Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 1106: Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009. I want to thank all of the members who worked tirelessly on this bill as well as the President for making this a priority in his plan to help families stay in their homes.

Our country is faced with enormous challenges and every community has felt the effect of this economic downturn. Digging ourselves out of the hole we have been left will not be easy and will require difficult choices.

The housing crisis is not only at the root of the economic crisis we currently face, but continues to be a problem for millions of families facing difficulties in paying their mortgages. In Connecticut there were over 25,000 foreclosure filings in 2008, which was an increase of 84 percent over the previous year. Already in January of this year there have been more than 1,600 foreclosure filings in the state, including 387 in Hartford County alone.

This bill will go a long way to decreasing foreclosures and keeping families in their houses. It helps provide opportunities for families to refinance or modify their mortgages and ensures fairness in our bankruptcy courts for homeowners who face this option as their last resort. By allowing bankruptcy judges to modify the terms of mortgage loans, we will give homeowners the same opportunity that others have to restructure their loans for vacation homes. The bill also contains fixes to the Hope for Homeowners program that will provide more incentives for servicers to refinance mortgage loans and reduce fees for participating in the program. Finally, by permanently increasing federally insured deposits from $100,000 to $250,000 we will help restore confidence in our financial system.

This recovery will require a number of steps and this legislation is the next step in getting America back on track. I again want to express my support for this bill and urge my colleagues to vote for its passage.

Madam Speaker, on March 4, 2009. I missed two votes, that on H. Res. 195 (rollcall vote No. 95) and H. Res. 45 (rollcall vote No. 96). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' for both H. Res. 195, Recognizing and honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland Security on its sixth anniversary for their continuous efforts to keep the Nation safe, and H. Res. 45, Raising awareness and promoting education on the criminal justice system by establishing March as ``National Criminal Justice Month.''

Madam Speaker, on February 25, 2009, I missed two votes regarding H. Res. 184, a resolution setting forth the rule for consideration of H.R. 1105 to consider making omnibus appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' for both H. Res. 184, Ordering the previous question (Roll call vote 84), and H. Res. 184, On Agreeing to the Resolution (Roll call vote 85).

Mr. Speaker, 8 years of the Bush Administration's failed policies have left our economy in a deep and cavernous hole. The climb out will be steep. With the strength and courage of President Obama, this Congress and the American people it will be steady. Today we are voting on one bold and historic step out of this hole. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act offers the short term help and long term solutions that this country needs. It invests quickly in our economy to create or save at least 3.5 million jobs nationally--41,000 in my home state of Connecticut, and provide tax cuts for the middle class. And, it puts us on a path towards economic strength and stability for the future with bold reforms and new priorities.

This legislation makes a critical investment in our country's greatest resource: our children. We are helping local school districts in the short-term with over $53 billion in aid, to keep our teachers in the classroom. We are also making a down-payment on our country's future. With this legislation, we are helping to build the workforce of the future with funding for Head Start programs and Pell Grants, and modernizing our schools to give our students the tools they need to succeed.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act recognizes the important role our infrastructure will play in our economic recovery. Our roads and bridges are in serious need of repair and our public transportation desperately needs modernization. The funding provided in this legislation for infrastructure will create good paying jobs--many within the next few months. It also invests in the transportation of tomorrow with over $8 billion in funding for high speed rail--taking cars off the road, and improving our environment.

With this legislation we will begin to make the tough choices to create a new American energy industry that will create jobs now and decrease our dependence on foreign oil. This investment will help families reduce their energy bills and create ``green jobs'' while advancing American ingenuity and innovation.

Our work will not end when this bill is signed into law. As President Obama has said, it will take time and a lot of hard work to get this economy moving. This President, this Congress and the American people have the courage and fortitude to rebuild and recover. Today we begin that journey.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to join the House of Representatives in honoring Representative John Dingell as the longest serving member of the House. Mr. Dingell began his service to his country at the young age of 18, when he decided to join the Army. Ten years later, Mr. Dingell, the son of a Michigan Congressman, would soon follow in his father's footsteps; in 1955, he was elected to represent a Michigan district outside Detroit and would continue to serve this district for 54 years under 11 presidents.

A friend and colleague from whom I have gained insight and inspiration, Mr. Dingell has provided this chamber with unprecedented leadership, presiding over the House Energy and Commerce Committee for 15 years and heading important issues such as air quality, consumer protection, health care, protection for automakers, and energy policy. He authored notable bills such as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Today, I regard Mr. Dingell as one of Washington's most skilled law makers, and am eager to work with him as he helps oversee one of the most important reforms in this Congress: health care legislation. Throughout his legislative career and continuing today, Mr. Dingell has been focused and has acted with purpose--a purpose to improve social conditions for not only his constituents, but for people across the Nation.

Representative Dingell continues to provide exceptional leadership to the House of Representatives and will serve as an example of democratic leadership long after he leaves this chamber. I am proud to extend my congratulations and thanks to the Honorable John Dingell.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 632, the National Silver Alert Act of 2009. I thank Mr. Doggett for his leadership on this issue. This bill allows for the creation and enhancement of alert plans for missing adults across the nation and is an important step toward ensuring the safe return of missing adults nationwide.

According to the Connecticut Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, nearly 70,000 Connecticut residents have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Six out of every ten people diagnosed with Alzheimer's will wander from their homes or care giving facilities at some stage of their disease. Of those who wander, 50 percent risk serious injury or death if not found within the first 24 hours. For this reason, it is necessary that systems for timely, local search responses are put into place.

The National Silver Alert Act of 2009 provides for the coordination of resources needed by families and law enforcement officials to undertake appropriate search efforts for a missing adult. The bill acknowledges the need to protect the privacy, dignity, independence and autonomy of any missing adult who may be the subject of a Silver Alert, making this bill a truly comprehensive approach.

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the National Silver Alert Act of 2009 and to continue to push for legislation that seeks to protect missing adults.

I want to thank the gentleman from South Carolina. I am glad to associate myself with his opening remarks and those of the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Melancon).

Let me say that we were fortunate this past weekend at our issues conference to have the President of the United States address us. He said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Look at what I have inherited.

I think, Mr. Chairman, as you have done throughout your stellar career, you have outlined from a budgetary perspective the God-awful mess that President Obama has inherited. In fact, this is a cavernous hole that he finds himself in, as does our Nation.

Mr. Melancon pointed out exactly how deep a hole has been dug and what this problem means to every American, not only from the standpoint of our national debt, but clearly from the number of jobs that have been lost, from the number of people who have lost their homes, and lost their health care.

Now you have done a great job as chairman of our committee always bringing forward in detail. But, you know, Harper's magazine did an article just this past month called ``The $10 Trillion Hangover'' in which they specifically, almost but not as succinctly as your charts and graphs have indicated, but spell out how we got to this point.

I think Americans all across this great country as our new President struggles to deal with the hole that this previous administration has left us, want to know how we got here and how we make this steady, determined ascent out of this cavernous hole.

But the daunting task before this President is laid out before the American public with the 3.6 million jobs lost, with the projected recession in growth, and what we have heard from every single economist that has come before us is the difficult and uncharted waters that we are in. And that doesn't count what we anticipate might happen with the other shoe, credit default swaps and derivatives, and where the bottom is on that.

And yet this President, with the help of this Congress and under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, strives to make that move, that steady, determined ascent by both providing economic investment and economic recovery and, as important, economic stability for all of our citizens. So I commend the gentleman for bringing forward what is at best a very bleak picture for America, but to be counterweighted by the determination of this Congress and Members who have come here to the floor this evening to make sure that there is a steady ascent from the depths of this cavernous hole, dug in unprecedented fashion, where people were asleep at the switch, not watching what was going on, and running up unprecedented debt, where two wars were unpaid for, a Medicare bill unpaid for, tax cuts unpaid for, all to come home to roost. But determined we are as a Nation and as a Congress to make a steady and determined ascent out of the depths of this cavernous hole dug by this previous administration.

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, I would like to commemorate the departure of three notable members from Commission, with which I have had the honor of serving. These three individuals have helped promote the preservation and use of America's documentary heritage, helping those in our country and from abroad understand American democracy, history, and culture.

Margaret Grafeld of the Department of State of the United States joined the National Historical Publications and Records Commission in June 1998 and has served with distinction for the past decade. Currently Director of the Office of Information Programs and Services, Ms. Grafeld has been with the Department since 1974, shortly after her graduation from

George Washington University, and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program, Information Resources Management College, National Defense University.

In previous assignments, Ms. Grafeld served as acting director of the Office of Freedom of Information, Privacy, and Classification Review, and in other positions relating to information management and policy, privacy, access, litigation, appeals, and special projects. She was also involved with the State Department's Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation.

Her role on the Commission has been distinguished by her careful reading and consideration of the applicants, her sense of public duty, and her expertise on records management, particularly in the area of electronic records and public access. She has been the consummate public servant, always prepared to scrutinize and adjudicate applications, and render forthright and honest advice on public policy.

The Commission thanks Peggy Grafeld for her dedicated service and contributions to its programs with our sincere respect and affection.

Barbara Fields of Columbia University joined the National Historical Publications and Records Commission in 2001 and has served as representative of the Organization of American Historians with distinction. During her tenure on the Commission, Dr. Fields has cast a keen eye on the historical importance of the documents and records of our applicants.

A graduate of Harvard University and Yale University, Dr. Fields has brought a remarkable breadth of knowledge to the Commission. A MacArthur Fellow from 1992 to 1997, she is one of the leading scholars on the history of slavery in the United States. She made a notable appearance on Ken Burn's documentary series, ``The Civil War,'' and her publications include Slavery and Freedom on the Middle Ground: Maryland during the Nineteenth Century, which won the John H. Dunning Prize of the American Historical Association; and she co-authored with members of the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, The Destruction of Slavery, which won the Thomas Jefferson Prize of the Society for the History of the Federal Government; Slaves No More: Three Essays on the Emancipation and the Civil War, and Free At Last: A Documentary History of Slavery, Emancipation, and the Civil War.

Her role on the Commission has been distinguished by her discerning intellectual curiosity. The Commission thanks Barbara Fields for her dedicated service and contributions to its programs with our sincere respect and affection.

Charles T. Cullen joined the National Historical Publications and Records Commission in 1990 and has served with distinction as representative of the Association for Documentary Editing.

Dr. Cullen is a tireless advocate for the vital importance of documentary editing, always adhering to the highest standards, and in service to the public good. President and librarian emeritus of the Newberry Library, Dr. Cullen has been associated with that highly respected center for research and public access since 1986. Previously, he taught at Averett College, the College of William and Mary, and Princeton University, and worked as the editor on the Papers of John Marshall and the Papers of Thomas Jefferson. He has written or contributed to more than thirty books and articles, and has lectured widely on subjects relating to the age of Jefferson, the scholarly use of computers, and the role of humanities research libraries. An early advocate for the use of computers in scholarly editing, he received the Association for Documentary Editing's Distinguished Service Award in 1987.

His role on the Commission has been distinguished by a relentless insistence on quality and by his leadership on many issues, not solely scholarly editing, and he will be sorely missed. The Commission tanks Charles Cullen for his dedicated service and contributions to its programs with our sincere respect and affection.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight an amendment included in the legislation before us today that will not only put Americans to work, but will also improve the safety of our communities. This amendment will go a long way to help put firefighters back in our neighborhoods.

President Obama clearly understands the value of firefighters in our communities, as in his inaugural address he spoke of the firefighters' ``courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke'' in describing the faith and determination of the American people.

By waiving the matching requirement under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, this amendment will ensure that thousands of firefighters are either hired or retained nationwide without adding a single penny to the federal deficit.

All across our Nation, State and local governments are struggling. My State of Connecticut is currently facing a one billion dollar budget deficit this year alone. As a result, our governors, mayors and selectmen are being forced to make deep and at times dangerous budgetary cuts that are unfortunately resulting in many localities not being able to participate in the SAFER program, which is meant to assist departments in hiring additional firefighters.

Congress has funded the SAFER program in the past, and it would be irresponsible for the House to allow this funding to go unused. For this reason, I am extremely pleased that we adopted the aforementioned amendment and ensured that this funding gets to the local fire departments during this time of need.

Madam Speaker, this is just one more example of the responsible, beneficial provisions included in the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will lead our country back to economic stability. I thank all of my colleagues for their support.

Madam Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

I thank the distinguished chairman for his incredible work bringing this legislation forward.

Last week, 2 million of our fellow citizens stood on our Nation's front lawn and brought their aspirations and hope as they listened to President Barack Obama. His message was clear and realistic and hopeful.

We face, as they do here in this Chamber this day, at this moment, a rendezvous with reality, the crushing reality of what the last 8 years has brought to our American citizens. Our budget deficits, trade deficits and debt have reached record levels.

Unemployment has reached its highest level in 15 years. On Monday of this week alone, 71,000 jobs were lost. Inflation is on the rise. States are facing enormous budget shortfalls and are being forced to cut services. My own home State of Connecticut is facing a $1 billion deficit just this year.

Our economy is in a deep, cavernous hole. Our climb out will be steep, but it will be steady, and it will take hard work and sacrifice that the President called upon, but it will also take innovation by the American people, an investment in this country that we are

making in putting forward here today in this package, this package, this effort. This work is for those citizens who are not concerned about 15 days, they are living moment to moment and counting on us as we face this daunting reality to bring recovery, investment and hope by redressing the reality that our constituents, who we are sworn to serve, face every day.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, by the direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman. As I indicated, this is a privileged resolution from the Democratic Caucus, and the Committees are on Agriculture, Budget, Education, Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Natural Resources, Science and Technology, Small Business, and Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 43--Recognizing the efforts of those who serve their communities on Martin Luther King Day. Of the many legacies left behind by this great leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of community building is one that resonates with us today.

Martin Luther King Jr. recognized that in striving toward equality, the true work begins in the neighborhoods and streets of our communities. King demonstrated power of service through his work spreading his message across the United States. We not only pause on January 19, 2009, Martin Luther King Day to remember his legacy, but we use this as a day to promote his message of service. Volunteers across this great nation are working on service projects to commemorate his vision and teachings. In addition to asking Americans to serve, President-elect Obama, Vice President-elect Biden, and their families will participate in service activities. President-elect Barack Obama leads by example as a former Chicago community organizer, helping people one at a time. When he calls for progress and change he asks the American people to participate in that change. Martin Luther King Day should inspire us all to participate in serving our communities throughout the year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in commemoration and celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In addition, in the coming days and beyond, I encourage my fellow Americans to both celebrate great change that has come and strive to be the change that we need as we progress towards King's vision of the ``beloved community.''