Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, we often recognize military veterans for their many contributions to our country. Today, I would like to recognize other Americans who also give freely of their time and energy to the public good. These unsung heroes are the women of veterans' auxiliaries who conduct youth activities, community service and promote the ideals of America without compensation and without sufficient recognition.

One such woman is Iris Jean George, the New Jersey State President for the VFW's Ladies Auxiliary. As a result of her brother's service in Vietnam, Iris Jean decided to join the VFW Ladies Auxiliary #6590 Cookstown and District 11 in February of 1995. Throughout her time with the Ladies Auxiliary, she has been active through participation in numerous chairmanship roles, was a 1999 All American Auxiliary President, and was named Outstanding District President in 2004-2005.

Additionally, Iris Jean is very active in her community, serving as a former president of the McGuire AFB Enlisted Spouse Club, former president of her local rotary club, and as an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Sykesville. It is no wonder that in June 2009 she was elected as department president.

On Saturday, January 9, Iris Jean will be the guest of honor during her official visit to District 12 at Brick Township Post 8867. I would like to thank Iris Jean and officially recognize her for her outstanding service to veterans and her country.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to express my gratitude to Mr. Douglas J. Foley for his dedicated and tireless service with the East Dover Fire Company in Toms River, NJ.

Mr. Foley has selflessly and bravely served the people of Toms River throughout his career and is retiring in January after a lifetime of service. After serving as vice-president of the company for the past eight years, he has made important improvements to the Fire Company and the safety of the town and its people.

I would like to thank Mr. Foley for his exemplary service. Thank you for all you have done and I wish you a Happy Retirement.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to express my gratitude to Mr. James Mercready for his dedicated and tireless service with the East Dover Fire Company in Toms River, NJ.

Mr. Mercready has selflessly and bravely served the people of Toms River throughout his career and is retiring in January after a lifetime of service. After serving as president of the company for the past six years, he has made important improvements to the Fire Company and the safety of the town and its people.

I would like to thank Mr. Mercready for his exemplary service. Thank you for all you have done and I wish you a Happy Retirement.

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey.

Much of the legislation we are discussing the last couple of days and tomorrow when we vote is about the failure of this Congress to regulate sufficiently. I mean, it's one instance we have facts, we have data, we have clear evidence of our overregulation. Sarbanes-Oxley has done some very good things, and unfortunately the section 404(b) has chased companies out of the United States of America. We know companies that are doing IPOs, not in New York, but in London. They have said so. We know other companies that have been unable to aggregate capital to go from small to big, to create jobs, the sorts of jobs the President talked about at the Brookings Institution just a couple of days ago. Small companies sometimes become great companies and employ thousands and thousands of people.

Most of this bill we are talking about today and tomorrow will do some very good things to add enough regulation. This one instance, we have to do what Mr. Garrett and I tried to do, what a bipartisan group in the Financial Services Committee did, which is restore the right balance so small companies aren't crushed from their aspiration of going public, of selling stock to the public, of growing and creating the next Microsoft, IBM, General Electric, the next great companies. We are missing a chance here if we pass this amendment.

The committee did the right thing on a bipartisan basis to grow our economy. Let's not turn our backs on the many Americans who want to have good, decent jobs in this country now.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I stand before you today, asking you and my fellow Members of Congress to honor the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3020. For 75 years they have stood firmly to their commitment to our Nation.

One of the ways we honor our country is to make service a tradition. In south Jersey, this effort has gained substantial support from the VFW, a visible, active, and honorable organization. I often cite the way in which our veterans find ways to continue to serve as a strength to our community. Veterans in south Jersey have been a constant reminder of the pride we take in public service throughout the past 75 years.

VFW Post 3020 has always been supportive of service men and women at any time of need. The members of VFW Post 3020 all served this country once. Now they are serving their country again. And I for one would like to thank them for all they have done, and will continue to do.

Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing the best for the long future ahead for this great organization. Thank you to all of the veterans of VFW Post 3020, and thanks to all of the members of our community who support the VFW in their mission. God bless you all, and God bless America.

Madam Speaker, I stand today before the House to recognize an important member of New Jersey's 3rd District, Mr. William R. Gifford who is celebrating his 90th birthday on December 20, 2009.

Mr. Gifford is a graduate of the Ohio State University. During World War II, he served with distinction with the rank of captain, as a bombardier in the 15th Army Air Force's 484th Bombardment Group. After the war, Mr. Gifford became employed at Pricewaterhouse in New York City where he was made partner.

Now retired, he enjoys spending time with his sons, William R. Gifford, Jr., Russell M. Gifford and Gregory Gifford and their families.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you please join me in wishing Mr. Gifford a happy 90th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate Colonel Gina Grosso and the fellow recipients of National Association of Women Business Owners' 2009 Beyond the Glass Ceiling Award. As Joint Base and 87th Air Base Wing Commander, Colonel Grosso was awarded this year's Trailblazer Award for her work overseeing the unification of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

Colonel Grosso entered the Air Force in 1986 as a Reserve Officer Training Corps distinguished graduate from Carnegie-Mellon University. She has held several command and staff positions throughout her career and her command tours include a Headquarters Squadron Section, Military Personnel Flight, Mission Support Squadron, and command of the Air Force's sole Basic Military Training Group.

As commander, Colonel Grosso provides installation support to more than 40 mission commanders at McGuire, Dix, and Lakehurst, the Department of Defense's first and only joint base with consolidated Air Force, Army, and Navy installations. She is responsible for providing mission ready expeditionary Airmen to combatant commanders in support of joint and combined operations.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending Colonel Gina Grosso. She is truly a trailblazer and an outstanding leader deserving of this award.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to express my gratitude to Mr. Zweiman for his dedicated and tireless service to the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America.

Mr. Zweiman selflessly and bravely served this country in the Philippines during World War II. Upon returning home, he took advantage of the Montgomery G.I. Bill and received a bachelor's degree and juris doctorate from New York University. With this educational foundation, Mr. Zweiman became an exceptional attorney-at-law, specializing in corporate and family law.

Even with his busy professional life, Mr. Zweiman always found the time to contribute his time and talents to the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV). He began with the organization as editor of his local JWV Post Newsletter and currently serves as a member of the JWV Policy Committee as well as a member of the organization's Executive Committee. Mr. Zweiman has made numerous contributions throughout his prestigious 61-year career with the JWV, including developing the JWV's Allied Veterans Mission to Israel program, creating and developing a direct mail program to provide funding for JWV programs, and designing and coordinating renovations of the Jewish War Veterans Museum in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Zweiman's continued exemplary service to this nation is rightfully honored today. Thank you for all you have done and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3763) to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide for an exclusion from Red Flag Guidelines for certain businesses.

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

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

First, I want to thank Representatives Michael Simpson from Idaho,

Paul Broun from Georgia, particularly Chris Lee from New York, as well as Dan Maffei from New York for helping me draft this bipartisan bill to help protect small businesses from overreaching Federal regulations during these tough economic times. In addition, I would like to thank Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the FTC, for delaying enforcement of the Red Flag Guidelines until Congress passes this commonsense fix.

American small businesses are struggling. They are often forced to comply with burdensome regulations that significantly increase their expenses. I am committed to helping small businesses, because the key to our economic recovery is tied to their ability to thrive. Today, my bill will clarify the intention of past legislation so that it isn't blindly enforced against America's small businesses.

The Federal Trade Commission went too far and went beyond the intent of Congress by considering non-financial, service-related industries to be ``creditors'' under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. Its ruling would force thousands of small businesses to comply with burdensome, expensive regulations by forcing them to develop and implement an identity theft program.

My commonsense bill would exempt health care practices, law and accounting firms from the FTC's Red Flag Guidelines. In addition, it would create a system where the FTC has some flexibility to waive implementation of the regulations for other industries.

During these tough economic times, the Federal Government should not be placing burdensome regulations on small businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of New Jersey's economy, and they shouldn't be included under a random definition interpreted by a Federal bureaucracy. Failure to pass this bill today will hurt America and the hardworking, innovative entrepreneurs that manage and operate small businesses across this great country.

Again, I applaud the bipartisan way we crafted this legislation and urge the rest of my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

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

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Before I close, I would like to reiterate the importance of this bill. Many of America's economic problems are not the fault of small businesses, but they have borne the brunt of the economic downturn. My legislation, Mr. Lee's legislation, Mr. Broun's legislation, Mr. Simpson's and Mr. Maffei's, a bipartisan piece of legislation, will prevent one more layer of Federal regulations that would add another cost on the backs of small businesses across America.

Again, I urge all Members of Congress to support this bill. I thank Mr. Broun for his comments about the bipartisan nature of this bill. This is my and Mr. Lee's second bill together. I hope it's the second of many to try to serve the process of this House and to serve the people of our great country.

I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate an important member of New Jersey's 3rd District, Mr. George Smith. Mr. Smith, 79, was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his work developing technology that is the basis of digital photography.

Mr. Smith worked at Bell Laboratories until his retirement in 1986. He was born in 1930 in White Plains, New York, served in the United States Navy, and briefly studied mathematics before switching to physics. In 1959, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Mr. Smith currently resides in Waretown in Ocean County, NJ.

George Smith was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in physics along with colleague Willard Boyle for their work creating an image semiconducting circuit, or charge coupled device, CCD. Their research laid the foundation for digital images and lightning-fast communication by developing fiber-optic cable and the sensor found at the heart of digital cameras. They share their prize with Hong Kong professor Kuen Kao for his work on fiber optics.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending Mr. George Smith for his much deserved Nobel Prize. May his dedication and innovative thinking serve as a model for all those who seek to achieve original solutions within their respective fields.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 775 had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, today, I was not present in Washington, DC to cast the following votes, because I was attending a ceremony to commemorate the first operating day of Joint Base McGuire/ Dix/Lakehurst in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District. Joint Base McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst is the first tri-service base in the country, and today was significant for my district and the United States military. If I were present, I would have voted the following way.

1) Republican Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 2892--Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010--I would have voted yes.

2) H. Res. 517--Congratulating the University of Washington women's softball team for winning the 2009 Women's College World Series--I would have voted yes.

3) H. Res. 487--Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the State News at Michigan State University--I would have voted yes.

4) H. Res. 788--Rule providing for consideration of the Conference Report on H.R. 3183--Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010--I would have voted yes.

5) H. Res. 692--Supporting the goals and ideals of Tay-Sachs Awareness Month--I would have voted yes.

6) H. Con. Res. 151--Expressing the sense of Congress that China release democratic activist Liu Xiaobo from imprisonment--I would have voted yes.

7) Final Passage of the Conference Report on H.R. 3183--Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010--I would have voted yes.

I thank the gentlelady for bringing this resolution to the floor. I thank my friend Mr. Thompson for his support. I thank both Congressman Miller and Ranking Member Kline for their leadership on the Education and Labor Committee.

We have a country that watches us and is sometimes appalled by what they see as too much partisanship. This is another example of Republicans and Democrats working together to help the young men and women who have both put on a uniform, gone overseas to keep us safe and free back home. Democrats, Republicans, a Member of Congress, as Americans are standing up for those people that stood up for us to keep us safe and to keep us free.

I was delighted by the remarks of both Ms. Hirono and Mr. Thompson in support of this resolution. We are trying to thank those colleges, those universities, those technical schools that already do what they can in terms of admissions, in terms of credit transfers, in terms of recognizing the service time as an educational opportunity for which credit should be given.

We want to encourage those other universities, other colleges, other technical schools that don't yet do this to do what schools, colleges, technical schools around the country have done since 1972, and increasingly so.

I was very, very happy that my State university in New Jersey, Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, just so recently acknowledged SOC, joined SOC, and is doing what so many other universities, colleges and technical schools have been doing since 1972 to help our servicemembers, to help our newly discharged veterans realize their civilian American Dream. Each and every one of them, as they see fit, by going to a university or college of higher education may achieve the sorts of opportunities they want through higher education to have a successful civilian life.

I thank both my friends here, Ms. Hirono and Mr. Thompson. I thank the leadership and the committee on both sides for trying to work for Americans, work for our veterans, work for our active servicemembers and for their family members to make sure they have a chance at a higher education.

I urge all our Members to support this resolution.

Madam Chairwoman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I'd like to start by thanking Chairman Miller, Chairman Andrews, and Ranking Member Kline for their leadership on this important matter.

The legislation we're discussing today provides funding to schools, nonprofits, and other educational-related organizations that assist students in the completion of college and associate degrees.

My amendment, along with that earlier amendment offered by Mr. Reyes, will take this bill to the next level and prioritize grants to schools and organizations that have shown a dedication to ensure student veterans have the support and resources they need to complete their degrees.

Our veterans have served our country to keep our country safe and free, and they deserve every opportunity to succeed as they return home. We should make every effort to ensure that their transition from service to civilian life is smooth and successful.

To that end, my amendment will prioritize schools and organizations that support our student veterans and help them apply the skills learned in military service to the classroom.

I thank the schools and organizations who already take steps to increase education opportunities for our veterans and hope that my amendment will support their efforts and provide an incentive for others to join them.

Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, has been on the forefront in my home State, providing much needed education opportunities to our servicemembers. Most recently, Rutgers created veterans' services offices, mentoring programs, special orientations, and advisory boards to better assist our State's veterans obtain the college degrees and certifications they deserve.

I hope that this bill pushes more colleges and universities across the country to support our veterans in the future.

Judge Washington said it best: ``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country.''

I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for his supporting the amendment.

May I inquire as to how much time I have remaining?

I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

They fought for our freedom. They fought for our safety. They fought for an ever greater America as a beacon of hope for freedom for the world. We can do something for them today by supporting this amendment. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3146) to make improvements to the FHA mortgage insurance programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking the Republican lead on this bill, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lee) for his hard work on this important issue. This is the sort of example of bipartisanship that I think the American people expect from us, and I am happy that in this case Mr. Lee and I could work together to try to bring some good relief to the American people.

I introduced H.R. 3146, the 21 Century FHA Housing Act earlier this year with bipartisan support to provide the Federal Housing Administration with the necessary tools to serve taxpayers during these challenging economic times.

FHA is currently one of the primary sources for safe, affordable mortgage financing for American families. During recent years, as private lenders have fled the market, the demand for FHA markets have grown exponentially. Its market share has ballooned from less than 3 percent of the market in 2006 to 23 percent of all mortgages today. We need to ensure that the FHA is able to meet this need efficiently and honestly.

Like most Americans, I am tired of hearing about more waste, fraud, and abuse in Washington or around the country. That is why the 21 Century FHA Housing Act is so very important. The bill will take steps to fix these problems and protect American taxpayers. It gives the FHA the authority to attract personnel with the skills and experience necessary to manage the increase in business. In addition, the FHA must be given sufficient resources to maintain the ability to enforce high underwriting and oversight standards and operate safely and effectively.

Enforcing high underwriting standards will yield safer products and protect the American taxpayer. We need to ensure that government programs are efficient and working on behalf of hardworking middle class families. With this increase in market share, comes an increase in risk. That is why this bill directs the Housing and Urban Development secretary to conduct an ongoing review of at-risk mortgages and provide a report to Congress on ways to improve at-risk management. This report will also make it easier to identify rogue predatory lenders and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the FHA system.

Mr. Speaker, the FHA is helping to provide credit to eligible homeowners within a marketplace where many credit lines are frozen. But it is imperative that these loans are good for families, our economy, and taxpayers. Failure to pass this bill may open the door for more of the mortgage fraud and abuse that helped cause the recent economic recession from which America is still suffering.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Does the gentleman yield back?

Mr. Speaker, I want to echo the comments of my friend, Mr. Lee from New York. We really did work in a bipartisan way to address a problem to save taxpayers from the waste, fraud, and abuse that I think frustrates so many Americans.

Many of America's economic problems are due to problems experienced within the housing market. The 21 Century FHA Housing Act of 2009 will make significant enhancements to FHA and will enable the administration to better manage the portfolio of loans and eliminate some of that waste, fraud, and abuse that frustrates us so very, very much.

As FHA steps into the void created by the predatory lenders, these improvements will be increasingly important. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bill.

September 14, 2009.

Hon. John Adler,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Adler: The undersigned organizations,

representing the real estate industry, urge your support of

H.R. 3146, the ``21st Century FHA Housing Act of 2009.'' This

bill will modernize the Federal Housing Administration (FHA),

allowing it to continue to offer safe, affordable mortgages

to American families, at no cost to taxpayers.

Despite FHA's growing role in the market, FHA's technology

and infrastructure are far behind the times. To better serve

American consumers and protect taxpayer interest, immediate

changes need to be made. Computer systems must be upgraded,

and sufficient staff be hired to handle all the

responsibilities of an agency that is meeting the needs of so

many American homebuyers.

Additionally, we support efforts to strengthen warehouse

lending in ways that would allow the marketplace to continue

to meet the demand for single-family and multifamily mortgage

products. Consumers benefit the most when there is

competition in the market and full access to credit.

H.R 3146 will allow FHA to continue its modernization,

utilize all of its mortgage programs, and assure that

homeowners have affordable safe options for homeownership. We

urge you to quickly pass this important legislation to update

FHA's programs to address the pressing needs of the current

mortgage market.

Sincerely,

Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of

Homebuilders, National Association of REALTORS'.

I yield back the balance of my time.