Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute.

Thank you to the gentleman from Massachusetts for his leadership on this amendment and for his leadership on this issue. I stand in support of the manager's amendment.

Many who support it--the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act that first authorized the money for TARP--despite the fact that they were angered by the circumstances that caused its necessity, believed it was essential for the Nation's economy.

My home State of Ohio is amongst the Nation's leaders in its foreclosure rate, and I am keenly aware of the need for intervention to mitigate the increasing number of foreclosures. This measure recognizes that and provides relief for those who need it most, not just for America's homeowners, not just for America's financial institutions but for entire communities that are suffering and that are failing under the weight of the foreclosure crisis.

I appreciate the chairman's fundamental work on this issue. Again, I would encourage my colleagues to support the manager's amendment.

Mr. Speaker, the American people sent the 111th Congress to Washington based on the promise that we would make government work again for every single person in this country. We cannot work to fulfill that promise if the government programs that we control are riddled with abuse and mismanagement. The reports of waste, fraud and abuse that have permeated the Federal Government are staggering. If we are going to change the way things are done in Washington, our first step must be to clean our own house. We need to put in place real oversight so that we can root out the problems where they exist. We need increased transparency so that government is held accountable by the people it serves. We need to change the business-as- usual attitude that has led to a culture of corruption and complacency in Washington. House Resolution 40 is an important part of our commitment to do right by the people who sent us here, and I applaud my friends from Tennessee and California for their leadership on this issue.