Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act. This bill aims to significantly reform mortgage lending and better protect borrowers. I have worked on these issues for some time.

On that point, listening to the little debate before me, I am just absolutely amazed. Apparently, my friends on the other side of the aisle think we are rushing to judgment here and acting precipitously on a bill that is not quite ready to be completed or concluded. I would like to call their attention to the record.

I held hearings in the Poconos, in my congressional district, on predatory lending more than 5 years ago. We came back and prepared legislation--I may say bipartisan legislation--in predatory lending 4 years ago. It didn't succeed in passing, but in 2007, we put together and introduced another piece of legislation, a predatory lending bill, that encompasses many of the issues that are encompassed in this bill. That failed to get any action in the Senate, but did pass the House.

I don't know how long we want to wait, in all honesty, on packaging and passing a new mortgage reform and antipredatory lending bill. Yes, we will stop too many loans that are bad from being made. Yes, we will discourage forms of loans that have caused us trouble in our system and have almost brought down our system. This is the beginning of many things that are necessary for this Congress to do to straighten out the economic woes of this country.

The predatory lending problems that we have encountered in my State of Pennsylvania convinced me that we need to update the Federal law, and they convince me of that fact today. I, therefore, previously introduced legislation and have participated. And today, I would like to focus my comments on that part of the bill that is taken from a bill that I prepared over the last 7 years, and that is primarily the appraisal package of this bill.

For the first time, we have established real standards. For the first time, we have geared up and provided payoff statements, we have provided information to the purchaser and to the entire market--and most of all to the lender--that we are not going to have favorite appraisers, we are not going to have preselected appraisers, we are going to have honest, independent appraisers. That is what this bill calls for.

I think that if you take the bill in its entirety--and none of us, including myself, agree with every element or every part of the bill, some of it is quite onerous, quite frankly, but the fact of the matter is what we have done here today for the first time is create a bill that those of us that do not want predatory lending in this country, who want to have fair and honest mortgaging in this country, and want to attend to the economic problems of this country should adopt and pass this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Dr. Edward G. Boehm, Jr., and his wife, Regina E. Boehm, of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, who have been selected to receive the 57th annual Americanism Award from the B'nai B'rith Amos Lodge, No. 136, of Scranton Pennsylvania.

Dr. and Mrs. Boehm are worthy recipients of this prestigious award because each of them has worked for many years to contribute to the communities in which they have lived.

Dr. Boehm is president of Keystone College, LaPlume. He previously held positions at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia; Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas; and American University, Washington, DC.

Dr. and Mrs. Boehm are both active members of the Scranton area community. Dr. Boehm's leadership and accomplishments have been profiled in the University of Michigan's CASE study entitled, ``Keystone College: Renaissance and Transformation'' and in the book, ``Power Thinking: How the Way You Think Can Change the Way You Lead.''

Regina Boehm holds a degree from the Pennsylvania State University and she studied at the University of Maryland and Texas Christian University. Her career included management, education, and nutrition. She is a graduate of the Executive Series of both Leadership Lackawanna and Leadership Wilkes-Barre.

She is a recipient of the Junior League of Scranton Roseann Smith Alperin Award, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council Boy Scouts of America ``Salute to Northeastern Pennsylvania Women'' award and she was also honored by the Scranton Times Tribune newspaper.

Mrs. Boehm has been active on the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Board, past president of the Philharmonic League of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Boys and Girls Club of Scranton, Wyoming County United Way, the Northeast Theater, the Garden Exchange, ACT 101 Advisory Board, the Spouses Task Force of the Council of Independent Colleges and she is currently on the board of the Scranton Community Concerts. She also served as chairperson of the Waverly Antiques Show and the Philharmonic League's Antiques Show and Sale.

Dr. and Mrs. Boehm also served as co-chairs of the 2003-2004 United Way campaign for Lackawanna County.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Dr. and Mrs. Boehm on the occasion of this well-deserved honor. Their commitment to their community is an example and an inspiration to others and has greatly improved the quality of life in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Eleanor Kerrigan, of Luzerne Street in Scranton, Pennsylvania, upon the occasion of being named as 2009 Woman of the Year by the Lackawanna County Federation of Democratic Women.

Ms. Kerrigan has distinguished herself for many years as a tireless advocate for her family, her church, several charitable organizations and for Democratic candidates for public office.

A daughter of the late Carmel McPhillips and Jerome McDonald, Ms. Kerrigan has five sisters, Carmel Cunningham, Patricia Ward, Madelon Williams, Barbara Harding and Catherine Flynn; one brother, Michael McDonald, and 19 nieces and nephews.

She is currently employed as Lackawanna County Deputy Recorder of Deeds. Previously, she worked for the Lackawanna County Bureau of Elections and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Revenue, both in Scranton. She also worked for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Elections in Harrisburg during the administration of the late Gov. Robert P. Casey.

Ms. Kerrigan is a member and past president of the Holy Cross Church Men's and Women's Society in West Scranton where she was instrumental in raising funds for church renovation projects.

For more than 30 years, she has been a member at St. Joseph's Center in Dunmore, which is devoted to helping those who are mentally and physically challenged. She also served as president of the St. Joseph's Center for two years and is a member of the St. Joseph's Center Auxiliary Board.

For nearly 40 years, Ms. Kerrigan has been highly active with the Scranton City and Lackawanna County Democrat organizations. For several years, she served as Chairwoman of the Scranton Democrats and she is currently the Treasurer of the Lackawanna County Democrats.

Ms. Kerrigan is a member of the Society of Irish Women, an organization that fosters education and cultural awareness of those with Irish heritage.

For many years, she has been a devoted member of the Race for the Cure Committee, an organization dedicated to eradicating the scourge of cancer.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Eleanor Kerrigan on this auspicious occasion. Her selfless service to so many worthy causes is an inspiration to others and has earned her widespread respect and admiration. Her selection as Woman of the Year by the Lackawanna County Federation of Democratic Women is entirely fitting and well deserved.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Wilkes- Barre Mayor Thomas M. Leighton, recipient of the 2009 ``Man of the Year'' award from the Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

Mayor Leighton began his tenure as the Mayor of the City of Wilkes- Barre on January 5, 2004. Prior to becoming mayor, he served three four-year terms as a city councilman, as Chairman in 1995, 1998 and 2002 and as Vice Chairman in 1994, 1997, 1999 and 2001.

A graduate of Bishop Hoban High School, Mayor Leighton earned a bachelor of science degree from King's College in Business Administration. In 1996, he became president and owner of C.A. Leighton Company, Inc., a real estate, insurance and appraisal business located in downtown Wilkes-Barre since 1921. To fulfill his professional licensing, Mayor Leighton has successfully completed numerous continuing education programs over the years in the fields of real estate, appraisal and insurance and has retained membership in real estate professional organizations.

The combination of his municipal and business experience has provided him with the knowledge and familiarity to meet the financial and operational challenges he faces as Mayor.

An active alumnus of King's College, Mayor Leighton served as chairman of the 2006 King's College Alumni Phonathon Fund Drive as well as on the President's Council and the Century Club. He is a former coach of many community sports leagues including the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA, St. Theresa's Little League, Skyhawks Youth Soccer, Rolling Mill Hill Basketball, St. Nicholas/St. Mary's Basketball and he is also a certified PIAA referee.

Mayor Leighton is also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 302, third degree, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Elks Club, Saint Conrad's Club, North End Slovak Club and the Eagles Club.

Mayor Leighton and his wife, Patty, have three children: Kelly, Tom Jr. and Courtney.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mayor Leighton on the occasion of this auspicious event. Mayor Leighton's exemplary commitment to his family, his city and northeastern Pennsylvania is a clear reflection of his determination to play an active role in the improvement of the quality of life for everyone and, because of that, his selection as Man of the Year is a well deserved honor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. John Brogan, of Exeter, Pennsylvania, who was selected by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick to receive their 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Brogan graduated from Exeter High School in 1946 and joined the United States Navy where he served on a minesweeper from 1946 to 1948.

Mr. Brogan returned home following his military service to work in his father's men's clothing store, Sime Brogan's. He took over the operation of the family business in 1951 upon the death of his father. He continued to operate the business until his retirement in 1988.

Mr. Brogan is active in many organizations to which he belongs. These organizations include the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Exeter Lions Club, the American Legion, Post 833; Italian American Association; John F. Kennedy Council No. 372, Knights of Columbus and its Fourth Degree and the Naval Mine Warfare Association.

He is a member of American Federation of Musicians, Local 140, and he is the manager and musician for the Cino Paci Band.

He is a member of St. Cecelia's Church in Exeter where he is a member of the men's club. He also sings in the church choir.

Despite his retirement, Mr. Brogan still holds two part-time jobs with the Gubbiotti Funeral Home and Cefalo and Associates Law Firm.

Mr. Brogan and his wife, Louise, have three children: Marguerita Mutarelli, John Simon and Michael; three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Brogan on the occasion of this auspicious honor. Mr. Brogan's deep commitment to his family and his community has improved the quality of life for so many and has served as an example for others to emulate.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to James J. Keeler, of Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County, who was selected to receive the prestigious ``President's Award'' from the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County for the year 2009.

Mr. Keeler has proudly and successfully served the people of Lackawanna County for many years in a wide variety of ways.

He has served as administrator of the Social Security Administration. He was the first chairman of the Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority. And he has been a political science instructor at Marywood University and at the University of Scranton.

A native of the City of Scranton, Mr. Keeler began his career in Harrisburg in 1969 as an assistant to then Auditor General Robert P. Casey.

He joined the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1971 as a legislative analyst and served on the task force that implemented the Supplemental Security Income, SSI, program. He also worked in Washington DC on Capitol Hill at the Congressional Research Service.

In 1976, Mr. Keeler and his wife, the former Elaine O'Malley, of Scranton, returned to Lackawanna County where they raised their three children: Jimmy, Ellen and Paul in Clarks Summit.

In 1991, Mr. Keeler was recognized by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services with a national Honor Award for an innovative outreach program that found over 200 low income aged and disabled Lackawanna County residents who were eligible for the SSI program.

Mr. Keeler is the author of ``Our Team! Insights From the Publicly Owned Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons,'' a book based on his doctoral dissertation at the University of Southern California's School of Public Administration.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Keeler for his many years of service to the Lackawanna County community. His commitment to public service has vastly improved the quality of life for many throughout northeastern Pennsylvania and, for that, Mr. Keeler has earned our respect and admiration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. James J. Flaherty, the 2009 recipient of the W. Francis Swingle Award from the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for his many years of dedicated service to that organization.

Mr. Flaherty was born and raised in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He graduated from St. John's High School in 1960 and Penn State University in 1963.

Mr. Flaherty joined Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation's Scranton Division in July, 1963, as a draftsman in the engineering department. In July, 1972, he was promoted to Operations Manager and, in July of 1978, he was transferred to Chamberlain's New Bedford, Maine operation as Assistant General Manager.

In 1986, Mr. Flaherty was promoted to Vice President and General Manager of the New Bedford, Maine, operation. He served in that capacity until July, 1991, when the New Bedford operation ceased production and he relocated back to Scranton as Vice President and General Manager of that division. In 2003, Mr. Flaherty was named President of Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation. In July, 2006, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems acquired Chamberlain. Mr. Flaherty remained in Scranton as Vice President and General Manager.

Mr. Flaherty is a member of the ARMS Public Private Task Force Executive Advisory Committee and the Industrial Committee of Ammunition Producers. He is also past president of the board of directors of the Northeast Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center; serves on the board of directors of the local chapter of the Salvation Army; is a member of The Lions Club and was an elected member of the Moscow Borough Council.

In February, 2009, Mr. Flaherty was inducted into the Ancient Order of St. Barbara, the patron saint of the U.S. Army Field Artillery, for 45 years of service to our soldiers. A son of the late James and Jean Joyce Flaherty, he and his wife, Sheila, have two children and five grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Flaherty on this auspicious occasion. His commitment to his family, his profession and his community has earned him widespread respect throughout the region.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Thomas J. Hromisin, the 2009 recipient of the Man of the Year Award from the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

Mr. Hromisin is a son of Jerry and Mary Ellen Hoban Hromisin, having been born April 30, 1983.

He attended St. John the Baptist Elementary School and Seton Catholic High School where he graduated in 2001 as vice president of the senior class. He has been a lifelong

member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Pittston, where he has served as an acolyte and Eucharistic Minister.

Mr. Hromisin attended the University of Scranton on a four-year ROTC scholarship, majoring in criminal justice. As a Cadet, he attended Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He also attended Cadet Troop Leadership Training with a psychological operations unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was also a competitor on the Ranger Challenger Team.

Upon graduation, Mr. Hromisin received the distinguished graduate award in the fields of criminal justice and military science and he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army on May 28, 2005.

After completion of the Infantry Officer's Basic Course and attending Ranger School, he was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington in April 2006. He was promoted to first lieutenant in January 2007, and served as a mobile gun system platoon leader in the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

During his unit's deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he led his unit on 20 combat patrols and was critically wounded by a sniper on May 29, 2007, resulting in blindness and a traumatic brain injury. His recovery has included a month at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland; seven months at the Drucker Brain Injury Center at Moss Rehab, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and six months at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rehabilitation for the Blind in West Haven, Connecticut.

In September 2007, Mr. Hromisin was promoted to captain. At that time, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Mr. Hromisin resides at his home in Pittston, Pennsylvania, and continues to receive outpatient therapy.

Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Mr. Hromisin for the extraordinary and courageous service he has given to his country and for the profound sacrifices he has made in the defense of freedom and the protection of his fellow Americans.

I want to thank my chairman for allowing me this time.

Mr. Chairman, let me say I want to rise in favor of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act. I have two particular areas that I am particularly interested in. One was the provision that allows a reconstitution and protection or hold harmless for those who do modify mortgages. And Mr. Castle and I worked on that provision in the last Congress, and substantially the same type of provision has been included in this bill. It benefits everyone other than those cranky few investors who have the weakest part of the tranches of the securitized mortgages who would like to stop those actions from being taken. But even most investors favor it and certainly the mortgage holder and the mortgage maker favor it. So I hope that provision will become law.

And, finally, we also included in this package the provision that allows the Federal Credit Union Act to be amended to allow a 5-year period of payment to rebuild the deposit insurance reserves of the Federal Credit Union. And as we all know, with these hard times and circumstances, the credit unions need the same help to rebuild their deposit reserves.

So, Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my thoughts about H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

While the final recovery bill is not perfect, nor does it address all my concerns, I strongly believe that we must take quick action to help Americans who are struggling and help spur job creation. We are in a time of crisis, and doing nothing is not an option. I agree with President Obama--time is of the essence, and we must act quickly to pass a recovery package. Though no bill is perfect, I have reconciled my problems with the initial bill for the sake of helping Americans and the economy.

Just last week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced recent increases in the number of unemployed Americans. These statistics

were incredibly troubling. Sadly, they showed a twenty-six year high in unemployment filings. Additionally, part of my own Congressional District in Northeastern Pennsylvania, faces a 7.7 percent unemployment rate, higher than the state and national averages. Clearly the increase in the number of people unemployed in the country and in Northeastern Pennsylvania reflects the need for the federal government to immediately provide greater assistance to those out of work and struggling.

While I wanted the recovery bill to focus more on job creation through infrastructure in the short term, which was the original focus of the bill, it does address these issues to an extent. The bill is estimated to create or save 3.5 million jobs throughout the country, including 143,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and 7,700 jobs in my Congressional District. The bill includes $64 billion for infrastructure development that is estimated to create or sustain 1.8 million jobs nationally and generate $322 billion of economic activity. Additionally, to help individuals get back to work in good jobs, almost $4 billion is allocated for job training programs.

I also previously expressed the need for the recovery package to focus on helping those who are out of work or retired. While many people are struggling, we must help those without jobs feed their families immediately. Though I encourage a larger focus on this for future legislation, this bill extends unemployment insurance through December 2009 and it increases benefit payments by $25 per week, so that jobless workers will now receive $325 per week in tax-free benefits. It also includes a one time $250 payment to retirees, disabled individuals, and for Supplemental Security Income to help more people without jobs.

Finally, I had strongly advocated for the inclusion of a General Revenue Sharing program through an amendment to the recovery package that would provide localities with a needed source of revenue for undertaking job-creating infrastructure projects and maintaining public safety networks. This would be critical to helping localities across the country that are facing significant funding shortfalls as a result of the ongoing economic downturn. While I was disappointed that this amendment was not included in the legislation, I applaud provisions in the current bill that will improve state and local government bonds, allowing states and localities to afford needed infrastructure projects. The recovery package also creates a competitive grant program exclusively for state and local surface transportation projects. Additionally, I will introduce a stand alone General Revenue Sharing bill in the near future.

My strongest objection to the initial recovery package dealt with the fact that many Members, both Democrats and Republicans, were not involved in the discussions on the bill. As I have continued to say, open door policies regarding Congress' legislation are essential. All Members of Congress must have a voice and the opportunity to debate bills, especially the recovery package which is the most significant and certainly the most expensive undertaking in our nation's history. I voiced my concerns to House leadership, and they were noted. I hope these actions will be changed in the future.

Additionally, the public must have an informed voice as well. In order to let the American public truly understand the need for the recovery bill, and other legislation going forward, we need to allow them to fully understand it. I am a firm believer in that we must determine the problem before addressing the possible solutions. We must effectively communicate to the public the full extent of the problems we face so that they also understand why we are taking such action.

I applaud President Obama for his determination and willingness to jump on such a daunting project in his first month in office. While this is not a final solution to our economic problems, as we will likely need another recovery package in the future, it is an important step forward. Fixing our economy will not happen overnight, but I have faith that we will emerge from these tough times stronger than ever.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to raise my concerns about H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.

I voted in favor of H.R. 2, with some reservations. I fully support providing health coverage to children and support this legislation as it continues funding for 7 million children currently enrolled in SCHIP and will allow an additional 4 million children to be covered. Moreover, I support the efforts of this legislation to reach families that are eligible for this program but are not currently enrolled.

At the same time, however, I am concerned about the increases in tobacco taxes that will be used to pay for the extension and expansion of this worthwhile program. In particular, I am concerned about these taxes for small manufacturers.

For example, in my Congressional district, there is a small manufacturer, Avanti Cigar Company, that produces large cigars. The company currently employs 43 people and is concerned that the increased taxes as a result of this legislation will force the company out of business. In 2008, the company generated $6 million in revenues and paid $1 million federal excise taxes. With the increase in taxes included in H.R. 2, the company is facing a 40 percent increase and expects to pay $3.1 million annually in excise taxes. These increases may very well cause Avanti Cigar Company to close.

From my perspective, at a time when our economy is in trouble and our small businesses are hurting, now is not the time to pass tax increases that may put some of these businesses out of business. In the coming months, it is my hope that we can revisit this issue and look for other ways to pay for providing health care to children that will not cause parents to lose their jobs.

In closing, I appreciate the opportunity to voice my concerns about this legislations.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my thoughts about H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Revitalization Act.

I regret that I cannot support the legislation in its current form. While I absolutely agree that we must stimulate our economy to help it recover from its troubled state, I am concerned that this bill does not represent an effective plan to ensure our economic recovery.

We face the most challenging economic crisis since the Great Depression, yet this bill merely throws money at the problem by ex-

panding existing programs. We have not taken the time to fully understand the nature and the full scope of the collapse of our economy, and so we have not taken the time to understand how to target the problems with innovative solutions. While I recognize the urgency of the situation, we would do better to follow the advice of an old civil engineer friend of mine who often cautioned that to do a job correctly, it is better to go slow in the planning to allow you to go fast in the implementation.

Just one example of the difficulty we will have in getting this money spent well was described in today's Washington Post, which quoted a state energy office director lamenting how he was going to have to figure out how to spend 35 times as much money as he normally gets in a year, using new funds allocated in this stimulus. Pennsylvania's own transportation department has indicated that its ``shovel-ready'' projects are not so ready that they can be started within the ninety days sought by Transportation Chairman Oberstar, who rightfully is seeking to expedite these funds to get spent as quickly as possible. Having dealt with publicly-financed projects for more than forty years, I can assure you that numerous federal, state and local regulations will provide numerous obstacles to getting this money spent both quickly and wisely. I sought to offer an amendment which would have allowed a waiver of many of these restrictions because--to the best of my knowledge--there is no provision in this bill to allow federal administrators to waive regulations under these extraordinary circumstances.

My Republican colleagues raise a reasonable objection that they were not fully included as the framework of this legislation was constructed. Perhaps I am one of the few Democrats who will acknowledge publicly that most Democrats were also not included. This is wrong. When undertaking the most significant and certainly most expensive program of my Congressional career and maybe in our Nation's history, it is vitally important that all Members of Congress first understand the problem we are addressing and then fully participate in determining how best to solve that problem. It has been my experience that the most successful policies are those which many minds have constructed.

In addition to Members of Congress fully understanding what we are trying to do and why, it is vitally important in a representative democracy for the American people to understand both the problem and the proposed solution. We rushed through the so-called TARP program without educating the American people, and they are convinced it was a bailout of Wall Street. I helped to draft the TARP program and voted for it because I believed that it was absolutely essential that we act immediately, despite the suspicions voiced by my constituents. The need for an economic stimulus is indeed urgent, but it is not so much of an emergency that we cannot afford to take the time to think so that we can do it right.

No piece of legislation is ever perfect; I recognize that compromise is always necessary to reflect the diverse interests of a country as heterogeneous as ours. Had we reached this bill through a more orderly, bipartisan basis, I very well may have cast my vote for it. I still hope that the Senate will make enough necessary corrections that I will be able to support a final version. Let me now highlight my substantive objections to this bill.

First, infrastructure projects were an initial focus of a recovery package, but that focus has dwindled to just $90 billion out of an $825 billion bill. For every $1 billion we spend in infrastructure, we create upwards of 30,000 jobs. It seems to me that this is a proven method of creating jobs and additional funds should be put towards this area of spending.

In addition, from my perspective, we need to focus more on helping those who are unemployed or retired. While many people are struggling, we must help those without jobs feed their families immediately. One of the major tax provisions of this bill is the $500 tax credit for individuals and $1,000 for couples. While this tax credit may provide relief to working families, it will not help individuals who are unemployed since the credit will be provided through a reduction in payroll taxes for workers.

Moreover, I am concerned about the disproportionate impact this bill will have. Without doubt, much of the funding will go to large urban areas, while areas like my Congressional District which are more rural, will receive much less funding, even though our unemployment rate is higher than the national average. Residents of my Congressional district are struggling just as much as those living in urban areas.

Finally, a recovery bill should include funding for localities. Many counties, cities and municipalities across the country are facing significant funding shortfalls as a result of the ongoing economic downturn. These budget shortfalls have resulted in local officials having to make difficult decisions about cutting jobs, reducing services, or raising taxes on their citizens.

That is why I offered an amendment to H.R. 1 to reinstate a General Revenue Sharing program. More than 30 years ago, as our country experienced another period of prolonged economic stress, we put in place a General Revenue Sharing grant program. Between 1972 and 1986, $83 billion was transferred from the federal government under this program. This funding provided localities with a needed source of revenue for undertaking job-creating infrastructure projects and maintaining public safety networks. I am disappointed that this amendment was not allowed under the rule.

In closing, I support a recovery package that creates jobs and builds our infrastructure. Americans and our economy are struggling and we must act to help them. But, I strongly believe that we can make improvements to this bill so it will be as effective and efficient as possible in restoring our economy and helping Americans.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Sister Adrian Barrett, IHM, an extraordinary woman whose capacity for caring for the poor is exceeded only by her selflessness and humility.

Sister Adrian's remarkable career of service began in 1949 when she became a sister of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

After her early years teaching at schools in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York and working summers in Scranton ministering to poor children, Sister Adrian and an old acquaintance, Monsignor Joseph P. Kelly, created Project Hope, a summer camp for underprivileged youths, first at Pius X Seminary at Dalton and later at Camp St. Andrew in Tunkhannock.

Sister Adrian returned to Scranton permanently in 1976 to work full time with low income families at United Neighborhood Center's Progressive Center. She developed an annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the needy of the community, at first with 24 guests, now with more than 2,000.

In 1985, she established Friends of the Poor with the stated objective of bringing together ``those who can give with those who have a need to receive.''

Over the years, Sister Adrian has become a hero in the Scranton area, providing food, clothing, furniture and healthcare education and assistance to those in need and sponsoring an annual educational trip to Washington, DC, for underprivileged children.

Mrs. Mary Lou Burne, one who has worked with and knows Sister Adrian well, observed recently that ``She's the heart of the poor in Scranton. She feels what they feel. She cries when they cry.''

Retired local banking executive David Tressler, who has done volunteer work with Sister Adrian for more than 25 years, said she inspires with her unflagging, round-the-clock commitment to the poor and is not bashful about asking those with means to assist those without.

``She is a unique individual,'' Mr. Tressler said. ``She has time for anybody and everybody.''

Now, as she approaches the age of 80, she has decided it is time to retire and hand her incredible work to a successor, Sister Maryalice Jacquinot, IHM.

Sister Adrian once observed that the highest compliment anyone could pay her is to acknowledge that she tried to love and serve the poor and, in so doing, loved and served God.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Sister Adrian Barrett who truly has loved and served the poor and, in so doing, has improved the quality of life for countless souls and has inspired all of us to a heightened awareness of our calling to help our fellow man.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Joe Maddon, from Hazleton, Pennsylvania, the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team and a leader of a citizen effort to restore the auditorium of the former Hazleton High School, now an elementary and middle school that has, for more than 80 years, been a landmark in the Hazleton area that is fondly referred to as ``The Castle.''

Born in Hazleton in 1954, Mr. Maddon graduated from ``The Castle'' where he was a star athlete before moving on to graduate from Lafayette College in 1976 where he played baseball and football.

Mr. Maddon then went on to distinguish himself in the world of professional baseball for more than three decades, first with the California/Anaheim Angels and, since 2006, with the Tampa Bay Rays, a team which he led to the 2008 World Series that was won by the Philadelphia Phillies.

After the 2008 season, Mr. Maddon was named the American League Manager of the Year.

During his remarkable career, Mr. Maddon has won accolades from Sports Illustrated, which described him as a ``Renaissance man from down-to-earth roots.'' The New York Times described him as ``one of baseball's more purely intelligent men in uniform.'' And the Boston Globe called Maddon ``the genuine article . . . universally respected, intelligent, wordily, eloquent and well-read.''

Mr. Maddon has been a leader in the Tampa Bay area in raising awareness to the plight faced by those who are homeless and has actively worked to feed and shelter the victims of homelessness.

Frequently praised as a man who has never forgotten his roots, Mr. Maddon has been committed to helping raise the funds necessary to renovate the auditorium of his former high school so that it can serve as a Community Arts Center.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Joe Maddon for his personal and charitable achievements and also for the positive attention he has brought to his hometown of Hazleton and all of northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Maddon's example is an inspiration for others to emulate especially our young people who can look to him as a true role model.

Madam Speaker, the American automobile industry faces almost certain extinction if this body fails to act at this time. I cannot in good conscience allow that to happen. I will therefore vote for this legislation today, December 10, 2008, but I do so with some reservations.

Admittedly, the industry has made many missteps over the years. Moreover, the many flaws in this bill were probably pre-ordained by the expedited legislative procedures--adopted under the guise of an ``emergency''--by which the congressional leadership chose to craft this bill. However, to reject this imperfect solution for an imperfect industry solely because it could have been better makes little sense.

Like my constituents, I am also astonished by the actions of overpaid, out of touch executives at these companies. We need to pursue further reforms in their compensation. But if we focus today on only the few individuals at the top of the companies, we will lose sight of the larger reality: Failure to act will cost the jobs of hundreds of thousands of average, hardworking Americans. It would also deprive our Nation of an industrial sector vital for us to remain an innovative global leader and manufacturer in the twenty-first century.

America needs its own automotive industry. I have always owned American cars. I believe in the American workforce, the thousands of men and women who make the automobiles on which we rely. They do not fly on corporate jets. They certainly do not make millions of dollars. We need to help them in their time of need.

Experts estimate that if the Congress does not provide this initial bridge loan and the automakers do fail, 2.5 million jobs will be lost. The Big Three employ 240,000 workers, suppliers and dealerships provide 800,000 jobs, and some 1.4 million jobs are dependent on the auto manufacturers. In my congressional district, some 500 workers at Rieter Automotive in Bloomsburg produce carpets for General Motors, and these workers and their families would experience undue hardship if we allow the American automotive industry to fail.

Moreover, unemployment numbers released for November indicate this country lost 533,000 jobs in that month alone. The current unemployment rate sits at 6.7 percent. We simply cannot allow those already devastating numbers to swell further.

In addition, the loss of the industry would result in a sizable drop in government revenue, just when annual deficits have run away and our national debt soars. Unemployment assistance will skyrocket and thousands of American breadwinners will lose their homes and even the ability to feed their children. The costs of inaction will therefore be catastrophic.

Surely we all agree that the industry teeters on the precipice of disaster. Additionally, most agree that the global economic crisis bears a good deal of blame for the automakers' collective misfortune. Importantly, the industry has appropriately conceded that they deserve a large share of blame. They were reluctant to diversify their fleets of cars to suit demand and to inoculate themselves against market volatility in the price of oil.

Earlier this year, consumers quickly lost their taste for large sport utility vehicles in favor of small, fuel-efficient cars as automakers for too long ignored this shift. The automakers failed to trim costs appropriately. They retained too many unnecessary white collar jobs. As we all now know, they infamously provided private jets to transport executives across the country, all the while paying those very executives $20 million-plus pay packages.

Over the last few years, the automakers have come to recognize the urgency of their plight by engaging in substantive changes in their corporate structures. They have now presented long-term viability plans to the Congress, and they seem intent on getting the job done. This bill--if its oversight provisions are dutifully carried out by the Executive Branch--attempts to ensure that the necessary transformations occur. As a start, the automakers have expressed that wide-scale restructuring has already begun, and at considerable cost.

This bill contains many thoughtful conditions. Executive compensation limits, taxpayer

warrants, and a czar-like overseer are among the principles necessary for us to extend Federal assistance. This legislation, however, could have been better, tougher, and as a result more likely to succeed, if we had taken the time to get it right. I remain concerned that American taxpayer money could be used in a way that might outsource American jobs because the Congress did not include a specific prohibition preventing such an action.

So, I question whether the oversight of the disbursement and allocation of all government funds is sufficiently strong. As for executive compensation, even though the CEOs have agreed to annual $1 salaries, the Big Three could have been forced to pay their top 20 executives no more than their leaner, more-profitable foreign counterparts are paid.

Furthermore, we failed to establish what will occur in the event of a disaster scenario, in which the companies burn through this money and the hoped for results are not attained. We made some progress in planning for contingencies, but we should have done more. We could have created in legislation a structured bankruptcy system for the automakers.

We could have also relied more on the 1979 Chrysler bailout law for insight and guidance. That plan included a ``certainty of success'' formula and required more frequent reporting. Unfortunately, this precedent received far less attention than it deserved. Finally, I believe that we ought to have considered a buy-in incentive program, whereby Americans would hold a vested interest in the success of these companies.

Unfortunately, these and countless other potential provisions never saw the light of day because the Congress succumbed to the idea that emergencies, however real, preclude us from operating under regular order. The two are not mutually exclusive. I concede that the American automakers need money, and fast.

But, in the three weeks it took the companies to produce at least reasonable viability proposals, the Congress could have considered numerous drafts of bills, could have held additional hearings, and could have marked up legislation. In addition to producing a better legislative product, each of those activities probably would have built a stronger consensus and lessened partisan discord. Going forward into the 111th Congress, it is my sincere hope that the Congress will return to regular order so that we produce better laws and establish a more collegial, deliberative body.

That said, voting against this bill today simply was not an option. The industry might well have vanished in a matter of weeks, unemployment would have skyrocketed, and the economy would have sunk deeper. Let us hope that the money is allocated wisely, that the executives act prudently, that all stakeholders make some sacrifices, and that long-term viability is pursued tirelessly.