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[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE HOUSE WILL BE
IN ORDER.
THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY
OUR CHAPLAIN, FATHER CONROY.
CHAPLAIN CONROY: LET US PRAY.
GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, WE GIVE
YOU THANKS FOR GIVING US
ANOTHER DAY.
AS THE MEMBERS OF THIS PEOPLE'S
HOUSE DELIBERATE THESE DAYS,
GIVE THEM THE WISDOM AND -- TO
LAY ASIDE TO GIVE US A FREE
COUNTRY.
WE PRAY FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SPECIAL NEEDS.
MAY YOUR PRESENCE BE KNOWN THAT
THEY ARE SICK THAT THEY MAY
FEEL THE POWER OF YOUR HEALING
SPIRIT.
BE WITH THOSE WHO SUFFER
PERSECUTION IN SO MANY PLACES
OF OUR WORLD, AND BLESS OUR
TROOPS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE
EASING OF THOSE SUFFERINGS.
GIVE TO ALL WHO ARE AFRAID OR
ANXIOUS OR WHOSE MINDS ARE
CLOUDED BY UNCERTAIN FUTURES
THE PEACE AND CONFIDENCE THAT
COME FROM TRUST IN YOUR
GOODNESS AND MERCY.
WE THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR THE
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE
GIVEN THE MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE
TO SERVE THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.
INSPIRE THEM TO BE THEIR
BESTSELVES AND MAY THEY BE IN
TURN AN INSPIRATION TO THE
WORLD.
MAY ALL THAT IS DONE HERE THIS
DAY BE FOR YOUR GREATER HONOR
AMEN.
AND GLORY.
THE CHAIR HAS
EXAMINED THE JOURNAL OF THE
LAST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND
ANNOUNCES TO THE HOUSE HIS
APPROVAL THEREOF.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TODAY
WILL BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN
FROM LOUISIANA, MR. FLEMING.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN
THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH
IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER
GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE CHAIR WILL
ENTERTAIN UP TO FIVE ONE-MINUTE
REQUESTS ON EACH SIDE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO REVISE
AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
--
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS
MORNING'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE PROVES AGAIN
THE PRESIDENT'S ECONOMIC
POLICIES ARE FAILING AMERICAN
FAMILIES.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS
REACHED A TRAGIC 9.2%.
THE OUT-OF-CONTROL BORROWING
AND SPENDING IN CONGRESS
CONTINUES TO KILL SMALL
BUSINESS CREATION.
IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE THE
PRESIDENT DECLARED AN END TO
THE RECESSION AND THE BEGINNING
OF THE SUMMER OF RECOVERY.
THE ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE THE
COUNTRY'S JOB NUMBERS DURING
THAT TIME IS A FAILURE OF
LEADERSHIP.
PRIVATE UNEMPLOYMENT IS NOW 1.8
MILLION BELOW THE LEVEL FROM
WHEN THE WASTEFUL STIMULUS
PASSED.
WHERE ARE THE JOBS, MR.
PRESIDENT?
THIS ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES
ARE CRIPPLING OUR ECONOMY AND
KILLING JOB CREATION.
THE PRESIDENT'S RE-ELECTION
CAMPAIGN SAYS THE UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE DOES NOT MATTER BUT
AMERICAN FAMILIES KNOW BETTER.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS' CUT AND
GROW PLAN IS SIMPLE.
FIRST CUT SPENDING, THEN, THE
ECONOMY WILL GROW.
THIS IS A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO
GET AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
ON TERRORISM.
SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
MR. SPEAKER, I
ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CONGRESS IS
AWAKENING TO MATTERS OF WAR AND
PEACE.
IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS WE START
THE GREAT DEBATE ON WAR AND WAR
POWERS, THE COMPLICATIONS WHICH
WILL BE FELT IN THIS NATION AND
AROUND THE WORLD.
SOON, THE WAR IN LIBYAN AND THE
ONGOING WARS IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN WILL GO BEYOND
FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES.
THEY WILL BECOME FINANCIAL
SECURITY ISSUES.
AS WE CONTINUE TO WAGE THESE
WARS MORE AND MORE AMERICANS
WILL BECOME AWARE THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED THAT
BOMBING BRIDGES IN OTHER
COUNTRIES IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN BUILDING BRIDGES IN
AMERICA.
WITH OUR PRESENT AND NEW
FOREIGN VENTURES, AMERICA UNDER
THIS ADMINISTRATION CHOOSES
WAR, NOT JOBS AND WEALTH
BUILDING HERE IN AMERICA,
BOMBS, NOT BOOKS.
AUSTERITY, NOT PROSPERITY.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT PARTISAN
POLITICS.
THIS IS ABOUT ADMINISTRATION
THAT'S DEMONSTRATING MORE
INTEREST IN NATION BUILDING
ABROAD AND NOT HERE AT HOME.
IT'S TIME TO CHANGE, BUT WILL
IT?
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA.
I ASK PERMISSION
MINUTE.
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER,
AMERICANS DESERVE TO KNOW THE
TRUTH WHEN IT COMES TO THE
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ELENA
KAGAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN CRAFTING
A DEFENSE OF OBAMACARE DURING
HER TENURE AS SOLICITOR GENERAL
FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA.
THIS IS WHY I, ALONG WITH 48 OF
MY HOUSE COLLEAGUES, IS CALLING
FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE
EXTENT OF JUSTICE KAGAN'S
INVOLVEMENT IN DEFENDING
OBAMACARE, AND IF IT WARRANTS
HER RECUSAL FROM ANY AND ALL
OBAMACARE CASES THAT MAY COME
BEFORE THE HIGH COURT.
IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR AMERICANS
TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE
IMPARTIAL YALT OF THE SUPREME
COURT.
AMERICANS -- IMPARTIALITY OF
THE SUPREME COURT.
AMERICANS DESERVE TO KNOW THE
TRUTH ABOUT ELENA KAGAN'S
INVOLVEMENT IN OBAMACARE.
HOW CAN ANY PERSON BELIEVE SHE
IS IMPARTIAL WHEN CASES
INVOLVING OBAMACARE COMES
BEFORE THE HIGH COURT?
FURTHERMORE, THE U.S. CODE
SECTION 455, TITLE 28, SAYS SHE
MUST RECUSE HERSELF.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY
FRUSTRATION THAT I FEEL THAT
IN MINNESOTA.
THE CONTINUING BUDGET IMPASSE
MINNESOTA FACES THE BIGGEST
BUDGET DEFICIT IN ITS HISTORY
AND WITH IT COMES A
RESPONSIBILITY TO GOVERN AND A
CAUTIONARY TALE FOR THIS BODY.
A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AT ANY
LEVEL IS NOT ONLY DETRIMENTAL
TO ANY ECONOMY BUT IT'S
HAZARDOUS TO THE PROGRESS OF
OUR SOCIETY AS ORGANIZATIONS
ARE PUT AT RISK.
LIKE MANY OF THE CITIZENS OF
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HAVE WRITTEN
TO ME ABOUT THIS SHUTDOWN, I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORKING
FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE CHILDCARE
ASSISTANCE, DISABLED
MINNESOTANS WHO RELY ON STATE
SERVICES TO IMPROVE THEIR
QUALITY OF LIFE, ROADS WHO ARE
UNREPAIRED AND CAMPGROUNDS
BEING CLOSED WHERE FAMILIES
CAN'T SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
A GENTLEMAN APPROACHED ME IN
STUARTVILLE ON THE FOURTH OF
JULY PARADE.
HE ASKED ME IF I WAS WORKING
THIS WEEK AND I SAID YES, I AM.
HE SAID, I WISH I WAS.
IN MINNESOTA, THAT MEANS BOTH
THE GOVERNOR AND THE
COMPROMISE.
LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO
WE NEED TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE,
PUT MINNESOTA FIRST.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SAME APPLIES TO THIS BODY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
WELL, MR. SPEAKER, YOU CAN
HARDLY TURN ON THE
TRANSPORTATION OR RADIO THESE
DAYS WITHOUT MEARG ABOUT OUR
NATION'S DEBT CRISIS.
AND THE REASON WE FIND
OURSELVES IN THIS CRISIS IS NOT
BECAUSE WASHINGTON -- IS
BECAUSE WE TAX TOO LITTLE,
RATHER, IT'S BECAUSE WASHINGTON
SPENDS TOO MUCH.
RAISING TAXES ON AMERICA'S JOB
CREATORS, AS SOME HERE IN
WASHINGTON SUGGESTS, WON'T OPEN
CLOSED FACTORIES, WON'T
STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY AND WON'T
BACK TO WORK.
PUT OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS
WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ASKING US
TO DO IS TO SEE THAT GOVERNMENT
LIVES WITHIN ITS MEANS.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS,
HARDWORKING AMERICANS ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY HAVE TIGHTENED
THEIR BELTS AND LIVED WITHIN
THEIR MEANS AND CUT BACK ON
SPENDING AND THERE'S NO REASON
THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO
THE SAME THING.
IT'S OFTEN BEEN SAID IT'S NOT
IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S
NATURE TO SHRINK AND I THINK
HERE IN WASHINGTON OUR
COLLEAGUES SHOULD WORK TO PROVE
THEM WRONG BY ENDING WASTEFUL
WASHINGTON SPENDING AS A WAY TO
ADDRESS OUR NATION'S BUDGET
DEFICIT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY TO
DRAW PEOPLE'S ATTENTION TO ONE
OF THE GREAT NICE SPOTS OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD
TODAY.
THERE ARE NOT MANY, THERE IS AT
LEAST ONE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
IN AFRICA.
TOMORROW WE WILL WELCOME THE
NEWEST NATION IN SUDAN.
THIS IS A COUNTRY THAT MOST OF
US PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF.
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T UNTIL A FEW
YEARS AGO AND I HEARD ABOUT IT
BECAUSE OF THE ATROCITIES THAT
WERE HAPPENING THERE.
IT IS BORN OUT OF 20 YEARS OF
INTERNAL CIVIL WAR.
20 YEARS, NOT FROM OUTSIDE
FORCES LIKE THIS COUNTRY LIKES
TO DO IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
THEY DID IT THEMSELVES ON THEIR
OWN.
I WANT TO STAND UP
HERE TODAY AND TELL THEM
CONGRATULATIONS, TO WELCOME
THEM TO THE COMMUNITY OF
NATIONS AND TO TELL THEM THAT I
FOR ONE, AND I BELIEVE THIS
HOUSE WILL STAND WITH THEM AS
THEY STRUGGLE TO MAKE SURE
THEIR NEW DEMOCRACY IS
SUCCESSFUL.
EVERY BORDER.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF THREATS ON
ISSUES.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF INTERNAL
THEY'RE INCREDIBLY POOR COUNTRY
WITH A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
BUT AS THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, WE
HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO STAND
WITH THEM AS THEY BUILD THEIR
NEW DEMOCRACY.
I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, THE PEOPLE OF
SOUTH SUDAN HAVE ENDURED TWO
DECADES OF WANTON VIOLENCE,
***, TORTURE AND HUNGER,
SYSTEMATICALLY IMPOSED UPON
THEM BY THE KHARTOUM.
FOUR MILLION PEOPLE
DISPLACED AND COUNTLESS
FAMILIES DISAMATED.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PEACE
AGREEMENT OF 2005 ENDED THE WAR
AND PUT SOUTH SUDAN ON THE PATH
TO NATIONHOOD.
TOMORROW IN THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH
SUDAN EMERGE AS THE NEWEST
NATION ON EARTH.
TOMORROW WHEN THAT DREAM IS
REALIZED, AMERICANS WILL JOIN
THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN IN
CELEBRATING THIS EXTRAORDINARY
HOPE-FILLED EVENT.
YET, RECENTLY AT LEAST 100,000
SUDANESE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED
FROM ONE AREA AND TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF SOUTHERNERS LIVING
IN ANOTHER STATE HAVE BEEN
RECENTLY FORCED FROM THEIR
HOMES, SOME OF THEM MURDERED.
SO THERE ARE SERIOUS REMAINING
CHALLENGES.
NEVERTHELESS, WE HOPE AND WE
PRAY THAT THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH
SUDAN WILL FINALLY LIVE IN
PEACE, RESPECT FOR THEIR BASIC
HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TODAY TO DISCUSS H.R. 268.
AMERICA HAS NOT HAD A MORE
PRO-ISRAEL PRESIDENT THAN
PRESIDENT OBAMA.
THE PRESIDENT HAS UNWAVERINGLY
ENSURED THEY PROTECTED THEIR
CITIZENS AND WORKED TO PREVENT
A NUCLEAR IRAN.
THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTANDS THAT
ESSENTIAL TO ISRAEL'S SECURITY
AND UNITED STATES SECURITY IS A
NEGOTIATED RESOLUTION TO THE
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
CREATING A LASTING PEACE.
THE PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR A
NEGOTIATED RESOLUTION TO THE
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT IS
THE PRO-ISRAEL POSITION THAT'S
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO
ENSURING OUR ALLY'S FUTURE.
WE SHOULD TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BE HONEST WHAT THE PRESIDENT
DID AND DIDN'T PROPOSE.
THEY DIDN'T SAY WE SHOULD REFER
TO THE 1967 ORDERS.
THE BORDERS OF ISRAEL AND THE
PALESTINIAN STATE SHOULD HAVE
THE 1967 LINES WITH MUTUALLY
AGREED SWAPS, A CONCEPT WHICH
IS BEING CONSIDERED A GIVEN IN
ALL THE SERIOUS SOLUTIONS.
WHILE FOSTERING DIVISIONS
SERVES THE POLITICAL INTEREST
OF SOME, IT'S NOT IN THE LARGER
INTEREST OF ISRAEL, PALESTINE
OR THE UNITED STATES.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM MICHIGAN.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
EXTEND.
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND
MR. SPEAKER, FOR
THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS, PRESIDENT
OBAMA AND HIS ALLIES IN
CONGRESS HERE HAVE BEEN ON A
SPENDING SPREE WHICH HAS LED TO
DEFICITS OF $1.4 TRILLION AND A
NATIONAL DEBT THAT EXCEEDS $14
TRILLION.
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE DRAWN A
ENOUGH.
LINE IN THE SAND AND SAID
WE'VE CHANGED THE CULTURE HERE
IN WASHINGTON FROM HOW MUCH
MORE ARE WE GOING TO SPEND TO
HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO CUT.
WE PASSED A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET
WHICH FOCUSES ON GETTING
ECONOMIC GROWTH GOING AND ON
NEW JOBS, A BUDGET THAT WOULD
PUT US ON A PATH TO PROSPERITY
AND ALSO TO FISCAL SANITY.
AND TODAY'S ANEMIC JOBS REPORT
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT RISING AGAIN,
NOW TO 9.2%, SHOWS WE HAVE SO
MUCH MORE TO DO.
AND THE IDEA OF JOB-KILLING TAX
INCREASES IS ABSOLUTELY A
NONSTARTER.
I'M PROUD THAT OUR REPUBLICAN
NEGOTIATORS THAT HAVE BEEN IN
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT
AND THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP
ARE STANDING STRONG OVER
INCREASING THE DEBT LIMIT WITH
A STRONG FOCUS ON JOBS.
AND I HOPE THAT THE PRESIDENT
AND THE DEMOCRATS WILL FINALLY
JOIN US IN GETTING OUR FISCAL
HOUSE IN ORDER AND FOR THE SAKE
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, MR.
SPEAKER, LET'S GET THE JOBS
DONE.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA.
I ASK PERMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER --
MR. SPEAKER, YES,
THE JUNE'S JOBS REPORT IS NOT
ENCOURAGING.
18,000 JOBS ADDED.
BUT I CANNOT EVER FORGET THAT
IT WAS JANUARY, 2009, WHEN WE
LOST 741,000 JOBS THE LAST
MONTH OF THE BUSH PRESIDENCY.
UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA, WE HAVE
ADDED JOBS.
WE HAVE NOT AED ENOUGH, BUT
THEY HAVE BEEN ADDING.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW
WE NEED ABOUT 150,000 JOBS A
MONTH IN ORDER TO PUSH THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN.
BECAUSE WE ADDED JOBS BUT NOT
ENOUGH, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
HAS GONE UP.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO
KNOW, THAT THE REPUBLICAN
PROMISE TO MAKE JOBS THE FIRST
AGENDA DURING ELECTION, HAS NOT
BEEN FULFILLED.
THEY HAVE YET TO INTRODUCE OR
PASS THROUGH THIS HOUSE ONE
SINGLE JOBS BILL.
NOT ONE.
ALL THEY'VE DONE IS CUT JOBS,
MOSTLY BY GOING AFTER PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES.
AND THIS IS WHAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE IMMEDIATE TO BEAR IN
MIND AS THEY THINK ABOUT WHO IS
ON THEIR SIDE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN SEEK RECOGNITION?
BY DIRECTION OF THE
COMMITTEE ON RULES IRK I CALL
UP HOUSE RESOLUTION 240.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE RESOLUTION
340, RESOLVED, THAT AT ANY TIME
AFTER ADOPTION OF THIS
RESOLUTION, THE CHAIR MAY
DECLARE THE HOUSE RESOLVED INTO
THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION
FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL H
R. 1309 TO EXTEND THE
AUTHORIZATION OF THE NATIONAL
FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM, TO
ACHIEVE REFORMS TO IMPROVE THE
FINANCIAL INTEGRITY AND
STABILITY OF THE PROGRAM, AND
TO INCREASE THE ROLE OF PRIVATE
MARKETS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF
FLOOD INSURANCE RISK AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
SHALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL ARE
WAIVED.
YEN DEBATE SHALL BE CONFINED TO
THE BILL AND SHALL NOT EXCEED
ONE HOUR EQUALLY DIVIDED
BETWEEN THE CHAIR AND RANKING
MEMBER.
AFTER YEN DEBATE THE BILL SHALL
BE CONSIDERED FOR AMENDMENT URN
THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE.
SECTION 2-A.
IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO
CONSIDER AS AN ORIGINAL BILL
FOR PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT UNDER
THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE, AN
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF THE
SUBSTITUTE.
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS RAD.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE ARE
WAIVED.
BMBING, NO AMENDMENT TO THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE
INED OR EVERY EP EXCEPT THOSE
PRINTED IN THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES ACCOMPANYING THIS
BLOC CONSIDERED IN THIS
RESOLUTION AND AMENDMENTS EN
RESOLUTION.
C, EACH AMENDMENT PRINTED IN
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES SHALL BE CONSIDERED ONLY
IN THE ORDER PRINTED IN THE
REPORT, MAY BE OFFERED ONLY BY
A MEMBER DESIGNATED IN THE
REPORT, SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR
THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE
REPORT EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE PROPONENT AND
AN OPPONENT, SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT AND SHALL
NOT BE SUBJECT TO DEMAND FOR
THE DIVISION OF THE QUESTION IN
THE HOUSE OR THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE.
D, ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
THE AMENDMENT OF THE COMMITTEE
ON RULES OR AMENDMENTS EN BLOC
ARE WAIVED.
SECTION THREE, IT SHALL BE IN
ORDER AT ANY TIME FOR THE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL
SERVICES OR HIS DEZ I IG KNEE
TUFEREEAMS EN BLOC CONSISTING
OF AMENDMENTS PRINNED IN THE
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF RULE
-- ON RULES NOT EARLIER
DISPOSED OF.
AMENDMENTS EN BLOC SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ, SHALL BE
DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES
EQUALLY DIVIDE AND CONTROLLED
BY THE CHAIR AND RANKING
MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL
SERVICES, OR THEIR DESIGNEE,
SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO
AMENDMENT AND SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO DIVISION IN THE
HOUSE OR THE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE.
SECTION 4, AT THE CONCLUSION OF
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL FOR
AMENDMENT, THE COMMITTEE HALL
RISE AND REPORT THE BILL TO THE
HOUSE WITH SUCH AMENDMENTS AS
MAY HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.
ANY MEMBER MAY DEMAND A
SEPARATE VOTE IN THE HOUSE ON
ANY AMENDMENT ADOPTED IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO THE
BILL OR TO THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
BILL AND AMENDMENTS THERETO TO
FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT, ONE,
MOTION TO RECOMMIT WITH OR
WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
SPEAKER.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF DEBATE
ONLY, I YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN MY
COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, MR. MCGOVERN,
SPEND CHG I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SESSIONS SPB ALL TIME IS
ONLY.
YIELDED FOR PURPOSES OF DEBATE
I ASK THAMS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS HAVE FIVE LENNELL SLATE
DAVES TO REVISE AND EXTEND
THEIR REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
HOUSE RESOLUTION
340 PROVIDES FOR A STRUCTURED
RULE OF 1309.
IT ALLOWS FOR 25 AMENDMENTS
SUBMITTED BY DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS TO BE MADE IN
ORDER.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS
RULE, MR. SPEAKER.
THIS LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED
BY THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INSURANCE,
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
OPPORTUNITY, MRS. BIGGERT, THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM ILLINOIS, AND
THIS BILL HAS GONE THROUGH
REGULAR ORDER.
THERE WERE HEARINGS ON THIS
ISSUE, H R. 1309 WAS MARKED UP
IN FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
AND REPORTED OUT BY UNANIMOUS
VOTE OF 54-0 AND THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE RULES COMMITTEE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
DREIER, PROVIDED A STRUCTURED
AMENDMENT PROCESS WITH 25
ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS TO BE
CONSIDERED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
SAID ANOTHER WAY, MR. SPEAKER,
THE RULES COMMITTEE, UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF DAVID DREIER, IS
WILLING TO HAVE IN OURUP STAIRS
COMMITTEE ROOM MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS COME AND TESTIFY WITH
THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEIR
CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESS OF
THIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THAT THEY CAN BRING FORTH THEIR
AMENDMENTS, BE HEARD BY RULES
COMMITTEE THAT CAN EQUALLY GIVE
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT SIDES
THE IDEAS THAT THOSE MEMBERS
WISH TO BRING BEFORE THIS BODY
AND THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING
WITH 25 AMENDMENTS BEING MADE
IN ORDER BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA WITH THE RULES
COMMITTEE.
TODAY, I WILL DISCUSS THE
BACKGROUND OF THE CURRENT
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM OR NFIP.
AND WHY A LONG-TERM
RE-AUTHORIZATION IS IMPORTANT.
WHAT THE UNDERLYING LEGISLATION
DOES TO THE NFIP AND WHY
REFORMS ARE NECESSARY.
THE NFIP WAS CREATED IN 1968 TO
ADDRESS THE NATION'S FLOOD
EXPOSURE AND THE NEED TO
ALLEVIATE TAXPAYERS'
RESPONSIBILITY FOR FLOOD LOSSES
PAID OUT IN THE FORM OF
POST-DISASTER RELIEF FOLLOWING
ANNUAL FLOODING THAT OCCURS
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
IN 1973, THE FLOOD IT'S AER
PROTECTION ACT ESTABLISHED A
MANDATORY FLOOD INSURANCE
PURCHASE REQUIREMENT FOR
STRUCTURES LOCATED IN
IDENTIFIED SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
AREAS.
BY 1994, CONGRESS REQUIRED
LENDERS TO PURCHASE COVERAGE ON
MAFF OF AND TO BILL PREMIUMS TO
MORTGAGEES WHO FAILED TO
PURCHASE COVERAGE ON THEIR OWN.
THE 2005 HURRICANE SEASON
RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT CLAIM
WHICH THE NFIP ANNUAL
CONTRIBUTIONS COULD NOT COVER
SO THE NFIP, BOAR -- THE NFIP
BORROWING AUTHORITY, WHICH WAS
AT $3 BILLION A YEAR, WAS
INCREASED THREE TIMES IN 2005,
2006, AND 2007, ALLOWING THEM
TO BORROW UP TO $20 PPT
BILLION.
CURRENTLY, THEY OWE THE
NATIONAL TREASURY $17.75
BILLION.
A RECENT INSURANCE JOURNAL
ARTICLE FROM MARCH 8, 2011,
DISCUSSES THIS PLAN AND IT
STATED, AND I QUOTE, THE
PROPOSALS DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PUT
THE PROGRAM ON SOUNDER
FINANCIAL FOOT BIG INSISTING
THAT CURRENT SUBSIDIZED PRICES
TO MOST POLICIES BE RAISED SO
THEY EVENTUALLY COVER THE
ACTUAL COST OF RISK DETERMINED
BY THE ACTUARIALS.
END OF QUOTE.
THE UNDERLYING BILL ALLOWS FOR
GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY SO
TAXPAYERS, MEANING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, ACTUALLY INCUR LESS
RISK THAN CURRENT NFIP.
LIMITING THE EXPOSURES FOR THE
TAXPAYER IS ONE PIECE PART OF
WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
THE LEGISLATION WE'RE
DISCUSSING TODAY RE-AUTHORIZES
THE NFIP FOR FIVE YEARS THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30, 2016.
THE CURRENT PROGRAM IS
SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE ON
SEPTEMBER 30 OF THIS YEAR.
THE LAST TIME CONGRESS PASSED A
LONG-TERM FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM WAS IN 2004.
SINCE ITS EXPIRATION IN 2008,
THE NFIP HAS EXTENDED -- BEEN
EX-TENED 11 TIMES AND LAPSED
THREE TIMES IN THAT PERIOD.
THESE SHORT-TERM EXTENSIONS AND
LAPSES CREATE NEEDLESS
UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKETPLACE
AND AN ALREADY STRUGGLING
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REAL
ESTATE MARKET ALL ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES.
CHARLES SAMINGTON WAS QUOTED IN
A RECENT INDUSTRY INSURANCE
JOURNAL STATING THAT, AN I
QUOTE, THE FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION
OF NFIP AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF
SHORT LAPSES AND LAST-MINUTE
RENEWALS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT
GIVES THE MARKETPLACE
CERTAINTY.
END OF QUOTE.
IS CORRECT.
MR. SPEAKER, I BELIEVE CHARLES
THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES MUST DO ITS JOB BY
LOOKING AT THOSE PROGRAMS,
LOOKING AT THEIR NEED TO MAKE
SURE THEY WORK PROPERLY AND TO
MAKE SURE THE EXPOSURE TO THE
TAX PAYER IS NOT OVER EXTENDED.
CHARLES SAMINGTON HAS THIS
CORRECT.
IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING
MUCH-NEEDED RE-AUTHORIZATION,
THIS BILL EXTENDS TO THE NFIP
TO ENSURE THE NEAR-TERM FISCAL
AND ADMINISTRATIVE HEALTH OF
THE PROGRAM.
IT ALSO ENSURES NFIP'S
CONTINUED VIABILITY BY
ENCOURAGING BROADER
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM,
ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY RATE
SUBSIDIES AND UPDATING THE
PROGRAM TO THE NEEDS THAT
CURRENTLY FACE THIS GREAT
NATION.
SINCE 2006, THE NFIP HAS BEEN
CITED BY THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTING OFFICE OR G.A.O. AS
A HIGH-RISK GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.
THIS MEANS THAT EMBEDDED WITHIN
THIS PROGRAM, IT IS NOT BEING
RUN TO THE BEST BENEFIT OF NOT
CRUST ITS MISSION STATEMENT BUT
ALSO IN THE BEST INTEREST OF
THE TAXPAYER.
THE G.A.O. HAS FOUND THAT THE
NFIP DOES NOT CHARGE
SIGNIFICANT -- SUFFICIENTLY
HIGH RATES TO COVER ITS CLAIMS
OBLIGATIONS AND PROJECTED
FUTURE LOSSES RESULTING IN
SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL
EXPENDITURES AND POTENTIALLY
LARGE LIABILITIES ON TOP OF THE
$17.75 BILLION THAT THE PROGRAM
IS ALREADY IN DEBT TO.
TWO, PROTECT THE AMERICAN
TAXPAYER FROM FUTURE RISK OF
FEDERAL PROGRAMS ALREADY IN
DEBT.
THE NFIP MUST BE REFORMED.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE
THE UNDERLYING BILL PROVIDES
TODAY.
FOR SOME OF THE NECESSARY FORMS
AND CERTAINLY WE DON'T HAVE TO
DEBATE THIS, BUT WITH A $14
TRILLION DEFICIT AND OUT OF
CONTROL, WASTEFUL, WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT SPENDING, CONGRESS
MUST PROVIDE THE NECESSARY
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO
ENSURE LESS TAXPAYER RISK.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
VOTE YES ON THE RULE AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
THANK YOU, AND I
THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM TEXAS
FOR YIELDING ME THE CUSTOMARY
30 MINUTES.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THIS IS ONE OF
THE RARE OCCASION WHEN THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS AND I
AFREE ON SOMETHING.
WHILE THIS RULE IS NOT AN OPEN
RULE, AN I DON'T THINK THAT
WE'VE HAD AN OPEN RULE ON
AUTHORIZING BILL SINCE THIS
CONGRESS BEGAN, THE GENTLEMAN
IS SUCH A GOOD GUY I'M NOT
GOING TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OF
THAT.
THERE'S 25 OF THE 30 AMENDMENTS
THAT WERE OFFERED MADE IN ORDER
SO I THINK WE WILL HAVE A GOOD
DEBATE.
THE RULE BEFORE US TODAY
PROVIDES FOR RE-AUTHORIZATION
OF THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30,
2016 THIS PROGRAM WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 1968 IN RESPONSE
TO INCREASING FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SPENDING FOR
DISASTER RELIEF.
THE NFIP WAS INTENDED TO
ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PUBLIC'S
FINANCIAL BURDEN BECAUSE THE
GOVERNMENT COVERED LOSSES
GENERATED BY FLOODS IN THE FORM
OF DISASTER RELIEF PAYMENTS.
WITH THE INCREASE OF SEVERE
WEATHER IN THE PAST FEW YEARS,
THE NEED TO RE-AUTHORIZE THIS
PROGRAM BEFORE IT EXPIRES ON
SEPTEMBER 30 IS GREAT.
THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM HOUSED WITHIN THE
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY HAS BECOME FINANCIALLY
STRAINED FOLLOWING SEVERE
HURRICANES, INCLUDING KATRINA
IN 2005, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASED INSURANCE CLAIMS.
IN ADDITION TO EXTENDING THIS
BILL FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE
YEARS, THIS BILL ALSO INCLUDES
A THREE-YEAR THE LAY OF
MANDATORY FLOOD INSURANCE
PURCHASE RIMPLETE AS A RESULT
OF THE NEW UPDATED FLOOD MAPS
THIS WILL ALLOW OUR
CONSTITUENTS TO BE LOCATED IF
THEIR HOME IS NOW AT RISK OF
FLOODING AN PURCHASE INSURANCE
ACCORDINGLY BY REQUIRING ANNUAL
NOTIFICATIONS TO HOMEOWNERS
LIVING IN FLOOD SOPES ABOUT THE
RISK IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THE
GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARY THEY WAS
FLOOD ZONE, THE REQUIREMENT TO
PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE AND A
YEN ESTIMATE OF WHAT SIMILAR
HOMEOWNERS IN SIMILAR
COMMUNITIES TYPICALLY PAY FOR
FLOOD INSURANCE THIS BILL ALSO
PROVIDES OPTIONAL COVERAGE FOR
ADDITIONAL LIVING EXPENSES
INCURRED BY HOMEOWNERS WHEN
LOSSES FROM A GLAD MAKE THEIR
HOME UNFIT TO LIVE.
IN FOR BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL
PROPERTIES THIS BILL PROVIDES
OPTIONAL COVERAGE FOR LOSSES
RESULTING FROM ANY PARTIAL OR
TOTAL INTERRUPTION OF THE
INSURANCE BUSINESS CAUSED BY
FLOOD.
MR. SPEAKER, WE SAW A MASSIVE
-- WE SAW MASSIVE DEVASTATION
TO THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF OUR
COUNTRY IN 2005 BUT WE ALSO SEE
THE -- SAW THE RESILIENCY OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IT'S NO EASEY TASK TO REBUILD
YOU ARE YOUR LIFE FROM THE
GROUND UP.
REALIZING THAT HAVING FLOOD
INSURANCE CAN KEEP FAMILIES
FROM FINANCIAL RUIN, THIS BILL
ALLOWS FAMILIES TO PLAY FLOOD
INSURANCE PREMIUMS IN
INSTALLMENTMENT IT WILL ALSO
HELP OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
PREPARE FOR THE WORST BY
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRAND FUNDS FOR COMMUNITIES TO
REACH OUT TO HOMEOWNERS ABOUT
FLOOD INSURANCE RATES, MAPPING
AND INCLUSION IN FLOOD ZONES
AND BY AUTHORIZING LOCALITIES
TO USE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT
EXISTING STATE OR LOCAL FUNDING
.
FOR BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT
IT GIVES COMMUNITIES THE TOOLS
THEY NEED TO PREPARE, PROTECT
AND REBUILD.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M PLEASED THAT
THE RULES COMMITTEE MADE IN
ORDER MY AMENDMENT TO H.R.
1309.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE
FOR WORKING WITH ME TO MAKE
THIS IMPORTANT AMENDMENT IN
MY AMENDMENT IS SIMPLE.
ORDER.
IF FEMA MAKES A MISTAKE IN
DESIGNING A FLOOD MAP,
COMMUNITIES CAN BE REIMBURSED
FOR THE COST OF MOUNTING THE
SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE.
CURRENTLY, COMMUNITIES THAT
DISPUTE FEMA'S FLOOD ELEVATIONS
CAN HIRE A PRIVATE ENGINEERING
FIRM TO GET A SECOND OPINION
FLOOD MAP.
WHILE THIS MAY SOUND LIKE AN
ATTRACTIVE OPTION, IT PUTS A
LOT OF THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES
IN A VERY DIFFICULT FINANCIAL
POSITION.
HIRING A PRIVATE ENGINEERING
FIRM IS EXPENSIVE AND COST
PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY SMALL
COMMUNITIES.
ON THE ONE HAND, IF THE
COMMUNITY DECIDES IT'S TOO
EXPENSIVE TO GET A SECOND
OPINION, HOMEOWNERS ARE FORCED
TO PAY HIGHER OR IN SOME CASES
NEEDLESS FLOOD INSURANCE
PREMIUMS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE
COMMUNITY DOES MOUNT A
SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE TO THE
ORIGINAL FEMA MAP, HOMEOWNERS
ARE SPARED FROM HAVING TO PAY
THE HIGHER FLOOD INSURANCE
PREMIUMS, BUT THE TOWN STILL
MUST PAY THE COST ASSOCIATED
WITH OBTAINING THAT SECOND MAP.
NOW, I HEARD FROM MANY SMALL
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE FORCED
INTO THIS TOUGH SITUATION,
INCLUDING THE TOWN OF
HOLLISTER, MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH
IS IN MY DISTRICT.
THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
TO SUPPORT THE ARGUMENT THAT
THE FEMA MAP IS INCORRECT BUT
COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE STRUGGLING
TO PAY THE $30,000 IT WILL COST
TO CONDUCT A SECOND ENGINEERING
STUDY.
I FEEL FOR THESE TOWN
OFFICIALS.
THEY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING
AND HELP THEIR RESIDENTS, BUT
THESE SMALL TOWNS ARE ALREADY
CASH STRAPPED AND CUTTING
FUNDING LEFT AND RIGHT FOR
ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE SCHOOLS
AND POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS,
NOT TO MENTION INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE SIMPLY IS NO MONEY FOR A
LEGITIMATE BUT EXPENSIVE SECOND
OPINION MAP.
IF FEMA MAKES A MISTAKE IN
MAPPING A FLOOD AREA THEY
SHOULD PAY FOR IT AND I
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS BILL HAS
PROVED THAT CONGRESS CAN WORK
IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES
54-0 THIS BIPARTISAN BILL IS
TIMELY WITH HURRICANE SEASON
JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO ADD THAT
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
ESTIMATES ENACTING H.R. 1309
WILL HAVE NO NET IMPACT ON
DIRECT SPENDING OVER THE
2012-2016 OR 2012-2021 PERIODS.
I WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE
FROM ILLINOIS, MRS. BIGGERT,
FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND
FOR WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN WAY
IN PRODUCING WHAT I THINK IS A
GOOD BILL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
HER TO MAKE SURE THIS IS
PASSED.
AND WITH THAT I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M PLEASED TO
HAVE A VERY VALUABLE PART OF
OUR REPUBLICAN TEAM TODAY, A
GENTLEWOMAN WHO HAS TAKEN
HUNDREDS OF MEETINGS AND WHO
LED THE WAY IN WHAT I BELIEVE
WAS TO BETTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE
WITH THE FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM.
SHE IS FROM THE FINANCIAL
SERVICES COMMITTEE, SHE'S THE
CHAIRWOMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE
ON HOUSING, INSURANCE AND OTHER
AFFAIRS AND I YIELD FIVE
ILLINOIS, MRS. BIGGERT.
MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THE RULE FOR H.R. 1309, THE
FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM ACT OF
2011.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. SESSIONS
FOR INTRODUCING AND MANAGING
THIS RULE, RULES COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN DREIER FOR SCHEDULING
FLOOR TIME.
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES
COMMITTEE FAVORABLY REPORTED,
AS HAS BEEN SAID, THE FLOOD
INSURANCE REFORM ACT BY
UNANIMOUS VOTE OF 54-0.
THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT AND
REFLECTS THE HARD WORK AND
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE.
IT WOULD RE-AUTHORIZE FOR FIVE
YEARS THE NATIONAL FLOOD
INSURANCE PROGRAM, NFIP AND
ENACT A SERIES OF REFORMS
DESIGNED TO IMPROVE NFIP'S
FINANCIAL STABILITY, REDUCE THE
BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS AND EXPLORE
THE WAYS TO INCREASE PRIVATE
MARKET PARTICIPATION.
TO IMPROVE NFIP'S FINANCIAL
STABILITY, THE BILL PHASES IN
ACTUARILY SOUND RATES FOR
POLICYHOLDERS.
IN DOING SO IT WILL HELP TO
SHORE UP NFIP AND ALLOW TO PAY
DOWN THE $17.75 BILLION DEBT TO
THE TAXPAYER.
IT ALSO INCREASES THE MINIMUM
DEDUCTIBILITIES FOR PROPERTIES
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GIVES
HOMEOWNERS MORE FLEXIBILITY IN
HOW THEY PAY -- THEY CAN PAY
FOR THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE.
ACCORDING TO C.B.O., THE
COMBINED EFFECT OF THESE AND
OTHER CHANGES WOULD BRING AN
ADDITIONAL $4.2 BILLION OF NET
INCOME TO NFIP OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS.
PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, H.R.
1309 ELIMINATES A BARRIER TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRIVATE
FLOOD INSURANCE MARKET AND PUTS
US ON A PATH TOWARDS A
LONG-TERM PLAN FOR FLOOD
INSURANCE THAT ELIMINATES
TAXPAYER RISK.
FIRST, IT REQUIRES LENDERS TO
ACCEPT NON-NFIP-BACKED FLOOD
INSURANCE COVERAGE PROVIDED BY
A PRIVATE ENTITY IF IT MEETS
ALL THE SAME REQUIREMENTS OF
NFIP-BACKED FLOOD INSURANCE.
AND SECOND, FEMA IS REQUIRED TO
SOLICIT BIDS FROM THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AND REPORT TO CONGRESS
ON THE COST TO THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, NOT TO TAXPAYER, OF
VARYING THE RISK OF FLUSHES.
FINALLY, THE BILL ADDRESSES
MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT
MEMBERS RAISED TO US ABOUT NEW
MAPS, AS IT RELATES TO DAMS AND
DESSERTIFICATIONS.
IT ALLOWS NEWLY MAPPED
COMMUNITIES FACING HIGHER RATES
ANNUALLY AND UP TO THREE YEARS
TO REQUEST THAT FEMA SUSPEND
THE REQUIREMENT TO PURCHASE
FLOOD INSURANCE WHILE THEY WORK
TO CONSTRUCT OR FIX THEIR FLOOD
INSURANCE -- FLOOD PROTECTION
SYSTEMS.
WITH THE NFIP'S AUTHORIZATION
SET TO EXPIRE IN SEPTEMBER,
IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE HOUSE
ACT TO PASS THIS BILL AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
DOING SO WILL GIVE THE HOUSE
AND SENATE TIME TO BEGIN A
DIALOGUE AND SHAPE A
COMMONSENSE REFORM MEASURE.
IN SHORT, WE FULLY INTEND TO
AVOID A RECURRENCE OF WHAT
HAPPENED LAST CONGRESS WHEN THE
PROGRAM LAPSED CAUSING TURMOIL
IN THE RECOVERING HOUSING
MARKET AND WAS SIMPLY EXTENDED
WITHOUT REFORMS.
CONGRESS CANNOT CONTINUE TO
KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
WITH THAT, AGAIN, I THANK MR.
SESSIONS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE
RULES COMMITTEE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL THE
MEMBERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE THAT HELPED TO CRAFT THIS
BILL.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE FINANCIAL SERVICES
COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK ON
THIS BILL.
ESPECIALLY, MS. WATERS, MRS.
CAPITO, MR. GARRETT, MR. DOLD,
MR. STIVERS WHO ARE ORIGINAL
BILL.
CO-SPONSORS OF THIS BIPARTISAN
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THE RULE FOR H.R. 1309 AND
TIME.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO YIELD
FOUR MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. MATSUI.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF H.R. 1309, THE NATIONAL
FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM ACT OF
2011.
A FULL FIVE-YEAR
RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THE PROGRAM
IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR
NATION.
I WANT TO THANK AND COMMEND
CHAIRWOMAN BIGGERT AND RANKING
MEMBER WATERS FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
USHERING IN A FIVE-YEAR
RE-AUTHORIZATION WILL PROVIDE
WELCOMED RELIEF FOR THOSE WHO
LIVE IN OUR COUNTRY'S
FLOODPLAINS.
I THANK CHAIRWOMAN BIGGERT FOR
INCLUDING LANGUAGE FROM MY OWN,
H.R. 902, LEGISLATION THAT WILL
MODERNIZE FEMA'S FLOOD
INSURANCE LEGISLATION.
IT WILL TAKE LOCAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL FUNDING INTO ACCOUNT
WHEN DETERMINING FLOOD ZONE
DESIGNATIONS.
H.R. 1309 WOULD EXTEND THE
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM, NFIP, FOR FIVE YEARS,
AND ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS IN
PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES TO
PURCHASE PROTECTION AGAINST
FLOODING.
AS WE HAVE SEEN ACROSS OUR
COUNTRY, THIS YEAR AND IN
RECENT YEARS, THE NFIP IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO SO MANY
AMERICANS.
WHEN A FLOOD DISASTER STRIKES,
THE HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE FLOOD
INSURANCE CAN AT LEAST SEE
THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CRISIS.
THE NFIP OFFERS THE VICTIMS OF
FLOODS THE ABILITY TO MAKE
THEIR LIVES WHOLE AGAIN.
OF COURSE, THE BEST INSURANCE
AGAINST A FLOOD IS A STRONG
FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM.
IN MY HOMETOWN OF SACRAMENTO,
CALIFORNIA, RESIDENTS HAVE
TAXED THEMSELVES HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PAY FOR
STRONGER FLOOD PROTECTIONS.
ON ONE PROJECT IN ONE BASIN
ALONE STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE SPENT
MORE THAN $300 MILLION OVER THE
LAST FIVE YEARS ON LEVEE
IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS HAS ALL BEEN INVESTMENT, I
MUST POINT OUT, WITHOUT
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FEMA OR
FUNDING FROM THE CORPS OF
ENGINEERS.
I AM WORKING TIRELESSLY TO
CHANGE THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS
THROUGH WITH THEIR COMMITMENT
TO THIS PROJECT.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE
NOTOMIS BASIN, LIKE MOST OF
SACRAMENTO, IS AT RISK OF
FLOODING AS IT LAYS AT THE
CONFLUENCE OF TWO GREAT RIVERS.
WE KNOW WE MUST CONTINUE TO
BUILD UP OUR LEVEES AS WELL AS
CARRY FLOOD INSURANCE.
FORTUNATELY THE SACRAMENTO
REGION IS WORKING WITH THE ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT AN
AGGRESSIVE LEVEE IMPROVEMENT
PLAN TO ACHIEVE A 200-YEAR
LEVEL OF FLOOD PROTECTION.
WHILE THESE EFFORTS ARE
ONGOING, FLOOD INSURANCE HAS
BECOME MANDATORY FOR MANY
HOMEOWNERS.
INSURANCE THAT CAN COST MORE
THAN $1,350 ANNUALLY.
THAT IS NEARLY FOUR TIMES THE
P.R.P. RATE.
THE INCREASING COST OF FLOOD
INSURANCE WHICH IS ON TOP OF
THE ANNUAL FLOOD PROTECTION
ASSESSMENTS THAT MY
CONSTITUENTS ARE ALREADY PAYING
COMPOUNDS THEIR FINANCIAL
BURDEN.
FOR THESE REASONS I BELIEVE
THAT IT IS REASONABLE TO PHASE
IN HIGHER RATES OVER A
FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT I WILL
OFFER DURING DEBATE ON THE
UNDERLYING BILL THAT WILL PHASE
IN THE FULL COST OF FLOOD
INSURANCE POLICIES IN A MORE
EQUITY WAY MOVING FORWARD.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A
NECESSITY THAT WILL ASSIST
HOMEOWNERS IN THESE TRYING
ECONOMIC TIMES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ITS BEING
INCLUDED IN THE OVERALL
LEGISLATION.
THIS WILL REQUIRE RESPONSIBLE
HOMEOWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TO CONTINUE PAYING INTO NFIP
WITHOUT ADDING RISK TO EITHER
THE FLOODPLAIN OR THE NFIP.
AGAIN, I THANK CHAIRWOMAN
BIGGERT AND RANKING MEMBER
THIS LEGISLATION, AND I YIELD
WATERS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
YOU KNOW, MR. SPEAKER, THE
BEAUTIFUL PART ABOUT THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS WE HAVE A
WHOLE BUNCH OF MEMBERS WHO ARE
JUST LIKE THE GENTLEWOMAN THAT
I'M GOING TO EXTEND TIME TO IN
A MINUTE TO COME TO THE TABLE
AS FRIENDS OF THE TAXPAYER, WHO
COME AND LOOK AT BILLS AND
RE-AUTHORIZATIONS OF
LEGISLATION FROM A PERSPECTIVE
OF WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S
ROLE, WHAT SHOULD BE THE
GOVERNMENT'S ROLE AND HOW DO WE
ENGAGE WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TO KEEP THESE PROGRAMS NOT ONLY
WHERE THEY CAN SUSTAIN
THEMSELVES BUT ALSO WHETHER THE
TAXPAYERS IS WELL TAKEN CARE
OF.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM SHELBY
TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN, THE
GENTLEWOMAN, MRS. MILLER.
THE
WOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE
MINUTES.
I LIVE IN HARRISON
TOWNSHIP.
I APPRECIATE THAT, THOUGH.
I CERTAINLY RISE TO SUPPORT
THIS RULE, MR. SPEAKER, BUT I
AM STRONGLY, STRONGLY OPPOSED
TO THE UNDERLYING BILL, THE
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM.
AND I WOULD START WITH THIS
BASIC PREMISE.
WHY IN THE WORLD IS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT EVEN INVOLVED IN THE
FLOOD INSURANCE BUSINESS?
IS THAT OUR CORE PURPOSE OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
THIS PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN
1968.
THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN WRITING
POLICIES IN THE EARLY 1970'S.
AND TO NO GREAT SURPRISE, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING A
LOUSY JOB OF BEING IN THE
INSURANCE BUSINESS.
IS CURRENTLY OVER
$17 BILLION IN DEBT, AND NOW WE
NEED TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING
ON THIS PROGRAM TO ABOUT $25
BILLION.
AND RECENTLY THE FEMA
ADMINISTRATOR TESTIFIED TO
CONGRESS THAT THE FLOOD
INSURANCE PROGRAM, NO GREAT
SURPRISE, IS LIKELY TO STAY IN
DEBT, MASSIVE DEBT FOREVER.
AND IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND
WHY.
BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM IS NOT
ACTUARILY SOUND, AND BECAUSE
THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE TREATED
APPARENTLY AS A BOTTOMLESS PIT
OF MONEY SO WE NEED DON'T NEED
TO BASE THE PREMIUMS ON ANY
NORMAL BASE EVALUATION.
IN FACT, WE ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO BUILD IN FLOOD-PRONE
AND JUST CONSIDER THIS ONE
AREAS THAT REPEATEDLY FLOOD.
STATISTIC.
ONLY 1% OF THE PROPERTIES IN
THIS PROGRAM ARE CONSIDERED TO
BE REPETITIVE LOSSES.
1%.
YET, THAT 1% ACCOUNTS FOR 40%
OF THE CLAIMS BECAUSE THEY
REPEATEDLY FLOOD AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZES
THEM TO RECONSTRUCT.
AT A TIME OF EXTREME FINANCIAL
DISTRESS FOR OUR NATION, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
SUBSIDIZING FLOOD INSURANCE.
WHY?
IF IT'S SO GREAT, WHY DON'T WE
START A FIRE INSURANCE PROGRAM?
HOW ABOUT A WILDFIRE INSURANCE
PROGRAM?
HOW ABOUT AN EARTHQUAKE
PROTECTION PROGRAM, INSURANCE
PROGRAM?
THE TRUTH IS, MR. SPEAKER, IF
WE HAVE A NATURAL DISASTER IN
OUR COUNTRY, THIS CONGRESS,
AMERICANS, WILL ALWAYS STAND UP
AND HELP THAT PART OF THE
COUNTRY, THAT AREA OF THE
COUNTRY THAT IS SUFFERING.
WE WILL ALWAYS HELP OUR FELLOW
AMERICANS.
WELL, THIS PROGRAM MAY HAVE
BEEN WELL-INTENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING, BUT IT HAS EVOLVED
INTO SOMETHING THAT IS
UNRECOGNIZABLE ANY MORE.
AND IF WE EVER TRULY WANT TO
DOWNSIZE, TO RIGHT SIZE
GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WE JUST CAN'T BE
NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES OF
REFORMING A PROGRAM THAT IS
RIDICULOUS AT ITS VERY CORE.
WE CAN'T BE REFORMING USELESS
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.
THEY NEED TO BE ELIMINATED, AND
I BELIEVE THAT THE NATIONAL
FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM IS A
WASTE OF TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS.
IT'S A BOONDOGGLE.
IT NEEDS TO BE ERADICATED.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, AGAIN, I DO
SUPPORT THE RULE BUT I
OBVIOUSLY AM VERY, VERY OPPOSED
TO THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM THAT IS NOT THE
BUSINESS OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT
BUSINESS.
THE
THANK YOU.
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
--
I RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS.
IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
GENTLEMAN IS THROUGH AT THIS
TIME?
THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM HOOD RIVER,
OREGON, MR. WALLEN.
THE
THE
FOUR MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
I APPRECIATE THE
WORK OF MR. SESSIONS AN THE
RULES COMMITTEE IN BRINGING
FORTH THIS RULE, WHICH I
SUPPORT, AND I APPRECIATE OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM ILLINOIS, MRS.
BIGGERT, FOR INTRODUCING THIS
LEGISLATION AND WORKING WITH ME
ON SOME ISSUES THAT ARE
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE
PEOPLE OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN
OREGON AND FRANKLY ALL ACROSS
OREGON, ESPECIALLY IN PLACES
LIKE MILTON FREEWATER, OREGON.
THERE, CITIZENS ARE PAYING
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS MORE IN
FLOOD INSURANCE BECAUSE FEMA
DID A REMAP PROCESS.
IT'S PUT A BURDEN ON THE
COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY HAS SET IN MOTION
A PLAN TO FIX THE LEVEES THAT
FEMA HAS SAID DON'T MEET
CERTIFICATION THIS COULD BRING
RELIEF FROM MANDATORY INSURANCE
WHILE THE COMMUNITY WORKS TO
IMPROVE LEVEES.
IT WILL ALSO FORCE FEE THAT TO
FACTOR IN THIS PROTECTION
OFFERED BY LEVEES REGARDLESS OF
CERTIFICATION STATUS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ISSUES --
OF AGENCIES FIGHTING OVER
WHETHER BRUSH SHOULD BE ALLOWED
TO GROW ON THE LEVEES.
PEOPLE MANY MILTON FREEWATER
GET STUCK WITH THE BILL.
THESE COMMON SENSE STEPS AND
OTHERS IN THE BILL WILL PROVIDE
THE RELIEF MILTON FREEWATER IS
IN DESPERATE NEED OF.
THESE CHANGES WILL, ACCORDING
TO ONE COUNTY COMMISSIONER,
BENEFIT MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY.
IN SOUTHERN ARKANSAS, CITIZENS
IN JACKSON COUNTY HAVE BEEN
RECENTLY -- HAVE BEEN ADERS
ARELY IMPACTED BY RECENTLY
REDRAWN FEMA MOOD MAPS.
FEMA ADMITTED THEY USED
INFOOROR MAPPING METHODS FOR
SOME PORTIONS.
IT FORCES MANY CITIZENS INTO
500 OR 1500 -- OR 100 YEAR
FLOOD MAINS.
THEY HAVE TO BUY COSTLY
INSURANCE THEY MAY NOT MEAN.
IT RUNS $100 A YEAR FOR THE
FIRST YEAR OR TWO, BUT THEN IT
JUMPS TO $50,000 -- TO $5,000
ANNUALLY.
HOMEOWNERS SHOULDN'T GET STUCK
WITH THIS BILL, THESE
EXTRAORDINARY COSTS, WHEN IT
MAY BE A MAPPING AREA WHEN THE
AGENCY ADMITS THEY USED
INFOOROR METHODS.
THEY REINSTATE THE TECHNICAL
MAPPING ADVISORY COUNCIL.
THIS BILL WORKS TO BRING THE
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM OUT OF THE RED WHILE
ALLOWING COMMUNITIES MORE LOCAL
INPUT ON THEIR FLOOD PLANS AND
TIME TO ADJUST SHOULD THEY BE
DESIGNATED A HIGH RISK AREA.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO APPROVE
THE RULE AND THE UNDERLYING
BILL SO WE MAY CHANGE THIS
PROGRAM IN A FISCALLY --
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND BORN
WAY.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS.
I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON COMING TO
SPEAK ABOUT THIS BILL AND ALSO
HIS STRONG LEADERSHIP IN ISSUES
THAT DEAL DIRECTLY WITH OUR
NATION AND TO KEEP US FISCALLY
SOUND.
MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS TIME, I
YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LAWRENCEVILLE,
GEORGIA, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE RULES COMMITTEE, THE
GENTLEMAN, MR. WOOD YAWL.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS -- MR. WOODALL.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FOUR MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
SERVING ON THE RULE COMMITTEES
CAN BE A BENEFIT AND A BURDEN.
THERE'S BEEN KIND OF A
GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT, FROM
WHAT I'VE READ ABOUT THE
INSTITUTION THAT IF THE
COMMITTEE OF YOURS DICTION
BRINGS OUT A CLEVER IDEA, THEY
ONLY BRING OUT THOSE CLEVER
AND THEN LEADERSHIP OF THE
IDEAS THAT THEY REALLY LIKE.
HOUSE, WHICHEVER PARTY IS IN
CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, THEN ONLY
ALLOWS THOSE REPORTED BILLS
THEY REALLY LIKE TO SHOW UP
HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE
FOR US TO DEBATE.
SO WHEN THE RULE COMMITTEES
GETS AROUND TO CONSIDERING
AMENDMENTS, MAYBE THE ONLY
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE ALLOWED
NIBBLE AROUND THE EDGES BUT
DON'T TAKE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES
TO THE UNDERLYING BILL.
FIVE MONTHS, SIX NOW, I'VE BEEN
HERE IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AS PART OF THIS
FRESHMAN -- FRESHMAN CLASS AND
WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY EXCITES
ME.
FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE
LONGER, MAYBE IT'S NOT AS
EXCITING TO YOU AS IT IS TO ME.
WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY, NOT
ONLY DID WE GET A BILL GOING
THROUGH THE REGULAR ORDER
PROCESS, WENT THROUGH THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS IN COMMITTEE,
EVERYBODY GOT A VOTE, IN FACT
IT WAS REPORTED UNANIMOUSLY OUT
OF COMMITTEE, AS I UNDERSTAND.
THEN IT CAME TO THE RULES
COMMITTEE.
WE HAD ABOUT 30 AMENDMENTS
OFFERED UP AT THE RULES
COMMITTEE, A COUPLE WEREN'T
GERMANE, A COUPLE WERE
DUPLICATIVE, BUT EVERYTHING
ELSE WE ALLOWED.
AND ONE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS WAS
AN AMENDMENT THAT SAID, THIS IS
JUST A DUMB PROGRAM, LET'S
SCRAP IT, SEND IT TO THE STATES
AND START OVER AGAIN.
WOW.
WOW.
THERE ARE A LOT OF AMENDMENTS
WE ALLOW THAT SAY, LET'S CHANGE
A SIX TO A FIVE OR CHANGE THIS
NUMBER OF MEMBERS TO THIS
NUMBER OF MEMBERS, THINGS THAT
WOULD IMPROVE A BILL, NIBBLE
AROUND THE EDGES BUT THIS RULE
TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I
CAN RECALL, ALLOWS AN AMENDMENT
THAT SAYS THE ENTIRE NDS LYING
LEGISLATION IS HEADED THE WRONG
DIRECTION, LET'S TAKE A NEW
DIRECTION.
NOW MR. SPEAKER, THERE ARE
FOLKS WHO WOULD BE SCARED ABOUT
THAT KIND OF AMENDMENT.
FOLKS WHO WOULD BE INTIMIDATED
TO LET SOMETHING COME TO THE
FLOOR.
WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT THIS HOUSE HAS MADE A NEW
COMMITMENT, A RENEWED
COMMITMENT TO EXPRESSING THE
VOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AN
GUESS WHAT?
THE ONLY AMENDMENTS THEY'LL
PASS ON THE NOOR TODAY ARE ONES
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE MIND.
THE ONLY AMENDMENTS TO PASS THE
FLOOR TODAY ARE ONES THAT
REPRESENT THE MAJORITY RULE OF
THIS U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
IT MAKES ME SO PROUD.
I HOPE, MR. SPEAKER, FOR FOLKS
WHO DON'T FOLLOW THE PROCESS AS
CLOSELY AS YOU AND I DO, THAT
THEY WILL SEE WHAT A DIFFERENCE
AND IT'S A DIFFERENCE FROM
THAT IS.
ADMINISTRATIONS GOING BACK TWO
YEARS, FOUR YEARS, EIGHT YEAR,
10 YEARS, 12 YEARS.
FOLKS SAY, IF IT'S AN IDEA THAT
HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE HOUSE,
THAT IT DESERVES TO BE HEARD
AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ALL
THOSE AMENDMENTS HERE ON THE
FLOOR TODAY.
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S NOT EASY TO
MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF OPENNESS
IN THE HOUSE.
IT TAKES A LOT OF COOPERATION
BETWEEN BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE
TO MAKE OPENNESS WORK.
WE'VE HAD THAT COOPERATION.
AND I DON'T MEAN COOPERATION IN
THE SENSE THAT FOLKSRY AGREE ON
ABSOLUTELY ALL THE IDEAS.
I MEAN COOPERATION IN THE SENSE
THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT WHEN THE
HOUSE WORKS ITS WILL, THE
PEOPLE'S WORK GETS DONE.
WHEN THE HOUSE WORKS ITS WILL,
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S VOICE IS
BEST HEARD.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE ISLE FOR THEIR
COMMITMENT TO MAKING THAT WORK
AND I THANK MY FRIEND FROM
TEXAS FOR YIELDING ME THE TIME
THIS MORNING.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I WANT TO ADVISE
MY COLLEAGUE WE DO NOT HAVE ANY
FURTHER SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME
AND WOULD WISH TO DEFER TO HIS
JUDGMENT ON CLOSING.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I'M GLAD TO SEE
THAT THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA
IS EXCITED.
I'M NOT QUITE AT THAT LEVEL.
THIS IS NOT AN OPEN RULE.
AN OPEN RULE.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
WE CALLED FAR VOTE, MY FRIENDS
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
VOTED AGAINST IT.
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT AMENDMENT HERE'S THAT
REPRESENT A LOT OF DIFFERENT
VIEWPOINTS SO I'M OK WITH THAT
IT.
I WILL BEGIN BY SAYING THAT.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO TELL MY
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A GOOD
BILL.
IT IS NOT A BOONDOGGLE AS THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MICHIGAN
REFERRED TO IT.
IT IS A NECESSARY PROTECTION
FOR PEOPLE.
THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, WHY
SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT BE
INVOLVED IN FLOOD INSURANCE?
UP WITH OF THE REASONS WHY IS
BECAUSE THE PRIVATE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY HAS NO INTEREST IN
PROVIDING THE KIND OF COVERAGE
AT AN AFFORDABLE LEVEL TO
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
IF THERE WAS MONEY TO BE MADE
IF THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD MAKE
MONEY, YOU CAN BET THE PRIVATE
INSURANCE INDUSTRY WOULD STEP
UP, YOU KNOW, AND TRY TO FILL
IN THE VOID.
BUT THEY HAVEN'T AND THEY
WON'T.
AND SO WITHOUT THIS, YOU KNOW,
YOU WILL END UP DEALING WITH
THESE CATASTROPHES WITH
DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS THAT
CONGRESS WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE
AND THAT'S NOT A VERY EFFICIENT
OR GOOD WAY TO DEAL WITH THE
ISSUE OF FLOODS.
MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO
POINT OUT THAT THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT BILL MOT ONLY BECAUSE
IT IS BIPARTISAN IN NATURE BUT
I THINK THERE'S A BIPARTISAN
CONSENSUS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
I AM -- AGAIN, I WANT TO
COMMEND MRS. BIGGERT AND THE
MEMBERS OF THE FINANCIAL
SERVICES COMMITTEE, I WANT TO
COMMEND CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE
WATERS WHO WORKED TOGETHER IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY WHO PRODUCED A
BILL THAT PASSED 54-0.
YOU DON'T SEE THAT VERY MUCH.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY
CONTENTIOUS CONGRESS.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF
PARTISAN DIVIDES WHEN IT COMES
TO VOTING ON BILLS.
IN THIS ONE AREA, THERE'S
CONSENSUS, WHICH I THINK IS AN
INDICATION THAT IT WILL WIN
BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN
THIS CONGRESS.
SO MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO THANK
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS FOR
BRINGING THIS RULE TO THE
FLOOR.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNDERLYING
BILL AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING IT AND I HOPE MY
COLLEAGUES AT A BIPARTISAN
LEVEL WILL SUPPORT MY
AMENDMENT, WHICH I THINK IS A
GOOD AMENDMENT.
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK THE
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I WANT TO THANK
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, NOT ONLY FOR HIS
SERVICE TO THE RULES ME, BUT
ALSO TO THE IDEAS THAT WE --
RULES COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO TO
THE IDEAS THAT HE REPRESENTS.
I'M GLAD HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO STATE WITH GREAT CLARITY
THAT THE 25 AMENDMENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE IN ORDER BY THE
RULES COMMITTEE IS GOOD FOR
THIS INSTITUTION THIS BODY, AND
LIVES UP TO THE PROMISE NOT
JUST THAT OUR SPEAKER, THE
GENTLEMAN, JOHN BOEHNER, AND
OUR MAJORITY LEADER, ERIC
CANTOR, SUBSCRIBE TO BUT ALSO
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES
COMMITTEE, THE GENTLEMAN DAVID
DREIER.
MR. SPEAKER, THE BILL WE ARE
DISCUSSING TODAY PROVIDES A
LONG-TERM CERTAINTY IN THE
FLOOD INSURANCE MARKET.
IT ALLOWS FOR GREATER
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
IN THE FOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.
AND REMOVES OR DIMINISHES
GREATLY THE GREAT RISK THAT
TAXPAYERS INCUR FROM BAILING
OUT THE CURRENT PROGRAM.
THIS COUNTRY IS FACING A $14
TRILLION DEBT WITH ALMOST $18
BILLION OF THAT COMING FROM THE
NFIP.
CONGRESS SORELY NEEDED TO
RETAIN ITS CONTROL OVER THIS
PROGRAM AND TO ENSURE THAT WE
LOOKED AT IT IN THIS
RE-AUTHORIZE, HOWEVER -- IN
THIS RE-AUTHORIZATION.
HOWEVER WE STILL HAVE A
GOVERNMENT THAT TAXES TOO MUCH
AND LISTENS TOO LITTLE TO THE
NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
TODAY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,
THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP PROVIDED
BY MRS. BIGGERT OF ILLINOIS, IS
DOING THAT, ONE AT A TIME TO
TAKE ON THE PROGRAMS AND NEEDS
OF THIS GREAT NATION.
ONCE AGAIN THIS BILL PROVIDES
US MUCH-NEEDED LONG-TERM
RE-AUTHORIZATION AND AMENDS THE
NFIP TO ENSURE THE IMMEDIATE
AND NEAR-TERM FISCAL
ADMINISTRATIVE HEALTH OF THE
PROGRAM.
IT ALSO ENSURES THAT THE NFIP
CONTINUED VIABILITY BY
ENCOURAGING BROADER
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM,
INCREASING FINANCIAL
ACCOUNTABILITY, ELIMINATING
UNNECESSARY RATE SUBSIDIES AND
UPDATING THE PROGRAM TO MEET
THE NEEDS, THE CURRENT NEEDS OF
THIS GREAT NATION.
I APPLAUD MY COLLEAGUES FOR
INTRODUCING THE BILL.
THE GENTLEWOMAN, MRS. BIGGERT,
FOR HER HARD WORK.
THE HUNDREDS OF MEETINGS THAT
WERE INVOLVED, TAKING FEEDBACK
IF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, LOOKING
AT THEIR NEEDS AND ADDRESSING
THOSE.
I ENCOURAGE A YES VOTE ON THIS
RULE AND MOVE THE PREVIOUS
QUESTIONS ON THE RESOLUTION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION IS ORDER.
THE QUESTION IS ON ADOPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE AYES HAVE IT.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION
TO RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
MAY I ASK FOR A
ROLL CALL ON THIS VOTE.
I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
THOSE
IN FAVOR OF TAKING THE VOTE BY
THE YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
WILL BE POSTPONED.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM FLORIDA SEEK RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, BY
THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE
ON RULES, I CALL UP HOUSE
RESOLUTION 337 AND ASK FOR ITS
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE CALENDAR
NUMBER 50, HOUSE RESOLUTION
337.
RESOLVED,THAT AT ANY TIME
AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THIS
RESOLUTION THE SPEAKER MAY,
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 2-B OF RULE
18, DECLARE THE HOUSE RESOLVED
INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION
FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL
H.R. 2354, MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR ENERGY AND
WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED
AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2012, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL
SHALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL ARE
WAIVED.
GENERAL DEBATE SHALL BE
CONFINED TO THE BILL AND SHALL
NOT EXCEED ONE HOUR EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS.
AFTER GENERAL DEBATE THE BILL
SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR
AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE
RULE.
POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
PROVISIONS IN THE BILL FOR
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH CLAUSE 2
OF RULE 21 ARE WAIVED.
DURING CONSIDERATION OF THE
BILL FOR AMENDMENT, THE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MAY ACCORD PRIORITY IN
RECOGNITION ON THE BASIS OF
WHETHER THE MEMBER OFFERING AN
AMENDMENT HAS CAUSED IT TO BE
PRINTED IN THE PORTION OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD DESIGNATED
FOR THAT PURPOSE IN CLAUSE 8 OF
RULE 18.
AMENDMENTS SO PRINTED SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ.
WHEN THE COMMITTEE RISES AND
HOUSE WITH A RECOMMENDATION
REPORTS THE BILL BACK TO THE
THAT THE BILL DO PASS, THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
BILL AND AMENDMENTS THERETO TO
FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT ONE
MOTION TO RECOMMIT WITH OR
WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY,
I YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM