Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, Mrs. Capps from California, for yielding the time, and thank her for her ongoing efforts and advocacy on behalf of the health of America's children and all Americans all across this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 760, supporting the goals and ideals of Children's Health Month. As cochair of the Congressional Children's Health Care Caucus, I am pleased to offer this resolution along with my colleague from the other side of the aisle, Mr. Reichert of Washington, who is the cochair of the caucus.

This has been an important year for work on children's health issues. As grandparents and parents and teachers and doctors and nurses and all community members understand, our work on behalf of children's health is constant, notwithstanding the fact that we are going to recognize a certain month here today.

We are working on behalf of children's health in so many collaborative ways, and we want to encourage more. We are encouraging families and schools to focus on healthy living habits and healthy nutrition for children. We are working to combat childhood obesity and to promote exercise and physical activity. We are continuing our concerted efforts to keep our children and teens from smoking. We are working to educate families and raise medical awareness about critical childhood illnesses such as asthma and diabetes. And, so many across this country are working to help parents and other families sign their kids up for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and those activities must continue.

But our concerns are not limited only to the physical health of our children, but also to their mental health and their behavioral health. I note just today that two new studies were released relating to early childhood behavior. We have got to remain at the cutting edge, and we have got to continue to encourage our talented researchers in my home State in Florida, Mrs. Capps' State of California, and all across the country to continue their work.

In addition, all too often our children are victims of abuse and neglect and do not receive the special care required to meet their health care needs and their mental health care needs. Here in the Congress, we are working to ensure that these disparities are eliminated and that our children receive all the support that they need. We would like our neighbors back home to know that we care about their families and the well-being of their children, and we will continue to draw attention to these issues and work hard to amend these problems.

Mr. Speaker, today as we acknowledge Children's Health Month and the importance of its meaning, we remind our neighbors and this body of the special attention needed for children's health. We salute the parents, pediatricians, nurses, and all community members that work every day to care for our kids, for their physical and mental well-being. We commend those institutions that have honored the goals of this special month, and we acknowledge the importance of supporting America's children by reinforcing our sincere dedication to providing access to health care for our kids, ensuring preventative care, seeking cures for debilitating diseases and chronic conditions, and promoting healthy lifestyles for America's children.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 802 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions). All time

yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 802.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 802 provides for consideration of H.R. 3355, the Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007, under an open rule with a preprinting requirement. This rule allows for floor consideration of any amendment that is in compliance with the House rules and the Congressional Budget Act and has been preprinted in the Congressional Record.

Mr. Speaker, in the face of natural catastrophes that too often strike our communities, the Congress today will initiate a new planning effort through H.R. 3355 and this rule. This new effort will assist our communities and hopefully tackle the rising cost of homeowners property insurance.

My colleagues from Florida, Representative Ron Klein and Representative Tim Mahoney, have led this bipartisan effort. I thank them for their tireless work and leadership, their leadership that should help our neighbors back home and folks across this country find affordable and available homeowners insurance.

Following some of the most expensive natural disasters in our Nation's history, like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and Wilma and the fires and the floods and the earthquakes, homeowners across this country have been subjected to wild fluctuations and horrendous cost increases for their property insurance. Insurance premiums are out of sight. They have skyrocketed. Well, we understand. We feel it in our own bills.

I hear it from the retired older woman in West Tampa back home who has owned her house for 30 years and is on a fixed income. But this exponential increase in insurance that she has suffered may force her to sell her long-time home.

I also hear it from the hardworking folks in south St. Petersburg who have been cancelled by their insurance companies after decades of paying their premiums without making any claim upon that insurer.

Due to all of the policy cancellations, we now have a crisis. Insurers have fled the State. In some areas, insurance premiums have gone beyond what any reasonable person would consider anything that they can handle in their everyday lives. A rate increase of over 600 percent is not unheard of. Some of our neighbors are having to rethink their retirements because they can no longer afford to live in their homes. But if they tried to sell, nobody can afford to buy those homes.

And, unbelievably, the State of Florida is now the largest provider of homeowners property insurance in our State. This problem is not limited to the State of Florida, however. Across the country over the past 5 years, homeowners insurance premiums have increased by over 45 percent on average. In Florida, that average increase is over 77 percent. And there seems to be no end in sight unless we work to create innovative options, like this bill, that will bring stability back to the marketplace and sanity back to insurance premiums.

Over 3 million loyal policyholders, many of whom have never submitted a single claim, have received letters from their insurance companies, nondescript envelopes that carry the message, ``Your policy is not eligible to be renewed.''

Last month a story caught my eye entitled, ``Home Insurers Canceling in the East.'' It said that insurance companies have essentially begun to redraw the outline of the eastern United States somewhere west of the Appalachian Trail.

Faced with the risk of their citizens being priced out or thrown out of private insurance markets, States have begun to take action. The State insurance program in Massachusetts has doubled as a result of the insurance crisis. My home State of Florida is now insuring 1.3 million policyholders. But the States did not ask to be put in this position. They tried to reason with the private insurance companies. They created incentives, they pushed, they urged them not to leave folks high and dry and to keep insurance available and affordable. Even though the insurance industry made record profits the year of Hurricane Katrina, private insurers have still left the gulf coast.

Times of crisis like these often lead to innovative solutions, however. My colleagues, Representative Ron Klein and Representative Tim Mahoney, national insurance risk consortium that will allow States better access to private capital as a backstop for these huge, catastrophic losses. The consortium will help States work together to bundle that risk into bonds that can succeed on the private capital markets. Because this program is voluntary and relies on private investment, the new consortiums should not expose Federal taxpayers to any risk whatsoever. Catastrophe bonds through the consortium will help stabilize insurance markets, bring down premiums, and move forward in providing available, affordable insurance to our constituents.

The bill, with foresight and commonsense, also addresses the worst- case scenario, because, God forbid, there will be another catastrophic event and States will be on the hook to pay claims. And most of the time this will not be a problem, but there are some disasters for which no preparation is enough. In those cases, historically this body, the Congress, has written emergency assistance bills, and it is right that we should do so. But this bill allows States to take control of their own fates by lessening the need for those Federal disaster appropriations by making Federal loans available to help States pay claims when that colossal disaster happens.

This is a compassionate, fiscally responsible way to ensure that Americans are not left without aid in their time of greatest need. This bill is a simple, effective way to tackle the crisis of skyrocketing property insurance. I ask my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would inquire of the gentleman from Texas if he has any additional speakers.

Then I will reserve the balance of my time. Because I have the right to close, I will wait for the gentleman from Texas to make his closing remarks, and then I will make my closing statement.

Mr. Speaker, we're here on the Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007 and this rule. This is an innovative solution crafted by my very thoughtful colleagues from Florida, Representative Ron Klein and Representative Tim Mahoney, to tackle the rising cost of property insurance.

While the problem is especially acute in the State of Florida, it is not limited to the State of Florida. Look all the way up the coastline from Florida to Georgia, up through New York. Everyone is suffering these double-digit percentage increases in their property insurance bills. Look across the country to California and, yes, to Texas. Florida is not alone and the gulf coast is not alone.

What this requires is some innovative, thoughtful thinking that sometimes is all too often missing here in Washington, but thankfully this new Congress has elected some self-starters who have experience in business and know how business and government can work together to bring real solutions for the American people.

These times of crisis demand innovative solutions, and my colleagues from Florida and the Financial Services Committee that passed this bill in a bipartisan vote, that has brought this to the floor today that we can act on will provide a voluntary, not all States participate, it's a voluntary national insurance risk consortium that will

allow States to tap private capital. Despite the protests from the other side of the aisle, the way this bill is crafted is the taxpayers will not be on the hook for additional disaster claims. To the contrary, this is an attempt to alleviate having to come back to the Congress time and time again in a time of natural disasters.

Now, will we be able to solve natural catastrophes in this bill? No. But is it a smart tool to plan ahead, to try to put some money aside early and create a backstop? Yes.

So I thank all of my colleagues from Florida, especially Representative Klein and Representative Mahoney, because we have got to do something, and this is a simple and effective way to tackle the rising costs for property insurance. I ask my colleagues to support the rule and to support this innovative solution.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

The material referred to previously by Mr. Sessions is as follows:

Amendment to H. Res. 802 Offered By Mr. Sessions of Texas

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 3. The House disagrees to the Senate amendment to the

bill, H.R. 2642, making appropriations for military

construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related

agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and

for other purposes, and agrees to the conference requested by

the Senate thereon. The Speaker shall appoint conferees

immediately, but may declare a recess under clause 12(a) of

rule I for the purpose of consulting the Minority Leader

prior to such appointment. The motion to instruct conferees

otherwise in order pending the appointment of conferees

instead shall be in order only at a time designated by the

Speaker in the legislative schedule within two additional

legislative days after adoption of this resolution.

(The information contained herein was provided by

Democratic Minority on multiple occasions throughout the

109th Congress.)

The Vote on the Previous Question: What It Really Means

This vote, the vote on whether to order the previous

question on a special rule, is not merely a procedural vote.

A vote against ordering the previous question is a vote

against the Democratic majority agenda and a vote to allow

the opposition, at least for the moment, to offer an

alternative plan. It is a vote about what the House should be

debating.

Mr. Clarence Cannon's Precedents of the House of

Representatives, (VI, 308-311) describes the vote on the

previous question on the rule as ``a motion to direct or

control the consideration of the subject before the House

being made by the Member in charge.'' To defeat the previous

question is to give the opposition a chance to decide the

subject before the House. Cannon cites the Speaker's ruling

of January 13, 1920, to the effect that ``the refusal of the

House to sustain the demand for the previous question passes

the control of the resolution to the opposition'' in order to

offer an amendment. On March 15, 1909, a member of the

majority party offered a rule resolution. The House defeated

the previous question and a member of the opposition rose to

a parliamentary inquiry, asking who was entitled to

recognition. Speaker Joseph G. Cannon (R-Illinois) said:

``The previous question having been refused, the gentleman

from New York, Mr. Fitzgerald, who had asked the gentleman to

yield to him for an amendment, is entitled to the first

recognition.''

Because the vote today may look bad for the Democratic

majority they will say ``the vote on the previous question is

simply a vote on whether to proceed to an immediate vote on

adopting the resolution . . . [and] has no substantive

legislative or policy implications whatsoever.'' But that is

not what they have always said. Listen to the definition of

the previous question used in the Floor Procedures Manual

published by the Rules Committee in the 109th Congress, (page

56). Here's how the Rules Committee described the rule using

information from Congressional Quarterly's ``American

Congressional Dictionary'': ``If the previous question is

defeated, control of debate shifts to the leading opposition

member (usually the minority Floor Manager) who then manages

an hour of debate and may offer a germane amendment to the

pending business.''

Deschler's Procedure in the U.S. House of Representatives,

the subchapter titled ``Amending Special Rules'' states: ``a

refusal to order the previous question on such a rule [a

special rule reported from the Committee on Rules] opens the

resolution to amendment and further debate.'' (Chapter 21,

section 21.2) Section 21.3 continues: ``Upon rejection of the

motion for the previous question on a resolution reported

from the Committee on Rules, control shifts to the Member

leading the opposition to the previous question, who may

offer a proper amendment or motion and who controls the time

for debate thereon.''

Clearly, the vote on the previous question on a rule does

have substantive policy implications. It is one of the only

available tools for those who oppose the Democratic

majority's agenda and allows those with alternative views the

opportunity to offer an alternative plan.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment that, over time, will keep insurance rates down by directing that State and local governments not approve intensified development in high-risk areas like our coastal high-hazard areas.

Insurance premiums are on the rise for many reasons, but one of the most significant reasons for skyrocketing costs of insurance is developer overbuilding in high-risk areas.

Developers and homebuilders have crowded on to the coasts and into the flood plains, fire zones, and other high-risk areas, without considering the consequences. The subsequent consequences to the folks that we represent have been very expensive.

These developers set up homeowners and businesses for financial ruin and personal tragedy when they locate in areas that are at high risk of natural disasters, and the developers are profiting at the expense of every policyholder whose premiums continue to rise without relief once another disaster hits.

Unfortunately, State and local governments have been too often complicit in this irresponsible behavior.

The amendment I offer today requires that States that participate in this innovative risk pool adopt policies to limit development in high- risk areas. It would also end the practice of rebuilding properties after a catastrophe with development that is of a greater size or a greater density or intensity, because the right to rebuild in high-risk areas is not the right to expand.

Now, this bill, carefully crafted by my thoughtful colleagues from Florida, provides States with an innovative tool to tackle the property insurance crisis. And my amendment improves the bill by preventing any greater problems down the road. The amendment aims to stop developer overbuilding that will lead to even greater disasters in the future and higher property insurance rates.

Now, I do appreciate the suggestion from the chairman of the Financial Services Committee that this amendment can be improved still, and I'll yield to the gentleman, because I am interested in your advice and assurance that maybe down the road, if I happen to withdraw the amendment, that we can work to improve.

I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

I greatly appreciate the assurances by the chairman; and with those assurances, I'd like to thank my colleagues again from Florida for this very innovative, thoughtful tool to reduce property insurance rates. And at this time I will withdraw my amendment.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 793 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my colleague from the Rules Committee, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 793.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 793 provides for consideration of H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007, under a structured rule.

The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate controlled by the Committee on Education and Labor. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI.

The rule makes in order three amendments that are included in the Rules Committee report. The rule also provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 and passage of this rule. By passing this bipartisan legislation today, the House of Representatives will take another step, important step, towards equality for all Americans.

During the 230-year-plus history of our great Nation, the march towards equality under the law for all of our citizens has sometimes been slow, but it has been steady. Over time, Congress has outlawed discrimination in the workplace, based upon a person's race, gender, age, national origin, religion and disability, because when it comes to employment and hiring and firing and compensation and promotion, these decisions are rightly based upon a person's qualifications and job performance.

Sometimes the fight for equality has been slow in coming indeed. This legislation that outlaws job discrimination based upon sexual orientation that the Congress will pass today was first introduced over 30 years ago.

It is long past time to ensure that no one in our country can be discriminated against and fired from their job based upon who they are, whether it is their race, their color, whether they are a man or a woman, or whether they are gay. Private companies across America know this and are way ahead of the politicians here in Washington.

Many of our neighbors back home would be shocked to learn that millions of Americans can be fired from their jobs or refused work or paid less and otherwise subjected to employment discrimination without regard for the quality of their work and without any recourse under Federal law. While many States, cities, and counties across the country have outlawed job discrimination on their own, many States and localities have not. I am proud that the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg that I represent have outlawed job discrimination against gays and lesbians, but our counties have not, unfortunately.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act protects all Americans, no matter where they live, by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, and refuse to promote employees based upon a person's sexual orientation. See, in America no person should have to worry about the security of their job because of their sexual orientation. Our country bases employment evaluation on hard work and on a job well done. Making employment decisions on anything else is unacceptable. In fact, 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies in the United States have adopted policies similar to the legislation that the Congress will pass today. And a broad coalition of businesses and community organizations strongly support this landmark civil rights legislation, including the Human Rights Campaign; the Anti-Defamation League; Central Conference of American Rabbis; the National Education Association; the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; and, I am proud to say, the NAACP.

I am proud that this Congress will stand up for equality for all Americans and stand behind our values and understanding that we do not discriminate against our neighbors for any reason, and we should be able to live comfortably with the knowledge that our neighbors will not discriminate against us. The passage of this legislation will remove a legitimate fear that exists among us that we may lose our job and be unable to provide for our families when someone decides to exercise intolerance and prejudices against us and our neighbors in the workplace.

Thanks to extraordinary leaders in Congressman Barney Frank, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Chairman George Miller, Congressman Rob Andrews, Congressman Chris Shays, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, and so many others that will stand up for Americans here in this body today and pass this law, I thank them for their leadership and their commitment to equality for all Americans. And I agree with them that passing this historic nondiscrimination act will bring our Nation closer to our goal and our promise of equality for all Americans.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to answer.

I do wish Ms. Baldwin would allow a vote on the amendment. I strongly support the amendment, as many of those in the Congress do. But this was her request, and this is the way the rule has been structured.

I object.

No, I do not.

And I object.

And I do not yield.

I do not yield.

I thank my colleague, but I will not yield at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to a Member of Congress that continuously and forcefully speaks out for equality for all Americans, Congresswoman Barbara Lee from California.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, a gentleman who has devoted a large part of his career to fighting discrimination and prejudice in the workplace, Barney Frank from Massachusetts.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. Speaker, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is sensitive to religious organizations and our fundamental religious beliefs and tenets, and it includes a very broad religious exemption. In fact, we are going to debate later on the Miller amendment that, if adopted, would make clear that ENDA exempts the same group of religious organizations that are currently exempt from prohibition on religious discrimination under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Now, we know not everyone, not every employer will agree that gay people should be protected from employment discrimination. But for the betterment and advancement of our society as a whole, ENDA would overrule that judgment so that Americans are treated fairly and equally. But nothing in ENDA or in any civil rights law that has come before us in the history of this country affects the ability, the God- given right of a person to hold contrary beliefs based on religion or otherwise.

At this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), an outspoken advocate for equality for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt), another outspoken advocate of equality for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews), our distinguished chairman of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, a Member who has been outspoken in his fight against discrimination for all Americans.

(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am the last speaker for my side, so I will reserve my time until it is time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I'm the last Member to speak on my side. So I will reserve the balance of my time until my colleague from Washington has made his closing remarks.

Mr. Speaker, before the House today is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 and the rule for debate. This bipartisan legislation from the people's House, the House of Representatives, marks another important step towards equality for all Americans.

You see, during the 230-plus-year history of our great country, the march toward equality under the law for all citizens has sometimes been slow, but it has been steady.

Over time, this Congress has outlawed discrimination in the workplace based upon a person's race, gender, age, national origin, religion and disability. When it comes to employment and hiring and firing and compensation and promotion, these decisions are rightly based upon a person's qualifications and job performance.

Our bill today will extend civil rights protections to sexual orientation.

On this proud day of the 110th Congress, we will chart a new direction for civil rights. On this proud day, the Congress will act to ensure that all Americans are granted equal civil rights in the workplace. The underlying value of Americans everywhere is to be treated fairly in our jobs and workplaces.

On this hopeful day for America, we will stand up for citizens who previously lived in fear that they will lose their jobs due to their employers' prejudices.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this landmark civil rights act. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Ms. Castor

Amendment No. 2: Page 21, after line 25, insert the

following new subparagraphs:

(C) limit new development and increases in density,

intensity, or range of use allowances in zoning and planning

programs in coastal and other areas subject to a higher risk

of catastrophic financial loss from natural disasters and

catastrophic events, as such areas are determined in

accordance with standards established by the Secretary, in

consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency

Management Agency and other appropriate agency heads;

(D) limit rebuilding of substantially demolished structures

after catastrophic events to current density, intensity, use,

and structural limits;

Page 22, line 1, strike ``(C)'' and insert ``(E)''.

Page 22, line 5, strike ``(D)'' and insert ``(F)''.

Page 22, line 12, strike ``(E)'' and insert ``(G)''.

Mr. Chairman, the Small Business Contracting Improvements Act and this rule will open up greater opportunities to small business owners across this Nation. Small businesses are the backbone of our local communities. In my hometown of Tampa, Florida, more of my neighbors and folks I represent work for small businesses than any other type of business--and we value what they do because it gives our community character and diversity.

I want to thank Congresswoman Velazquez for bringing this legislation to the House floor today. In America, small businesses account for 50 percent of our gross domestic product. Last year, the federal government spent over $400 billion on goods and services and only about 20 percent went to small businesses--approximately $80 billion in contracts. Our actions today will assist these talented small businesses obtain a better, fair share of federal government contracts.

The Small Business Contracting Improvements Act also strengthens and modernizes contracts for small businesses and sets standards to protect the integrity and consistency. Despite a 50-year-old mandate, small businesses owned by disabled veterans, female entrepreneurs, and minorities have not received a fair share of federal contracts. Back home in Tampa, there are 47 disabled veteran businesses, 512 state- certified minority-owned businesses, and over 77,000 small businesses. I am proud that we will act to expand their opportunities, with others across the country so that they can thrive and flourish.

Although the Congress passed the Women's Procurement Program 7 years ago, the Bush Administration failed to follow through. According to Margot Dorfman, CEO of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, each year of delay in the implementation of the Women's Procurement Program, has cost women-owned businesses billions of dollars in contract award opportunities.

Businesses owned by disabled veterans currently receive only a small fraction of federal contracts as well. We can expect to see an immediate and substantial increase in opportunities for these business owners.

And for businesses that go into economically distressed neighborhoods like ``HUBZones,'' this bill will ensure further community development through the strengthening of the HUBZone requirements. For example, Carl Calhoun, in South St. Petersburg explained to me that had it not been for the chance to compete for federal contracts that he would not have gotten the capital necessary to start his family-owned and - operated business that manufactures premium bedding (mattresses, box springs and foundations).

Mr. Chairman, this important small business bill and this rule will update and expand opportunities and encourage participation by qualified small businesses. We will remove barriers that prevent deserving businesses in my Tampa Bay district, and others across the country, from achieving the goal of full participation and a fair share of federal contracts.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 720 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).

All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 720.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 720 provides for consideration of H.R. 2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007.

As the Clerk read, the rule provides for 1 hour of general debate controlled by the Committee on Financial Services. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill, except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI.

The rule makes in order the Financial Services reported substitute. The rule makes in order eight amendments, including a complete Republican substitute. The amendments are each debatable for 10 minutes, except for the Neugebauer substitute, which is debatable for 20 minutes. The amendments are not amendable or divisible.

All points of order are waived against the amendments, except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule also provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

Mr. Speaker, so many American families today are facing a critical housing crunch. The cost of an apartment or a home is out of reach for so many, but there is good news. Many of us in this Congress understand and will keep fighting for a new direction for America and more affordable housing.

Today we will create a landmark affordable housing trust fund under H.R. 2895 in this rule, which will provide over 1.5 million new affordable homes for hard-working folks across America over the next decade. I would like to thank Chairman Barney Frank and Chairwoman Maxine Waters for their dedication to American families in their efforts to make housing affordable and available to those who could use a helping hand.

They pledged at the beginning of this new Congress that they would focus on affordable housing, and they have stayed true to their word.

Four other bills in addition to this one that will be considered today expand American homeownership and provide relief to our neighbors, many of whom have been subjected to foreclosure due to predatory lending in the subprime loan crisis.

This new affordable housing trust fund will focus on construction, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable housing in our hometowns and communities across America. The trust fund will pool monies, together with State, local and private housing initiatives to target housing to families with the greatest economic need.

The innovative, dedicated funding mechanism for this new trust fund comes at no new cost to taxpayers. Our efforts come at a critical time. Federal money for affordable housing has largely disappeared under this current administration. Health care costs are out of sight, the cost of living is higher, and many of our neighbors have not received raises that keep up with these rising costs.

We have heard from so many Americans across this country. For example, in south St. Petersburg, just recently, I was talking with a police officer that works for the City of St. Petersburg. He said it was his dream to have his young son move into his neighborhood nearby. Unfortunately, affordable housing in that neighborhood is all but gone, and he will just not be able to swing it.

In addition, local housing agencies across America have thousands upon thousands of Americans on waiting lists for affordable housing. In my hometown of Tampa, Florida, during a 1-week open enrollment session, more than 10,000 seniors, families and veterans indicated a need for affordable housing. But there is just no inventory.

Instead of receiving housing, they are placed on a waiting list. That waiting list takes 4 years, and it makes affordable housing completely unreachable for the other people that simply never made that call for help.

The number of American households paying more than half of their incomes on housing increased to 17 million in the year 2005, with one in seven U.S. households being severely housing-cost burdened. This imbalance is very troubling, and when combined with predatory subprime loans, it has caused many homeowners to lose their homes. In the Tampa Bay area alone, in the first 6 months of this year, over 10,000 of my neighbors have found that their homes have fallen into foreclosure.

This new affordable housing trust fund will provide for the new construction, preservation of existing housing and homeownership, assistance, emergency housing repairs and housing-related services. Help is on the way.

H.R. 2895 is a positive step in a new direction to ensure that more families are able to find clean, safe, stable and affordable places to live. I am proud to support this bill and this rule, and I urge the Congress to pass this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will inquire of my colleague from Washington if he has any additional speakers. Otherwise, he can proceed to close.

That's correct, we have no speakers. We have requests as well, but they are not here in attendance, so I think it's safe to proceed to close.

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

Mr. Speaker, despite the threatened veto by the White House, we will continue to stand on the side of America's hardworking families today and pass this landmark affordable housing trust fund bill. This will help our States and our communities achieve over 1 million new affordable homes for our neighbors over the coming years.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Washington is as follows:

Amendment to H. Res. 720 Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 3. That immediately upon the adoption of this

resolution the House shall, without intervention of any point

of order, consider the resolution (H. Res. 479) to amend the

Rules of the House of Representatives to provide for

enforcement of clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House

of Representatives. The resolution shall be considered as

read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on

the resolution to final adoption without intervening motion

or demand for division of the question except: (1) one hour

of debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and

ranking minority member of the Committee on Rules; and (2)

one motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, as we reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, we take an important and critical new step to help the world preserve and restore its natural resources and vital ecosystems. This reauthorization will continue our efforts to preserve the world's forests, coral reefs, and associated coastal marine ecosystems. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act will create an invaluable debt-for-nature exchange that not only benefits the global economy, but also the global environment.

Protecting our natural resources is a daunting responsibility, and coral reefs present unique challenges to protect and rebuild. They are fragile, slow-growing, and easily damaged by passing ships, changes in temperature, or severe weather. Despite these challenges, they are an integral part of our environment. Corals support economies, protect coastlines, and act as ecosystems for thousands of species of sea life. They may also provide information for the development of new drugs or understandings of human disease.

The Florida Aquarium, a non-profit education and research institution in Tampa, has extensive experience in developing cutting edge technologies and protocols for coral conservation, including how to safely introduce cultured coral onto wild reefs. This facility has pioneered the methods and technology needed to confidently direct a coral health certificate program wherein aquacultured corals are certified as safe for introduction into the wild. Until the Florida Aquarium developed this certification technique for artificially aquacultured coral, there was no acceptable solution for doing so. This made rebuilding reefs time-consuming and expensive, and often led to the destruction of the wild coral that scientists were trying to restore. Today, the Florida Aquarium continues to lead the scientific community as the only institution in the world that can certify aquacultured coral for wild reefs.

Mr. Speaker, developing countries participating in our debt relief initiative could greatly benefit from the Florida Aquarium's technology and expertise. I strongly encourage the coral initiatives under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act to seek out the Florida Aquarium as a resource in rehabilitating coral reefs world wide. I am proud to support this important legislation in its effort to preserve our natural resources.

I thank my colleague from California, who continues to be a leader for homeowners across this country as they face very troubling times.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 and this rule. I would like to thank Chairman Rangel and the House Ways and Means Committee for moving quickly on this critical legislation.

Our efforts today will help families across America who have had to bear the unfortunate burden of their homes going into foreclosure. You see, under current law, after a homeowner loses their home to foreclosure, they are forced to pay income tax on that debt forgiveness. So although the homeowner has lost their assets, they must suffer the immeasurable strain of a tax bill that they are often unable to pay.

When a family has lost their home to foreclosure or has been unable to renegotiate their loan with their lender to reflect the current value of their home, homeowners under current law are being confronted with an unfair and, frankly, unaffordable tax bill. Our legislation on the floor of the House today will help.

This is simply an issue of fairness for struggling families and homeowners. It is unfair for a family to pay a tax on their income that they actually do not receive. When a bank forgives some amount of debt for a homeowner, either to avoid foreclosure or simply to forgive a debt to a homeowner already in the foreclosure process, the amount of the forgiven debt is treated by the IRS as income, which is then taxed. For families already struggling to make ends meet, the phantom income and resulting tax burden generated by this can endanger their financial health even further. This bill will fix this double whammy.

With the current housing crisis that exists in our country, especially from the subprime lending market, it is no wonder that so many families have found themselves in unfortunate situations when it comes to their homes. Relieving families of this tax burden is the least we can do to help our families and all that they are trying to do in their everyday lives.

My colleague from Florida is correct: in August, the State of Florida had the second highest total of foreclosure filings, up 77 percent from the previous month. Florida is ranked third in the United States for overall foreclosures this year, and nationwide foreclosures up are 115 percent.

In my home district in the Tampa Bay area, over 10,000 of my neighbors have found their homes falling into foreclosure within the first 6 months of this year. Well, we are going to extend a lifeline today, and believe me, it matters.

Last month, I visited with one of my neighbors, Isaline Wyatt. She is a single mother of two in east Tampa who was very close to losing her home to foreclosure. Fortunately, she was able to keep her home with the help of Neighborworks, a community action group. But many of our neighbors are in similar situations, and they do not have the same prospects. I promised Isaline and our neighbors throughout the Tampa Bay area that we would work to ensure that help is within reach.

I am proud to say that today we will keep that promise and help bring relief to my hardworking neighbors. We will keep them from being faced with unaffordable, large tax bills as a result of foreclosure or renegotiating mortgages.

In the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, the talented and caring staff at the local Neighborworks center work hard every day to keep homeowners in their home. Since January, they have assisted 65 families. Homeowners like Joann Carnaham of St. Petersburg are working desperately with Neighborworks so they don't lose their homes. Joann fell behind on her mortgage payment because she lost her job. The house she lived in belonged to her parents. She refinanced for $80,000. Her father was still there, but he passed away, and she had to pay all of his bills. Due to lack of income and her father's death, she was unable to negotiate a payment plan with her mortgage company. Under current law, if Joann's home goes into foreclosure, she will be hit with an income tax bill that she is in absolutely no position to pay.

Mr. Speaker, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 will aid families and people like Joann in St. Petersburg and help them get back on their feet after foreclosure. With the whirlwind of problems in the mortgage finance system, this bill will help stabilize families in our neighborhood, and I urge adoption today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 691) commending the Wings Over Houston Airshow for its great contribution to the appreciation, understanding, and future of the United States Armed Forces, the City of Houston, Texas, and Ellington Field.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 691 commending the Wings Over Houston Airshow for its great contribution to the appreciation, understanding, and future of the United States Armed Forces, the City of Houston, Texas, and Ellington Field.

I would like to thank my colleague from Texas, Mr. Nick Lampson, for bringing this measure to the floor of the House.

The Wings Over Houston Airshow is one of the highest rated events of its kind. This coming Saturday and Sunday, folks from Congressman Lampson's district and, in fact, from all over America, will come to see these mighty military machines maneuver through the skies with seeming ease. These classic and contemporary airframes break their bounds to Earth and share the heavens with the sun and clouds.

It's a rare experience to see with your own eyes the awe-inspiring airborne arsenal of our Armed Forces. It's difficult to explain the seemingly impossible coordination our pilots execute in midair. No one can truly understand the peril, skill, and thrill involved except for the pilots themselves; yet our extraordinarily talented men and women fly in conditions that require nothing less than perfection. And visitors will have that rare glimpse of airborne art.

Spectators will be visited by the Texas Air National Guard 147th Fighter Squadron. Their TANG F-16s will tear rifts through the sky as they buzz by. The Texas Air National Guard F-16s are at a state of constant readiness, prepared to defend the great State of Texas and our Nation at a moment's call.

Attendees will also have the chance to see Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the P-38, the B-24A, a heritage flight consisting of the F-4 Phantom, the P-51 Mustang, the P-47 Thunderbolt, and the F-15E Strike Eagle, and a number of Navy fighters among them.

Mr. Speaker, the Wings Over Houston Airshow provides an important experience for folks to understand and to see the many machines that help our brave men and women in uniform protect us.

I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 691.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague from Texas, a true champion for Texas and a staunch supporter of our Armed Forces, Mr. Lampson, the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Washington (Mr. Reichert) and salute my colleague from Texas (Mr. Lampson) for bringing this resolution. I know, as a member of the Tampa Bay area and the Armed Services Committee, we value our air show every year at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. So I thank my colleague again from Houston for his resolution commending the Wings Over Houston Airshow.

I ask my colleagues to support the resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 640) honoring the sacrifices and commitments of the men, women, and families of the United States Transportation Command, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 640, to honor the sacrifices and commitments of the men, women, and families of the United States Transportation Command, or TRANSCOM.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of TRANSCOM's activation at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, and I would like to thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Costello) for bringing this measure before the House.

Charged with the vital duty of providing air, land and sea transportation for the Department of Defense, both in times of peace and war, TRANSCOM consists of the Air Mobility Command, the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, and the Military Sea Lift Command.

Established in 1978, TRANSCOM is the single manager of America's global defense transportation system, and its skilled coordination allows our country to project and sustain our Armed Forces whenever, wherever and for as long as they are needed.

Responding quickly and effectively to the demands of our warfighting commanders, TRANSCOM first proved its crucial capability during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, with the movement of more than 500,000 passengers, 3.7 million tons of dry cargo, and 6.1 million tons of petroleum products in only 7 months.

TRANSCOM has continued to serve the Nation and the world through many contingency and peacekeeping operations around the globe. It has supported numerous humanitarian relief operations, transporting supplies to victims of foreign and domestic natural disasters.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, TRANSCOM became an especially vital asset to our Nation, supporting our Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

From October 2001 to September 2007, TRANSCOM and its components have transported approximately 4 million passengers, 9 million tons of cargo, and over 4 billion gallons of fuel. House Resolution 640 honors these great achievements and the men and women who make them happen.

TRANSCOM provides a vital service to our Nation and enables our Armed Forces to carry out their missions effectively and efficiently.

I hope you will join me today in congratulating TRANSCOM on its 20th anniversary, and expressing gratitude to the 155,000 men and women who comprise it for their continued sacrifice and commitment to this country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 640.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Washington (Mr. Reichert), and I thank our colleague from Illinois (Mr. Costello) for bringing this resolution to the floor of the House, House Resolution 640, honoring the sacrifices and commitments of the men, women and families of the United States Transportation Command.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 640.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2779) to recognize the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official national museum of Navy SEALs and their predecessors.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2779 to honor the legacy of the Navy SEALs by recognizing the Navy Underwater Demolition Team Sea, Air, Land, or UDT-SEAL, Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official national museum of Navy SEALs and their predecessors. I thank my colleague from Florida (Mr. Mahoney) for bringing this measure to the floor of the House.

Since the program's inception in 1962, the Special Operations Sailors, known as Navy SEALs, have risked their lives at sea, in the air and on land to protect the United States of America. The most elite fighting force in the world, the Navy SEALs have bravely executed some of the most dangerous combat operations in our Nation's history. Tracing the roots of these historic sailors, the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, marks the birthplace of the Navy frogmen where thousands of brave volunteers were trained to become the first members of naval combat demolition units and underwater demolition teams during World War II. The Navy UDT-SEAL Museum is the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the legacy of the Navy SEALs and its predecessors.

Since 1985 when the facility first opened, the museum served both as a physical monument to our sailors' bravery as well as an educational repository that preserves the legacy of their honor, skill, courage and patriotism. The museum traces the SEALs' lineage from the UDTs conducting hydrographic reconnaissance on the beaches of Normandy to the present-day professionals who practice conventional warfare and counterterrorism. The museum exhibits memorialize the incredible courage and versatility of the Navy SEALs through emphasizing eyewitness accounts and photographs of sailors on the battlefield as well as on the homefront.

The Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, is an immensely important venture for the Navy underwater combat community as well as for the great State of Florida, preserving the rich history and valiant story of the Navy SEALs for both the program's veterans and future generations.

Our Nation can express its great admiration for these brave sailors and the gratitude for this monument to their sacrifices by recognizing the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official national museum of Navy SEALs and their predecessors.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2779, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mahoney), who is an outstanding leader and staunch supporter of the Nation's Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Washington (Mr. Reichert) for his support. I would also like to thank my colleague and friend from Florida (Mr. Mahoney) for bringing this thoughtful bill to the floor of the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2779.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 185) commending the 1st Brigade Combat Team/34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard upon its completion of the longest continuous deployment of any United States military unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 185, commending the 1st Brigade Combat Team/34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard upon its completion of the longest continuous deployment of any United States military unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I would like to thank my colleague from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) for bringing this measure before the House.

The 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division was deployed for 22 months, nearly 2 years. That's how long they were continuously deployed. This is longer than any other ground combat unit in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Many Americans count down the hours until the end of the workday, until Friday night, until the end of the work week. Often our commitment to our jobs comes in bundles of 40 hours.

Yet the soldiers of the Red Bull Division had no such luxury. Counting down the time until redeployment was computed in entire weeks, if not months. Just when they and their families thought they were to come home, their deployment was extended by an additional 125 days.

In 22 months some of our brave men and women in uniform missed their infants and their young children taking their first steps, saying their first words. Some of the roughly 5,000-member BCT missed their kids' high school graduations, and they didn't get a chance to move their sons and daughters into a dorm for college.

So much can change in 2 years. So many precious moments that we hold dear pass by during this time. Yet we go about our daily lives and forget that these precious moments that we enjoy are being protected by America's tremendous servicemembers.

Even more amazing is the fact that the members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team/34th Infantry Division are members of the National Guard. These are everyday folks, our neighbors and friends who signed up to be citizen soldiers. Their single deployment lasted as long as some active duty servicemembers' entire time in our Armed Forces. This was an extraordinary commitment and sacrifice on the part of the Red Bull Division.

Mr. Speaker, I know Mr. Walz and Mr. Kline, our colleagues from Minnesota, will have much to say about these fine Minnesotans as representatives of that great State. But I would just like to say how proud I am as a Member of the United States House of Representatives and as an American, Mr. Speaker, of the 5,200 combat logistics patrols, the 2.4 million convoy miles, the 400 captured terrorists and the 22- month deployment that the 1st Brigade Combat Team/34th Infantry Division accomplished.

We can never repay these servicemembers for their time and their tremendous sacrifice. But what we can do is enshrine our appreciation and thanks by passing this resolution into law.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 185.

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

Mr. Speaker, I intend to recognize the sponsor of this thoughtful resolution, but I think it is important for our colleagues to recognize his service as well. Mr. Walz from Minnesota spent 24 years himself in the Army National Guard, so he has had a full life of service to this country. I don't think he knew when he enlisted at the young age of 17 that he would end up so many years in the Army National Guard. He also became a teacher. But he achieved the rank of command sergeant major.

I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to Command Sergeant Major Walz, my friend and colleague from Minnesota, the sponsor of this thoughtful resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues from Minnesota, Mr. Kline and Mr. Walz, the sponsor of this thoughtful concurrent resolution, and urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 185.

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

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