Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (H.R. 3221). This measure will provide a helping hand for those reeling from the mortgage crisis. Just as importantly, it will restore confidence in our largest mortgage backers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

We have all seen how unscrupulous lending practices and skyrocketing interest rates associated with nontraditional mortgages have devastated families nationwide. Sadly, these families are often left with few options other than to see their homes foreclosed upon. In Rhode Island, foreclosures have increased by 20 percent in the last six months, and it is our most vulnerable communities that have been disproportionately affected.

Fortunately, today we are considering a package that will stem the tide of foreclosures by authorizing $300 billion in loan guarantees to establish HOPE for homeowners, a voluntary program administered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to help at-risk borrowers refinance into viable mortgages. I want to emphasize that this assistance is not a bail-out. On the contrary, the program will require lenders and mortgage investors to take significant losses in the form of a reduced loan principal, and borrowers must agree to share any profit from the resale of a refinanced home with the federal government. Furthermore, only primary residences will be eligible, not investment properties, vacation homes or speculators' purchases.

In addition, this package will provide $3.92 billion in Community Development Block Grants for local governments to purchase abandoned and foreclosed properties--a provision that is fully paid for. I am glad the President has finally lifted his misguided veto threat

over this provision and will not stand in the way of local governments attempting to reduce the number of vacant properties in their communities and invest in affordable housing.

This legislation will also revitalize the FHA, which was established to provide a reliable source of affordable mortgage loans for first- time homebuyers. The lack of affordable housing has long plagued many communities throughout America, and the problem is particularly acute in high cost areas like Rhode Island. Through our efforts today, the FHA will be able to better assist America's working families by offering loans at affordable rates with fair terms. This legislation will also allow the FHA to raise loan limits in high cost areas and to offer zero- and low-down-payment loan options for borrowers that can afford mortgage payments, but lack the resources required for a down payment. I also strongly support this bill's creation of a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which will construct, rehabilitate and preserve 1.5 million housing units over the next ten years.

Above all, this measure will help safeguard the interests of the American taxpayer and ensure that our nation's largest mortgage- backers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, remain strong. I'm pleased that H.R. 3221 will create a new independent agency--the Federal Housing Finance Agency, FHFA--to regulate Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac currently back nearly half of our nation's mortgages, and the FHFA will ensure both entities remain financially strong. The creation of a strong independent regulator for our Government Sponsored Enterprises is long overdue. Four years ago I shared Alan Greenspan's concerns that the GSE's were involved in risky investments, saying on the House Floor: ``It appears as though the increased risk that GSE's have been taking on is not related to their primary operation of purchasing affordable housing loans in the secondary market. Rather, much of their risk comes from derivative investments in an effort to maximize profits for shareholders. As we learned from Enron, complex derivative schemes may boost profits in the short-term, but the long-run risks can be too difficult to manage.'' While I regret that it took far too long for this problem to be taken seriously, I believe we are taking the proper action today.

This measure will also provide temporary, emergency authority through the end of 2009 to the Treasury Department to purchase stock in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to provide stability to our financial markets, prevent disruptions in the availability of mortgage finances, and protect taxpayers. While many, including the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, predict this authority may never be used, it is necessary to ensure a last-resort federal guarantee for our largest mortgage backers.

The American Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act also includes several key tax incentives designed to spur home buying and put money back in the hands of home owners. This legislation creates a $7,500 credit for first-time homebuyers, designed to serve as an interest-free loan to be paid back after fifteen years. H.R. 3221 will also provide taxpayers that claim the standard deduction with an additional property tax deduction of up to $500 for single filers and $1,000 for joint filers.

Finally, the bill before us will combat unscrupulous lending practices and increase transparency by establishing a nationwide loan originator licensing and registration system that will set minimum standards for licensing and substantially improve oversight of mortgage brokers and loan officers. Additionally, it improves disclosure requirements to help ensure that borrowers fully understand their mortgage loan terms.

This legislation is an important and common-sense response to the housing crisis and will help stabilize families and our economy. I thank Chairman Frank for his leadership, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, as a proud member of the Hellenic Caucus, I rise today to recognize the 34th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus. On this occasion, we mourn those who lost their lives and remember the barrier created in 1974 that still exists today. The island remains divided between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots, despite attempts by the international community for a reunification settlement.

I have repeatedly emphasized the need for a peaceful settlement to the ongoing division in Cyprus--a goal that has eluded American and European leaders for more than thirty years. I believe that a strong U.S. commitment to Cyprus should be one of our nation's top foreign policy priorities. As Americans, we must guarantee that our foreign policy reflects our values of justice, equality and responsibility, and promoting a lasting peace and stability in Cyprus illustrates those values.

The United States holds a unique position of trust with both Greece and Turkey, and we must use our influence to work toward a solution that is acceptable and equitable to all of Cyprus's residents. I am pleased that we have made progress in recent years, but we have more to do. We must remain committed to our vision of a Cyprus that is again unified and able to reach its full potential in the international arena.

I also would like to thank my colleagues on the Hellenic Caucus, especially Mrs. Maloney and Mr. Bilirakis, for addressing this important event.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, right now there are thousands of families in my home State of Rhode Island and across America who are struggling to keep their homes due to the fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis.

I rise in strong support of the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act to lend a helping hand for those reeling from the mortgage crisis. Just as importantly, it will restore confidence in our largest mortgage backers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

I am pleased that this package includes also a key House-passed measure from an overhaul of the Federal Housing Administration to an affordable housing trust fund to construct, rehabilitate, and preserve 1.5 million housing units. This will address an issue that's particularly acute in Rhode Island, where affordable housing is so scarce that someone needs to earn more than two or three times the minimum wage just to afford an average two-bedroom apartment.

H.R. 3221 will also create an independent agency to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank System to help ensure that these critical institutions remain strong.

I thank the gentleman for the unanimous consent request and for the granting of it.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3221 will also create an independent agency to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank System to help ensure that these critical institutions remain strong, and it's about time.

Four years ago I shared Alan Greenspan's concerns that GSEs were involved in risky investments. At that time I said it appears as though the increased risk the GSEs have been taking on is not related to their primary operation of purchasing affordable housing loans in the secondary market. Rather, much of their risk comes from derivative investments in an effort to maximize profits for shareholders. As we learned from Enron, complex derivative schemes may boost profits in the short term, but their long-run risk can be too difficult to manage, and this is where we are today. I'm glad that we fixed this problem by passing this legislation.

I commend the gentleman from Massachusetts for his hard work on this bill. I'm also glad that the President has finally lifted his veto threat and will not stand in the way of assistance to local governments to purchase abandoned and foreclosed properties.

This legislation is an important commonsense response to the housing crises and will help stabilize families in our economy.

I thank Chairman Frank for his leadership and all of my colleagues for their support for this bill.

I thank the chairman for yielding, and I want to commend the chairman and the ranking member on their hard work on this bill, particularly staff, who also has worked hard on this legislation.

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5959, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009.

While the bill contains a number of important provisions to strengthen our intelligence community and enhance national security that many of my colleagues have already been speaking about, I am particularly pleased that it represents a reasonable and measured response to the administration's cybersecurity initiative.

Now, this bill, the cybersecurity initiative, is the administration's response to the cybersecurity threats facing the Nation. And although the administration has been slow in recognizing this threat, I believe the cyber initiative is a move in the right direction, but requires careful scrutiny.

Now, this bill reduces funding in selected areas where it is not adequately justified. However, recognizing that cybersecurity is a real and growing threat that the Federal Government has been slow in addressing, the Intelligence Committee has authorized more than 90 percent of the administration's requests.

At the same time, the bill clearly demonstrates that the committee does not intend to write the administration a blank check for the cybersecurity initiative, which is a multi-year, multi-billion dollar project.

Now, we need a thorough assessment of the technical feasibility and scalability of the initiative and a careful balance between cybersecurity and privacy protections. Thus, the bill envisions an advisory panel of senior representatives of Congress, the Executive Branch and industry who can tackle these issues.

I was co-chair of the CSIS Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency, basically a commission that will present a blueprint on cybersecurity for the next President. I have been deeply involved in developing recommendations for a national cybersecurity plan that protects, among other things, our critical infrastructure assets and infrastructure itself, as well as Federal networks and also the private sector.

Furthermore, as a member of the House Intelligence Committee, and as chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science Technology, I will continue to ensure and exercise rigorous congressional oversight over this issue as it evolves.

The measure before us is an important first step in addressing our cybersecurity threats and closing that vulnerability and it is, obviously, a critical national security issue. And I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill.

Again, I commend Chairman Reyes for his leadership, and also thank staff for the great work they have done on this bill today.

I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5803, legislation that would establish a voluntary program so election officials can offer voters a backup paper ballot in the event of an emergency. Now when I served as the Secretary of State for the State of Rhode Island, I reformed our State's voting machines and election processes to make them more accurate and accountable. From that experience, I know that ensuring confidence in our voting system is the cornerstone of our democracy.

As the 2008 election promises to bring out record numbers of voters to the polls, H.R. 5803 will boost confidence among the electorate by ensuring that voters are not turned away from the polling places, do not wait in long lines and do not incorrectly receive provisional ballots because of malfunctioning voting systems. H.R. 5803 authorizes $75 million to establish a voluntary, and I repeat voluntary, opt-in grant programs for State and local governments that wish to provide backup paper ballots in the coming November elections.

Although many States already require emergency paper ballots, the 2008 Presidential primaries revealed that many jurisdictions do not have the resources to provide backup ballots. For example, during Pennsylvania's 2008 Presidential primary, a Philadelphia precinct experienced failures with both of its electronic voting machines causing voters to wait in long lines or even leave without voting at all because of a lack of emergency paper ballots. Now we can't allow that to happen. H.R. 5803 provides the necessary resources for States to prepare for potential problems so that voters are not turned away from the polls because the voting system malfunctions.

The National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Association of Counties support H.R. 5803 because it is meaningful and respectful of State authority in election administration matters. H.R. 5803 has been crafted to allow jurisdictions to determine when and how the backup ballots are distributed. The legislation is not a mandate, and it's purely a voluntary option for jurisdictions to consider.

In closing, I would like to thank the Elections Subcommittee Chairwoman Lofgren for her leadership in bringing this bill to the floor today in the first place. And I would also like to thank my friend from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) who has raised awareness about the importance of voting machine accuracy and accountability. I have been proud to work with him on a number of efforts, and I look forward to our continued cooperation.

I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 5803 to ensure that we maintain public confidence in our voting procedures as we approach this coming election season.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the ADA Amendments Act, and I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to recognize the fact that this act is championed by my good friend and colleague from Maryland, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

This crucial legislation would not have been possible without his leadership and that of Mr. Sensenbrenner and so many of my other colleagues, and I thank all of them for their tireless efforts to ensure the continued inclusion and protection of people with disabilities in our society.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to all of the advocates of disability and business communities who have united behind this important cause and worked diligently with Members of Congress to ensure a fair and strong compromise.

The American Disabilities Act, or ADA, was truly one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation of the 20th century. As someone who has lived with the challenges of a disability both before and after the ADA's enactment in 1990, I have experienced firsthand the profound transformation this law has created in our society.

I remember well what it was like before the passage of the ADA and where accommodations were seen as personal courtesies or privileges as opposed to a civil right. I can remember what it was like coming down to Washington as a young intern for Senator Pell from Rhode Island and how challenging it was to find good, reasonable public accommodations. And I remember what it was like in Rhode Island before the ADA was passed in terms of voting, and I was not able to vote independently on my own. I had to have help in the voting machine. And it wasn't until after the ADA was passed and I became Secretary of State and changed our election system that it was truly possible to vote independently on my own.

The ADA has broken down countless barriers and helped millions of Americans to flourish in their personal and professional lives. It has also served as a vital tool against discrimination in the workplace and in public life. Unfortunately, a number of court decisions over the years have diluted the definition of what constitutes a disability, effectively limiting the ADA's coverage and excluding from its protections people with diabetes, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, and various developmental disabilities.

The bill before us today reaffirms the protections of the ADA and renews our promise of equality for every American. The ADA has as its fundamental goal the inclusion of people in all aspects of society, and I am very pleased to say that the ADA Amendments Act brings us one step closer to that goal.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill and send a strong message that discrimination in any form will never be tolerated in this great Nation.

Madam Speaker, on the morning of June 20, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and unable to be in the chamber for three rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 434, on approving the journal; ``yea'' on rollcall No. 435, on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 1276; and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 436, on agreeing to H. Res. 436.

Additionally, because of inclement weather on the evening of June 23, 2008, my flight was delayed, and I consequently missed two votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 438, passage of H. Res. 1242; and ``yea'' on rollcall 439, passage of H. Con. Res. 372.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. I am pleased that the House of Representatives is taking action to address some immediate concerns within the Medicare program. This matter has regrettably become stalled in the Senate, and passage of this bill will affirm our commitment to ensuring continued access to care for America's Medicare beneficiaries.

This measure includes a number of important provisions, including increased access to low income assistance, additional supports for rural providers and beneficiaries, and an extension of access to therapy services through 2009. Additionally, this bill delays the impending 10.6 percent cut in Medicare physician reimbursements scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2008. Instead, it freezes payments for the remainder of 2008 and provides a modest 1.1 percent increase in 2009. This legislative fix, although temporary, will help ensure that access to care is not compromised and physicians can continue serving our most vulnerable populations. It is my hope that Congress will use these next 18 months as an opportunity to find a permanent and sustainable solution for the flawed reimbursement formula so that it more accurately represents the costs of providing care in the current market.

Also included in this bill is a provision to delay Medicare's competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment. Although competitive bidding was instituted to reduce spending within the already overburdened Medicare system, serious concerns have been raised over the implementation and potential consequences of this program. H.R. 6331 halts the implementation of the competitive bidding program for one year, while making necessary improvements to the bidding process and establishing quality standards for suppliers. This will constitute an important step towards a more efficient system that maintains the quality and access that beneficiaries deserve.

Americans everywhere are counting on this Congress to take action before July 1, to ensure that access to Medicare services is not jeopardized. I urge my colleagues to support this bill so that lawmakers can begin to discuss long-term, viable solutions to reform and stabilize the Medicare program.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. Though not a perfect piece of legislation, it is clearly far better than what we have today, and addresses a number of the many concerns that were raised about the administration's conduct of surveillance in this country.

As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I know that we must give our Intelligence Community the proper tools to protect us, while upholding the civil liberties of Americans. Today's compromise illustrates what this House can do when it deliberates with care, holds steady against fear mongering and acts in the best interests of the country and its citizens.

This bill is strong on civil liberties, and includes protections against infringement of our constitutional right to privacy.

First, the bill clarifies that FISA is the exclusive means by which the executive branch may conduct electronic surveillance on U.S. soil. No President will have the power to do an end-run around the legal requirements of FISA. This provision will prevent the types of abuses we've witnessed under this administration.

Second, this act requires a warrant from the FISA court to conduct surveillance of Americans abroad. Americans will no longer leave their constitutional protections at home when working, studying or traveling abroad.

Third, it requires prior approval by the FISA court of procedures the government will use when carrying out foreign electronic surveillance. This will ensure that the government's efforts are not aimed at targeting Americans, the so-called reverse targeting that we're all concerned about; and that if an American's communications is inadvertently intercepted, it is dealt with in a manner that guarantees legal protections.

It also requires and allows for, now, an IG investigation of this warrantless surveillance program that took place prior to Congress being made aware of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, as I've said before, this legislation will only work if everyone involved follows the rules and remains within the confines of the law. Congress must continue to conduct robust oversight to make sure that the law is implemented as intended to maintain the critical and fragile balance of protecting our Nation and protecting civil liberties.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I know we must give our intelligence community the proper tools to protect us while upholding the civil liberties of Americans. Today's compromise illustrates what this House can do when it deliberates with care, holds steady against fear-mongering, and acts in the best interest of the country and its citizens.

This bill is strong on civil liberties, and includes protections against infringement of our Constitutional right to privacy.

First, the bill clarifies that FISA is the exclusive means by which the executive branch may conduct electronic surveillance on U.S. soil. No President will have the power to do an end-run around the legal requirements of FISA. This provision will prevent the types of abuses we have witnessed under this administration.

Second, this Act requires a warrant from the FISA court to conduct surveillance of Americans abroad. Americans will no longer leave their constitutional protections at home when working, studying, or traveling abroad.

Third, it requires prior approval by the FISA court of procedures the Government will use when carrying out foreign electronic surveillance. This will ensure that the Government's efforts are not aimed at targeting Americans, and that, if an American's communication is inadvertently intercepted, it is dealt with in a manner that guarantees legal protections.

One issue that has been repeatedly addressed is whether telecommunications companies should be granted immunity against pending lawsuits for their involvement in the earlier surveillance program. For a long period of time, the Bush Administration stonewalled and did not provide Congress the documents we demanded to ascertain the role that the telecommunications companies played. Since then, I have reviewed a large number of classified documents on this matter, and I am deeply concerned about the manner in which the Bush administration conducted its surveillance program. Therefore, I am pleased that this legislation preserves a role for the U.S. court system, which will review the documents produced by the White House and other relevant documents to decide independently whether the telecommunications companies acted in good faith when cooperating with the Government. Only after that review would the courts decide whether the telecommunications companies deserve any form of liability protection. Furthermore, the legislation authorizes a joint investigation by the Inspectors General from the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Agency, Department of Defense, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence to review the past actions of the U.S. Government and report to Congress on their findings so that we may take appropriate action.

Many today have said that the legislation before us is not a perfect bill, and I agree. Nevertheless, it is significantly better than the bill passed by the Senate and an immense improvement over the Bush administration's program, neither of which took sufficient steps to protect Americans' civil liberties. I know that the Democratic leadership negotiated a good compromise, and I will support it. However, as I have said before, this legislation will only work if everyone involved follows the rules and remains within the confines of the law. Congress must continue to conduct robust oversight to make sure the law is implemented as intended to maintain the critical and fragile balance of protecting our Nation and protecting civil liberties.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, which would provide 4 weeks of paid parental leave and 8 weeks of unpaid leave for all Federal employees after the birth or adoption of a child. Under this measure, these employees may also use accrued annual or sick leave to receive compensation for the unpaid weeks. Currently, employees may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act to care for a newborn or adopted child.

H.R. 5781 will help the United States Government compete with the private sector in order to recruit the best and brightest employees and retain that talent. In 2007, a Government Accountability Office report found that countries offering paid parental leave experienced increased employee retention and a reduction in the amount of time women spend out of the workforce. Disappointingly, the GAO also reported that the U.S. lags behind other industrial nations in providing policies that support working parents and their children. In fact, 169 countries guarantee women leave with income in connection with childbirth.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that women are more likely to work before and after pregnancy than they were 30 to 40 years ago, and Congress must legislate according to the changing makeup of our workforce. So far, we have not met that mark. I know that many of my colleagues have already met or exceeded the requirements of this bill, and I applaud their efforts. I know from firsthand experience that allowing new parents guaranteed paid leave helps balance the demands between work and family. For the hard work they provide for us, we owe our employees the time to enjoy the bonds that matter most in their lives.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this measure. It is time that the Federal Government sets the standard for working parent policies.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act, H.R. 2631, introduced by my friend and colleague, Congressman Adam Schiff. Through my work on both the Homeland Security Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have become convinced that the nuclear terrorist threat is real requiring the full and urgent attention of our government.

Now, last weekend, we received a stark reminder of just how real this threat is. According to media reports, A.Q. Khan's network provided nations, possibly Iran and North Korea, with blueprints for a sophisticated nuclear device small enough to fit on a ballistic missile.

Now, I take this threat very seriously, and as chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology, I focus much of my attention on addressing our nuclear vulnerability. And I have always said that the core of our efforts must focus on a three-prong strategy: an approach of prevention, detection, and response.

Now, by strengthening our detection capabilities, we've certainly made it more difficult for those who wish us harm to smuggle in nuclear weapons or weapons of nuclear material across our border. In fact, we are currently screening 100 percent of all incoming cargo on the southern border, 98 percent on the Nation's seaports, and 91 percent on the northern border. And Director Vayl Oxford of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office assures me we will be screening 100 percent along our northern border by next year.

Now, I firmly believe that the surest way to prevent a nuclear terrorist attack from occurring is to prevent terrorists from obtaining nuclear weapons

or weapons-grade nuclear material in the first place, but all those who have these materials should be also put on notice that all nuclear material contains a unique signature that could be traced back to them.

Now, the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act is a critical mechanism for enhancing this capability. Nuclear forensics allows experts to study the mix of isotopes and other features of nuclear material that give it a particular signature, or fingerprint. Once a nuclear signature has been promptly identified, we can oftentimes trace the material back to a particular source. Now, this is perhaps one of the best proactive measures we can take to deter terrorists from acquiring and detonating a nuclear weapon. It's also a wake-up call for all nations that already have nuclear weapons or weapons-grade nuclear material to better secure it.

If nations around the world know they can be identified as the source of material used in a nuclear attack, they may think twice about proliferating knowing that they would be the target of any retaliatory efforts.

In short, Madam Speaker, when people think of tracing where a nuclear attack would come from, they think of the missile being launched from a particular location and then detonated at a target, and they would obviously know and would be able to trace that missile back to where it was originally launched from. And if anybody were to smuggle a nuclear device into the country and detonate it, they would get off scot-free. Well, nuclear forensics clearly shows that is not the case.

Any time that a nuclear weapon would be detonated or weapons-grade nuclear material would be used, it does come with a return address, and we would be able to trace it back.

I'm proud to be a cosponsor of this measure, and I'm also pleased that we're taking yet another step to protect Americans against a nuclear threat.

Again, I would like to thank Congressman Schiff for his leadership on this issue. I would like to thank my Ranking Member Mr. McCaul on the subcommittee for helping to bring this to the floor. And most especially I want to thank the chairman of the full Committee on Homeland Security, Chairman Thompson, for his leadership on securing the Nation against potential nuclear threats and for all of his great leadership on homeland security issues and for bringing this issue to the floor today.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008, which will provide 13 weeks of extended unemployment compensation benefits for all workers who have exhausted their current 26 weeks of benefits. This measure also provides 13 additional weeks for workers in States with unemployment rates of 6 percent or higher. In order to receive these benefits, workers must have lost a job through no fault of their own, be actively searching for a job, be able to work, and must have a minimum number of weeks worked and amount of wages earned over a specific timeframe prior to being unemployed.

This bill provides a critical boost to the many Rhode Islanders, and Americans across the Nation, who are struggling to find employment. Our country's unemployment rate jumped from 5 percent in April to 5.5 percent in May, the biggest one-month increase in over 20 years. In my home State of Rhode Island, the unemployment rate reached 6.1 percent in April, and we have lost an estimated 6,300 jobs since the beginning of the year. H.R. 5749 would provide relief through March 2006 and benefit 3.8 million Americans. Most importantly, this measure would immediately help as many as 8,000 Rhode Islanders.

When discussing this matter, we must remember to look beyond the statistics and recognize the serious toll that unemployment is taking on American families. I have received numerous calls from my fellow Rhode Islanders asking when Congress would extend their benefits. They tell me how they are looking for a job, but they just have not been able to find one yet. They have not given up--research has shown that workers who exhaust their unemployment benefits, search for a job at similar or higher levels of intensity as those who find employment before their benefits expire--but they need more time. Compounding the problem, the rising cost of gas poses an additional challenge in searching for a job, and rising food prices have made it even harder to put food on the table. Our constituents are turning to us for help.

As Members of Congress, we have the power to give hard-working Americans another chance to continue their job search and provide for their families. Our country has faced economic hardships and recessions before, and I have no doubt we will weather this current downturn. I encourage my colleagues to pass this bill and give a hand up to those who are most vulnerable during these trying times.

I want to thank the gentlelady for yielding, and I also want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for bringing this serious issue to light.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, I have spent much of the 110th Congress focused on issues of information security. In fact, my subcommittee has held eight hearings and conducted investigations into dozens of cyber security issues. And while I believe we have made some real progress in the last year or so, we still have a lot of work ahead of us.

I fully agree with Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell, when he says that cyber security is the most significant national security issue facing the Nation today, and it's easy to understand why.

We rely on computers in every aspect of our lives, from our banking systems

and our electric grid, to our military and the functions of our Government. And whether we realize it or not, each of us is dependent on the effective functioning of computers. For many years, these systems were largely closed to the outside world, but in the Internet age, this is no longer true.

In the history of the world, never have so many people had so much access to ideas, knowledge, and skills. Unfortunately, never before have so many people also possessed the capability to cause such catastrophic economic and physical harm to the United States.

Now, this is not a hypothetical threat. In 2007, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Cartwright told Congress that ``America is under widespread attack in cyberspace.'' And though we have not seen the massive denial of service attacks that the Nation of Estonia experienced last year, the Federal Government and the private sector have been the victims over the last decade of an extensive and deliberate espionage campaign that has had a significant impact upon our Nation.

As Major General William Lord stated publicly last year, ``China has downloaded 10 to 20 terabytes''--again 10 to 20 terabytes--``of data from the DOD's unclassified network.'' That's the equivalent of almost half of the Library of Congress.

American businesses, too, have been dramatically affected. One estimate suggests that our companies lose an estimated $70 billion each year due to cyber crime, and individual citizens are far from immune either. Electronic identity theft affects, as you know, millions of us every year.

There are a variety of motives for these attacks, but the result is clear: the weakening security and economic stability of our country. National security is a nonpartisan issue, and we must all work together to commit the resources and the manpower necessary to respond to this threat.

The situation raised by Congressman Wolf today illustrates that while the House of Representatives has strong information protections in place, cyber security threats pose a challenge to computer systems everywhere, and it is an ever-evolving and dynamic threat. And we need to do all we can to stay out in front of it and ahead of it.

Now, I'm pleased that the House leadership takes this issue very seriously and is taking action to ensure that House systems are properly secured, and I especially commend House Administration Chairman Bob Brady for directing the Chief Administration Officer to immediately adopt additional protections for House computers.

I also want to commend the gentlelady from California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren) for her due diligence and passion about cyber security as well, and I certainly appreciate the working relationship, good working relationship, that she and I have together.

I am ready to do anything I can to help ensure that our House information systems are as secure as possible. Recognizing that this issue is much larger than the House of Representatives, I am also committed to addressing the broader issues of cyber security across the Federal domain and the national critical infrastructure.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that our Federal Government is educated and prepared at all levels to thwart cyber attacks and protect the integrity of our networks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss one of the most critical issues facing American families today--the state of the national economy. I want the American people to know that this Congress understands the struggles facing millions of people. And we have been taking steps to provide assistance to those in need. Just last week, we heard the troubling news that our unemployment rate jumped from 5 percent in April to 5.5 percent in May.

Now in Rhode Island, the problem is even worse with an unemployment rate of 6.1 percent. Now I strongly support an extension of unemployment insurance to those who exhausted their benefit. And I am disappointed that Republicans blocked its passage in the House earlier today. Unfortunately, our economic woes are not limited, though, to high unemployment. As health care costs and food prices rise, families find themselves forced to decide between buying groceries and medicine, a choice no person should ever have to make. And compounding problems of skyrocketing energy costs have made it tougher for people to fill

their gas tanks while affordable housing has become also increasingly rare.

We know what the American people are facing, and we are taking steps to help. Of the many challenges that we are dealing with right now, one important priority for me is to address the housing crisis. Now home ownership has become an unreachable dream for many Rhode Islanders who face the typical monthly housing payments upwards of $2,200. The situation for renters is not much better. The average two-bedroom apartment right now rents for nearly $1,200 a month. Meanwhile our State's foreclosure rate has risen 20 percent in the last few months. I have worked to help Rhode Islanders facing foreclosure, but we need to do more at the national level.

I have been proud to support Chairman Frank's efforts to pass comprehensive housing legislation which would significantly increase availability of affordable housing nationwide and help those facing foreclosure to keep their homes. I am certainly hopeful that the Senate will act soon and we will bring swift relief to the American people.

Our constituents also face skyrocketing energy costs which are eating up an ever larger portion of disposable income. The average U.S. household spends approximately $1,000 more per year on gasoline than it did 5 years ago. Meanwhile oil and gas companies are reaping record profits while doing nothing to lower prices for consumers. I think this is an absolute outrage.

I have strongly advocated a comprehensive energy plan to lower costs, create jobs and improve our environment. As a short-term strategy, this Congress has, among other things, suspended shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to provide more oil to the market. We cracked down on price-fixing among energy companies and passed legislation to repeal massive tax breaks for oil and gas companies.

In the longer term, though, we must invest in conservation and domestic production of clean and renewable fuels. This will reduce our reliance on foreign energy sources while creating new jobs in the green energy sector. Unfortunately, the President's stubborn opposition to commonsense initiatives has blocked any real progress. I'm going to keep fighting to move our Nation forward, toward a more responsible energy policy, and I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the state of our Nation's health care system. Right now, approximately 47 million Americans lack health insurance while the rest watch their coverage costs continue their steep climb. That is why I've introduced the American Health Benefits Program Act, which will provide every American with access to the same quality, affordable coverage as Members of Congress. My bipartisan proposal offers a practical model to begin reigning in costs, improving quality and delivering the same level of health care that this country deserves.

American prosperity, Mr. Speaker, depends on individual economic security. Only when Americans no longer have to choose between groceries, gas and health care will our economy truly flourish. I am committed to improving the economic outlook for the millions who are struggling, and I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress on this vital and urgent goal.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. Having served on the House Armed Services Committee, I know that it handles some of the most complicated and contentious issues before Congress, but through a combination of hard work and a commitment to bipartisanship, it has been able to assemble a good bill that all Members should support. I would particularly like to thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member Hunter for their leadership and their efforts to enhance our national security.

The members of this body hold significantly different opinions about what our Nation's role should be in Iraq. Personally, having voted against the authorization of the use of force in Iraq, I believe that our current combat operations are doing significant and systemic damage to our military readiness and that we need a new strategy that emphasizes diplomatic and economic efforts and that allows us to bring our troops home. Despite our differences on Iraq policy, though, my colleagues and I stand in full support of the men and women in uniform who serve our Nation, as well as their families. This legislation recognizes their service by providing a pay raise of 3.9 percent--an increase of 0.5 percent over the President's budget request. It also rejects the President's ill-advised proposal to raise premiums and co- pays for participants of TRICARE, the military health care system. Congress recognizes that other options exist to reduce the cost of health care and that we must not place an undue burden on our military families. To that end, H.R. 5658 establishes several new preventive health initiatives, which will keep people healthier and reduce future costs.

As co-chair of the House Submarine Caucus, I am particularly pleased that the bill before us makes a major investment in our national security by providing an additional $722 million for advanced procurement of a second VIRGINIA-class submarine in FY2010--one year ahead of schedule. Last year, Congress provided $588 million to expedite the VIRGINIA-class construction schedule to attain two submarines in FY2011, and this legislation moves the target date even sooner. Submarines are one of the most effective and flexible platforms in our military, but if we don't build more quickly, we will lose our strategic advantage over nations that are rapidly expanding their naval forces. Furthermore, this funding will help our submarine industrial base, which, without additional work, will face layoffs, and our Nation could lose their specialized skills and expertise. The men and women who work at Electric Boat in my district make the best submarines in the world, and I am pleased that this legislation will allow them to expand their contributions to our national security. I am deeply grateful to Chairman Ike Skelton and Seapower Subcommittee Chairman Gene Taylor--as well as my friend and neighbor Joe Courtney and my co- chair on the Submarine Caucus Randy Forbes--for their commitment to our submarine force.

This Congress has shown a commitment to our Navy and recognizes the importance of shipbuilding. While I applaud many provisions in this bill that will help restore the size of our fleet, I have concerns about the decision to delay the purchase of the third Zumwalt-class destroyer (DDG-1000). Instead of funding the President's full request, the bill provides $400 million that may be used either to purchase long-lead materials for the thud DDG-1000 or to begin procurement of two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (DDG-51). The DDG-1000 is the first installment in the Navy's Family of Ships line, which will develop new technology for later insertion in the next-generation cruiser and other surface ships. Delaying DDG-1000 will prevent the development of new technologies and weapons systems that are necessary to address current and future threats. Additionally, while purchasing additional DDG-51s will help us increase the size of our fleet, they cannot fulfill the mission requirements of the DDG-1000, which was specifically built to have greater capability and a smaller crew. As we move forward with this bill, I ask that the committee keep these concerns in mind.

I am very proud to support H.R. 5658, which provides our men and women in uniform with the resources, equipment and services they need to continue their excellent service to the Nation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Skelton-Berman-Lowey amendment, and I want to commend the sponsors for proposing this amendment.

Having served on the Armed Services, Intelligence, and Homeland Security Committees, I have seen firsthand the stovepiping that occurs in the various parts of government responsible for national security. I recognize the urgent need to encourage greater interagency cooperation, both in strategic planning and at the operational level.

Our Nation has many ways to promote stability and peace throughout the world and protect our Nation. We often see a focus on our hard power assets, such as use of our military, but we also use our diplomacy, financial assistance, or other ``soft power'' assets such as cultural exchanges and communications. We need far better coordination and cooperation between our hard and soft power assets to truly achieve a comprehensive national security strategy for the United States.

This amendment would create an advisory panel to encourage collaboration among Department of Defense, State Department, and USAID. This is an important first step in promoting a comprehensive view of national security, and I'm confident that the sponsors of this amendment will build on this effort.

I look forward to working with them to encourage more interagency cooperation so that the United States can be more effective in reaching our national security goals.