Melissa Bean

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of this legislation that encourages adoption in the House rules. I'd like to thank Mr. Cardoza and Mr. Tanner for their leadership since we first introduced it in the 109th Congress. Mr. Speaker, I came to Washington from the private sector, where accountability and performance measurements are naturally part of best practices. As a Member of Congress I've long advocated for increased transparency and oversight of government spending and performance. As the people's representatives, we have a responsibility to hold Federal Government agencies accountable for the tax dollars that they receive and the services they provide. And, like my colleague from Wisconsin, I applaud the President- elect's appointment of a chief performance officer. So we have Executive Branch measurement of government results as well. Although the last Congress improved agency and program oversight, this resolution takes accountability to the next level. House Resolution 40 mandates committee hearings every 4 months when reports suspect agency level waste, fraud or abuse of taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, whenever an agency or program fails its annual audit, additional hearings are required to ensure changes are enacted to prevent the continuation of business as usual. Finally, Congress, working with the GAO, will hold hearings to investigate those programs, departments or entitlements deemed high risk for abuse, such as the 2010 census. Particularly in a time of economic uncertainty, Americans rightfully expect Congress to create higher standards and practices to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. Unfortunately, for the last 12 years the GAO has been unable to analyze the financial balance sheet of the U.S. government due to numerous agencies failing their audits. As we work to stabilize our financial markets and stimulate this economy, we must also attend to long-term fiscal restraint and responsibility. With this resolution and resulting hearings, Congress will have the information necessary to make the tough choices needed to bring our fiscal house in order. These practices will ensure greater return on taxpayer outlays. Again, I thank Mr. Tanner and Mr. Cardoza for their leadership, and encourage bipartisan support of this legislation.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 384, the TARP Reform and Accountability Act. Thank you for yielding, and I want to thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue. Last fall this Congress faced a difficult decision. We were asked to provide the Treasury with $700 billion to stabilize the financial markets. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned that the U.S. economy was on the verge of collapse if Congress did not act. Fortunately, Congress wisely put stipulations in place to protect taxpayer dollars. We also instructed the Treasury to provide foreclosure avoidance resources. Most importantly, we withheld half of the TARP money to allow congressional review of the first half. It was vitally necessary to stave off a collapse of our Nation's financial system and remains so today. However, this administration did not follow congressional instructions to utilize a portion of funds to address rising foreclosures. Today we have the opportunity to refine the use of the remaining TARP funds with this bill to make sure that we both stabilize our financial system and reduce rising foreclosures, which continue to undermine it. H.R. 384 requires the incoming administration to act with greater transparency and accountability on how funds are being used to stabilize markets and provide multitiered options to foreclosure avoidance for creditworthy families. In 2008, 1 in 10 homeowners were either delinquent on their mortgage or in foreclosure. One in six homeowners are currently upside down, meaning that their mortgage debt exceeds current home value. Economists expect 4 million to 5 million additional residential foreclosures in the next 2 years. To compound the challenges facing our financial industry, slumping consumer spending is driving many retailers and small businesses under, and as they vacate their properties, commercial mortgage foreclosures will increase. That means even more toxic assets on the books of our financial institutions, further limiting credit. Credit affects every American, anyone who uses a credit card, needs a car or college loan, runs a business or is employed by one.

Ms. BEAN. When the Treasury came to Congress last fall, our financial system was at the precipice of collapse. The economic challenges we face today would be worse if Congress had not supported the provision of TARP funds. But we are not out of the woods. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 384 to make these necessary changes to TARP and vote to release the second portion of the TARP money so our financial system and the American businesses and families who rely on it can weather the existing and coming storms.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. I yield 2 minutes to the Congresswoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BEAN. I urge my colleagues to stand up, not aside, and support this bill to stabilize the economy of our great Nation.

Ms. BEAN. I thank Chairman Frank for yielding and for his hard work and extraordinary bipartisan leadership this week. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, recognizing how unhappy we all are as Americans to be in this situation. As co-chair of the New Dems Working Group on Regulatory Modernization, I am committed to ensuring that this body fast-tracks regulatory reform of our markets, particularly oversight for the innovative, complex new instruments that have enabled so much high-risk leverage of so many of our financial institutions so this never happens again. Tomorrow we can discuss the state of our broader economy, our struggling middle class, and the consequences of an anti-regulation ideology taken to such an extreme that it threatens the very fabric of our Nation's economic security. But today the question before the House is the cost of action versus inaction. This is a time that our Nation's economy is at a precipice of potential collapse, the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetime. Chairman Bernanke has likened the consequences of inaction to those of the Great Depression. Will we lead our country out of this crisis and avert such consequences, or stand aside and let the chips fall? Americans in the world markets are watching. Our decisions today speak to them. This bill is an imperfect solution, but in times of crisis, our Members have put politics aside and pulled together to mandate vast improvements from what was originally proposed by the administration. It now includes oversight and accountability on a bipartisan basis with a judicial review of this unprecedented level of authority; it limits compensation for failed executives who contributed to this crisis; and it protects taxpayers by providing profits, both on the assets that we buy and sell, but also by sharing in the profits from those institutions that we help; and a recruitment plan to ensure that, over 5 years, the financial industry, not taxpayers, picks up the tab. The cost of inaction is real for American families and businesses, business closings, and jobs loss, and the wiping out of savings and pensions.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and for his leadership on this important bill. I rise in strong support of H.R. 6707, the Taking Responsible Action for Community Safety Act. I got involved in reviewing the STB's mission and decision-making process because of a proposed local transaction that would have negatively impacted communities in my district, across suburban Illinois, Indiana and other parts of the country. However, unless the STB review is clarified, communities and districts across the country could face similar challenges. The current process has historically put the interests of industry over those of American families and taxpayers. This doesn't have to be the case. As noted by the board's most recent decision, the STB has the ability to deny an acquisition and/or mitigate on environmental grounds. The TRACS Act clarifies their obligation as a Federal agency to protect the interests of those taxpayers who fund them. This bill will clearly require that public impact concerns are given equal consideration to those of commerce. And while the impacts on a local shipper may be important, they shouldn't outweigh the impact on communities and the citizens who live there. The STB would be required to consider public impact on communities, including public safety, grade crossing safety, hazardous materials transportation, emergency response, noise pollution, socioeconomic impacts, and commuter rail. After review, if the adverse impacts on communities are significant or outweigh the potential benefits to commerce, then the STB would be required to disapprove or mitigate accordingly. This is not about a particular transaction. And contrary to concerns expressed by some, it should not have a chilling effect on the ability to increase necessary rail capacity across this country. It also shouldn't adversely affect traditional rail mergers or acquisitions which don't significantly change traffic levels or community impact and are only changing a parent company. But in those rare cases where there are drastic increases in freight traffic that can have negative impacts, the TRACS Act is a commonsense clarification to ensure the STB's balanced consideration of the railroad's commercial goals with the communities and American taxpayers whom we serve. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act. First, I would like to acknowledge the leadership of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Chairman Miller, and so many others in our Congress who worked long and hard to address the issue of pay equity. Having worked 20 years in the private sector before coming to Congress, where I am now uniquely guaranteed equal pay, along with all Members who are Representatives, I understand the significance of this legislation before us today. The amendment I am offering would strike section 3(b) titled Application of Provisions from the Underlying Bill. In doing so, this amendment would prevent the expansion of the Equal Pay Act to include job applicants. Under the current Equal Pay Act, only employees can raise a claim on pay discrimination. However, the underlying bill, in its current form, would, for the first time, allow job applicants to file suit, even if they do not accept a position for pay discrimination under the act. This is a significant expansion of the act, especially in the context of a bill that is otherwise focused on strengthening existing rights already provided to employees under the Equal Pay Act. While in principle I oppose expanding the Equal Pay Act rights to applicants, the very nature of extending these rights to applicants leads to several practical complications. The bill is unclear on how to deal with those complications. For example, H.R. 1338 fails to clarify for employers how long they would be liable to an applicant who is offered lower wages than an individual subsequently hired. First, there is no certainty that that initial offer is representative of what a negotiated final offer might have been. In addition, if an employer originally offers a job at, say, $10 an hour, but raises the offer to $12 a few months later because she was unable to find a qualified applicant, is the employer potentially liable to every prior applicant of the opposite sex? How far back would that liability extend? Even more concerning is that without better defined rules for how applicants would be covered under this act, employers might be deterred, out of an abundance of caution, from raising the salary offered for a job opening when they are unable to initially fill a position. For these reasons, and others, I believe this bill should be narrowed to provide protections to employees, not applicants, in keeping with the original structure of the Equal Pay Act. It is important to note, if this provision is struck, applicants would continue to have protections under title VII, which also protects against discrimination. And if job applicants who are offered lower pay than a male counterpart were to accept a job, they would be protected by the underlying bill and eligible to file a claim for any pay discrimination as an employee. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and if my amendment is adopted, I urge them to support final passage of the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana for yielding and for his work to promote Internet safety. I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1260, which supports the goals and ideals of National Internet Safety Month, and I echo the sentiments shared by my colleagues here tonight. Consideration of this resolution today follows House passage of a similar resolution last year recognizing June as National Internet Safety Month. Although we are considering today's resolution just following the close of the month, I believe it is important to recognize June 2008 as National Internet Safety Month and use this opportunity to continue to raise awareness for Internet safety. H. Res. 1260 recognizes the important work many Internet safety organizations, Internet service providers, all levels of government, schools, parents, and concerned citizens do regularly to protect children online and promote Internet safety education. The resolution calls on all concerned citizens to increase their efforts to raise the level of awareness for the need for online safety in the United States. I want to commend the Internet safety organizations, Internet service providers, FTC, and other individuals who joined me this June in launching the National Partnership for Safe Computing. I am proud to join Congressman Frank Wolf as a co-chair of this partnership, which will work with Members of Congress to provide resources and experts for Internet safety forums in their districts. Over 35 million students have access to the Internet and use it every day to expand their knowledge beyond what they can learn in textbooks and in the classroom. But while the Internet has increased their productivity and opened new opportunities to our children, it has also created new threats. These threats, whether it be unwanted online solicitations, Internet scams, or cyber bullying, are troubling and real. In order for our children to use the Internet safely, we must work together to raise awareness, and as noted in today's resolution, 93 percent of children between 12 and 17 years old use the Internet regularly. Half of them use an online social networking site. Forty- three percent of teens between 13 and 17 have experienced cyber bullying within the past year. And 61 percent of students admit to using the Internet unsafely or inappropriately. Fortunately, our schools and nonprofits, local, State and Federal governments, and concerned corporate citizens have been actively engaging children regarding Internet safety. Programs vary, but they all emphasize the importance of protecting personal information, keeping parents informed of Internet actions, and being careful who kids are talking to when they're online. Over the last few years, parents have been getting more involved in their children's actions online, but there's room for improvement. As noted in today's resolution, 68 percent of parents have household rules about what type of Internet sites their children can or cannot visit, and 65 percent of parents review the Web sites their children have visited while on the Internet. But parents need to stay engaged and ask their children what they're doing online. As a parent, you wouldn't let your son or daughter play with a friend without knowing who was in charge and where they would be playing. The same should be the case with the Internet. It is a large virtual playground, and just like the stranger danger at the neighborhood park, kids need to be supervised. While raising awareness is important, I am very proud that since June 2007, when we recognized National Internet Safety Month last, the House has passed several pieces of legislation as part of an Internet safety initiative. They included the SAFER NET Act, which I introduced, which would authorize national public awareness campaigns and create a virtual clearinghouse of all necessary Internet safety information at the FTC. We also passed the PROTECT Act, which I introduced with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, which would build a strong nationwide network of highly trained law enforcement experts to track down the digital footprints of known sex offenders. The KIDS Act was also passed, which was introduced by Congressman Earl Pomeroy, which I was proud to cosponsor, and would require sex offenders to register their e-mail and instant message addresses with the National Sex Offender Registry so Internet service providers could prohibit their access to Web sites used by children. They already have to register their physical addresses if they move into your community. They should also have to register their Internet addresses as well. These bills and the others the House has passed will assist parents and teachers in keeping our kids safe online. In closing, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1260 and encourage them to use the recent observance of National Internet Safety Month as an opportunity to support the efforts of our local, State and Federal Government, our local and national nonprofit organizations, and other concerned citizens in promoting Internet safety.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on the following rollcall votes: rollcall 380 on ordering the previous question, rollcall 381 on agreeing to resolution H. Res. 1233, rollcall 382 on agreeing to the conference report of S. Con. Res. 70, and rollcall 383 on a motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 5940 on Thursday, June 5, 2008. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall 380, ``yes'' on rollcall 381, ``no'' on rollcall 382, and ``yes'' on rollcall 383.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4008, The Credit and Debit Card Receipt Clarification Act, which makes a technical correction to The Fair and Accurate Transactions Act, FACTA. As a strong advocate for increased security of individuals' personal financial data, I support the provisions to fight ID theft included in FACTA, which was signed into law in 2003. The bill sought to protect the privacy of the information and the consumers' credit report, assist victims of identity theft and prevent fraudulent credit transactions. In particular, section 133 of FACTA, which went into effect in December of 2006, prohibits merchants from printing more than the last five digits of a consumer's credit and debit card numbers or the expiration date on printed receipts. Some interpreted this to mean don't print either/or, others said print neither. While I support the general intent of this section, it is noted by many identity theft experts that individuals who commit fraud by stealing consumers' credit and debit card numbers cannot do so without having the entire correct account number. Section 113 eliminates one avenue for these criminals to steal account numbers by prohibiting the printing of full account numbers on paper receipts. Due to the vagueness of section 113 and lack of guidance from the FTC, the agency responsible for enacting the section, many businesses only truncated a consumer's credit or debit card number, and now hundreds of businesses across the country are facing lawsuits for failing to redact the expiration date from an otherwise FACTA compliant receipt. In my home State of Illinois, over 20 businesses, large and small, are facing millions of dollars of unnecessary lawsuits that could put them out of business. Since the lawsuits have been filed, most businesses have updated their cash registers to ensure they are in full compliance with either interpretation of FACTA. Unfortunately, they still face pending lawsuits that will exacerbate the economic pressures these businesses are already facing in today's market. I met a local restaurateur who was so adamant about fighting these predatory class action lawsuits that he is also paying the legal fees for a small coffee shop owner who could not possibly afford the legal bills. To ensure that our small businesses are not unjustly targeted, I was proud to cosponsor this bill and join my colleague from Florida, Tim Mahoney, in introducing H.R. 4008. This bill provides a technical correction to make businesses compliant with section 113 of FACTA if they had properly truncated a consumer's credit or debit card number but failed to redact the expiration date up to the point of enactment of this bill. It does not protect businesses who failed to truncate a customer's account number. While H.R. 4008 preserves a consumer's right to sue in the event of actual harm or account fraud, it is important to note that of the over 500 lawsuits already filed, none have made any allegation of consumer harm. This bill is a commonsense solution to a significant problem many of our local businesses are facing, particularly in these challenging economic conditions. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4008.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Contrary to the earlier comments from our colleague in Texas, I want to specifically acknowledge the inclusion of my amendment to disallow participation in this program to anyone who had misstated their incomes on their original loan or been convicted of mortgage fraud. On the whole, this legislation will help stabilize the housing market and economy while not creating any uncertainty in legal contracts by reducing risks to lenders who keep qualified borrowers in their homes instead of foreclosing.

Ms. BEAN. I thank the chairman for the clarification. I would also like to commend your leadership on producing a balanced bipartisan bill and allowing me to work with you during the committee markup.

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Chairman, there have been reports suggesting that this provision could be used as a placeholder for a broader expansion of the Federal bankruptcy laws. Can you clarify that this language will not be expanded in conference to include a broader re-write of the Nation's bankruptcy laws or to be used in conference for any other redrafting of language encompassed under title 11 of the U.S. Code other than this specific provision?

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the chairman of the Committee on Financial Services. Mr. Chairman, section 505 of title V of this legislation contains language pertaining to the treatment of disabled veterans in the bankruptcy code. Every Member of the House supports ensuring that no disabled veteran is discriminated against for obtaining federally supported housing loans or subsidies. Mr. Chairman, can you clarify for me why this provision was included in the bill, and why we need to protect disabled veterans from discrimination in this legislation?

Mrs. BEAN

Mrs. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. The passage of this bill is an important step for those suffering from mental health and substance-related disorders in this country. I believe it should not be an uphill battle for the millions of Americans living with mental illness and addiction to receive quality care. Thanks to my colleagues, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Ramstad, we are taking strides to achieve parity between mental and medical conditions. While I support achieving mental health parity, I am concerned about using the Medicaid prescription drug rebate as an offset to pay for this legislation. Innovator drug companies already pay significant rebates to Federal and state governments for their prescription drugs to be covered by the Medicaid program. As a result of this ``best price'' policy, Medicaid programs already obtain drugs at a below-market price. I am concerned that further increasing this rebate will have a chilling effect on pharmaceutical research and development for the next generation of treatments, including those that aid the patients with mental health conditions we are helping today. As the economy weakens and our manufacturers are courted with large subsidies to move their operations and jobs overseas, we must not stifle innovation. We need our pharmaceutical companies to continue investing in the United States, creating good jobs, and inventing new drugs our patients need. I urge the passage of H.R. 1424. However, as this bill advances to conference, I hope the final product that returns to the House will not contain an increased Medicaid rebate, or any other provision that will deter the innovation of new treatments for the diseases that affect American families.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Anna Novikova, a young woman from Illinois' Eighth District who I was proud to sponsor as a Congressional Page for the 2007 fall session. Anna, who currently lives with her family in Palatine, Illinois, stands as an example of what can be accomplished through a combination of hard work, enthusiasm, and determination. Born in Russia as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Anna immigrated to America at age 5. Since that time she has taken full advantage of the myriad opportunities available to those of us who are lucky enough to come of age in America. She has excelled academically, mastering the English language at an early age, participating in her primary school's Gifted Child program, and winning the prestigious American Legion Award for writing. At Palatine High School, she participates in the Foreign Language Honor Society and placed as top sophomore in the Illinois Math League contest. In addition to these intellectual accomplishments, Anna is a talented pianist, a member of her school's choir and newspaper, and a dedicated athlete, running on the varsity cross country and track teams. Appropriately, she was nominated to Palatine High School's A- Team for achieving excellence in Athletics, Activities, Arts and Attitude. When Anna applied to come to the House of Representatives as a page, she told me that she wanted to do so not only because of the unique opportunity to take part in our democratic process, but also in order to give back to her country. She certainly held up her part of the bargain, serving honorably as a Congressional Page while excelling within the academic curriculum at the Page School. At the Page Departure Ceremony at the end of her term, Anna received awards that demonstrate two of her most apparent attributes: intelligence and dedication. She was honored for her performance in the classroom--particularly her expertise in economics--with the Ronald Weitzel Award, which is awarded to one page each term who demonstrates excellence in social studies. She was also recognized as having perfect attendance this semester at the Page School. At the close of her term as a page, Anna said that the firsthand view of Congress has not disillusioned her about our political process. Rather, she feels incredibly lucky to have spent her days on the floor of the House of Representatives, heard our impassioned debates over SCHIP in person, and been present when the Dalai Lama addressed Congress. She came to Washington interested in trade, immigration, and gay rights, and is leaving passionate about the same issues but with more nuanced views on them. Anna said while she has loved her time as a Congressional Page, she is also excited to return to Illinois to resume her extracurriculars that benefit others, including leading her school's chapter of Students for Obama in an effort to engage her fellow students in the political process. In the future, she plans to work in the public sector either as a diplomat or in some aspect of domestic politics. Upon completing her term as a Congressional Page, Anna added another impressive accomplishment to her record. Just as importantly, she did so while maintaining something that many Americans often take for granted--optimism, hope, and belief in the potential of our democratic system.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Madam Speaker, upon the occasion of her passing, I rise today to celebrate the life and achievements of Illinois State Senator Adeline Geo-Karis, a true political pioneer who dedicated her life to serving the people of Illinois. She was a woman in leadership when there weren't any others. She broke through all the barriers, as the only woman in her graduating class at DePaul University Law School, as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, as the State's first female assistant State's attorney, and the first woman elected to the Illinois General Assembly from Lake County. Through more than three decades of service in the Illinois General Assembly, Senator Geo-Karis spearheaded successful efforts to cut crime and promote alternative energy use. She was a tireless advocate for senior citizens and a longtime champion of the disabled. She brought constituent service to new heights and set the bar for other elected officials in the State of Illinois. She served with distinction as the mayor of Zion and as an immigrant from Greece, she was an inspiring example of the American Dream. Madam Speaker, Senator Geo-Karis has served her district, State, and country with exemplary dedication and commitment. Her 34 years of outstanding public service ensure that her legacy will be remembered.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5140, the stimulus package that will strengthen the economic health of our businesses, our Nation, and the families we represent. Recently, I introduced legislation to double the section 179 expense tax deduction, which allows small business owners to write off expenses immediately. I am pleased that this meaningful tax incentive was included in the House stimulus package, which encourages small businesses to increase investment and hiring. In my district, Chris Dahm, owner of Dahm Trucking in Woodstock, Illinois, is an example of how this will make a difference. In 1980, Chris started his company with one truck; 28 years later, he has a fleet of 33. His success, like small businesses across the country, is a cornerstone of our economy. However, over the last 3 months, his business has declined and he has reduced the workweek for many of his drivers. When I talked to Chris about this incentive, he said, ``If something like this came out, I'd go full speed.'' Instead of stalling expansion plans, he would invest now. I commend our leadership and administration in crafting this bipartisan legislation and urge its swift passage.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to urge support of H.R. 3915, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007. As an original cosponsor, I commend Chairman Frank and Ranking Member Bachus for how they have drafted and brought this bill to the floor. It reflects highly on the deliberative and bipartisan nature of the Financial Services Committee I serve on. This is one of the most important and balanced bills we have worked on this year, because Americans' homes are central to their lives. Families save and sacrifice to come up with a down payment towards the most significant and personal investment they will ever make. They raise their families, they dream their American Dreams, and they look forward to a retirement secured by the equity they have established. When house prices fall, when access to credit tightens, those dreams are threatened, and, for some, those dreams are destroyed by foreclosure. When talking with constituents in my district about the current mortgage market, some are having difficulty making their monthly payments. Most are concerned with being able to sell their home when looking to move. All agree that we need better consumer protections, simpler disclosures, and greater market certainty. This bill does that. I am pleased that the bill before us includes provisions from my bill, H.R. 3894, the Negative Amortization Mortgage Loan Transparency Act, which will make sure that all borrowers are aware of the impact a loan with negative amortization has by, number one, making sure that it is indicated that it is in the loan; two, a description of what that means, in that it can increase the outstanding principal balance and reduce the borrower's equity in their home; and, third, for first-time subprime borrowers who select this type of loan, they will be required to meet with a HUD-certified credit counselor. This bill balances access to credit with necessary oversight and industry accountability to ensure renewed investor confidence and make sure that more Americans have access to the American Dream, but they have access to it for the long term. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3773. Giving our intelligence community the tools they need to uncover threats to our Nation's security is one of Congress's most important duties. This bill soundly provides that. This legislation explicitly clarifies that a warrant is not needed when conducting foreign to foreign surveillance. Importantly this bill also includes reasonable safeguards to ensure U.S. citizens at home and abroad are not subject to surveillance without proper oversight. It lays out a responsible yet workable framework for the Director of National Intelligence and Attorney General to get FISA certification when U.S. persons may inadvertently be involved yet allows our intelligence community to act immediately in emergency situations prior to FISA court certification. I commend the committee for its hard work on an issue important to our national security. While Congress should continue to pursue all relevant information from the administration's surveillance program since September 11, 2001, telecommunications providers should not be held liable for providing requested information that they were told could prevent future attacks on our Nation. An October editorial in the Washington Post noted that these companies were ``acting as patriotic corporate citizens in a difficult and uncharted environment.'' Therefore I support retroactive immunity for participating companies and I'm hopeful it will be included in the final bill. With that, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3773.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 3461, The Safeguarding America's Families by Enhancing and Reorganizing New and Efficient Technologies Act or SAFER NET. I want to thank Chairman Dingell and Chairman Rush for their help in bringing this bill to the floor today. I also to thank Congressman Baron Hill, the lead cosponsor of this bill, and Congresswoman Mary Bono for her contributions to this legislation. The Internet is a wonderful resource for our children. Over 90 percent of school age children use the Internet on a regular basis. They use it to expand their knowledge beyond what they can learn in the classroom and use it to stay connected with their friends when not at school. The Internet has increased productivity and opened new opportunities to our children, but while doing so, it has created new threats. These threats whether it be unwanted online solicitations, Internet scams, or cyber-bullying are dangerous and real. In order for our children to be protected from the dangers of the Internet, we must work together to raise awareness and educate them about Internet safety. As noted in a study conducted by the National Assessment Center: 41 percent of middle and high school students do not share with their parents what they do on the Internet. 61 percent of students admit to using the Internet unsafely or inappropriately. And of most concern, 20 percent of middle school and high school students have met face-to-face with someone they first met online. In recent studies conducted by the Department of Justice in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one in seven children between the ages of 10 and 17 received a sexual solicitation online. And one in 25 or one per classroom receives an aggressive sexual solicitation when a predator calls them on the phone, sends them gifts, or requests a meeting. Informing parents is just as important to keep our kids safe online. Unfortunately, approximately half of parents surveyed admit that they do not properly monitor their children's Internet activity and do not use filter, blocking, or monitoring software on their home computers. Parents need to be engaged and ask their children what they are doing online. Unfortunately, nearly half of parents surveyed do not believe that they are able to properly monitor their children's actions online. As a parent, you wouldn't let your son or daughter play with a friend without knowing who was in charge and where they would be playing. The same should be the case with the Internet. The Internet is a large virtual playground and just like on the playground at the park, kids need to be supervised. Fortunately, our schools, non-profits, local, state, and federal governments, and concerned corporate citizens have been actively engaging children on Internet safety. Programs vary but all emphasize the importance of protecting personal information, keeping parents informed of Internet actions, and being careful who you talk to online. Although these resources are great, not enough kids and parents are aware of them. Internet safety is an issue of national importance that deserves a national response. That is why passing The SAFER NET Act today is so important. The SAFER NET Act would authorize $5 million for the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a national public awareness campaign to promote Internet Safety. In addition, the bill will direct the Federal Trade Commission to build on the efforts of its Onguard Online website so it can better serve as a virtual clearinghouse of Internet safety information. Finally the SAFER NET Act would establish a working group through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to review and evaluate industry efforts to promote online safety and protect children from inappropriate material online. In closing, I want to thank the staff on the Energy & Commerce Committee, J.D. Grom on my staff, and Nathan Fenstermacher who previously served in my office and helped draft the original SAFER NET Act last Congress for their assistance. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3461.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this agreement. I commend Chairman Rangel and Chairman Levin as well as Ranking Members McCrery and Herger for their important leadership on this issue. I am encouraged to see bipartisan support of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement which recognizes the opportunity to expand potential to 5,000 small and medium U.S. companies that export almost $800 million of goods and services to Peru. These small and medium businesses represent 80 percent of U.S. exports to Peru. They will have an even greater opportunity with this agreement to compete on a more level playing field. The current Andean trade preference allows Peruvian exporters access to our markets without tariffs while our own exporters are competitively disadvantaged by tariffs. Americans need not fear competition. When we remove barriers, we will innovate, we will adapt, we will compete, and we will succeed in the global market. For those who are rightfully concerned about jobs, we should remember that our small and medium businesses, these same businesses that export to countries like Peru, are creating 80 percent of our domestic job growth. American employers will now have the ability to fairly compete to expand and enter new markets and, in the process, further strengthen our local and our national economies. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this agreement.

Ms. BEAN

Ms. BEAN. Mr. Chairman, as we debate H.R. 2881, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, I want to highlight a critical flight safety and water quality issue--glycol recovery. As airports work to comply with existing and future stormwater requirements under the Clean Water Act, there is a critical need to find a cost-effective means of reducing the impact of deicing operations on water quality without compromising safety. Glycol recovery vehicles are an available, cost- effective solution that provides superior environmental protection. In its Source Water Protection Bulletin regarding airport deicing, the EPA states that ``vacuum vehicles are a cost-effective alternative to installing traditional drainage collection systems or deicing pads.'' In addition, glycol recovery vehicles reduce airport delays by allowing deicing to occur at the gate rather than requiring planes to travel through a deicing facility. Unfortunately, there appears to be confusion among the airports as to whether the purchase of glycol recovery vehicles is an eligible expense under the AlP. I have been advised by the FAA that glycol recovery vehicles are currently eligible for purchase using AlP funding under existing statutory authority. However, despite this interpretation, FAA grant summaries show that over the last 7 years, there has been only one case where a glycol recovery vehicle was purchased using AlP funds and that was classified as snow removal equipment. In order to confirm that glycol recovery vehicles are in fact eligible for AlP funding, I joined Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello and Representative Timothy Johnson in sending a letter to FAA Acting Administrator Sturgell. Our letter dated September 20, which I will submit to the Record, asked for a response in writing describing the means by which airports have been informed that glycol recovery vehicles are eligible for AlP funding, as well as actions that the FAA plans to take in the future to inform airports of such eligibility. I want to thank my colleagues for their support and look forward to a prompt response from the FAA. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, September 20, 2007. Hon. Robert A. Sturgell, Acting Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, Washington, DC. Dear Acting Administrator Sturgell: As Congress continues the process of reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), we are seeking clarification of our understanding that glycol recovery vehicles are eligible for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding. Unfortunately, there appears to be confusion among the airports as to whether their purchase of glycol recovery vehicles is an eligible expense under the AIP. We have been advised by the FAA that such vehicles are currently eligible for purchase using AIP funding under existing statutory authority. We concur and respectfully request that you respond to this letter in writing describing the means by which airports have been informed that glycol recovery vehicles are eligible for AIP funding, as well as actions that the FAA plans to take in the future to inform airports of such eligibility. As you are aware, aircraft and runway deicing operations are a critical element of aviation safety. Currently, glycol- based aircraft deicing fluid is the most widely used technique for maintaining Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) deicing safety standards. However, glycol runoff, if not contained, can pose a significant threat to water systems. In its Source Water Protection Bulletin regarding airport deicing, the Environmental Protection Agency states, ``Vacuum vehicles are a cost-effective alternative to installing traditional drainage collection systems or deicing pads.'' In addition, glycol recovery vehicles can reduce airport delays by allowing deicing to occur at the gate rather than requiring planes to travel through a deicing facility. Therefore, as airports work to maintain these safety standards and protect water quality while performing deicing operations, we believe it is important that they be made aware of all tools available for funding through the AIP. Glycol recovery vehicles are one of these tools and are an available, cost-effective solution that provides superior environmental protection. Thank you in advance for your prompt action to clarify confusion among AIP users as to the eligibility of glycol recovery vehicles. Sincerely, Jerry Costello, Chairman, Aviation Subcommittee. Melissa L. Bean, Member of Congress. Timothy Johnson, Member of Congress.