Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I understand that one of the biggest issues facing American families today is the cost of living and our economic future.

I'm disappointed that the health of our Nation's financial institutions has come into question as a result of unscrupulous lending and mortgage practices, preceded by years of inadequate regulation of the financial services industry. Republicans and Democrats alike, for too long, have failed to hold unscrupulous financial institutions accountable, and hardworking families across the country are paying the price.

At the same time, I know that many local banks have not engaged in the risky and irresponsible lending practices that led to the economic meltdown that we saw last year. The House-passed reform bill is about cleaning up that irresponsibility and protecting consumers, not about burdening local banks that play by the rules.

I have witnessed firsthand the valuable impacts that small- and medium-sized community banks make on the daily lives of New York's families, helping them buy their first home, finance their small business, and send their children to college. In these tough economic times, it is critical that Congress hold financial institutions to a higher standard while allowing local banks to continue to be able to invest in their communities.

Madam Speaker, in the early morning on Sunday, September 20th 2009, a great tragedy occurred in my hometown of Utica, New York. A horrific fire in an apartment building claimed the lives of four people.

While this loss of life can never be replaced, the loss would have been much more severe had it not been for the courageous acts of two Utica Police Officers, Scott Berger and Michael Petrie.

When Officers Berger and Petrie arrived on scene, the apartment building was heavily engulfed in smoke and flames. Without regard to their safety, Officers Berger and Petrie ran into the building and pounded on the doors on the first, second and third floors, yelling to residents to evacuate the premise.

While trying to enter the back door, an explosion blew out the door, which sent Officers Berger and Petrie scrambling for safety.

Due to their honor, courage and dedication to protecting the public, Officers Berger and Petrie were named Police Officers of the Year by the American Legion's Utica Post 229.

Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Utica Police Department, and specifically, Officers Berger and Petrie, for exemplifying the characteristics of true public servants. Our community and country is a better and safer place because of their efforts.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today in honor of the United States' Wheelchair Curling Team's 4th place finish at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, and the Sitrin Health Care Center, an innovative regional provider of health and rehabilitative services, which is located in my Congressional District in Upstate New York.

In 2001, the Sitrin Health Care Center created the Sitrin STARS, an adaptive sports program that provides individuals with physical disabilities opportunities to engage in a variety of sports on a recreational or competitive basis.

Every member of the United States' Curling Team is a Sitrin STARS athlete, a true testament to the outstanding work and dedication of the Sitrin staff.

I would also like to specifically thank Augusto ``Goose'' Perez, James Pierce, James ``Jimmy Jam'' Joseph, Jacqueline Kapinowski and Patrick McDonald. Through their sportsmanship, dignity and character they proudly represented our country.

Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in recognizing the United States' Wheelchair Curling Team, and the Sitrin Health Care Center for defying the odds, and providing inspiration and hope to all athletes with physical disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, during these tough economic times, American families have been forced to cut back and tighten their financial belts. It is time that Congress do the same and set an example for the rest of the Federal Government.

That is why I have introduced the Congressional Belt Tightening Act of 2010, which would cut our salaries as Members of Congress and our office budgets by 5 percent next year. Last year, my office tightened its financial belt and returned more than 8 percent of our official office budget to the Treasury for deficit reduction.

Additionally, we should pass legislation that requires votes on pay raises every year, no more automatic pay raises. My bill would require an up-or-down vote on all salary increases indefinitely. If Members think they are deserving of a pay raise, they will have to vote on it or answer to the American people.

Congress cannot seriously talk about reining in spending in Washington and working to decrease our Nation's debt if we are not willing to do it ourselves.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The threat of cyberattack on our computer and Internet infrastructure as well as the threat of cyberwarfare cannot be overstated. The need for congressional action to assure adequate funding is in place to guarantee that our country is prepared for any contingency that may arrive in this relatively new area of warfare is critical. I believe, as a nation, our investment in cybersecurity will be the Manhattan Project of our generation.

H.R. 2701 authorizes the funding to make this investment a reality. Cyberthreats and attacks are real, and they threaten our financial and defense networks every day. Nearly every aspect of everyday life in our global society is dependent on the security of our cybernetworks. We rely on these systems to carry virtually all of our business transactions, control our electric grid, emergency communication systems, and even traffic lights.

The most troubling cyberthreat may be the very real prospect of state-sponsored cyberattacks against sensitive national security information. We must take steps to protect our cyberinfrastructure, but to do that in such a way that we do not infringe on individuals' rights to privacy.

We have a number of organizations in government that work on cybersecurity, and we in Congress need to ensure that these organizations are sharing this information with each other in an effective, reliable, and safe manner. This must be one of our top priorities.

Over the next few years, the administration and the intelligence community will begin new and unprecedented cybersecurity programs to combat these threats with cutting-edge technologies. These new programs will present new legal and privacy challenges.

To ensure that Congress can properly oversee these programs, my amendment requires the President to submit detailed notifications to Congress on current and newly created cybersecurity programs so that Congress may perform the oversight that the Constitution requires.

My amendment sets a preliminary framework for the administration and congressional oversight to ensure that the government's national security programs are consistent with legal authorities and preserve individuals' reasonable expectations of privacy. It requires the President to notify Congress of new and existing cybersecurity programs and provide Congress with the program's legal justification, a general description of its operation, and describe how it impacts privacy and sensitive data and to detail any plan for any independent audit or review of the program. This amendment is a reasonable and responsible continuation of this effort.

Earlier this month, the House approved a Cybersecurity Enhancement Act to expand programs to strengthen our Nation's cybersecurity and to require a cybersecurity workforce assessment to give us a clearer picture of our cybercapabilities in both the Federal Government and private sector to combat future attacks.

Given the increasing number and sophistication of cyberattacks that are being aimed at our networks and the degree to which we must expand our cybercapabilities, we must also ensure that we maintain our oversight abilities. My amendment is similar to the oversight provisions included in the Senate legislation, and I ask that all Members support these important safeguards.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for his comments, and I think he's right. I think, clearly, the fact that a report is requested simply for the sake of requesting a report is redundant and is taxing on our intelligence community. But I think when we look at what happened during 9/11 and the fact that some of the intelligence branches of government were not sharing information, I think we need to learn something from that.

In my district, I have an Air Force research lab that really focuses a great deal on cybersecurity, and I want to make sure the information that they're developing and the technologies that they're developing are being shared with other branches of the military and the intelligence community. And I think it's very important that we allow congressional oversight and that we ensure that in our role as Congressmen, that we are making sure that they are doing that, that they are sharing the information the way they should.

So I certainly appreciate your point, but I think this is one of the places where it's critically important that we ensure that the information sharing is being done.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today in honor of Watson Williams Elementary School, which is located in my Congressional District in upstate New York.

Historically, the overwhelming majority of students enter kindergarten at Watson Williams Elementary School with a delay for cognitive development as measured by standardized screening tools. Watson Williams Elementary School also experiences a 96 percent poverty rating for its students.

In recent years, during the tenure of Principal Henry Frasca, which lasted from September 2002 through June 2008, Watson Williams Elementary School has received national recognition for student achievement, despite facing these difficult obstacles.

Due to Principal Frasca's extraordinary leadership, and the commitment and dedication of his staff, Watson Williams Elementary School

was named a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2006 and a Magnet School of Excellence in 2008. Most recently, Watson Williams Elementary School was a recipient of the Title I School of Distinction for 2009 which was based on student achievement during the school years of 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

Principal Frasca attributes the high level of student achievement during his tenure at Watson Williams Elementary School to the concerted efforts of parents, students, teachers, staff and administration.

Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in recognizing Watson Williams Elementary School for defying the odds, and establishing itself as a model of hope and success for all struggling schools throughout our country.

Last week I joined with several of my colleagues in the Blue Dog and Populist Caucuses to call for a budget plan that is fiscally responsible. As I have said before, along with the President, if the American family has been tasked with tightening its belt, in this time of economic recovery, then so should Congress.

Pay-as-you-go legislation is on the floor today, and I have never been more optimistic about this key piece of legislation being passed and Congress returning to a time where a balanced budget was the goal, not outrageous deficit spending like that which was done under the previous administration.

I have also promised to work with the members of the Populist Caucus to ensure that big banks and Wall Street firms are held accountable for damage they have done to hardworking American families. If it is the fault of these huge banks and firms that we are in this situation, then they should pay to get us out of it.

I am proud to join with both the Blue Dog and Populist Caucuses in promoting fiscal responsibility and a new, responsible way forward for this country's economic future.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1051 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for purposes of debate only.

General Leave

I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 1051.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1051 provides for consideration of H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Science and Technology Committee. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Science and Technology Committee now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for purposes of amendment and shall be considered as read.

The rule waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule further makes in order only those amendments printed in the report. The amendments made in order may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to demand for division of the question. All points of order against the amendment except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI are waived.

The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. The Chair may entertain a motion that the Committee rise only if offered by the Chair of the Science and Technology Committee or a designee. Finally, the rule provides that the Chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, the threat of cyberwarfare cannot be overstated. Cyberattacks target everything from classified government information to business and trade secrets to individual financial records. The motivation for these attacks can range from immature harassment to illicit financial gain. The scope can be similarly broad, from an individual computer or Web site to an entire network.

Investing in cybersecurity is the Manhattan Project of our generation. The only difference is that when we were doing the Manhattan Project, we were the only power with the technology. This time around, we are facing far more enemies that have the same level of technology that we do. In fact, nearly every high school hacker has the potential to threaten our unfettered use of the Internet. Just imagine what a rogue state committed to disrupting our cyberinfrastructure could do.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is responsible for setting cybersecurity standards for nonclassified Federal networks. The bill tasks NIST with developing cybersecurity awareness programs to educate individuals, small businesses, State and local governments, and educational institutions on how to implement cyber best practices. It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of all cyberbreaches could have been avoided with this type of cybersecurity training.

The legislation also directs NIST to conduct research related to improving the security of information and network systems that support so many aspects of our day-to-day life, which many of us take for granted.

The most troubling cyberthreat may be the very real prospect of state-sponsored cyberattacks against sensitive national security information. Cyberexperts believe China is effectively targeting our government networks and that these attacks have resulted in at least one breach of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development program.

It is estimated that the Federal Government alone needs to recruit between 500 and 1,000 more cybersecurity professionals each year in order to address these threats. The Upstate New York district that I represent is on the frontline of defending our Nation in the cyberwar in which we are engaged. Utica College offers a bachelor of science degree in cybersecurities. Graduates of this program are employed across the country, working to secure the networks of government and private business alike. However, this program currently only graduates about 50 students per year into the cybersecurity field.

Clearly, simply maintaining the status quo will not be enough. Media reports of new attacks by cybercriminals are becoming more frequent and alarming. Just last week, following the State of the Union address, hackers, suspected to be from Brazil, defaced 49 House Member Web sites. Each day, 400,000 new ``zombies'' are activated. These are computers that are taken over by hackers and can be remotely controlled without the owner knowing it, and 1.5 million new malicious Web sites are identified each month. There are more than 1 billion new endpoints added to the Internet; 50 percent of those will be in China and 35 percent will be in India.

We are locked in a technological arms race with our cybercompetitors. In order to win that race, we must train individuals to look at warfare from an entirely new perspective. This effort goes to the heart of our national security because it requires us to create opportunities in our colleges and universities to train this new type of warfighter to defend our Nation from cyberthreats, a warfighter every bit as important to our security as a traditional armed soldier in the field. The training for this new generation of warfighters that defend us, not from land, sea, or air attacks, but from cyberattacks, is every bit as important as boot camp is for our soldiers. In fact, that is what this bill does, creates a boot camp for our future cyberwarfighters.

H.R. 4061 sets that course by authorizing funding for a Scholarship for Service program through the National Science Foundation that will provide scholarships for students pursuing cybersecurity fields. The scholarships would be provided for up to 1 to 2 years for students pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree and up to 3 years for students pursuing a doctoral degree in the cybersecurity field, provided that the recipient serves as a cybersecurity professional in government agencies for an equal amount of time. This investment in cybereducation is necessary to meet our enemies on the cyberfrontlines and repel their attacks.

Through increased workforce development and continued strengthening of our public-private partnerships, we can and will ensure that the IT systems, on which so much of our way of life depends, are safe from cyberattack. The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act contains the strategic plan necessary to focus our resources to meet these challenges.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I just want to say that my colleague talks about bipartisanship. And I want to say I can't understand how she can talk about a bipartisan bill, a bill that came out of the Science and Technology Committee with support from both sides of the aisle, and turn it into a partisan political fight. She is right, that is what Americans are tired of. And yet, during her statement she mentioned Democrats at least six times. I lost count after the sixth.

This is not a partisan bill. This is a bipartisan bill that is necessary for the security of our country. That is what people sent us to Washington for. They send us to Washington to make sure that we take steps to ensure that their way of life continues and that they are safe and secure.

This bill strategically places money into education so that we can educate the next generation of cyberwarfighters to protect the Internet and to protect people to be able to use the Internet.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan).

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

This is exactly what the American people are so tired of. My colleague talks about what the race in Massachusetts meant. It meant that people are tired with the partisan bickering. She

just squandered all of the time that we could be here talking about cybersecurity and the importance of passing this bill with talking about politics. Of course she fails to point out the fact that much of the debt was incurred under President Bush, fails to point out the fact that now two wars are on the books.

But that is not what we are here to talk about. We are here to talk about cybersecurity. And I want to read a quote for you. Just yesterday Dennis Blair, the Director of National Intelligence, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee. And he said, ``Malicious cyber activity is occurring on an unprecedented scale with extraordinary sophistication.'' He went on to say, ``Sensitive information is stolen daily from both government and private sector networks, undermining confidence in our information systems, and in the very information these systems were intended to convey.'' These statements make clear that we cannot afford to maintain the status quo.

In order to meet our enemies on the cyber front lines and repel their attacks, we must create a boot camp for our future cyber warfighters. The investments contained in H.R. 4061 will increase our cyber workforce development and continue to strengthen the public-private partnerships to defend the IT systems on which so much of our daily life relies. That is what the American people have sent us here to Washington to ensure. Cybersecurity enhancement contains the strategic plan necessary to focus our resources to meet the challenges which Director Blair spoke of yesterday.

H.R. 4061 will also strengthen partnerships between the Federal Government and the private sector to guarantee a secure and reliable infrastructure. The benefit of existing public-private partnerships is also on display in Upstate New York, in my very district. The Air Force Research Laboratory Rome Research Site, the Rome Lab as we call it, hosts the main offices of the Air Force Research Lab's Information Directorate.

Located at the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, Rome Lab's scientists and engineers use the latest electronic and computer technology to demonstrate new ways to defend our information networks against attacks. In concert with Rome Lab, the Mohawk Valley is home to a number of companies that are engaged in cutting-edge cyber research, companies that will use the graduates who come out of college with degrees in cybersecurity. Large companies such as PAR Technology, BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton, ITT Industries, Northrop Grumman, and smaller, home grown companies, such as Dolphin Technology, Black River Systems, Assured Information Security, New York State Technology Enterprises Corporation, Syracuse Research Corporation, and Research Associates of Syracuse.

Together, the AFRL and these companies account for thousands of jobs in central New York; men and women doing critical research on our Nation to help fend off cyberattacks. There is no doubt that these companies and the critical public-private partnerships that they have formed with the Air Force Research Laboratory will benefit from this program. But, more importantly, it's the American people that will benefit from this program.

The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act requires the White House Office of Science and Technology policy to convene an industrywide nongovernmental task force of businesses and universities to explore potential public-private collaborations on cybersecurity research and development. This will ensure that these collaborations continue to strengthen our Nation's cyberdefenses. That is what we are here to debate. That is what the American people sent us to Congress for. And that is what we need to pass today.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am reminded of the first rule that they teach you in trial advocacy class, and that is when you're trying a case and you don't have the facts on your side, talk about everything but the facts. And I feel that's what my colleague from North Carolina is doing today. Rather than say that we can work together in a bipartisan way on a bill that is good for all Americans, she would rather talk about everything else that there is. Well, we're not here to talk about everything else today. We are here to talk about cybersecurity and the importance of passing this bill for the American people.

As I said earlier, investing in cybersecurity is the Manhattan Project of our generation. Cyberthreats and attacks are real, and they threaten our financial and defense networks every day. Nearly every aspect of everyday life in our global society is dependent on the security of our cyber networks. We rely on these systems to carry virtually all our business transactions, control our electric grid, emergency communication systems, and traffic lights.

The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act reauthorizes and expands the programs aimed at strengthening the Nation's cybersecurity, including a new scholarship program to train the thousands of cybersecurity professionals that are needed to defend our Nation. In requiring a cybersecurity workforce assessment, this bill will also give us a clearer picture of our current cybercapabilities and identify what new skills and educational advances are needed in both the Federal Government and the private sector to combat future attacks.

H.R. 4061 requires NIST to undertake research and development programs to improve identity management systems, which include health information technology systems, in order to improve interoperability, authentication methods, privacy protection, and usability of these systems. These systems hold great potential for streamlining the delivery of services and care to individuals, but they must be secure in order to function properly and efficiently. This legislation will ensure that they are.

From the perspective of my district in upstate New York, it plays a critical

role in our Nation's cybersecurity, and this research and development work is often discussed publicly. Yet, the work done by contractors, subcontractors, and universities, in conjunction with Federal agencies, employs thousands across New York in cutting-edge R&D. But, more importantly, they are essential to defending America from cyberterrorist attacks and espionage. It is essential these public- private partnerships continue to flourish and they have the necessary manpower in place to protect our Nation from these threats.

The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act will make that happen not just for New York, but across the Nation. This is not a program for which we can afford to ask, How can we do this, but a program for which we must ask, How can we afford not to do this?

H.R. 4061 is supported by numerous organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Software Alliance, Software and Information Industry Association, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, U.S. Telecom, TechAmerica, and Computing Research Association. This legislation enjoyed bipartisan support in committee, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, we have asked the American people to do a lot over the past year in order to work together to rebuild our economy. Tonight, we await the President's words to see how the country will move forward to continue to put people back to work and make reforms necessary to jump-start our economy. I applaud the President for putting a freeze on all nonsecurity discretionary spending for fiscal year 2011, because as the American family tightens its belt, so must Congress. I would encourage the President to continue to call for increased fiscal responsibility in Congress, and I will do my part in ensuring that we spend responsibly to protect the people of my district.

I joined several of my Blue Dog colleagues in a letter led by Congressman Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania to call for a spending freeze earlier this month and will continue to look for ways that we can continue to hold ourselves fiscally accountable for PAYGO and other budget cuts. My predecessor in Congress used to say that we here in Congress can't create jobs, but we can create an economic climate for job growth and development to boost our local economies. That should be our primary goal in 2010.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to talk about an issue that has taken root in my district and across Upstate New York, and that is the concern over natural gas drilling prospects in a procedure called ``hydraulic fracturing.''

Natural gas is a great natural resource for this country to cultivate to use for heat and energy. However, in Upstate New York we have another natural resource that is critical to our survival and prosperity, and that is our water.

Our water supply is precious, and we are so fortunate in Upstate New York to have an abundance of water resources that I never want to take for granted and will always fight to protect.

Now, I don't want to oppose natural gas drilling in Upstate New York because there is a definite opportunity for gas drilling that has a positive impact, and I think that that's an important thing if we are going to address energy costs and local jobs in the region. But I don't want to sacrifice the purity of our water resources by rushing to drill before the infrastructure is in place in New York to regulate it in the way that it needs to be regulated.

I will stand with the people in my district who could be affected by natural gas drilling to ensure that their water is protected.

I would like to thank my colleague from Maine for yielding.

I rise today in support of consideration of H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act and the underlying rule, not for the reasons just stated by my friend from Texas, but because the bill ensures that our brave men and women who are in the military are paid what they deserve to be paid for defending us, that they have the tools to fight the war on terror and that they are able to do the things that we ask them to do, and that is to fight terror, to keep us safe. That is why I support this bill and the underlying rule.

I would like to thank and commend the members of the Appropriations Committee in the House and Senate, their counterparts for bringing before us this bipartisan approach that puts the preparedness and safety of our troops first, and also continues President Obama's pledge to put the cost of the war on the books.

The bill does not include funding for an escalation of troops in Afghanistan, and I have heard some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle criticize that we may have to consider a supplemental measure to provide funds for that purpose. I want to make it very clear. There is a difference between requesting supplemental funding to address changes on the ground and simply using the supplemental appropriation acts to fund the majority of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as we have done under the prior administration.

The House passed our version of the Defense Appropriations Act on July 30 of this year. At that time we determined the amount of spending necessary for the ongoing operation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since that time, our generals have stated that they believe conditions in Afghanistan warrant additional troops. President Obama is listening to those generals in the field and may require additional funds. However, that is what supplemental appropriations acts are intended for, responding to changes in circumstances throughout the year, not for funding ongoing operations.

In addition to ensuring that our troops have first-class weapons and equipment, the bill also includes other important aspects that improve transparency and accountability of the Defense Department procurement process.

For instance, congressional earmarks account for only 1 percent of the total funding of this bill. In addition, for the first time, this House-Senate agreement retains the requirement that has been included in every House-passed appropriations bill this year that requires any earmark for a private company to be competed.

I applaud the leadership of our side of the Capitol to institute this important new measure of accountability in the earmark process, and I hope that it will become a part of all final spending bills as we go forward.

I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the bill.

Mr. Speaker, last week, I was proud to stand up with many of my colleagues and hold Wall Street accountable for their reckless actions that led us into the biggest financial collapse in the last 50 years. For too long, Wall Street banks were allowed to put short-term profits ahead of long-term stability under the Bush administration and reaped record profits as a result of their risky and out-of-control behavior.

When the markets collapsed out from under them, this country's hardworking citizens were forced to suffer the consequences. The Wall Street reform bill we passed increases enforcement and makes necessary reforms to hold Wall Street accountable so that it can never again recklessly gamble with our financial health and safety.

The bill also creates a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency to prevent borrowers from taking loans that they can't afford and holding risky lenders liable for their practices. The CFPA will also protect families and small businesses from irresponsible lending practices by ensuring that bank loans, mortgages, and credit cards are fair and easy to understand.

Finally, this bill makes it clear that Wall Street will no longer be receiving any sort of taxpayer-funded bailouts. The American people have pulled together and selflessly acted to help this great country. It is time for Wall Street to step up and do the same.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 955 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz- Balart). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.

General Leave

I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the Record.

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

Mr. Speaker, this rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4213, the Tax Extenders Act of 2009. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 and 10 of Rule XXI and against the bill itself. The rule provides that the previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motion except 1 hour of debate and one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule to assist American families and small businesses with needed tax relief in a time when American citizens and American small businesses are beginning to turn the corner. This rule will allow us to bring legislation to the House floor later today that will not only strengthen our economy by directing tax relief to middle class families and creating jobs at small businesses, but will also do this in a deficit neutral, fiscally responsible way.

Since being elected to Congress, I have repeatedly voted, along with my colleagues, to cut taxes for middle class families and small businesses. In doing so, we have upheld our pledge to the American people, and I have kept a promise I made to my constituents to provide much-needed tax relief and incentives for economic growth.

I know that there are many families and businesses in my district that are struggling in the current economic crisis with rising costs of everyday items, including food, gas and health care. The legislation this rule provides for consideration of will extend a number of critical tax-relief measures that are relied upon by middle class families and small businesses to improve the quality of life and strengthen our economy.

I am aware that we face harsh realities in addressing the current economic crisis. While these are challenging times, we simply cannot endlessly borrow our way out of this situation. The legislation we will consider under the rule strikes the necessary balance between continuing the tax incentives that will help families and businesses continue to improve their position while offsetting the cost of extending these provisions by tightening tax compliance and making commonsense changes to the tax treatment of compensation paid to hedge fund managers. This change applies to investment fund managers the same rules that apply to real estate agents, waiters and CEO stock options.

In doing so, we will extend $30 billion of expiring temporary tax provisions through 2010, including the existing deductions for tuition expenses, the research and development tax credit, and the State and local property tax deduction, among others, and we will do so without increasing the deficit and without any additional borrowing.

The American people understand the idea of PAYGO, that Congress should have to balance its books just as they do. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives continues to show a strong commitment to the pay-as-you-go rule adopted in January of 2007. I applaud my Blue Dog colleagues for their outspoken leadership on PAYGO, and I am proud that the House has passed legislation that would create statutory PAYGO.

All of the incentives that are included in this package will expire at the end of the year unless Congress acts to extend them. It is vitally important that these tax incentives are extended in order to maintain the economic recovery that has slowly started to take hold in this country.

The legislation's extenders create important tax credits for individuals. It extends the deductions for tuition and education expenses, helping families send their children to college. It continues to allow teachers to claim a credit for up to $250 in out-of-pocket purchase of classroom supplies to better educate our children, and it extends the increased standard deduction for State and local property taxes so that working families can keep more of their hard-earned dollars for other necessities during these tough economic times.

The legislation includes an extension of several provisions important to businesses, including the credit for a company's R&D expenditures. Extending the research and development credit is vital to ensuring that American companies remain competitive and on the cutting edge of innovation. This credit is of particular interest to the area of New York that I represent because its extension will further the expansion of the microchip fabrication and nanotechnology industries which are beginning to blossom in upstate New York.

In the past, the R&D tax credit has lapsed, and Congress has had to retroactively extend it. American companies rely on this credit and upon its continuity so they can adequately plan for their long-term research projects. I support this proactive extension to provide that continuity, and I will continue to work for a much-needed permanent extension that would eliminate concerns for further expirations or lapses.

The bill also extends expiring measures to address the drop in charitable giving that has been caused by the current state of our economy. It does so by extending deductions for charitable contributions of real property, food inventories, books, and computer equipment. The bill allows tax-free charitable contributions from an IRA account of up to $100,000 per taxpayer per year.

When I speak with constituents who work and volunteer their valuable time with not-for-profit organizations, they tell me this is more important than ever today in our struggling economy. These provisions help those organizations continue to provide the assistance to those in need, which is particularly important today.

Supporting this rule and the tax-relief legislation we will consider later today is simple and common sense. We can provide tax relief and incentives to middle class families, spur innovation, retain and create jobs, reduce our dependence on oil from hostile nations, and reduce greenhouse gases. And we can do it all in a fiscally responsible manner.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this rule and the underlying legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, Mr. Doggett.

I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from the Rules Committee and friend from the State of Florida for his able management of this rule.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to point out that the underlying legislation will extend a number of expiring tax relief that individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations depend on to improve the quality of life and strengthen our community and our economy. These provisions are relied upon by families and individuals struggling with rising costs of everyday items, including food, gas, and health care. They encourage companies to hire more workers and invest in new technologies.

As our country is beginning to turn the corner, the naysayers continue to oppose any necessary substantial change. As if that is not enough, they continue to offer no meaningful alternatives, only more of the same policies of incurring more debt, passing it on to our children, and saying ``no'' to any responsible policy offered by the majority. It should not be the role of the loyal opposition to oppose every bill the majority offers. That is the reason partisan divide is so wide in this country today.

This bill, H.R. 4213, is a good bill. It is good for Democrats. It is good for Republicans. It is good for all Americans. To say we should not pay for it flies in the face of everything Democrats and Republicans have been saying

for months, that we cannot endlessly borrow and increase the debt but must restore fiscal responsibility.

Just a short time ago, I heard a colleague of mine on the other side of the aisle giving a 1-minute speech, saying that we must stop the runaway spending and the record deficits. That's exactly what this bill does. It makes us accountable and pays for the tax extenders. H.R. 4213 strikes the necessary balance between continuing the tax incentives to help families and businesses without increasing the deficit.

I don't think the importance of this fiscal responsibility can be overstated. We all know that these are challenging times, but we cannot endlessly borrow our way out of the situation. And there are only two ways to do the tax extenders: either to borrow and pass it on to our children or to have responsible ways of paying for it. And that's exactly what this bill does, responsibly pays for these very important tax extenders.

For years, borrow-and-spend policies of the previous administration have saddled our children's future with $9 trillion of foreign-owned national debt, all incurred during relative times of economic prosperity. The debt translates into daily interest payments of $1 billion.

These tax extenders are paid for. I repeat, they are paid for. H.R. 4213 represents the dedication to commonsense PAYGO principles that we in Congress should have to balance our books even in these tough economic times just as our constituents do. This legislation does exactly that.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and the rule because the American people are counting on us to extend these vital tax provisions in order to continue to improve our economy.

The material previously referred to by Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida is as follows:

Amendment to H. Res. 955 Offered by Mr. Diaz-Balart

At the end of the resolution, insert the following new

section:

Sec. 2. On the third legislative day after the adoption of

this resolution, immediately after the third daily order of

business under clause 1 of rule XIV and without intervention

of any point of order, the House shall proceed to the

consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 554) amending the

Rules of the house of Representatives to require that

legislation and conference reports be available on the

Internet for 72 hours before consideration by the House, and

for other purposes. The resolution shall be considered as

read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on

the resolution and any amendment thereto 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 chair and ranking minority member of the

Committee on Rules; (2) an amendment, if offered by the

Minority Leader or his designee and if printed in that

portion of the Congressional Record designated for that

purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII at least one legislative

day prior to its consideration, which shall be in order

without intervention of any point of order or demand for

division of the question, shall be considered as read and

shall be separately debatable for twenty minutes equally

divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent; and

(3) one motion to recommit which shall not contain

instructions. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the

consideration of House Resolution 554.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to alert my colleagues to a piece of legislation that I have introduced to assist our dairy farmers across the country in their critical time of need. Dairy farmers across my upstate New York district have come to me and asked for help. They have always been there to provide food for us as consumers, and now it is time for us to help them continue the long tradition of family-owned and operated dairy farms that are passed from generation to generation.

My bill is inspired by a piece of legislation introduced in the New York State Senate by Senator Darrel Aubertine and would reduce hauling costs passed on to dairy farmers by processors and milk haulers. The bill eliminates hauling costs for milk producers and clarifies that the ownership of the milk is transferred from the milk producers to the milk plant when it leaves the farm and is mixed with the other farmers' milk.

The bill also makes it unlawful for processors to charge a producer any cost incurred in the process of picking up the milk and delivering it to a milk plant receiving station or transfer station.

The time to act for our dairy farmers is now.