Judy Biggert

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to reject the motion to postpone H.R. 495. I know how difficult this proceeding is for the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), himself a former prosecutor and for the other Members of the Ohio delegation who have served many years with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) and developed close friendships. If the subject today were a friend and colleague from the Illinois delegation, I cannot say for certain that I would not try to do the same thing. But the subject today is the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) and whether this body is best served by postponing the consideration of this resolution until after August. It is said that there may be new developments in the gentleman's Federal case, and that a month's time might yield a new outcome. In fact, there was a new development just today in the gentleman from Ohio's (Mr. Traficant) Federal case when a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit denied the gentleman from Ohio's writ of mandamus on a petition relating to jury selection. We heard a great deal about that petition during our hearing, and there is no doubt in my mind that there will be other appeals and other petitions on the gentleman's behalf. But my point is, regardless of whether these approaches succeed or fail in the Federal courts, they are, by no means, relevant to the status of his case in the U.S. House of Representatives. Why do I say this? For one, our subcommittee did not rely strictly on the transcript from the Federal case. We went well beyond it and heard from the gentleman from Ohio's (Mr. Traficant) witnesses, including those who were not allowed to testify on his behalf in Federal court. Second, our standard of proof is much lower than what a jury faces in a Federal criminal case. In Federal court, it is beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed. In the U.S. House, it is clear and convincing evidence that our code was violated, a very important distinction. Last, our mission was not to determine whether the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) is guilty of a felony count or 10 felony counts. It was to determine whether the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) violated the Code of Official Conduct and the Code of Ethics for Government Service, again a very important distinction. We Members of the House are not a Federal court of appeals nor are we here to second-guess or predict the rulings of juries or judges in the Federal courts of Ohio. We are here to serve our duty under article I, section 5, clause 2 of the Constitution. As a member of the adjudicatory subcommittee that reviewed the evidence in this case, I would respectfully urge my colleagues to vote against the motion to postpone and for the resolution. Neither justice nor this body will be served by delay.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Albert Ni for placing first at the MATHCOUNTS Championships. As an eighth-grader from Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle, Illinois, Albert defeated 227 other competitors to finish first in the nation as an individual champion. This year was Albert's second time participating in the MATHCOUNTS competition, improving on his 37th place finish in the nation last year. At the competition this year, Albert aimed to place in the top three in the individual competition, but far surpassed his goal by placing first. As the MATHCOUNTS Individual National Champion, Albert received an $8,000 college scholarship, a computer, and a trip to space camp. Additionally, Albert competed as a member of the hard-working and talented Illinois team, which included Christopher Chang, Greg Gauthier, and Jeffrey Kuan. In the MATHCOUNTS Team Championships, the Illinois team finished second in the country after a team from California--an impressive accomplishment. The success of Albert and his teammates demonstrates the excellence in education that the communities and schools in Illinois--and in the 13th Congressional District in particular--have always worked hard to achieve. Our students and teachers know that a solid math and science education is key to future success, and competitions like MATHCOUNTS simply underscore that students in Illinois and the 13th Congressional District are leading the way to excellence in mathematics. This fall Albert will attend the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and he is looking forward to continuing his involvement in math competitions at the high school level. We wish him much continued success.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to oppose the resolution disapproving the President's extension of the Jackson-Vanik waiver for Vietnam. It has been 8 years since we ended our trade embargo and began the process of normalizing relations with Vietnam. Over these few years, good progress has been made. From its accounting of U.S. POWs and MIAs, to its movement to open trade with the world, to its progress on human rights, Vietnam has moved in the right direction. Vietnam is not there yet, but Vietnam is moving in the right direction. Mr. Speaker, H.J. Resolution 101 is the wrong direction for to us to take today. Who is hurt if we pass this resolution? We are. It is the wrong direction for U.S. farmers and manufacturers, who will not have a level playing field when they compete with their European or Japanese counterparts in Vietnam. It is the wrong direction for our joint efforts with the Vietnamese to account for the last remains of our soldiers and to answer, finally, the questions of their loved ones here. And it is the wrong direction for our efforts to influence the Vietnam people, 65 percent of whom were not even born before the war was waged. Let us not turn the clock back on Vietnam. Let us continue to work with them, and in so doing teach the youthful Vietnamese the values of democracy, the principles of capitalism, and the merits of a free and open society.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2733.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of President Bush's plan to cut down on corruption in America's corporate community. The President's plan creates tough new criminal penalties and enforcement provisions to punish those who refuse to play by the rules. This is America, and those who break the law and threaten the integrity of our financial markets must pay the piper and return their ill-gotten gains. Mr. Speaker, the House earlier this year took steps to codify the President's plan into law, even before his address on Wall Street. On March 7, the President first said that CEOs or other corporate executives should not profit from erroneous financial statements. He also said that corporate officers who clearly abuse their power should not serve in the leadership of public companies. The House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan accounting reform bill in April that included both of these initiatives. When the President called, the House responded. As we continue to install a new ethic of corporate responsibility, we must strike the right balance between empowering the SEC to do a better job and not overregulating or tying ourselves up in unnecessary red tape. At the end of the day, we must punish the crooks, not the honest brokers.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to highlight the promise and the potential of fuel cells in hydrogen to help us gain greater energy independence in a way that is safe, clean and renewable. Often called minipower plants, fuel cells could hold the key to energy independence for America. In an article entitled ``Squeaky Clean,'' the magazine The Economist referred to fuel cells as the next big thing, and the most promising fuel cells operate on hydrogen, which the magazine Physics Today referred to as the fuel of the future. We know their potential. Zero emissions. Water and heat are the only by-products, and when both heat and electricity are used, fuel cells can obtain more than 80 percent efficiency. Researchers at our national science labs, corporations, universities and small businesses are working hard to help us realize the potential of fuel cells. America has the ingenuity and the expertise to meet our future energy demands, and fuel cells can help us to do so in an environmentally responsible way that sets a standard for the world.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise today in support of the rule and as a cosponsor and strong supporter of H.R. 4664, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act, or Investing in America's Future Act. I want to commend the members of the Committee on Rules for this open rule, and the chairman of the Committee on Science, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert); and the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) of the Committee on Science; as well as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Research, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith); and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), for expeditiously ushering this bill through that committee and to the floor. Mr. Speaker, a distinguished committee, chaired by Senators Gary Hart and Warren Rudman, released a report on national security at the beginning of 2001. While it did not receive a lot of public attention at the time, the Hart-Rudman report has been revisited often since September 11. One aspect of the report with particular relevance to the bill we are considering today is its finding and recommendation on the importance of basic research. According to the Hart-Rudman report on national security, and I quote, ``The U.S. Government has seriously underfunded basic scientific research in recent years. The quality of the U.S. education system, too, has fallen well behind those of scores of other nations. The inadequacies of our systems of research and education pose a greater threat to U.S. national security over the next quarter century than any potential conventional war that we might imagine.'' The report goes on to recommend doubling the Federal Government's investment in science and technology research and development by 2010. Mr. Speaker, the bill we pass today takes an important step in the right direction. In addition to supporting basic research at colleges and universities nationwide, the NSF works to ensure that American teachers and professors have the skills, training, and equipment to prepare future scientists and researchers. This is critical as science and technology become increasingly important to our economy, our health, our environment, and our national security. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and this bill.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3983, the Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act. I also rise to thank Chairman Young, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman LoBiondo, and the subcommittee staff for all heir hard work on this bill. In June of 2001, they agreed to work with the U.S. Coast Guard, the State of Illinois, the City of Chicago, and me on the project to improve safety and security along Chicago's lakefront. Needless to say, this project became significantly more important after the events of September 11th. Thanks to the committee's cooperation and assistance, this bill authorizes funding for the construction of a Marine Safety Station on Chicago's lakefront. This new Chicago Safety Station will house resources and personnel of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Chicago Marine Police, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police. With Coast Guard, state, and city resources stretched thin by the need for heighted security in Chicago and other U.S. ports, this project will signficantly improve public safety and law enforcement efforts in one of the busiest recreational areas in the country. On behalf of the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and all of us who enjoy Chicago's lakefront, I again want to thank the Chairman for working with me to bring this project to fruition.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Thomas Madden on his retirement as Superintendent of Lemont Township High School District 210. Since 1970, Dr. Madden has given his extraordinary talents and leadership as an educator to the students, faculty, and parents served by Lemont District 210. He has served with great distinction, and I am proud to highlight his outstanding record of accomplishments. Under Dr. Madden's leadership, Lemont District 210 has witnessed dramatic growth and maintained an outstanding, quality education for students. Through his legislative initiatives and work with the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, Dr. Madden has helped to secure a ten-fold increase in federal impact aid--money that has gone to the direct benefit of his students and schools. He also has led the effort to secure $26 million in construction bonds, allowing Lemont District 210 to build new schools and facilities to accommodate significant increases in enrollment and staff. Dr. Madden is an active participant in all aspects of the community. He serves on several local and national boards, including the Lemont Chamber of Commerce, the Lemont Area Development Council, and the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools. Dr. Madden has helped to promote a community and region that is supportive of families and local business, making our part of Illinois one of the fastest growing suburban areas in the nation. Most importantly, Dr. Madden has helped to build an education system that ensures that today's students will meet the challenges of tomorrow's global economy. Dr. Madden embodies the values we as a nation applaud in our educators--commitment, quality, strength of character, and skill--and he serves as an excellent example to the students throughout the 13th Congressional District. I have valued his thoughts and advice on meeting the challenges of public education. I know that Lemont School District 210 is better for his leadership and I join with the students, faculty, and community in thanking him for his service and wishing him a happy and productive retirement.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn) for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I join the Republican women of the House in strong support of H.R. 4737. This bill keeps our commitment to America's kids and to America's great promise of welfare reform; and with the addition of at least $2 billion, one in mandatory spending and one in discretionary spending, at least, and extra funding for child care and development block grants, a very good bill has become even better. Why is that? Well, more funding means more kids covered. More kids covered means more parents working, and that is our ultimate objective, to give every American the opportunity to work and to gain dignity and self-respect that comes with providing for their own family. The past 6 years of welfare reform have shown us what works and what does not. When I meet with former welfare recipients throughout my congressional district, each and every one tells me that their success simply would not have been possible without child care assistance. I thank all my colleagues who have worked so hard to include this extra $2 billion-plus in the bill for American kids.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, On May 2, 2002, the House approved the conference report to H.R. 2646, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, also known as the farm bill. I could not support this measure, for it represents a complete reversal of the 1996 Freedom to Farm Act, legislation that I have long supported. The 1996 Freedom to Farm Act was a six-year attempt to wean farmers off government support, taking agriculture out of the hands of government control by eliminating subsidies and letting the market dictate prices and production levels. I acknowledge that the Freedom to Farm Act was not perfect, but instead of improving upon this approach and building on its early success, the conference report completely abandons the free market principles of Freedom to Farm and returns to government subsidies and hands-on government management of agriculture. The Chicago Tribune ran an editorial on May 6, 2002, entitled ``Congress at the trough,'' which reflects the sentiments many of us share with respect to the conference report to H.R. 2646. I bring the editorial to my colleagues' attention and ask that it be included in the record of debate on the conference report.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Vernon O. Crawley for ten years of service as president of Moraine Valley Community College. Since 1991, Dr. Crawley has given his extraordinary talents and leadership to the students and faculty of Moraine Valley as well as to the people of the 13th Congressional District of Illinois. While ten years is a short amount of time, his contributions to the reputation of Moraine Valley Community College have been astonishing. Under Dr. Crawley's distinguished leadership, Moraine Valley has grown by leaps and bounds. Internet based courses, an Associate of Fine Arts degree, and new campuses in Blue Island and Summit, Illinois, are just a sampling of the extensive growth Moraine Valley has experienced during his tenure. These new features have paid dividends with a continuing increase in enrollment--14,131 new students for the spring semester of 2002 alone. Under Dr. Crawley's watch, Moraine Valley was chosen as one of 12 Vanguard Colleges of Learning in North America. Mr. Speaker, given the renewed commitment President Bush and Congress have made to the education of our youth, it is clear that positive role models are more important now than ever. Dr. Crawley embodies the values we as a nation applaud in our educators, and he serves as an excellent example to the students of Moraine Valley. I know that Moraine Valley Community College is a better institution for his leadership and I join with the students, faculty, and community in congratulating him on ten successful years of service.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3763. This is a good bill because it strikes the right balance between doing enough to prevent another Enron and Andersen debacle, but not so much as to overreact to it causing more harm. The last thing we want is to federalize the accounting industry and create a seat for the government on every corporate board from New York to San Francisco and back again. This is a good bill because it helps rebuild the confidence of the American people by restoring the integrity of the accounting industry. It increases corporate responsibility, reforms the accounting industry, and forces businesses to disclose much more financial information in real-time. Holding corporate officers responsible for their actions is a big part of the foundation of this bill. As President Bush said not long ago, our goal is better rules so that conflicts, suspicion, and broken faith can be avoided in the first place. That is what this bill does in several ways. For example, an amendment that I offered last week provides the SEC the administrative authority to bar persons accused of malfeasance from serving as officers or directors of public companies pending judicial appeal. Mr. Chairman, it is unfortunate that no one understands the concept of executive accountability or lack thereof better than the 500 Andersen employees from my district. They ask, How on earth can the alleged sins of a handful of partners uproot the lives of so many innocent employees? One of them went further, asking me in a recent letter if one out of our 535 Congressmen and Senators gets in trouble, should you all be fired? I think we all get the point. And the point is that change is needed in the accounting industry, and H.R. 3763 is an important step in the right direction. With this legislation, we will avoid any more blanket charges to groups of accountants, and instead bring justice to the particular accountants at fault. Some have argued that the standard may prove to be unreasonably high or it goes too far. I respectfully disagree. H.R. 3763 empowers the SEC to take a bite out of corporate crime. Mr. Chairman, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), who earlier claimed that the underlying bill would make it harder for the SEC to ban officers and directors from serving on corporate boards. Quite the contrary. For the first time in history, H.R. 3763 will allow, through the administrative process, the SEC to provide greater oversight of corporate officers. Currently, the SEC must go to court to obtain such a ban. This change makes it easier, not harder, for the SEC to go after malfeasance. H.R. 3763 does not allow such a ban to be imposed without providing at least minimum standards for the SEC to consider. What we do in this bill is to provide the SEC with the tools it needs to tighten corporate oversight without giving the SEC carte blanche authority. We cannot, as someone suggests, grant the SEC unwarranted powers that would alter its appropriate role in maintaining the integrity of the capital markets, but we should give the SEC the ability to efficiently remove those who have no business serving as corporate officers.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing two pieces of legislation that will suspend the duties on two specific products imported into the United States. Both are chemicals used in the production of agricultural herbicides. Among the first herbicides to be registered in the United States, 2,4-Dicholorophenoxyacetic acid, otherwise referred to as 2,4-D, is used principally by farmers to help protect crops from damage caused by weeds. In addition to agricultural applications, 2,4-D has been widely used to control broadleaf and woody plants on rangelands, lawns, golf courses, forests, roadways, and parks. The other chemical, 2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, otherwise referred to as MCPA, is also an agricultural herbicide, but controls a slightly different spectrum of weeds. It was developed in the 1940's, and has been used since then to effectively control a wide variety of broadleaf weeds in cereals, grasses, flax, and non-crop areas. Both chemicals are advantageous because they offer: broad spectrum weed control; low toxicity; low environmental persistence; little evidence of weed resistance following decades of use; and relative cost advantages over other chemical and non-chemical methods of weed control. In their long history, these chemicals have been tested according to modem standards and continue to meet regulatory acceptability. So why is it appropriate to suspend the duties on these two chemicals? First and foremost, MCPA is not produced in the United States, so a duty on foreign imports of this product only burdens American businesses. As for 2,4-D, only our trading partners with Normal Trade Relations currently pay the duty on this product; the majority of imports enter the United States duty-free under the Generalized System of Preferences. In this way, the duty undesirably discriminates against our good trading partners, and therefore should be suspended. Cost is another reason to suspend the duty on these chemicals. Reducing costs is paramount in today's depressed agricultural sector. This bill helps agriculture producers and consumers in this effort by suspending the duty on critical herbicide inputs. In addition to helping farmers reduce their costs, this legislation would benefit the financially pressed federal, state, county and municipal government agencies that use these chemicals to maintain our roads, forests, rangelands, and parks. The cost of inputs is such an important factor affecting the global agricultural economy that a proposal will be considered during the next WTO multilateral round of international trade negotiations to make all major agricultural inputs duty free. This ``Zero for Zero'' initiative will relieve agricultural producers and consumers from the unnecessary and burdensome costs of numerous duties. In light of this development, the legislation I introduce today is timely. By suspending the duty on two chemicals, these bills lift a costly burden from American businesses, stop the discrimination against our close trading partners, and reduce input costs for agriculture consumers and producers. I urge my colleagues to support both bills, and I look forward to working with the Ways and Means Committee to include these bills in comprehensive duty suspension legislation that the Trade Subcommittee will consider in the near future.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the gentleman for this clarification, Mr. Speaker.

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding this time to me, and for agreeing to engage in a colloquy on section 7 of the Business Checking Freedom Act of 2002. I also want to thank him for including in this bill section 7, rule of construction. This provision addresses the treatment of certain services and benefits provided by banks in connection with escrow accounts for real estate closing transactions. It makes certain that the current legal definition of interest and the existing legal treatment of real estate closing escrow transactions remain the same. Under current Federal law and regulations, particularly the Federal Reserve's regulation Q, banks may provide depositors with services and benefits, instead of interest. I originally asked that a similar provision be included in H.R. 974 in committee. My interest in the issue stems from my experiences handling real estate closings early in my legal career and seeing firsthand the importance of regulation Q. I am grateful that adjustments are being made in the current version, and that the bill is moving forward. Section 7 is especially important to title insurance companies, agents, and attorneys, who, like other businesses, often receive free or lower-cost bank services instead of interest on their real estate escrow accounts. By not treating such services and benefits as constituting the payment of interest, the Federal Reserve ensures a real estate closing system that benefits both those who are delivering real estate services and those borrowers who receive the ultimate benefits of more efficient, lower-cost services. In my legal practice, I became very familiar with these types of arrangements, and can attest to the fact that they facilitated and made more efficient the real estate closing process. I strongly support this provision of the bill, and would ask the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey) if he is of the same view regarding the intent of this provision.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3210, the House-passed terrorism insurance legislation. As President Bush noted in a press conference yesterday, without a terrorism insurance bill, there will continue to be a significant drag on our economy. Without coverage, the economic impact of another terrorist attack would be very serious. The U.S. could face a string of bankruptcies, loan defaults and layoffs that would intensify the blow of the attack. One segment of the economy that can least afford to live without terrorism coverage is our public self-insured risk pools. These risk pools--more than 125 operating in forty-one states--help local governments, school districts, housing authorities, and other public entities to provide necessary insurance protection. These entities would be hurt the most by layoffs due to lack of prevention prior to an unforeseen terrorist attack. These risk pools provide coverage to those most often at greatest risk--police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel-- as well as teachers and students, municipal employees, and many others. We all know that these public entities cannot absorb the costs of terrorism risk across their membership base. I have heard from several risk pools in my state that are desperate for help. In Illinois, the Assisted Housing Risk Management Association (AHRMA) no longer has coverage for an act of terrorism. That self-insured pool covers public housing authorities across my state. The Illinois School District Agency (ISDA), a self-insured risk pool covering public school districts in Illinois, has been told that its July 1st renewal will have a terrorism exclusion. And the Department of Insurance in Illinois is now allowing the exclusion of terrorism coverage in new and renewal policies. So my state becomes one of 45 states that are allowing such exclusions to be written into policies. The need for Congress to act has never been greater. Large, self- insured pools and individual self-insurers such as the City of Chicago will pay as much as four times their expiring premium to buy the additional coverage necessary in the coming year. Make no mistake-- public self-insured risk pools are more vulnerable than other entities. They provide enormous savings to taxpayers. I am hopeful that Congress will pass this bipartisan legislation soon and send it to the President's desk as he has requested.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 82, a bill honoring former President Ronald Reagan on the occasion of his 91st birthday. Ronald Reagan holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the citizens of northern Illinois. Many believe that President Reagan was a Californian. But his core values and bold conservatism were the product of a childhood in Illinois. Ronald Reagan continues today to serve as a model of optimism and hope. In his very first inaugural address, President Reagan set the tone for his 8 years in office when he proclaimed that, ``no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'' During these challenging times for our Nation, President Reagan's words seem even more relevant today. President Reagan truly was the ``Great Communicator.'' One of my favorite lines of his was when he said that the best view of big government is in the rear view mirror as you're driving away from it. Throughout his presidency, Reagan used his trademark humor and wit to unite a nation, end the cold war, and restore prosperity. He championed the notion of individual responsibility and accountability. And most importantly, he made people feel good about being proud of our great Nation. President Reagan once said that he would like to go down in history as the President who made Americans believe in themselves again. I believe that he has. On behalf of a grateful Nation, Happy 91st Birthday, President Reagan.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a common-sense technical amendment to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I am pleased that this bipartisan legislation is being cosponsored by my colleagues, Mr. Sandlin of Texas, Mr. Moore of Kansas, and Cantor of Virginia. For more than two decades, The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act of 1978 has successfully regulated and promoted ethical practices on the part of debt collectors throughout the United States. The Act prohibits abusive or harassing methods of debt collection, and it requires that debt collectors treat consumers fairly. In 1986, the law was amended to include standards for attorneys who engage in debt collection, and in general, these new rules have worked well to protect consumers. But there is one small provision in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act that inadvertently has made it more difficult--if not impossible--for an attorney to act as a debt collector and file documents with a court of law. Under current law, attorneys face a ``Catch-22'' when they file a lawsuit against a debtor, and here's why. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires the inclusion of a specific warning notice in every document related to the debtor, including those filed with a court. This warning notice makes good sense; it provides the debtor with information about his or her rights and responsibilities. But the inclusion of the information required by the Act often renders the document non-compliant with the rules of the court. As a result, attorneys are caught between a rock and hard place. They can include the warning on court documents and risk being in violation of the rules of the court, or they can exclude the warning and be in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Even the agency responsible for enforcement of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Federal Trade Commission, has repeatedly acknowledged this dilemma. But the FTC cannot fix the problem administratively. The agency has recommended a narrowly tailored technical amendment to remedy the conflict between Federal law and the rules of the court. It is this technical amendment that I offer the House today. Under my bill, attorneys no longer will be forced to choose between violating the rules of the court or violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. They still will be required to include warning notices on all correspondence with debtors, but they will be allowed to omit the warning notices only on documents presented to the court. This simple and straightforward solution maintains the spirit and the intent of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act while allowing attorneys to remain in compliance with the law and their professional standards. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3507, the Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002, and I also rise to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo) and his subcommittee staff for their hard work on this bill. Last year they agreed to work with the Coast Guard, the State of Illinois, the city of Chicago and me on a project to improve safety and security along Chicago's lakefront. Needless to say, this project became significantly more important after the events of September 11. Thanks to the committee's cooperation and assistance, this bill authorizes construction of a Marine Safety Station on Chicago's lakefront. This new Chicago Marine Safety Station will house resources and personnel of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Chicago Marine Police and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police. With Coast Guard, State and city resources stretched thin by the need for heightened security in Chicago and U.S. ports, this project will significantly improve public safety and law enforcement efforts in one of the busiest recreational areas in the country. On behalf of the city of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and all of us who enjoy Chicago's lakefront, I thank the chairman for bringing this project to fruition.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the McDonald's Corporation, which is headquartered in my district, for its continued leadership in environmental conservation. For over a decade, McDonald's has set the standard for corporate social responsibility. It has been a pioneer in a range of initiatives to reduce solid waste, conserve energy, and promote environmental awareness and conservation here in the United States and around the world. For its good work, McDonald's has been honored by many, including Keep America Beautiful, the National Audubon Society and Conservation International. It also has received awards from the President's Council on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Now adding to its long track record of achievements, McDonald's has been selected by the National Recycling Coalition for another important environmental award. This award recognizes the company's vision and leadership in proving that recycling really does work. Back in 1989, McDonald's formed a partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund or EDF, to develop a comprehensive plan for reducing waste. This cooperative effort sparked a kind of revolution in the restaurant industry. In fact, it laid the foundation for a new approach to solving environmental problems: Working partnerships between businesses and environmental organizations. With EDF's help, McDonald's set out to assess every aspect of its business, looking for opportunities to conserve. In 1990, McDonald's established one of the first corporate ``buy recycle'' programs. It also initiated an ongoing series of environmentally friendly changes in packaging designs and materials. Two years later, McDonald's became a founding member of the Buy Recycled Business Alliance, a group of businesses dedicated to purchasing recycled products. The impact of these efforts has been extraordinary. Since 1990, McDonald's has purchased, in the United States, over $3 billion worth of products made from recycled materials, eliminated 150,000 tons of packaging, and recycled 1 million tons of corrugated cardboard. Recycling is not the only significant conservation efforts undertaken by McDonald's over the years. This company has expanded its environmental programs to include water conservation, air pollution reduction, rain forest preservation and restoration, protection of domestic natural habitats, and litter reduction. Through partnerships with its suppliers and environmental organizations, it has fostered new conservation technologies, influenced business practices, and supported environmental education in classrooms, communities, and McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. and abroad.N O T I C E Effective January 1, 2002, the subscription price of the Congressional Record will be $422 per year or $211 for six months. Individual issues may be purchased for $5.00 per copy. The cost for the microfiche edition will remain $141 per year with single copies remaining $1.50 per issue. This price increase is necessary based upon the cost of printing and distribution. Michael F. DiMario, Public Printer The National Recycling Coalition's award is a fitting recognition for such significant and successful efforts to make the world a better place.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the rule on H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This bill empowers parents, helps children learn to read at an early age, and grants unprecedented new flexibility to local school districts while demanding accountability. I would like to focus on two sections of H.R. 1 that have not received as much attention as others. First, I am proud that this legislation authorizes $70 million per year for homeless education. This will have a profound impact on the estimated 1 million homeless children in our Nation. Being without a home should not mean being without an education. This legislation expands our commitment to these special kids who face desperate circumstances. I am also pleased that this legislation provides $450 million for math and science teacher training. Our new high-tech economy demands that children have stronger math and science skills. That means that teachers also need better training in these areas. This new program will help teachers prepare better for students for careers in engineering or the hard sciences. This result will be a workforce better able to compete globally. Congress is giving America's teachers and students the best possible holiday present through this legislation. I congratulate the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) and the conferees for their hard work.

Mrs. BIGGERT

Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule on H.R. 3005 to grant Trade Promotion Authority. Few are the occasions on which Members of this body have the opportunity to shape the course of our long-term economic future as we have on this TPA vote today. Without TPA, America will be forced onto the sidelines, watching as other nations form agreements which shut our products and services out of the most promising new markets. Without TPA, America will see its role as world leader transformed into world follower. Even our most innovative and successful companies will find themselves making a back seat to foreign competitors. What is at stake here are the lives and livelihoods of current and future generations of American workers. Their productivity and creativity are second to none, and yet second to all this is what we will be if we tie the hands of our President. Let us untie the hands of the President, allowing his negotiators to bring home the best deals for America. I urge Members to support the rule and TPA.