Michael Arcuri

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).

Mr. ARCURI. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, it is clear that this point of order has nothing to do with unfunded mandates. Technically, this point of order is about whether or not to consider this rule and, ultimately, the underlying bill. In reality, it is about preventing the bill from moving forward without any opportunity for debate and without any opportunity for an up-or-down vote on the legislation, itself. It is about slamming the door on the legislative process. I think that is wrong, and I hope my colleagues will vote ``yes'' so that we can consider this important legislation on its merits and not stop it on a procedural motion. Let's stop wasting time on parliamentary roadblocks and get to the debate on this legislation, itself. It is a very important piece of legislation that has critical funding pieces in there for transportation and for housing. Those who oppose the bill can vote against it on final passage, but we must consider this rule, and we must pass the bill today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1569 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1569 provides a structured rule for consideration of H.R. 5850, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriation Act of 2011. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule waives all points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of rule XXI. The rule makes in order the amendments printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, not to exceed four amendments printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules if offered by Representative Flake of Arizona or his designee. All points of order against the amendments except for clause 9 and 10 of rule XXI are waived. The rule provides that for those amendments reported from the Committee of the Whole, the question of their adoption shall be put to the House en gros and without division of the question. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. The rule provides that after disposition of amendments, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations each may offer one pro forma amendment to the bill for purpose of debate, which shall be controlled by the proponent. The Chair may entertain a motion that the committee rise only if offered by the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or his designee. Finally, the rule provides the Chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill. Madam Speaker, I rise as a member of the Rules Committee and also as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in strong support of H.R. 5850, the fiscal year 2011 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Act, because housing and transportation are two areas that must be priorities, especially in tough economic times such as we are in, because we get the double return on our investment. As we have seen with the recovery bill, investment in infrastructure not only generates economic recovery by putting people back to work, but those construction jobs strengthen our transportation system and improve our housing stock. They make our roads safer, our bridges safer for our families and our friends and our constituents to travel on. The Transportation-HUD appropriations bill continues this investment and our commitment to using all the tools available to continue the economic recovery that has taken hold. It is also important to note that the legislation continues these important programs, but in a fiscally responsible way. Overall, the bill spends $500 million less than was appropriated during the current fiscal year. The amount provided overall is $1.3 billion below the President's request. I commend the committee for its work in crafting a bill that spends less overall and still manages to increase the funds available for key programs that are at the heart of our Nation's economic recovery. The committee has done so by scaling back spending on other programs, which is never popular or easy, but is the right thing to do. Included in H.R. 5850 is $45.2 billion to improve and repair our Nation's aging highway infrastructure. The bill includes more than $11.3 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, which will support bus and rail projects, and an estimated 20,000 additional jobs for transit workers nationwide. This not only provides more transportation options to Americans during tough economic times, it also decreases traffic congestion, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions, and makes our roads safer for commuters. This bill adds another $1.4 billion to continue developing and building a national system of high speed rail. High speed rail moves more people at a lower cost, at a faster speed, and with less impact on our environment than road transportation. We have developed the most advanced highway and aviation systems in the world over the last 60 years, but in comparison to the rail systems in other nations such as Germany, France, and even China, we have clearly fallen behind. This bill continues our commitment to correcting that situation and developing a robust national intercity rail network. Related to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, H.R. 5850 makes critical investments to help communities continue to address the fallout from the housing and foreclosure crisis that we see nationwide. The bill provides communities with the tools they need to build, purchase, or rent affordable housing. It provides rental assistance to low-income families, homeless veterans, and other at-risk groups, and supplies funding for repairs and renovation of affordable housing across America. The bill provides $4 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program, which sends funding directly to local governments for projects that address housing, social services, and other economic challenges in their communities. Madam Speaker, this is just a sample of the important programs and initiatives that the Transportation-HUD Appropriations Act will fund in fiscal year 2011. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 1569.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz- Balart). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. General Leave

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, it's clear that this point of order has nothing to do with unfunded mandates. My friend from Arizona talks about the inability to make any amendments, and yet he talked about four amendments that he would be offering today. So, clearly, he will have an opportunity to make his points. Again, I would just say that this point of order has nothing whatsoever to do with unfunded mandates. And I want to urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the motion to consider so that we can debate and pass this important piece of legislation today. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today in honor of Pathfinder Village, an independent residential community located in my congressional district that has greatly enhanced the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. On this date, 30 years ago, Pathfinder Village opened its doors, consisting of 7 houses and 1 school, with the purpose of providing a full and productive life for individuals with Down syndrome. This purpose was inspired by the dream and life's work of Pathfinder Village's founder, Marian Mullet. From its humble beginnings on a 23-acre cornfield, Pathfinder Village has become a vibrant community of 19 buildings located on 187 acres. Today, Pathfinder Village serves as the home of 87 residents, who, because of Pathfinder Village, have the resources and opportunity to achieve their absolute potential and pursue their dreams. Due to the hard work and dedication of its staff, Pathfinder Village has been tremendously successful in fulfilling the purpose and promise of its founding. Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in recognizing Pathfinder Village and its staff for its 30 years of service to our community, and for inspiring countless numbers of individuals with Down syndrome by staying true to its motto ``. . . that each life may find meaning.''

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to point out that the language that the gentleman from Ohio is referring to was not the language of our amendment, the amendment that I have offered. I would like to thank the chairman for accepting my amendment. And the only point that I would like to make is that, clearly, the Office of Policy and Development does a very good job, and we want to continue to work. But we felt that our cut was something that would be helpful. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 5850, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, which would reduce funding for HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research by nearly $3 million, which is 2.5 percent below the amount currently appropriated in fiscal year 2010. The Office of Policy Development and Research performs policy analysis, research, surveys, studies and evaluations on housing----

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. I thank my friend and colleague from the Rules Committee, Ms. Matsui, for yielding me the time. And I'd like to compliment her on her hard work over the years and her leadership with respect to protecting individuals who have been devastated by the effects of floods which brings us here today. I speak in support of H.R. 5114, the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act, which will provide the stability necessary for businesses, realtors, homeowners, and plan effectively to reduce the potential economic loss and costs of repairing damages from future flooding without stifling or preventing otherwise safe development. As FEMA works to update and modernize flood maps from communities across the country, thousands of families across Upstate New York are facing a new requirement to purchase flood insurance as they are remapped into new flood zone boundaries. It is imperative that these maps are accurate and protect our communities without unnecessarily burdening them or stifling economic development, especially during these very tough economic times. H.R. 5114 seems to strike the proper balance by allowing property owners a sufficient grace period to account for the need to buy flood insurance or to appeal the determination that their property is within a floodplain, and also phases in flood insurance premium rates over a 5-year period beginning as soon as the property owner initiates the flood insurance policy. In recent years, I've assisted communities in my district in successfully appealing updated flood maps, saving countless homes and business owners from unnecessarily having to purchase flood insurance. Instances like this illustrate why the grace period in H.R. 5114 is so important--so property owners have a 5-year delay of the flood insurance purchase requirement within which to appeal FEMA's preliminary determination. This grace period would apply retroactively to any final updated flood map that was enacted since September 1, 2008. I'm also pleased that H.R. 5114 will create the Office of Flood Insurance Advocate within FEMA to assist policyholders in filing flood insurance claims, settling disputes between policyholders and FEMA, and streamlining the claims process. This is a provision I fought to include in the flood insurance reform legislation in the last Congress, and I applaud the committee for including these provisions in the underlying bill today. I encourage my colleagues to vote for the rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from the great State of Maine for yielding me the time. I rise today in strong support of this rule and the underlying bill. However, I would like to voice my strong opposition to one of the amendments that will be offered later on today, and that is the amendment to strike the second jet fighter engine, for two reasons. One is I think the two things that are most critical for us in considering this bill is, one, obviously the security of our constituents and the people at home and our country; and, secondly, the cost. On both of these, I think it's very important to note that, one, a second fighter engine gives us a strong sense of security, redundancy, and the insurance that we will have one good engine and that we will have a good backup engine. Secondly, the costs in the long run clearly will show the price will come down if we have competition. It has been demonstrated in the past. It will continue to demonstrate it. I yield to someone who is much more familiar with that, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Driehaus).

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Congress has supported a competitive acquisition for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine for the last 14 years for good reason. The total program is expected to cost more than $100 billion over the next 30 to 40 years. The Government Accounting Office has concluded that competition between engine suppliers could provide a life-cycle cost savings of over 20 percent. A competitive F-35 engine program would also reap other benefits such as increased reliability, improved contractor responsiveness, a more robust industrial base, and less chance to ground the entire fleet to fix a problem. Chairman Andrews and Ranking Member Conaway of the bipartisan House Defense Acquisition Reform Panel have stated that annual engine competition will make both engines better and save taxpayers money--up to $21 billion based on the F-16 experience. The development of the alternative engine is now nearly 75 percent complete. To pull the plug on this program would forfeit $3 billion in taxpayer funds that have already been spent. Competition saves taxpayers money. It's been proven to on the other fighter engine program. Why would we write a blank check to a single supplier for 40 years?

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, improving our rail infrastructure isn't just about getting people and goods from here to there faster and more efficiently. It is the heart of regional economic development, connecting communities, businesses, consumers, and producers to foster the kind of economic growth and job creation we as a Nation need. Our short line railroads are at the center of this, but because the Tax Extenders Act of 2009 has not been enacted into law, they have been unable to plan vital maintenance work this construction season. The section 45G short line railroad tax credit included in this bill generates 6.9 million work hours of rail maintenance-of-way each year-- the equivalent of more than 3,300 full-time jobs nationwide, not to mention the tens of thousands of jobs in America's steel and timber industries that make railroad ties and steel rail. Our short line railroads are too important to our economic recovery to neglect them any longer. It is time for both the House and the Senate to come to an agreement so we can put Americans back to work and so we can keep our railroads operating smoothly.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. I yield to the gentleman from Missouri.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding me this time, and I ask that we enter a colloquy to discuss the Arcuri-Shuler-Davis amendment and the health of the titanium industrial base. As this bill recognizes, providing high technology equipment to the Department of Defense is a major source of high-paying, high-skilled jobs throughout this country. Although it is easy to think of the industrial base in terms of big aerospace companies, the real guts of these systems are mostly built by small parts assembly suppliers located throughout this country. I represent a number of those firms in my district. Congress has long recognized that certain industrial capacities important to the Department of Defense are critical to maintain in this country; among these are the ability to produce titanium parts made from titanium. Section 2533(b) of Title 10 of the United States Code requires the products procured by the Department of Defense which contain titanium must use titanium metal and titanium parts produced in the United States. The law contains a number of exceptions, however, that allow for metal and parts produced overseas to enter the supply chain. I am concerned that the use of these exceptions has expanded far beyond Congress' original intent and may be undermining the law. I, along with my colleagues Heath Shuler and Geoff Davis, filed an amendment with the Rules Committee requiring the Department of Defense to prepare a report on the impact that these exceptions are having on the domestic industrial base. However, it was brought to our attention that your committee is working on this issue as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2011 and that this matter will be addressed in a few weeks. Mr. Chairman, is that correct?

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I understand that one of the biggest issues facing American families today is the cost of living and our economic future. I'm disappointed that the health of our Nation's financial institutions has come into question as a result of unscrupulous lending and mortgage practices, preceded by years of inadequate regulation of the financial services industry. Republicans and Democrats alike, for too long, have failed to hold unscrupulous financial institutions accountable, and hardworking families across the country are paying the price. At the same time, I know that many local banks have not engaged in the risky and irresponsible lending practices that led to the economic meltdown that we saw last year. The House-passed reform bill is about cleaning up that irresponsibility and protecting consumers, not about burdening local banks that play by the rules. I have witnessed firsthand the valuable impacts that small- and medium-sized community banks make on the daily lives of New York's families, helping them buy their first home, finance their small business, and send their children to college. In these tough economic times, it is critical that Congress hold financial institutions to a higher standard while allowing local banks to continue to be able to invest in their communities.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, in the early morning on Sunday, September 20th 2009, a great tragedy occurred in my hometown of Utica, New York. A horrific fire in an apartment building claimed the lives of four people. While this loss of life can never be replaced, the loss would have been much more severe had it not been for the courageous acts of two Utica Police Officers, Scott Berger and Michael Petrie. When Officers Berger and Petrie arrived on scene, the apartment building was heavily engulfed in smoke and flames. Without regard to their safety, Officers Berger and Petrie ran into the building and pounded on the doors on the first, second and third floors, yelling to residents to evacuate the premise. While trying to enter the back door, an explosion blew out the door, which sent Officers Berger and Petrie scrambling for safety. Due to their honor, courage and dedication to protecting the public, Officers Berger and Petrie were named Police Officers of the Year by the American Legion's Utica Post 229. Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Utica Police Department, and specifically, Officers Berger and Petrie, for exemplifying the characteristics of true public servants. Our community and country is a better and safer place because of their efforts.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today in honor of the United States' Wheelchair Curling Team's 4th place finish at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, and the Sitrin Health Care Center, an innovative regional provider of health and rehabilitative services, which is located in my Congressional District in Upstate New York. In 2001, the Sitrin Health Care Center created the Sitrin STARS, an adaptive sports program that provides individuals with physical disabilities opportunities to engage in a variety of sports on a recreational or competitive basis. Every member of the United States' Curling Team is a Sitrin STARS athlete, a true testament to the outstanding work and dedication of the Sitrin staff. I would also like to specifically thank Augusto ``Goose'' Perez, James Pierce, James ``Jimmy Jam'' Joseph, Jacqueline Kapinowski and Patrick McDonald. Through their sportsmanship, dignity and character they proudly represented our country. Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in recognizing the United States' Wheelchair Curling Team, and the Sitrin Health Care Center for defying the odds, and providing inspiration and hope to all athletes with physical disabilities.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, during these tough economic times, American families have been forced to cut back and tighten their financial belts. It is time that Congress do the same and set an example for the rest of the Federal Government. That is why I have introduced the Congressional Belt Tightening Act of 2010, which would cut our salaries as Members of Congress and our office budgets by 5 percent next year. Last year, my office tightened its financial belt and returned more than 8 percent of our official office budget to the Treasury for deficit reduction. Additionally, we should pass legislation that requires votes on pay raises every year, no more automatic pay raises. My bill would require an up-or-down vote on all salary increases indefinitely. If Members think they are deserving of a pay raise, they will have to vote on it or answer to the American people. Congress cannot seriously talk about reining in spending in Washington and working to decrease our Nation's debt if we are not willing to do it ourselves.