Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, Lance Cpl. Hickory Ogle served with the 1st Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division with honor, courage and commitment; and

Whereas, Lance Cpl. Hickory Ogle has continued in his family's proud footsteps of service and dedication to America; and

Whereas, Lance Cpl. Hickory Ogle has taken part in numerous offensive operations in Iraq, including Matador and Sword for the preservation of American liberty and freedom for the Iraqi people.

Therefore, I join with family, friends and the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in thanking Lance Corporal Hickory Ogle for his service to the United States and welcoming him home to an appreciative nation.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, Bonny Huffman was nominated by Marianne Campbell, Board Chair of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio; and

Whereas, Bonny Huffman has displayed a commitment to education, the Wellston City Schools, Junior Achievement, the United Fund, the Hope United Methodist Church and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio; and

Whereas, Bonny Huffman is a blessing upon her community and has been a bottomless well of generosity for all those she meets.

Therefore, I join with family, friends and the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in

congratulating Mrs. Bonny Huffman and thanking her for many years of generosity to the community.

Mr. Speaker: Whereas, Specialist Richard A. Hardy of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Army honorably and with courage fulfilled his duty to the United States of America; and

Whereas, Specialist Richard A. Hardy volunteered to serve his country and fought to secure freedom for an oppressed people and for the continued liberty we enjoy at home; and

Whereas, Specialist Richard A. Hardy gave the last full measure of devotion to his country amid the sands of Ar Ramadi, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While words cannot express our grief during the loss of such a courageous soldier, I offer this token of profound sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of Specialist Richard A. Hardy.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, Nicole Donant started with a small project to help start a library in Mineral City to earn a merit badge; and

Whereas, Nicole Donant, through hard work and determination, turned her small project into a dream for the community of having a library in Mineral City and collected over 5000 books; and

Whereas, Nicole Donant is an inspiration to us all and is an embodiment of the compassionate, moral and socially responsible spirit of the youth in Ohio.

Therefore, I join with family, friends, the people of Mineral City and the entire 18th Congressional district of Ohio in congratulating Nicole Donant for her wish coming true.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, Mary and Joseph L. DeGenova are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary; and

Whereas, Mary and Joseph L. DeGenova were united in marriage on October 18, 1980 in Bellaire, Ohio; and

Whereas, Mary and Joseph L. DeGenova are the loving parents of two children, Annemarie and Anthony.

Therefore, I join with the residents of the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in congratulating Mary and Joseph L. DeGenova as they celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, Spc. Rodney Hendershot has served in the U.S. Army's Alpha company, 1st Battalion, 115th Infantry with loyalty, duty, respect, selflessness, honor, integrity and courage; and

Whereas, Spc. Rodney Hendershot volunteered to serve at a time of great unrest when America's values of freedom and liberty for all were challenged most; and

Whereas, Spc. Rodney Hendershot has fought for the freedom of the Iraqi people and the security of this great Nation.

Therefore, I join with family, friends and the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in

thanking Specialist Rodney Hendershot for his exemplary service.

Mr. Speaker, on October 28, 2005, I was unable to be present for rollcall vote No. 555, on agreeing to the Conference Report to H.R. 2744, Making Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and rollcall vote No. 556, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 523, Condemning Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's threats against Israel. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 555 and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 556.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to reflect upon the service and life of a great American, Specialist Richard A. Hardy, who was killed in action while fulfilling his duty to the United States of America.

Specialist Hardy was born in Timken, OH, and last resided in Newcomerstown, OH. He was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Benning, GA. Specialist Hardy gave the last full measure of devotion to his country in Ar Ramadi, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Madam Speaker, Specialist Hardy represents the best that America has to offer. I want to give my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Specialist Hardy. His sacrifice will not be forgotten. May God rest his soul.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the bill. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, I have had a keen interest in the strength of the mortgage market. The mortgage market has single-handedly kept the economy afloat during these difficult economic times.

Passage of this bill sends an important signal that we understand the importance of GSEs and the secondary-mortgage markets in maintaining a stable economy.

More importantly, I want to comment on the issues of affordable housing and the effect of the affordable housing fund, which is a great fund to have, and we have worked with the minority on this issue and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) and his staff and our staff. I believe that we will have a profound impact on the country with the fund.

As Members know, it is very difficult to achieve the delicate balance between meeting public policy goals and ensuring a free market business climate. The creation of the government-sponsored enterprises was one such feat that provides an invaluable public service of creating and maintaining a secondary market for the mortgage markets. As a result, our homeownership rates and our access to capital are the best in the world.

On the other hand, I also understand that because these financial institutions are creatures of the Federal Government, we also have a responsibility to ensure they achieve a public-policy purpose. Homeownership rates among minority families are increasing, but we can obviously do much better than the current average of 50 percent for African Americans, Hispanic urban and rural communities, just to name a few. We have to ensure that these communities that have not been full participants in the pursuit of the American Dream can be reached.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own or guarantee nearly half of this country's residential mortgage market. The legislation we are considering today would markedly improve GSE performance of their housing mission. The Committee on Financial Services approved major sections on new single-family and multi-family housing goals; the duty to serve lower income markets, and I stress duty to serve them; and a new affordable housing fund with contributions from the enterprises.

Of course, there are other parts of this bill that are good, and I give credit to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker) in strengthening oversight.

Today, I just wanted to speak freely on the actual housing fund. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, Curt and Judy Wiggins have, without thought of reward, given of themselves to help the citizens of Jackson County on countless occasions; and

Whereas, Curt and Judy Wiggins have worked tirelessly with the American Cancer Society--Jackson County Unit; and

Whereas, Curt and Judy Wiggins have dedicated themselves to Jackson County through organizations too numerous to name here and through their work have uplifted all those whom they have come in contact.

Therefore, I join with family, friends and the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in congratulating Curt and Judy Wiggins for winning this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, the Jackson High School Band, with nearly 200 members, has for many years been the pride of Jackson County when they perform; and

Whereas, the Jackson High School Band represented Jackson in front of an international audience in Orlando, Florida and performed exceptionally; and

Whereas, Band Director Dick Berry had for 36 years helped to shape boys and girls into young men and women for the betterment of Jackson High School and Jackson County.

Therefore, I join with family, friends and the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in congratulating the Jackson High School Band for winning this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, Kyle Jones has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout; and

Whereas, Kyle Jones shall be recognized as the first Eagle Scout in the Barnesville Boy Scout Troop 71; and

Whereas, Kyle Jones should be commended for his dedication and perseverance.

Therefore, I join with the residents of the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in honoring and congratulating Kyle Jones for his outstanding accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, Sue Maxwell has been named as the 2005 Vinton County Southeastern Ohio Regional Council Person of the Year; and

Whereas, Sue Maxwell has been acknowledged for her success in operating Ravenwood Castle; and

Whereas, Sue Maxwell should be commended for her business savvy and her dedication to Hocking Hills and Vinton County.

Therefore, I join with the residents of the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in honoring and congratulating Sue Maxwell for her outstanding accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, owners Ray Brewer, Rick Smith and Eric Massie in true entrepreneurial spirit recognized a market opening in southern Ohio and capitalized on it; and

Whereas, Iron City Pipe and Supply has been able to adapt and grow and now serves the needs of businesses in a tri-state area; and

Whereas, Iron City Pipe and Supply is looking forward to continued growth and diversification to further benefit the Jackson area.

Therefore, I join with family, friends and the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in congratulating Iron City Pipe and Supply for winning this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker:

Whereas, Randy Evans, with effort and desire, started Randy Evans Construction and has made it a significant competitor in the Jackson area construction business; and

Whereas, Randy Evans and Randy Evans Construction have helped shape the Jackson area community; and

Whereas, Randy Evans' commitment to perfection, perseverance and fortitude are an inspiration to everyone in Jackson County and beyond.

Therefore, I join with family, friends and the entire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in congratulating Randy Evans and Randy Evans Construction for winning this prestigious award.