Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
OF YOUR BILLS BY THIS STANDARD.
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US TODAY
FAILS ON ALL THREE COUNTIES --
COUNTS AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLELADY FROM
FLORIDA YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE
OF HER TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS RISE?
MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
HUNDREDS OF TIMES SINCE I TOOK
THE OATH OF OFFICE JUST A FEW
WEEKS AGO I'VE HEARD REFERENCES
TO KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE
ROAD.
KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
THIS KICKING OF THE CAN, THE CAN
BEING THE DEFICIT AND THE DEBT,
ROAD.
IN FACT, WE HAVE USED THIS TERM
SO MANY TIMES AMERICA HAS A
CHRONIC CASE OF TURF TOE.
WASHINGTON IS IN A
STATE OF DENIAL.
WE CONTINUE TO GIVE AWAY
TAXPAYER DOLLARS -- CORRECTION,
BORROWED DOLLARS TO PEOPLE WHO
CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY IT BACK.
OUR FRIENDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE
WANT TO YOU BELIEVE THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A HEART, THAT WE'RE
INSENSITIVE TO THE PLIGHT OF
THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE
THEY'VE LOST JOBS AND CAN'T
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT AMERICANS
UNDERSTAND.
AMERICANS UNDERSTAND THAT WE
CANNOT CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THIS
IRRESPONSIBLE WAY, GIVING AWAY
BORROWED MONEY, PROGRAM AFTER
PROGRAM, KNOWING THAT IT'S GOING
DOWN A RAT HOLE, JUST ANOTHER
KICK AT THE PER VERBIAL CAN.
IF YOU CAN'T CUT AN EXPENSIVE,
IRRESPONSIBLE PROGRAM LIKE THIS
ONE, THEN WHAT CAN YOU CUT?
LOOK, WE'RE ALL ABOUT JOB
CREATION.
JOB CREATION IS THE PREFERRED
WAY TO DELIVER US FROM THIS
TO BE IN.
BUT THE PROBLEM WITH JOB
CREATION RIGHT NOW IS THAT THERE
IS A DARK, DARK CLOUD HANGING
OVER AMERICA AS WE KNOW IT.
WITH A HUGE DEFICIT, A RECORD
DEFICIT AND A MOUNTING DEBT, A
DEBT SO LARGE THAT VERY SOON IN
THIS VERY CHAMBER WE'LL BE
TAKING UP THE ISSUE OF A DEBT
CEILING INCREASE.
THAT DARK CLOUD INCLUDES HIGHER
TAXES, THAT DARK CLOUD INCLUDES
BURDENSOME REGULATION AND THAT
DARK CLOUD CERTAINLY INCLUDES
DEFICITS AND DEBT.
THIS PROGRAM MUST BE ELIMINATED.
THE SAVINGS MUST GO TO DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF THE
ROAD, WE CAN NO LONGER KICK THIS
CAN ANY FURTHER.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE
DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP IN THIS
ARENA, SOMETHING THIS CONGRESS
HAS LACKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
I ENCOURAGE SUPPORT OF THE
AMENDMENT, STRIKE THAT, I
ENCOURAGE SUPPORT OF H.R. 836, I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARKANSAS YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
I RISE TO STRIKE
THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
IT AMAZES ME THAT
SOMEBODY COULD SAY THAT
HOMEOWNERS, AMERICAN HOMEOWNERS
LOSING THEIR HOMES AND IT'S
TRYING TO HELP THEM STAY IN IT
RAT HOLE.
I MIGHT SUGGEST THAT WE MIGHT
LOOK AT AFGHANISTAN OR THE WAR
IN IRAQ WHERE WE'RE SPENDING $2
BILLION A WEEK AS PLACE WHERE WE
COULD FIND THE MONEY TO BALANCE
OUR BUDGET.
BUT AT THIS MOMENT, MADAM
SPEAKER, I'D LIKE TO YIELD THE
REST OF MY TIME TO MY GOOD
COLLEAGUE FROM CALIFORNIA, MS.
WATERS.
THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR YIELDING TIME.
MADAM CHAIR, I RISE TO OPPOSE
THE STATEMENTS THAT WAS JUST
MADE BY THE NEW GENTLEMAN FROM
ARKANSAS.
THE ONE WHO CLAIMS THAT HE AND
OTHERS ARE PROVIDING LEGITIMATE
LEADERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE IN OPPOSITION
TO THE FACT THAT HE DESCRIBES
WHAT WE'RE DOING AS POURING
MONEY DOWN A RAT HOLE.
LET ME JUST BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT
MY OPPOSITION.
I DO NOT LIKE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE BEING REFERRED TO THAT
WAY.
ONE OF THE OTHER GENTLEMAN ON
THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE AISLE
THIS MORNING REFERRED TO OUR
CITIZENS AS THESE PEOPLE.
NOW I HEAR OUR CITIZENS BEING
REFERRED TO AS PEOPLE WHO ARE
RECEIVING FUNDS THAT ARE GOING
DOWN A RAT HOLE.
THE AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE NOT
RATS, THE MONEY THAT WE ARE
APPROPRIATIONED THROUGH GOOD
PUBLIC POLICY IS NOT MONEY
THAT'S GOING DOWN A RAT HOLE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE KNOWS,
IF HE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS
CRISIS THAT WE'RE CONFRONTED
WITH, THAT NOT ONLY HAVE WE
BAILED OUT THE BIGGEST
INSTITUTIONS IN AMERICA THAT ARE
TOO BIG TO FAIL WITH BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS THAT WE LOANED TO THEM
AND I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY
TALKING ABOUT THAT MONEY GOING
DOWN A RAT HOLE OR THOSE PEOPLE
OR THESE PEOPLE.
LET US BE A LITTLE BIT MORE
THE PEOPLE IN THE WAY WE
DESCRIBE OUR PUBLIC POLICY HERE.
I DON'T CONSIDER THAT CREDIBLE
LEADERSHIP, MADAM CHAIR, AND I
WOULD ASK THE GENTLEMAN TO
REFRAIN FROM REFERRING TO THE
CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY IN THAT
WAY.
AND I WOULD ASK THE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS TO REJECT THOSE
ARGUMENTS AND TO LOOK AT WHAT
WE'RE DOING AND TO UNDERSTAND AS
HAS SAID, IF THEY WANT TO BE
CREDIBLE IN HOW THEY REDUCE THE
DEFICIT, THEY SHOULD LOOK AT THE
MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON A
WAR THAT WE CAN'T WIN.
MONEY, THE BILLIONS THAT WE'RE
PUTTING INTO AFGHANISTAN, BUT
NO, THEY CHOOSE NOT TO DO THAT.
THEY CHOOSE TO ATTACK THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY,
THEIR LIVES, WHO ARE ASKING
THEIR GOVERNMENT FOR A LITTLE
ASSISTANCE BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE
UNDEREMPLOYED.
OR UNEMPLOYED OR THEY HAVE
MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT DON'T
ALLOW THEM TO MEET THEIR
OBLIGATIONS.
I STAND WITH THE PEOPLE.
I STAND WITH THE CITIZENS.
THE PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE OF THE
AISLE GENERATED THE PUBLIC
POLICY UNDER THESE FOUR PROGRAMS
TO HELP AMERICAN CITIZENS.
AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO
HELP PEOPLE WHOSE HOMES ARE
UNDERWATER, WHO DON'T WANT TO
HELP PEOPLE WHOSE NEIGHBORHOODS
ARE BEING DECIMATED BY THESE
BOARDED UP PROPERTIES, WHO DON'T
WANT TO HAVE HARDWORKING ZWHONES
HAVE WORKED ALL OF THEIR LIVES,
WHO DON'T WANT TO RISE TO THE
OCCASION OF THIS CRISIS IN OUR
ECONOMIC SYSTEM, LET THEM
CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT HERE THAT
THEN LET'S POST ON THE WEBSITE
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE ELIMINATING THIS PROGRAM.
AND LET THE CITIZENS CALL US SO
THAT WE CAN TELL THEM, YES, WE
HAD A PROGRAM, THEY WOULD LIKE
TO SAVE THIS PROGRAM -- SAY THIS
PROGRAM HAS NOT BEEN STARTED, IT
HAS.
TO GET CALLS RIGHT AFTER THE
DODD-FRANK BILL WAS SIGNED INTO
LAW.
WITH PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT THE
PROGRAM, WANTING TO GET INTO THE
PROGRAM, BEING THANKFUL THAT WE
HAD SOMEHOW COME UP WITH WAYS TO
HELP THEM.
IT'S NOT A PROGRAM THAT HAS NOT
BEGUN, IT HAS BEGUN.
AND THIS AMENDMENT THAT I HAVE
BEFORE THIS FLOOR WOULD SIMPLY
SAY, TELL THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE
ELIMINATING THE PROGRAM.
LET THEM KNOW THAT IT NO LONGER
EXISTS.
CLEAR UP ANY CONFUSION ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT WE STAND WITH THE
PEOPLE OR WE'RE GOING TO WORK
AGAINST THE PEOPLE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA.
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA YIELDS BACK.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
WORD.
-- THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I APPRECIATE THAT, MADAM
CHAIR.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND A
LITTLE HISTORY HERE.
ALL RIGHT?
THIS PROGRAM WAS PUT FIRST IN
PLACE IN 1975.
I WOULD I WAS 6.
ALL RIGHT?
THIS VITAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN
EXISTENCE SINCE 1975 AND I
UNDERSTAND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
MAY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR EITHER
THE CREATION OR SHORTLY
THEREAFTER, BUT THIS VITAL
PROGRAM FOR 36 YEARS REMAIN
UNUSED, UNFUNDED AND INEFFECTIVE
BECAUSE IT DIDN'T EXIST.
NOW WE HEAR THAT IT'S A VITAL
PROGRAM.
WE HEAR THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE
TO PROTECT THE HOMEOWNERS OF
AMERICA WITHOUT THIS PROGRAM.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NONSENSICAL
THAT WE ARE GOING TO PUT PEOPLE
FURTHER IN DEBT AND CALL THAT
HELPING THEM.
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST
TIME GOVERNMENT STARTED GOING IN
AND DEMANDING THAT CREDIT BE
EASED AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS
THIS.
I WAS A FORMER REALTOR, A
LICENSED REALTOR IN MICHIGAN,
CONSTRUCTION.
IT USED TO BE NOT THAT LONG AGO,
IT USED TO BE THAT YOU EITHER
HAD TO OWN YOUR LOT OR YOU HAD
TO HAVE 20% DOWN TO GO GET A
MORTGAGE AND A LOAN.
WELL THAT 20% QUICKLY BECAME 15%
WHICH QUICKLY BECAME 10% WHICH
BECAME 7%, WHICH BECAME 5%,
WHICH BECAME 2%, WHICH BECAME
ZERO DOWN, WHICH BECAME 120%
LOAN TO VALUE.
BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO GET PEOPLE
IN HOMES.
WELL, THAT WAS NOT BECAUSE THE
PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE FREE
MARKET WAS DICTATING THAT, IT
WAS BECAUSE THIS BODY AND OTHERS
WERE DIRECTING THEM TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO
WIND, UNWIND SOME THINGS THAT
AND AS I SAID, I WASN'T HERE FOR
THE CREATION OF THIS, WELL
INTENTIONED BUT CRAZY
INITIATIVE, BUT I'M HERE FOR THE
UNWINDING OF THAT PROGRAM AS ARE
MANY OF MY OTHER NEW COLLEAGUES.
THAT.
AND HOW WE, MADAM CHAIR, HOW WE
REALIZE WHAT WE CAN REALLY,
TRULY HELP PEOPLE, HOW WE ARE
GOING TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IS
WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM A JOB.
WE ARE GOING TO CREATE AN
ATMOSPHERE, NOT A GOVERNMENT
PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE
AN ATMOSPHERE THAT'S GOING TO
ALLOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO GO
OUT AND BE PRODUCTIVE.
PROSPERITY IS CREATED BY THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, NOT THE PUBLIC
SECTOR.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR RECEIVES THE
DOLLARS THAT IT GETS FROM US,
TAXPAYERS, FROM ME, AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, FROM MY
EMPLOYEES.
IT'S NOT A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM
THAT'S GOING TO CREATE THAT
PROSPERITY, IT'S THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, IT'S OUR JOB TO CREATE
AN ATMOSPHERE THAT'S GOING TO
ALLOW THAT PRIVATE SECTOR JOB
CREATION TO HAPPEN.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN
YIELD?
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
RISE?
WORD.
I RECOGNIZE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS FOR
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
I HAVE TO RESPOND TO WHAT I JUST
TRUE.
THE NOTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT
DIRECTED PEOPLE TO MAKE THESE
LOANS IS NOT TRUE.
REFERRING TO.
AND I'D BE GLAD TO YIELD TO HIM.
WHAT POLICY, WHAT LAW DIRECTED
PEOPLE TO MAKE LOANS OF 120%
LOAN TO VALUE.
I YIELD.
FROM THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
FANNIE AND FREDDIE.
I TAKE BACK MY TIME.
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE,
DIRECTED AND ALLOWED.
FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC NEVER
THEY COULD NOT HAVE DIRECTED
ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING.
THEY WERE THE SECONDARY MARKET.
FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC COULD
ONLY GET INTO ACTION IF SOME
PRIVATE ENTITY MADE THE LOAN IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
AND BEYOND THAT, DURING THE
PERIOD WHEN WE HAD THE INCREASED
SUBPRIME LOANS WHICH SOME OF US
WERE TRYING TO BAN, FANNIE MAE
AND FREDDIE MAC WERE A DECLINING
PERCENTAGE.
BUT I'LL YIELD AGAIN TO THE
GENTLEMAN TO TELL ME WHO
DIRECTED THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO
MAKE THESE LOANS.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT WAS AN ENCOURAGEMENT THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REGULATION
I TAKE BACK MY TIME.
WE'RE HERE IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES MAKING POLICY.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE PRECISE, I
WOULD SAY TO MEMBERS, ABOUT WHAT
YOU SAY.
DIRECTING AND ALLOWED ARE TWO
VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT IS ONE THING TO ALLOW IT.
BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU WERE
TALKING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IT'S A VERY
BIG DIFFERENCE AND THERE ARE
MANY THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT
ALLOWS BUT I WOULDN'T DIRECT,
THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
ALLOWED WHICH I WISH PEOPLE
WOULDN'T DO.
BUT THE GENTLEMAN DIDN'T SAY
ALLOWED, HE SAID DIRECTED.
THAT'S WRONG.
I ASK BECAUSE -- HE DIDN'T SAY
THIS AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, BUT
THERE ARE SOME WHO TRY TO BLAME
THE COMMUNITY RE-INVESTMENT ACT.
IN THE TESTIMONY -- REINVESTMENT
ACT.
IN THE TESTIMONY, IN THE
FINANCIAL CRISIS INQUIRY
COMMISSION, THREE OF THE FOUR
REPUBLICAN APPOINTEES, INCLUDING
COLLEAGUE HERE, CHAIRED THE WAYS
AND MEANS COMMITTEE, AND DOUGLAS
WHO WAS THE CHIEF ECONOMIC
ADVISOR TO MR. MCCAIN,
SPECIFICALLY REPUDIATED THE
NOTION THAT THE C.R.A. HAD
CAUSED THIS.
WILL YACHT JEALED -- WILL THE
GENTLEMAN YIELD?
I WILL BE THE FIRST TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT REPUBLICANS
MAKE MISTAKES AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WAS NOT TALKING
MISTAKES.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT'S
SUPPOSED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS
I WAS CITING TWO THOUGHTFUL AND
RESPONSIBLE REPUBLICANS, PLUS
ALL OF THE BUDGET, ALL OF THE
FINANCIAL REGULATORS UNDER BOTH
BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS WHO SAID
C.R.A. WASN'T THE PROBLEM.
NOW THE GENTLEMAN DIDN'T SAY IT
WAS.
C.R.A. DID HAVE SOME KIND OF
MORE MANDATORY POSITION BUT IT
WASN'T FOR THOSE SUBPRIME LOANS.
IN FACT, WITH REGARD TO THE
LOANS THE GENTLEMAN IS
WITH REGARD TO THE LOANS THE
GENTLEMAN IS COMPLAINING ABOUT
IT WAS THOSE ON THE DEMOCRATIC
SIDE TRYING TO ABANDON THEM.
BEGINNING IN 2004, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NORTH CAROLINA, MR. MILLER,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
THEM LATER, TRIED TO OUTLAW
THOSE LOANS.
WE WERE BLASTED BY PEOPLE WHO
SAID NO, THAT'S A MISTAKE.
IN FACT IN 2007 WHEN THIS HOUSE,
WHEN WE BECAME THE MAJORITY,
FINALLY DID MAKE ILLEGAL MANY OF
THOSE LOANS IN THE BILL, THE
"WALL STREET JOURNAL" DENOUNCED
US AND SAID WE HAD CREATED A
SARBANES-OXLEY RESTRICTION FOR
HOUSINGMENT I JUST WANT TO MAKE
IT CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NO
DIRECTION BY ANY ENTITY OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN APPEARS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN HE SAID
FANNIE AND FREDDIE -- I'LL
FINISH MY SENTENCE FIRST.
WHEN HE SAID THAT FANNIE AND
FREDDIE ALLOWED IT, THAT'S A
LONG WAY FROM SAYING THAT IT WAS
NOW I YIELD.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
I'M CURIOUS, THOUGH, HOW GETTING
BACK TO THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT IN THIS PARTICULAR
BILL AS WE ARE REMOVING THIS
PROGRAM, WHY IS THIS PROGRAM SO
VITAL IF IT WAS AUTHORIZED IN
1975, AND IN 1995 THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION UNDER H.U.D. USED
THIS LANGUAGE --
I GOT TIME.
THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY SAID,
THEY WANTED TO REMOVE THIS
OUTDATED OBSOLETE --
TAKING BACK MY TIME.
THE PAPERS.
HERE'S THE DEAL, 1975 IS WHEN IT
HAPPENED IN PENNSYLVANIA, NOT
AMERICA.
IF YOU HAD BEEN LISTENING
CAREFULLY.
SECONDLY, IN 1995, WE DIDN'T
HAVE THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS.
THIRD, AS TO JUST A NEW PROGRAM,
IN FACT THIS PROGRAM FOR THE 32
STATES WHERE IT WILL OPERATE IS
BASED ON THE PROGRAM WHICH
OPERATED IN 18 OTHER STATES.
WE HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE
WITH IT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA AS
GOVERNOR PRAISED THIS PROGRAM.
THE GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY
PRAISED THIS PROGRAM.
THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM FOR THESE
18 STATES, BUT IT IS MODELED ON
A PROGRAM THAT HAS WORKED
SUCCESSFULLY IN THESE OTHER 18
STATES.
IN 1975 IT WAS PENNSYLVANIA NOT
THE UNITED STATES.
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
RECORDED VOTE.
THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 18,
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA WILL
BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
I HAVE A AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 7,
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD, OFFERED BY MS. LORETTA
SANCHEZ OF CALIFORNIA.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
I RESERVE A
POINT OF ORDER AGAINST THIS
RESERVED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM CHAIR, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO
OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 836, THE EMERGENCY
MORTGAGE RELIEF PROGRAM
TERMINATION ACT.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD SIMPLY DELAY
IMPLEMENTATION OF H.R. 836 UNTIL
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS AT 7.5%
NATIONALLY OR LOWER.
WHY 7.5%?
BECAUSE IF MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES REALLY WANT TO
TERMINATE THIS PROGRAM, VOTE ON
WHAT PEOPLE IN AMERICA REALLY
WANT.
10 WEEKS INTO THIS CONGRESS AND
NOT ONE SINGLE BILL HAS COME
FROM OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
WITH RESPECT TO JOBS.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO
SEE HOW THIS PROGRAM CAN BE
BENEFICIAL TO THE PEOPLE WE
REPRESENT, TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS,
TO THE ECONOMY.
I KNOW THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE
DODD-FRANK WALL STREET REFORM
AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT THE
PHONE WAS RINGING OFF THE HOOK
IN MY OFFICES AS PEOPLE WERE
TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW THEY
COULD GET SOME HELP TO STAY IN
THEIR HOMES.
THE EMERGENCY HOMEOWNERS LOAN
PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO ASSIST
HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN
INCOME.
IN INCOME NOT BECAUSE THEY GOT
INTO A BAD LOAN, BECAUSE THEY
HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOUND ANOTHER
JOB BUT IT DOESN'T PAY ENOUGH.
BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDEREMPLOYED.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOUND A
PART-TIME JOB WHICH DOESN'T GIVE
THEM BENEFITS SO THEY HAVE TO TO
USE COBRA AND THEY HAVE TO PAY
FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE SIMPLY
BECAUSE THEY HAVE LESS MONEY
RIGHT NOW.
DURING THIS TIME WHEN YOU ALL
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP US
CREATE JOBS.
THIS WOULD PUT AND PROVIDE AS
MANY AS 30,000 DISTRESSED
HOMEOWNERS WITH LOANS UNTIL THEY
ARE ABLE TO FIND BETTER JOBS OR
FIND JOBS.
ASSISTANCE TERMINATES WHEN THE
INCOME IS 85% OF THEIR
PRE-CRISIS LEVEL.
THIS IS LIMITED TO 24 MONTHS, OR
$50,000, WHICH EVER OCCURS
FIRST.
YOU KNOW, UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS,
THEY OCCUR IN OUR LIVES.
MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED
TODAY ARE UNDEREMPLOYED TODAY
DIDN'T EXPECT TO LOSE THEIR
JOBS.
THEY WENT EVERY DAY, THEY WORKED
HARD EVERY DAY.
AS PEOPLE WERE LOSING JOBS, THEY
WORKED HARDER, THEY SAVED
LONGER, THEY BECAME MORE
PRODUCTIVE, AND STILL BECAUSE OF
DECISIONS MADE BY OTHER PEOPLE
OTHER THAN THOSE WHO ARE WORKING
HARD, THEY LOST THEIR JOBS.
OR MEDICAL PROBLEM CAME UP.
YOU GET CANCER, YOU GOT TO GO TO
CHEMOTHERAPY, YOUR EMPLOYER
SAYS, HEY, DON'T NEED YOU AROUND
BECAUSE YOU ARE OUT.
YOU HAVE NO JOB.
AND YOU ARE WORKING AND YOU
CAN'T WORK AND NOW YOU ARE GOING
TO LOSE YOUR HOME.
YOU ARE GOING TO PUT PEOPLE WHO
HAVE CANCER AND OTHER SERIOUS
PROBLEMS LIKE THAT, HEALTH
PROBLEMS, OUT OF THEIR HOME?
THIS IS A PROGRAM TO HELP THOSE
KIND OF PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW, THE LAST TIME I
CHECKED AMERICANS CARED ABOUT
EACH OTHER.
IF WE CAN EVEN SAVE ONE FAMILY
IN THEIR HOME, THEN IT IS WORTH
IT.
THE BANKS HAVE PROVEN THAT
WORKING TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORS IN
THEIR HOMES IS NOT A TOP
PRIORITY FOR THEM.
DON'T JOIN THEM.
DON'T JOIN THEM IN SENDING THE
MESSAGE TO AMERICA'S WORKERS, TO
AMERICA'S FAMILIES, TO AMERICA'S
HOMEOWNERS THAT YOU, TOO, DO NOT
THINK THAT THEY ARE A PRIORITY.
I URGE YOU TO ALLOW THIS
AMENDMENT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA
YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HER
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MADAM CHAIR, I
WOULD NOTE THAT THE GENTLELADY
FROM CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMIC
PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE STIMULUS
HAS HELPED ANOTHER THREE MILLION
OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS LOSE
THEIR JOBS.
MADAM CHAIR, I MAKE THE POINT OF
ORDER THAT THE AMENDMENT
VIOLATES CLAUSE 10 OF RULE 21
KNOWN AS THE CUT GO RULE.
I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET
THAT THE AMENDMENT WOULD CAUSE A
NET INCREASE IN MANDATORY
SPENDING RELATIVE TO THE BILL IN
THE PERIOD SPECIFIED IN THE
ACCORDINGLY THE POINT OF ORDER
LIES, AND I ASK FOR A RULING
FROM THE CHAIR.
DOES ANY OTHER MEMBER
WISH TO BE HEARD ON THE POINT OF
ORDER?
I WISH TO BE HEARD.
THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA.
I THINK THIS IS
DIRECTLY RELATED TO WHAT IS
GOING ON.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND -- PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM,
THIS SIDE, THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
SAYS, LET'S ELIMINATE THIS
AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO HELP
PEOPLE, YOU NEED TO FIND --
DOES THE GENTLELADY
WISH --
MADAM CHAIR --
DOES THE GENTLELADY
ADDRESS THE POINT OF ORDER.
I DO BELIEVE IT'S
GERMANE, MADAM CHAIR.
THE CHAIR IS PREPARED
TO RULE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS MAKES A
POINT OF ORDER THAT THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
VIOLATES CLAUSE 10 OF RULE 21 BY
PROPOSING AN INCREASE IN
MANDATORY SPENDING OVER A
RELEVANT PERIOD OF TIME.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 10 OF RULE 21
AND CLAUSE 4 OF RULE 29, THE
CHAIR IS AUTHORIVELY GUIDED BY
ESTIMATES OF THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET THAT THE
NET EFFECT OF THE PROVISIONS IN
THE AMENDMENT WOULD INCREASE
MANDATORY SPENDING OVER A
RELEVANT PERIOD AS COMPARED TO
THE BILL.
ACCORDINGLY, THE POINT OF ORDER
IS SUSTAINED AND THE AMENDMENT
IS NOT IN ORDER.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND RISE?
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
AS I STAND HERE AND SAT HERE AND
LISTENED TO ALL OF THIS, THERE
ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE MISSING
FROM THIS DISCUSSION WHICH I
THINK THAT WE ARE FORGETTING.
AND THAT SOMETIMES I THINK DO WE
FORGET THAT THIS IS AMERICA?
THIS IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS
GAINED ITS POWER THROUGH ITS
MORAL AUTHORITY, NOT NECESSARILY
BY ITS MILITARY MIGHT.
AND WE HAVE HEARD DISCUSSIONS
THIS MORNING ABOUT KICKING THE
CAN DOWN THE ROAD, PUTTING MONEY
INTO A RAT HOLE.
AND THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT,
MADAM CHAIR, I THINK IT IS A
VERY SAD DAY WHEN SOMEBODY FROM
A STATE WITH HIGH FORECLOSURES
CAN GET UP AND TALK ABOUT
DESTROYING A PROGRAM THAT WILL
HELP HIS OWN NEIGHBORS.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH
THAT PICTURE.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA USES A
TERM I WISH I HAD INVENTED.
HE SAYS THAT WE HAVE AN EMPATHY
DEFICIT IN OUR COUNTRY.
I WONDER WHAT IT'S GOING TO FEEL
LIKE ON SUNDAY WHEN MY
COLLEAGUES GO TO CHURCH, READ
FROM THE SAME BIBLE THAT I READ
FROM, AND CAN BRAG ABOUT THE
FACT THAT THEY WAS ABLE TO KILL
A PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME
30,000 PEOPLE TO STAY IN THEIR
OWN HOMES.
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WHEN I GO
TO CHURCH I'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN
TO THEM WHY THEY DID IT.
WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT.
WE ARE BETTER AS A NATION, WE
ARE BETTER.
HOME.
YOU'LL GO HOME TONIGHT, YOU'LL
FLY HOME, YOU HAVE A NICE WARM
HOUSE, BUT LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT
THE OTHER AMERICA.
THE AMERICA THAT HAS COME TO
FIND FORECLOSURE TO AN EVENT I
HELD IN MY DISTRICT 40 MILES
AWAY FROM HERE.
THEY COME IN WITH PAPERS IN HAND
BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY WANT SOME
RELIEF.
THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
THEY COME IN WITH TEARS RUNNING
DOWN THEIR FACES, THEY ARE
BLACK, THEY ARE WHITE, THEY ARE
HISPANIC, THEY ARE ASIAN, THEY
ARE AMERICANS.
SO YOU SAY TO THEM, THE DOLLARS
THAT YOU PAY, I DON'T WANT TO
USE THEM TO HELP YOU STAY IN
YOUR HOUSE, IN THEIR HOUSES,
THEY ARE THE SAME AMERICANS THAT
I USED TO SEE GET ON THE EARLY
BUS, THE EARLY BUS, AND THEN GO
TO WORK.
BUT NOW THEY HAVE NO JOBS.
IN PART BECAUSE OF THE SAME
KINDS OF EFFORTS WE SEE OVER AND
OVER AGAIN ABOUT GETTING THE
REGULATIONS.
THE REGULATIONS THAT WERE NOT
ADHERED TO, THE ONES NOT IN
PLACE, ARE THE VERY ONES THAT
GOT US WHERE WE ARE, AND THAT'S
WHY MANY OF THEM DON'T HAVE JOBS
AND LOSING THEIR HOMES.
WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT.
THAT'S WHY I WAS ONE OF THE
AUTHORS OF THIS PROVISION.
I'M TIRED OF SEEING MY FELLOW
CITIZENS COME IN, YOUR NEIGHBORS
AND MY NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE THAT
LOOK LIKE YOUR MOTHER AND MY
MOTHER.
PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE YOUR SON
AND MY SON.
TEARS RUNNING DOWN THEIR FACES,
SIMPLY WANTING A BREAK.
THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A HAND
OUT, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A
BRIDGE.
AND SO IT IS WHEN YOU GO TO
CHURCH ON SUNDAY, WHEN THEY ASK
YOU WHAT DID DO YOU THIS
WEEKEND, WHAT DID YOU ACHIEVE?
YOU CAN SAY TO THEM, STICK YOUR
CHEST OUT, AND SAY, YEAH, I
STOPPED SOME 30,000 PEOPLE FROM
STAYING IN THEIR HOMES,
AMERICANS.
THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ARGUMENT
THAT BOTHERS ME, MADAM CHAIR,
THEY ACT LIKE WE CANNOT CREATE
JOBS AND KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR
HOMES STATEMENT.
WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
SO I HOPE WHEN YOU GO BACK AND
YOU TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS AND
YOU SAY -- SAVE A $1 BILLION
PROGRAM, $1 BILLION, WE WERE
TRYING TO GET MORE BUT EVEN IN
THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THE
REPUBLICANS CUT THAT DOWN AND
NOW THEY'RE BACK AT IT AGAIN.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RISE?
MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
MADAM CHAIR, WE
CAN DO BETTER THAN TRILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF DEBT THAT IS BORROWED
FROM THE CHINESE AND THE BILLS
ARE SENT TO OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
WHEN THE ANNUAL DEFICIT WAS $200
BILLION AND FALLING, ANOTHER
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, THE
DISTINGUISHED DEMOCRATIC WHIP,
SAID IT WAS FISCAL CHILD ABUSE.
NOW WE HAVE A MONTHLY DEFICIT, A
MONTHLY DEFICIT EQUALING THAT
ANNUAL DEFICIT SO I'LL LISTEN
CAREFULLY TO THIS GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND AND WHEN I GO TO CHURCH
ON SUNDAY I'M GOING TO BE VERY
GLAD IN MY HEART, IN MY HEAD,
THAT I DID NOT COMMIT AN ACT OF
FISCAL CHILD ABUSE ON MY
CHILDREN OR ANYBODY ELSE'S
CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN.
WE HAVE GOT TO STOP SPENDING
MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF
HIS TIME.
WHO SEEKS TIME?
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 18,
PROCEEDINGS WILL NOW RESUME ON
THE AMENDMENT ON WHICH FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS WERE POSTPONED.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 PRINTED IN
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD BY THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MS.
WATERS, ON WHICH FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS WERE POSTPONED AND
ON WHICH THE NOES PREVAILED BY
VOICE VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 4
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD OFFERED BY MS. WATERS OF
CALIFORNIA.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST
FOR A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE
AND BE COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERETHOSE OPPOSE LD SAY NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
THE QUESTION IS ON ENGROSSMENT
AND THIRD READING OF THE BILL.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THIRD READING.
UNOBLIGATED FUNDING
FOR THE EMERGENCY MORTGAGE
RELIEF PROGRAM, AND TO TERMINATE
THE PROGRAM.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
PLEASE VACATE THE WELL.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
I HAVE A MOTION TO
RECOMMIT AT THE DESK.
IS THE
GENTLEMAN OPPOSED TO THE BILL?
I DO IN ITS
CURRENT FORM.
THE
GENTLEMAN QUALIFIES.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RECOMMIT THE BILL H.R. 836 --
CLERK WILL SUSPEND.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
MEMBERS WILL KINDLY TAKE THEIR
CONVERSATIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
THE CLERK WILL READ.
MR. CONNOLLY OF
VIRGINIA MOVES TO RECOMMIT THE
BILL H.R. 836, TO THE COMMITTEE
ON FINANCIAL SERVICES, WITH
INSTRUCTIONS TO REPORT THE SAME
BACK TO THE HOUSE FORTHWITH WITH
THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT.
SECTION 3 --
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT FURTHER READING OF
THE MOTION BE DISPENSED WITH.
IS
THERE OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I SUGGEST THE
HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS CORRECT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
SPEAKER.
THIS AMENDMENT, MR. SPEAKER,
WHICH I SUBMIT WITH MR. GREEN OF
TEXAS, WHO LED THIS BATTLE IN
COMMITTEE, PROTECTS --
THE
HOUSE WILL PLEASE BE IN ORDER.
MEMBERS AND STAFF WILL TAKE
THEIR CONVERSATIONS FROM THE
FLOOR AND PLEASE CLEAR THE
AISLE.
THE GENTLEMAN MAY CONTINUE.
I THANK THE
SPEAKER.
THIS AMENDMENT, MR. SPEAKER,
PROTECTS OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN
UNIFORM WHO RISK THEIR LIVES TO
KEEP US SAFE IN OUR HOMES BY
PROTECTING THEIRS.
IT WOULD CONTINUE PROVIDING
EMERGENCY MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE TO
SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND
GOLD STAR FAMILIES AMENDING THE
UNDERLYING BILL THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE STRIP AWAY THIS VITAL
ASSISTANCE TO HOMEOWNERS IN
DISTRESS THROUGH NO FAULT OF
THEIR OWN.
WHETHER IT IS THE RESULT OF
BEING LAID OFF OR A SEVERE
MEDICAL CONDITION OR EMERGENCY,
CONGRESS HAS NOT TURNED ITS BACK
ON OUR NATION'S VETERANS WHEN
THEY ARE IN NEED, AND NOW IS NO
TIME TO START.
AS MY COLLEAGUES ARE WELL AWARE,
THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS HAS
AFFECTED MILLIONS OF AMERICAN
FAMILIES.
ORDER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS CORRECT.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN MAY CONTINUE.
SADLY, OUR
MILITARY FAMILIES HAVE SUFFERED
SOME OF THE WORST PARTS OF THIS
IMPACT.
LAST YEAR, 20,000 ACTIVE DUTY
RESERVISTS AND VETERANS LOST
THEIR HOMES.
THE LARGEST NUMBER IN RECENT
HISTORY.
DID YOU KNOW THE FORECLOSURE
RATE AROUND OUR NATION'S
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IS FOUR
TIMES HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE?
FROM 2000 -- 2011 TO 2008, THE
RATE OF FORECLOSURE -- 2007 TO
2008 THE RATE OF FORECLOSURE --
THE HOUSE IS NOT
IN ORDER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS CORRECT.
THE GENTLEMAN MAY CONTINUE.
FROM 2007 TO 2008
THE RATE OF FORECLOSURE WITHIN
10 MILES OF A MILITARY FACILITY
SWELLED BY 217%.
COMPARED WITH 59% IN THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY.
RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD
IN MY DISTRICT, THE COMMUNITY OF
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA, THE
FORECLOSURE RATES SPIKET AN
ASTOUNDING 414%, AROUND THE
QUANTICO MARINE BASE.
WHY IS THAT?
BECAUSE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
FOR OUR MILITARY HEROES ARE 15%
HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE.
WE ALL KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THE
TRANSITION BACK TO CIVILIAN LIFE
CAN BE.
PARTICULARLY THE DISABLED AS
THEY TRY TO FIND WORK.
CONGRESS HAS REPEATEDLY SINGLE
OUT VETERANS FOR ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE WHETHER IT IS WORK
FORCE TRAINING OR SMALL BUSINESS
IN FACT, THE HOUSE ITSELF
INITIATED A WOUNDED WARRIOR
PROGRAM TO PLACE VETERANS IN OUR
MEN AND WOMEN WHO SO BRAVELY
FOUGHT ON BEHALF OF OUR NATION
FIND DIFFICULTIES SUCCEEDING
HERE BACK HOME.
THAT'S WHY WE HAD MORE THAN
75,600 HOMELESS VETERANS IN
2009.
I KNOW A YOUNG MAN IN MY
DISTRICT WHO RETURNED HOME FROM
A TOUR OF DUTY IN IRAQ WITH A
SEVERE DISABILITY.
THANKFULLY THE MODEST FINANCIAL
SUPPORT HE CURRENTLY RECEIVES
HAS ENABLED HIM BARELY TO REMAIN
IN HIS HOME.
BUT HE'S ONLY ONE ADVERSE EVENT
AWAY FROM FORECLOSURE.
WE ARE NOT IN ORDER, MR.
AND OUR VETERANS DESERVE BETTER.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN
ORDER.
CANCEL CANCEL --
WHAT IF HIS
SITUATION WORSENS?
WHAT IF HE SUFFERS THE LOSS OF
EMPLOYMENT OR DEVELOPED A
CATASTROPHIC ILL SNNS HOW AM I
SUPPOSED TO TELL HIM OR HIS
FAMILY, NOT TO MENTION THE
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS LIKE HIM IN
OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE
TURNING OUR BACKS ON HIM?
RATHER THAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR VETERANS
WHEN THEY NEED US THE MOST, THIS
LEGISLATION PAT RONIZES THEM BY
CALLING FOR YET ANOTHER STUDY TO
TELL US WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW.
THAT OUR MILITARY FAMILIES
SUFFER DISPROPORTIONATELY FROM
FORECLOSURES.
WE DON'T NEED A STUDY TO TELL US
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
COLLEAGUES POST PICTURES OUTSIDE
THEIR OFFICES OF LOST SERVICE
MEMBERS WHO HAVE MADE THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE
SINCERE ATTEMPT TO HONOR THEIR
MEMORY.
THOSE MEN AND WOMEN FOUGHT AND
DIED PROTECTING OUR HOMES.
HOW CAN WE NOW TELL THEM AND
THEIR FAMILIES WE'RE NOT GOING
TO FIGHT TO PROTECT THEIRS?
MR. SPEAKER, I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE FINAL
AMENDMENT AND HELP PRESERVE THE
AMERICAN DREAM FOR THOSE WHO ARE
OUT THERE PROTECTING THAT DREAM
FOR EACH OF US.
AND WITH THAT I YIELD THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. GREEN.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
ONE MINUTE REMAINING.
I THANK THE SPEAKER
AND I THANK THE HOUSE FOR BEING
IN ORDER BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT
OUR VETERANS, I HAVE BUT ONE
MINUTE SO PLEASE ALLOW ME TO
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF VETERANS FOR