrepreneurs better access to private capital by making eligibility for the New Market Venture Capital program include high unemployment areas. This would target investment and opportunity directly where it is needed most and encourage business growth in hard-hit areas like the city of Pontiac. These simple changes would ensure that hard-hit areas have the tools necessary to stop hemorrhaging jobs and to invest in new operations that will create jobs, bring new technologies to markets, and build a new foundation for Michigan's economy and the country as a whole.

I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I would like to thank Representative Schrader for bringing forth this important legislation, as well as Chairwoman Velazquez and her staff for their help on the amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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