Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1320, a resolution which commends the vigilance of the many individuals, first responders, law enforcement, and homeland security personnel for helping prevent what could have been a very deadly terrorist attack in Times Square last weekend and bring into custody the person who has admitted responsibility for this failed attack. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this resolution.

When Faisal Shahzad drove his bomb-laden SUV into Times Square on the evening of Saturday, May 1, 2010, New York City and all America were once again reminded of the thin line between security and tragedy.

This attack was just the most recent of 11 attempts since September 11, 2001, to visit terror on New York City. I cannot say enough about the efforts of the New York Police Department, its local partners, and the Federal agencies, particularly the FBI, that have worked to prevent these incidents and keep the City safe.

The resolution highlights how two vigilant citizens, Mr. Lance Orton and Mr. Duane Jackson, saw something and said something to an alert NYPD officer, Wayne Rhatigan, who secured the scene and the safety of those who were at what has been called the ``Crossroads of the World.''

We are also indebted to the New York Police Department and its Bomb Squad, the Fire Department of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other homeland security and law enforcement personnel for helping to foil this attack and capture the guilty terrorist.

Unfortunately, even after these 11 wake-up calls, not everyone recognizes that New York City is the nation's top terror target and that we must do everything possible to ensure the safety and security of New Yorkers and those

visiting this great City. New York simply cannot be expected to prevent terrorist attacks alone. Protecting New York City is not a local issue. It is a national issue; a national security issue.

What if the bomb that Faisal Shahzad parked in Times Square had detonated, and included radiological or nuclear material? How many lives would have been lost? How long would it have taken for New York's economy--and the nation's economy--to recover?

One of the best ways to stop that nightmare scenario would be to properly fund the Securing the Cities Program, which is the only Federal program of its kind to establish a ring of radiological detectors on bridges, tunnels, and mobile platforms in the region to prevent a radiological or nuclear attack. Unfortunately, the Administration has eliminated funding for this key program, even though in January 2010 the House of Representatives passed my legislation to authorize and fund the program.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg testified in the Senate this morning and stated: ``Since 1990, there have been more than 20 terrorist plots--or actual attacks--against our City. That's why it's so critical for Congress to fully fund homeland security programs like the Securing the Cities--and to take other steps that will help us fight terrorists and make it harder for them to attack us.''

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly stated on Sunday that the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative has yet to be extended to Midtown Manhattan because of the lack of Federal funding. With just $50 million, this ``Ring of Steel'' would give the NYPD a force multiplier throughout Midtown and allow it to expand its reach across the entire city.

The Administration has also proposed eliminating the Coast Guard's Maritime Safety and Security Team in New York City, weakening the City's defenses against a waterborne attack. The Administration has also proposed cutting funding for New York City-area mass transit and port security.

The stark reality is that New York City is the number one target for terrorists. New Yorkers live under constant threat of attack. But the Federal government can minimize those threats by properly funding counterterrorism initiatives based on risk and fund programs in the places they are most needed, like New York City.

Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support this resolution to show our gratitude to the brave and selfless efforts of the first responders and everyone involved who helped turn into a triumph what could have been a tragedy.

Madam Speaker, it is my sad duty to inform the Congress that former Congressman Angelo Roncallo of New York passed away this week.

Angelo Roncallo was a predecessor of mine in the Third Congressional District. He served from 1973 to 1975. He was Nassau County Comptroller from 1967 to 1972 and a member of the Oyster Bay Town Board from 1965 to 1967.

Madam Speaker, Angelo Roncallo was an outstanding New Yorker. Angelo Roncallo went through some very difficult times. He was a victim of a terrible miscarriage of justice, having been indicted and then acquitted--the jury was out for only a matter of minutes, but by then his political career as a Congressman was ruined. However, he made a strong comeback, being elected a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, where he served for many years with great distinction.

Angelo Roncallo was very active in the Italian-American community, very active in the neighborhoods in the communities, and certainly is a legend in New York State politics and government. Angelo Roncallo, again, was a true friend, a mentor of mine, a person for whom I have the greatest regard and affection.

I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of Wladyslaw Stasiak on the recent plane crash that took his life as well as the lives of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and so many leading political, military and financial officials. This horrible tragedy will be felt for years to come by so many, and my thoughts and prayers are with Poland on this day.

Wladyslaw Stasiak was a senior aide and chief of staff to President Kaczynski and a friend of the United States. He worked closely with both of our governments on the deployment of U.S. Patriot missile batteries in Poland to defend against a missile attack. Before becoming chief of staff, he held various senior political positions inside the Polish Government including Chief of the National Security Bureau, Minister of Interior, and Deputy Mayor of Warsaw.

Once again, let me express my condolences to Mr. Stasiak's family on their recent loss.

Madam Speaker, no one is more dedicated to maintaining the strength of the American-Israeli relationship than former New York City Mayor Ed Koch. Mayor Koch is a true American patriot who knows that Israel is an indispensable partner in the war against Islamic terrorism. Israel, of course, shares America's belief in freedom and democracy. Like many of us, Mayor Koch is concerned that President Obama's policies have ``damaged the relationship between the U.S. and Israel . . . to one in which there is an absence of trust on both sides.'' Mayor Koch has written a very thoughtful article in which he describes his opposition to the Obama policies--policies which have caused the Mayor to ``weep''. I commend this article to my colleagues.

A Dangerous Silence

I weep as I witness outrageous verbal attacks on Israel.

What makes these verbal assaults and distortions all the more

painful is that they are being orchestrated by President

Obama.

For me, the situation today recalls what occurred in 70 AD

when the Roman emperor Vespasian launched a military campaign

against the Jewish nation and its ancient capital of

Jerusalem. Ultimately, Masada, a rock plateau in the Judean

desert became the last refuge of the Jewish people against

the Roman onslaught. I have been to Jerusalem and Masada.

From the top of Masada, you can still see the remains of the

Roman fortifications and garrisons, and the stones and earth

of the Roman siege ramp that was used to reach Masada. The

Jews of Masada committed suicide rather than let themselves

be taken captive by the Romans.

In Rome itself, I have seen the Arch of Titus with the

sculpture showing enslaved Jews and the treasures of the

Jewish Temple of Solomon with the Menorah, the symbol of the

Jewish state, being carted away as booty during the sacking

of Jerusalem.

Oh, you may say, that is a farfetched analogy. Please hear

me out.

The most recent sacking of the old city of Jerusalem--its

Jewish quarter--took place under the Jordanians in 1948 in

the first war between the Jews and the Arabs, with at least

five Muslim states--Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq--

seeking to destroy the Jewish state. At that time, Jordan

conquered East Jerusalem and the West Bank and expelled every

Jew living in the Jewish quarter of the old city, destroying

every building, including the synagogues in the old quarter

and expelling from every part of Judea and Samaria every Jew

living there so that for the first time in thousands of

years, the old walled city of Jerusalem and the adjacent West

Bank were ``Judenrein''--a term used by the Nazis to indicate

the forced removal or murder of all Jews.

Jews had lived for centuries in Hebron, the city where

Abraham, the first Jew, pitched his tent and where he now

lies buried, it is believed, in a tomb with his wife, Sarah,

as well as other ancient Jewish patriarchs and matriarchs. I

have visited that tomb and at the time asked an Israeli

soldier guarding it--so that it was open to all pilgrims,

Christians, Muslims and Jews--``where is the seventh step

leading to the tomb of Abraham and Sarah,'' which was the

furthest entry for Jews when the Muslims were the authority

controlling the holy place? He replied, ``When we retook and

reunited the whole city of Jerusalem and conquered the West

Bank in 1967, we removed the steps, so now everyone can

enter,'' whereas when Muslims were in charge of the tomb, no

Jew could enter it. And I did.

I am not a religious person. I am comfortable in a

synagogue, but generally attend only twice a year, on the

high holidays. When I entered the tomb of Abraham and Sarah,

as I recall, I felt connected with my past and the traditions

of my people. One is a Jew first by birth and then by

religion. Those who leave their religion, remain Jews forever

by virtue of their birth. If they don't think so, let them

ask their neighbors, who will remind them. I recall the words

of the columnist Robert Novak, who was for most of his life

hostile to the Jewish state of Israel in an interview with a

reporter stating that while he had converted to Catholicism,

he was still a cultural Jew. I remain with pride a Jew both

by religion and culture.

My support for the Jewish state has been long and

steadfast. Never have I thought that I would leave the U.S.

to go and live in Israel. My loyalty and love is first to the

U.S. which has given me, the son of Polish Jewish immigrants,

so much. But, I have also long been cognizant of the fact

that every night when I went to sleep in peace and safety,

there were Jewish communities around the world in danger.

And there was one country, Israel, that would give them

sanctuary and would send its soldiers to fight for them

and deliver them from evil, as Israel did at Entebbe in

1976.

I weep today because my president, Barack Obama, in a few

weeks has changed the relationship between the U.S. and

Israel from that of closest of allies to one in which there

is an absence of trust on both sides. The contrast between

how the president and his administration deals with Israel

and how it has decided to deal with the Karzai administration

in Afghanistan is striking.

The Karzai administration, which operates a corrupt and

opium-producing state, refuses to change its corrupt ways--

the president's own brother is believed by many to run the

drug traffic taking place in Afghanistan--and shows the

utmost contempt for the U.S. is being hailed by the Obama

administration as an ally and publicly treated with dignity.

Karzai recently even threatened to join the Taliban if we

don't stop making demands on him. Nevertheless, Karzai is

receiving a gracious thank-you letter from President Obama.

The New York Times of April 10th reported, ``. . . that Mr.

Obama had sent Mr. Karzai a thank-you note expressing

gratitude to the Afghan leader for dinner in Kabul. `It was a

respectful letter,' General Jones said.''

On the other hand, our closest ally--the one with the

special relationship with the U.S., has been demeaned and

slandered, held responsible by the administration for our

problems in Afghanistan and Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle

East. The plan I suspect is to so weaken the resolve of the

Jewish state and its leaders that it will be much easier to

impose on Israel an American plan to resolve the Israeli-

Palestinian conflict, leaving Israel's needs for security and

defensible borders in the lurch.

I believe President Obama's policy is to create a whole new

relationship with the Arab states of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and

Egypt, and Iraq as a counter to Iran--The Tyrannosaurus Rex

of the Muslim world which we are now prepared to see in

possession of a nuclear weapon. If throwing Israel under the

bus is needed to accomplish this alliance, so be it.

I am shocked by the lack of outrage on the part of Israel's

most ardent supporters. The members of AIPAC, the chief pro-

Israel lobbying organization in Washington, gave Secretary of

State Hillary Clinton a standing ovation after she had

carried out the instructions of President Obama and, in a 43-

minute telephone call, angrily hectored Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu.

Members of Congress in both the House and Senate have made

pitifully weak statements against Obama's mistreatment of

Israel, if they made any at all. The Democratic members, in

particular, are weak. They are simply afraid to criticize

President Obama.

What bothers me most of all is the shameful silence and

lack of action by community leaders--Jew and Christian. Where

are they? If this were a civil rights matter, the Jews would

be in the mall in Washington protesting with and on behalf of

our fellow American citizens. I asked one prominent Jewish

leader why no one is preparing a march on Washington similar

to the one in 1963 at which I was present and Martin Luther

King's memorable speech was given? His reply was ``Fifty

people might come.'' Remember the 1930s? Few stood up. They

were silent. Remember the most insightful statement of one of

our greatest teachers, Rabbi Hillel: ``If I am not for

myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am

I? And if not now, when?''

We have indeed stood up for everyone else. When will we

stand up for our brothers and sisters living in the Jewish

state of Israel?

If Obama is seeking to build a siege ramp around Israel,

the Jews of modern Israel will not commit suicide. They are

willing to negotiate a settlement with the Palestinians, but

they will not allow themselves to be bullied into following

self-destructive policies.

To those who call me an alarmist, I reply that I'll be

happy to apologize if I am proven wrong. But those who stand

silently by and watch the Obama administration abandon

Israel, to whom will they apologize?

Madam Speaker, all the world mourns the horrific plane crash which took the lives of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and so many of Poland's leading political, military, and financial officials. This horrible tragedy will be felt for years to come by so many and my thoughts and prayers are with Poland on this day.

I want to particularly acknowledge the tragic loss of Janusz Kochanowski. Dr. Kochanowski was a true scholar, a champion of human rights, and a good friend of the United States who unfortunately was on board that fateful flight. He was a lawyer, a professor, a diplomat, and most recently the Polish Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection (ombudsman). It was in this position that he was an outspoken advocate on behalf of the Polish people including rebuking his own government for its refusal to provide swine flu vaccines to the public amid the global panic.

Once again, let me express my condolences to Dr. Kochanowski's wife, Ewa, and his two children, Marta and Mateusz, on this tragic loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of our Nation's outstanding service organizations, the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross has been at the forefront of disaster preparedness and response for more than a century. Since its formation in 1881, the foundation has established itself as one of the most effective and recognizable disaster relief organizations in the world. In President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first Presidential Declaration in 1943, he requested that ``people rededicate themselves to the splendid aims and activities of the Red Cross'' each March. We have an opportunity this month to continue this tradition, and recognize the essential role the Red Cross plays in our communities.

Over 600,000 Red Cross volunteers provide shelter, food, health, and mental health services for more than 70,000 natural and manmade disasters every year. Additionally, the Red Cross provides blood to disaster victims, helps those affected to access other available resources, and assists concerned family members outside the disaster area.

Whether it is a hurricane or a single-family home fire, the American Red Cross is there. During the past year, the local Red Cross Chapter helped 500 Nassau County residents who were displaced by floods or fires. The timely response to these small-scale, but devastating disasters is one of the Red Cross' most invaluable humanitarian services.

Large-scale disasters also demonstrate the Red Cross' successes. Since the January 12th earthquake in Haiti, the Red Cross has provided assistance to more than 1.9 million people in that country, and will continue to aid hundreds more in the months ahead. In addition to the ongoing, large-scale response to Haiti, the Red Cross plans to assist 15,000 families affected by the recent earthquake in Chile with shelter, emergency medical care, and water and sanitation services.

The employees of the Red Cross, the tireless and dedicated work of volunteers, and the thousands of citizens who donate to support these relief efforts epitomize the altruism and community spirit of the American people. I join with my colleagues to recognize the Red Cross, and once again thank the organization's staff and volunteers for all of their continued assistance to American communities.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 1036, recognizing the contributions of Korean Americans to the United States. As a cosponsor of this resolution, I join with 50 of my colleagues in urging the House to pass this resolution today.

For six decades now the United States and the Republic of Korea have maintained a strong alliance that rests on a shared commitment to peace, democracy, and freedom not only on the Korean peninsula but throughout Asia and the rest of the world. And this alliance between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea remains resilient and firm based on the shared values, mutual trust, and common interests of our peoples.

The Korean War was a major battlefield in the Cold War as American forces and our allies fought so heroically to resist North Korean aggression and prevent communist forces from imposing their rule on the Republic of Korea. Nearly seven million Americans served during the Korean War period and the United States suffered 54,246 casualties and over 8,000 POW/MIAs during this ``Forgotten War.'' The nearly 30,000 American soldiers who remain stationed in the Republic of Korea are a testament to this relationship.

One of the fastest growing immigrant communities with over a million people in the United States, Korean Americans have made great contributions to all facets of American society.

Madam Speaker, I urge the House to pass this resolution today.

Madam Speaker, I was not present for votes on Friday, February 26, 2010. Had I been present, this is how I would have voted: On rollcall #69 I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall #70 I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall #71 I would have

voted ``yes.'' On rollcall #72 I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall #73 I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall #74 I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding.

I rise in strong support of this resolution.

As the gentleman from Texas indicated earlier, it is unfortunate that it is only at times like this that many of the American people realize just what an outstanding service is performed by the men and women of the Central Intelligence Agency day in and day out, year in and year out. They perform missions and they put themselves at risk in ways that many of us cannot even imagine.

I have only been a member of the Intelligence Committee for less than a year, but during that time I have had the opportunity to visit with members of the CIA at remote outposts, seeing the type of conditions under which they live, seeing the burdens they bear, seeing the risks that they endure. And it should be reminded to all of us that not only do we honor these seven men and women who were murdered in the line of duty, not only do we offer our condolences to the family members of those who were killed, and not only do we pray for those who are recovering from their wounds, but we should also, I think, take an extra moment to express our solidarity for those that are in the field today, those who are doing, as we are standing here on the House floor here today speaking, as we go back to our apartments tonight, as we go back to our districts over the next several days and be with our families, that there are men and women out there who will not be with their families, who will not be living in the comfort we take for granted in this Nation.

And it also should be reminded to us that we should not find ourselves being Monday morning quarterbacks or second-guessing these men and women who were on the field, who have to make literally life and death decisions at any moment. And sometimes looking back on them years later we can say they should have done this, they should have done that. The reality is they are the people on the front lines. They are the people actually, as Congressman Miller said, almost beyond the front lines. They are as remote as you can be in many instances, and also have to take extraordinary risks, as they did in this situation.

Because if we are going to win the war against terrorism, we have to obtain the intelligence. We have to get that information that is so vital to heading off attacks. And we can't do it just by intercepts. We can't do it always in a neat and easy way. It has to be done by people putting themselves on the line, actually going out and meeting with those who may turn out to be, as in this case, double agents or triple agents.

So let's just again express our heartfelt admiration, our sympathy, our sense of condolence for all these people who, again, died so tragically, these brave men and women. But also keep in mind that there are many, many more brave men and women out in the field today doing this exact same type of work. And they deserve our support. So it is not only at times like this, in times of tragedy, that we acknowledge them, but we acknowledge them 365 days a year for the work that they do.

With that, again, I am proud to support the resolution.

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

At the outset, let me thank Chairman Thompson of the Homeland Security Committee and my good friend from New York, Congresswoman Clarke, for her strong efforts on this legislation, which is truly bipartisan. The addition of two additional cities makes it truly a national program in scope.

Madam Speaker, when we look at London, when we look at Madrid, it becomes clear that a very likely means of attack by terrorists in the United States would be from suburban areas into urban areas. And certainly in New York, which is the number one terrorist target in the world, enormous steps have been made to protect us against that type of attack, specifically a dirty bomb attack coming from outside the city through the highways, the parkways, the tunnels, the bridges, actually into Manhattan itself, which has already, as we know, devastatingly on September 11, also in 1993, been attacked by Islamic terrorists. But also a number of other plots against New York City have been thwarted.

New York City is definitely the main target in the country, but any number of other cities are as well. That is why I believe the program, which has been implemented in New York, can be a model for other cities throughout the country.

Now, I was very concerned last year when the administration decided to zero out all money for this funding in its budget. This was, I believe, a serious mistake. Fortunately, Congress, by appropriating $40 million in this House and finally $20 million when it came back from conference committee, did continue to fund this program, because we need these radiological detectors on the highways, the toll plazas, the bridges and the tunnels.

I have had the privilege of attending a number of these drills and training sessions when they are conducted. As Representative Clarke said, we're not just talking about New York City. We're talking about a large number of police departments and first responders--fight departments, EMS services--from not just New York City but from Long Island, from Connecticut, from New Jersey. We're talking about the State police, and we're talking about Federal support as well, seeing them

all working together in a cohesive way to stop what would be the absolutely devastating impact of a dirty bomb attack, the human toll that that would take, the devastating economic impact it would have, the fact that it would make parts of the city unlivable for extended periods of time, and the fact that it would, in effect, cut off transportation into New York City.

All of these are reasons that we have to go ahead and continue with this Securing the Cities program. It's no guarantee, but it's another layer of defense that we need to protect ourselves against a terrorist attack.

As we know, the terrorists are constantly adapting, and we have to try to stay one step ahead of them. We have to always be on our guard. Actually, we have to be lucky all the time. They only have to be lucky once. We have to rely on more than luck. We have to have preparation, and we have to have a layered defense.

That's why I am so proud to support this legislation which will, in effect, almost set in stone the importance of the Securing the Cities program. We will expand it beyond New York City because, again, while Congresswoman Clarke and I feel that those of us in the New York area are the main targets, the fact is that a human life is a human life; an American life is an American life. Whether it's New York City or any other city in this country, any, certainly, major urban area, I believe this program is adaptable and compatible to those areas.

So I thank Congresswoman Clarke for her effort. I thank the bipartisan support that we have for this legislation, and I, certainly, strongly urge its adoption.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, again, let me thank Congresswoman Clarke for her leadership on this. Let me also thank Ranking Member Dan Lungren for his work.

Let me especially thank Mr. Schiff for his efforts on this and for so many other efforts on behalf of our national security. I have the privilege of serving with Mr. Schiff on the Intelligence Committee, so I have firsthand knowledge of the dedication which he brings to issues such as this.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 730. Let me just say that, in many ways, this is the other side of the same coin. We just adopted H.R. 2611, which is to prevent nuclear attacks against our cities. H.R. 730 will enable us to detect where those nuclear devices came from. It's absolutely essential that we deal with the process of determining the source of confiscated nuclear material. This is a grave, grave threat to our homeland, and it must be addressed immediately and robustly. We must have a rigorous attribution program to find the culprits of these crimes and to offer a deterrent to nuclear terrorism.

The one concern I do have is that the bill, as amended, coming back from the Senate does not authorize the appropriation of $30 million. I believe that is important. It is essential that we have it; but, again, this is a major step forward, so I am pleased to support the legislation even though I wish that the $30 million had been included in it.

This bill targets an ongoing threat in a unique way. It will reinvigorate the workforce pipeline to guarantee the Nation a resource of technical experts in this vital and critical field, and it will strengthen America's attribution capabilities.

Again, this is a bipartisan effort. It's the Homeland Security Committee working with Mr. Schiff and the Intelligence Committee. It is important that we pass this and that we really, again, send a strong signal of how we do believe in layered defenses, of how we realize the need of staying ahead of the terrorist threat and of doing all we can to protect the American people in a way which certainly transcends Republican or Democrat lines or liberal-conservative lines. It is an issue that should galvanize all Americans.

So, with that, I strongly urge support of H.R. 730.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to close by stating that all of us realize that a terrorist attack is a nightmare scenario.

The fact that we came so close to the loss of life on Christmas Day reminded us dramatically of the dangerous world in which we live. Those of us from New York will never forget September 11, 2001. But just think of the ultimate nightmare scenario, and that would be a nuclear attack. That is almost beyond our imagination. That is why everything must be done to stop those attacks, and to also have the deterrent, as Congressman Schiff said, the deterrent of retaliation against any country, against any entity, against any individual, any organization, which was in any way involved in providing nuclear weaponry to be used against the United States.

I strongly urge the adoption of this legislation.

I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 1242, the TARP Accountability and Disclosure Act. As the lead Republican sponsor of this legislation, I have worked closely with Representatives Maloney and Cantor as well as Financial Services Committee Chairman Frank and Ranking Member Bachus to bring this important bill to the House floor.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, EESA, created the Troubled Assets Relief Program, TARP, which authorized the Treasury Department to buy $700 billion worth of troubled assets from financial institutions. This money has also been used by Treasury to purchase preferred stock from banks and other financially troubled companies, such as AIG, General Motors, and Chrysler, and in support of programs such as the Targeted Investment Program, Asset Guarantee Program, and Consumer and Business Lending Initiative Investment Program to name a few. While Congress did subsequently place additional conditions on how it could be spent, it has been rather difficult to follow and account for this vast amount of money.

It is also important that not only our government but also the American People know exactly where their taxpayer dollars are going for programs such as TARP. The TARP Accountability and Disclosure Act requires the creation of a database system within the Department of Treasury and provides for additional monitoring and accountability that will provide true transparency of how the TARP funds are used. This system would serve as an efficient mechanism for oversight, audits, and investigations. H.R. 1242 will also require that this database be made publicly available, allow for the daily collection of information and for the filtering of data content. Finally, it will prohibit the disclosure of information that would already be prohibited by any federal or state law or regulation including proprietary information.

So, why is this necessary? Well, not only is this information reported to over 25 different federal agencies, including the SEC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, and Commodities Futures Trading Commission, but the data is located in various systems and formats that are incompatible with one another. The TARP Accountability and Disclosure Act would require all relevant TARP data collected be put in a single standardized format so these funds will be transparent and traceable.

I am pleased to report that this legislation is supported by many organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Democracy and Technology, OMB Watch, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Heritage Foundation, Americans for Tax Reform, and the NAACP.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Chair, I rise to express my support for H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. The Fire and SAFER grant programs reauthorized by this bill are highly effective and vitally important programs which provide much-needed support to fire departments and emergency responders across the country.

As chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, I strongly support reauthorization of these two grant programs. First responders rely on Fire grants for the training, vehicles, and equipment that are necessary to keep our communities safe, while SAFER grants provide the necessary funds to hire and train new firefighters and to help recruit and train volunteer firefighters.

In 2008 alone, the Fire grant program received $3.2 billion in requests for grants, which highlights a serious need in the firefighter and first responder community for more resources. I continue to support strong funding for both the Fire and SAFER programs. I am pleased that H.R. 3791 authorizes $1 billion annually for the Fire program and approximately $1.2 billion annually for the SAFER program over the next 5 years.

The Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act that passed the House in June provided double the amount of funding for the SAFER program over last year. However, I am disappointed that the final funding level approved by Congress for the Fire grant program in Fiscal Year 2010 is $175 million less than last year's funding for that program. Both of these programs merit robust funding.

The bill under consideration today incorporates the unified recommendations of the major fire service organizations that represent volunteer, career, and combination fire departments across the country.

For example, this bill adds an ``economic hardship waiver'' for the Fire grant program for fire departments that are unable to meet certain matching requirements or budget requirements. In addition, the bill adds an economic hardship waiver to allow fire departments to retain staff with SAFER grant funds whom they would otherwise have to lay off in these difficult economic times. This bill also allots 10 percent of Fire grants to the Fire Prevention and Safety program, which is up from 5 percent in previous years.

I hope that both the Fire and SAFER grant programs will see continued support from this administration and the Democratic leadership.

I urge my colleagues to support passage of this important bill.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2996--the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Conference Report, 2010:

Requesting Member: Congressman Peter King

Bill Number: H.R. 2996

Account: Environmental Protection Agency--STAG

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Nassau County

Address of Requesting Entity: 1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola, NY 11501

Description of Request: $300,000 will be used to complete the technical design report for the relocation of the Bay Park Sewer Treatment outfall from Reynolds Channel to the Atlantic Ocean.