Michele Bachmann

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. If the gentleman would yield, the Founders went so far as they began a revolution over a stamp tax, over a stamp tax. This is the actual outright taking of someone's personal property. And the Founders were unwilling to pass the Constitution without the Bill of Rights. And as the gentleman knows, the Bill of Rights was to protect individuals, people, not to protect government, but to protect people from the encroachment of big government upon their leaders. And the Fifth Amendment guarantees the right of your personal property. Big government cannot come in, they are prohibited from coming in and taking your personal property without just compensation. Here is a perfect example of violation of these citizens' Fifth Amendment rights.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplished students who earned the Certificate of Congressional Merit for their exemplary citizenship and academic excellence. Fourteen students from Minnesota's Sixth District were nominated by their schools for this prestigious award and it is a great privilege to be able to share their accomplishments with this Congress. These students have shown that they can set and achieve goals, work as a team member or a leader, contribute to a larger cause, all while making time for study and friendships as well. They have made significant contributions to their schools and communities and stand out to faculty and staff as students that would never ask for recognitions for their efforts. I rise today, Madam Speaker, to honor these fourteen students for their successful high school careers and to wish them all he best in their bright futures: Mr. Chris Neumann of Winsted, Holy Trinity School; Mr. Joshua Putnam of Woodbury, New Life Academy; Mr. Kevin Capp of Andover, Andover High School; Ms. Jacqueline Lee of Becker, Becker High School; Ms. Mysee Chang of Corcoran, Buffalo High School; Mr. Michael Roth of Delano, Delano High School; Mr. Tyler Rausch of Elk River, Elk River Senior High School; Mr. Thomas Linn of Watkins, Kimball Area High School and ALC; Ms. Kayla Ruff of Monticello, Monticello High School; Mr. Russell O'Fallon of Paynesville, Paynesville Area Secondary School; Ms. Tracy Skluzacek of Cold Spring, Rocori High School; Mr. Jacob Horn of St. Michael, St. Michael-Albertville High School; Ms. Courtney Ledo of Stillwater, Stillwater High School; and Ms. Rebecca Lauer of Albany, Immaculate Conception Academy. It was best said by beloved children's author, Dr. Seuss, ``The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.'' These students are the bright future we have to look forward to in Minnesota and in our nation. We are looking forward to the successes they will have and the dreams they will follow and, the places they will go.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 308, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sixth District farms that have been recognized as 2009 Century Farms by the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau. Being a Century Farm is no easy task. Farms must be at least 50 acres and stay in a continuous family ownership for 10 years. Since the program began in 1976, more than 8,700 Minnesota farms and families have been named a ``century farm.'' As the family farming tradition that made America strong is encroached upon by development and urbanization, this designation becomes an even more significant accomplishment. It is my honor to recognize these farms before this Congress today. America was founded as an agricultural nation full of hope and promise for bountiful harvests year after year. The families that tilled the first soil on Minnesota's golden plains instilled a work ethic that today's farmers still follow. Two hundred years ago it was not uncommon to have three or even four generations involved with a single farm at any given time. Between sowing and harvest, feeding livestock and maintaining equipment and buildings, farm life was a full time job for entire families. But as the times have changed, to see one family still taking care of the land and homes their parents worked on and lived in is a great a joy. In fact, I can recall the time that I spent living and working on my in-laws' dairy farm in Wisconsin--a farm that my mother-in-law and brothers-in-law still call home. I rise, Madam Speaker, to honor these families and the past generations that have made this accomplishment possible: Corrigan family of Foley, since 1909. Magnuson family of Foley, since 1909. Burggraff family of Royalton, since 1898. Bernard J. and Natalie Niewind of Eden Valley, since 1909. Leilani Rolfes of Freeport, since 1883. Brothers Andrew and Richard Holdvogt of Melrose, since 1907. Kenneth Schaefer family of Melrose, since 1897. Harvey and Marilyn Lieser of Paynesville, since 1892. James A. Moores of Monticello, since 1903.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Winkelman Building Corporation on its 40th anniversary as a business leader in the St. Cloud community. Success at their level of expertise could not have been achieved without hard work, long hours, and many sacrifices. I know that everyone at Winkelman Building Corporation can be very proud of the accomplishment that brings them together at this milestone. Winkelman Building Corporation has been working with communities across the nation to build structures that serve a purpose and make a statement. They have been recognized 18 times by local and national groups for their innovation and excellence since 1993. Most recently, they were awarded the Project of the Year by the Minnesota Construction Association for the Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph, Minnesota. This school is the pride of the community and one of the first Leader in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified schools in the nation. When I toured the Kennedy Community School I was impressed by the amount of thought that went into making it not only an innovative facility, but a welcoming place in which children could learn. I rise today, Madam Speaker, to honor the tireless efforts of the employees at Winkelman Building Corporation that have brought this company four decades of success. The backbone of our local and national economies is America's small businesses, and through good times and bad, companies like Winkelman are pulling through with resolve and optimism. I join other community and business leaders in St. Cloud in looking forward to another 40 years of groundbreakings, grand openings and award celebrations.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. and Mrs. Wally and Mary Grotz of Delano, Minnesota, on the occasion of their sixtieth wedding anniversary. For the last sixty years, they have raised four children and lived in the homestead Wally built while the town of Delano grew into a city. But this is no ordinary couple; they are some of America's ``Greatest Generation'' and both have tremendous wisdom to share from their personal histories. Wally was a B-24 bomber pilot during World War II and at one point served under American film legend, Jimmy Stewart. But Wally's story goes much deeper. He was shot down over Germany in 1944 and taken as a Prisoner of War until May of 1945. When he returned home he found a job at the local post office where he worked for 34 years, serving as Postmaster for 16 years. Mary spent her time working for Minnesota-based food producer, General Mills. Her job was as unique as she is; she answered cooking and baking questions as Betty Crocker, the General Mills kitchen icon. She still remains active in her church and the Delano community today. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor Wally and Mary Grotz. Their accomplishments as individuals and dedicated citizens would be enough to warrant recognition, but the love and devotion they have shown to one another sweetens their story as American heroes. I wish them a happiest anniversary and another sixty years together!

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Marge Johannes of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota as she celebrates her 90th birthday. Marge is known as ``Grandma Marge'' to the students at Pleasantview Elementary School, where she volunteers as a Foster Grandparent, a role she has played for over 20 years. As a Foster Grandma, Marge spends four hours a day helping students and assisting the teachers. She even takes time to provide childcare for the Adult Basic Education classes. When many students and teachers are taking a break from school, Grandma Marge helps with the summer school programs in the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District. She is the definition of grace, bringing a love of learning to the schools at which she volunteers and sharing a smile with all she meets. All the students know that her favorite book is the dictionary, because she likes to learn something new every day and she spreads that kind of earnest enthusiasm everywhere she goes. It is my honor to rise to wish Grandma Marge a ``Happy Ninetieth Birthday'' today and to thank her for her lifetime of service to her community. She is a teacher to us all, demonstrating the important values of service and citizenship. But, to the children, she is so much more: She's a member of their family; their Grandma Marge.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I congratulate and honor St. Cloud Hospital and Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota for being named to the Top 100 Hospitals list by Thomson Reuters. The people of St. Cloud and Stillwater know how great their hospitals are and I'm thrilled to see the staff members and administrations receive this recognition. The Top 100 Hospitals evaluates short-term, acute care and non- federal hospitals on the overall care of a patient, including rate of medical complications and adherence to clinical standards, fiscal responsibility and patient satisfaction. We are fortunate to have high medical standards in this country and St. Cloud and Lakeview Hospitals demonstrate day in and day out that they take the Hippocratic oath to ``do no harm'' very seriously. Lakeview Hospital was listed as a Small Community category winner. St. Cloud Hospital was recognized for its work in the Teaching Hospitals category, which only makes this hospital's achievements that much more important as it is a place where future doctors and administrators can learn how to create the best patient experience. St. Cloud Hospital was also one of 23 hospitals to receive the Everest Award, which recognizes the hospitals with the most improvement over a five-year period. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor these two institutions, St. Cloud and Lakeview Hospitals, as some of the top hospitals in the nation. Their recognition by Thomson Reuters as Top 100 Hospitals validates the pride Minnesota takes in their hospitals and other care facilities. As a small business owner working closely with the medical community, I am pleased to see that the people of St. Cloud and Stillwater have some of the best hospital care available to them in the country. Congratulations to everyone who works with these hospitals and to the communities that support them as their own.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, to congratulate and honor St. Cloud Hospital and Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota for being named to the Top 100 Hospitals list by Thomson Reuters. The people of St. Cloud and Stillwater know how great their hospitals are and I'm thrilled to see the staff members and administrations receive this recognition. The Top 100 Hospitals evaluates short-term, acute care and non- federal hospitals on the overall care of a patient, including rate of medical complications and adherence to clinical standards, fiscal responsibility and patient satisfaction. We are fortunate to have high medical standards in this country and St. Cloud and Lakeview Hospitals demonstrate day in and day out that they take the Hippocratic oath to ``do no harm'' very seriously. Lakeview Hospital was listed as a Small Community category winner. St. Cloud Hospital was recognized for its work in the Teaching Hospitals category, which only makes this hospital's achievements that much more important as it is a place where future doctors and administrators can learn how to create the best patient experience. St. Cloud Hospital was also one of 23 hospitals to receive the Everest Award, which recognizes the hospitals with the most improvement over a five-year period. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor these two institutions, St. Cloud and Lakeview Hospitals, as some of the top hospitals in the nation. Their recognition by Thomson Reuters as Top 100 Hospitals validates the pride Minnesota takes in their hospitals and other care facilities. As a small business owner working closely with the medical community, I am pleased to see that the people of St. Cloud and Stillwater have some of the best hospital care available to them in the country. Congratulations to everyone who works with these hospitals and to the communities that support them as their own.

Mr. BACHMANN

Mr. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor two truly amazing individuals, Wayne and Shannon Marklowitz of Clear Lake, as they begin to create a foster care community, ``Hope Blooms'', in Becker, Minnesota. Wayne and Shannon are working hard to provide a safe, welcoming environment for some of the 650 Minnesota children between the ages of 0 and 18 who are waiting to be placed with a foster home. And, they also hope to provide a close support network for the families that want to provide the love and care these children so desperately need. It is not often we see such dedication toward such a selfless goal, particularly amidst these troubling times when people honestly turn their focus inward. Wayne works as a fire fighter and Shannon is studying to become a counselor, so there are plenty of very legitimate excuses to hold off on this endeavor. But the inspiration of a similar program in Texas, the prayers of their family, the support of their community and their unconditional faith have moved this project closer to fruition with each day. In fact, Wayne and Shannon received their not-for-profit status from the federal government in just one month, even thought they had been told the process takes a year. Even government appears to have been inspired by their dreams. After fostering 23 children with my family, I know the personal joy a foster child can bring to a home. I am so grateful to for that gift that I received as a foster parent, and I am equally grateful to the Marklowitz' for helping other families experience that same joy. Shannon and Wayne are taking on this endeavor as a leap of faith, as they acknowledge, answering the call from Christ's apostle James, who asked true believers ``to look after the orphans and widows in distress.'' I rise to honor this amazing young couple for their faith and work to meet such important goals. The month of May has been designated as ``National Foster Care Month'' and I encourage all Americans to look into foster care options and to support the families that have foster children. The future of our country rests firmly on the shoulders of our children and the hundreds of thousands of children in foster care are an important part in carrying on the principles of freedom and community on which America was founded. I look forward to seeing the success and joy Hope Blooms brings to foster families and children in and around Becker. May God continue to bless the homes that have opened their doors to the children in need.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Colonel Richard L. Kirchner for his 29 years of service to the Civil Air Patrol. Col. Kirchner retired in February after developing the Anoka Composite Squadron and serving as its Commander three times. After joining the Civil Air Patrol in 1980, Col. Kirchner started the Anoka Composite Squadron in 1982 with just one member. Today, it stands at nearly 100 members and has produced leaders in the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force, in business and the public sector across the country. Col. Kirchner was involved with every aspect of the Civil Air Patrol including Emergency Services, Aerospace Education and the Cadet program to help develop anyone interested in civil service. I am confident that the Squadron will be led by other fine commanders and engage in new and challenging missions in years to come, standing on the firm foundation laid by Col. Kirchner. It is my privilege to honor Lieutenant Colonel Richard L. Kirchner for his three decades of dedicated service to the Civil Air Patrol and I want to thank Col. Kirchner for the role he has played in so many Minnesota lives. His commitment to honor and duty, country and community and his nurturing relationship with the members of the Squadron are a model for all of us on how to lead and teach. We are all so grateful for his service.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Let alone millions of American jobs.

Mrs. BACHMANN. I had also heard the gentleman speak last week who wrote the report on Spain, and this is the country that the President holds up as being the country we should emulate. And as the gentleman from Missouri rightly stated, 17.5 percent rate of unemployment; the largest, highest unemployment rate of all the developing countries in the world, on their way to 20 percent unemployment. And as the gentleman from Utah stated, there is 2.2 percent job loss for every job created. But the critical fact is that every job created, every green job, costs the country of Spain $770,000 per job, and these are not sustainable jobs. They are primarily installing and building windmills and solar panels. Once the installation is complete, the job goes away. That's a very expensive investment for Spain. They are only going in the direction of further increased unemployment, not in the direction of decreased unemployment.

Mrs. BACHMANN. Well, American manufacturing has been at a competitive disadvantage for years. I'm a former Federal tax litigation attorney. America has the second-highest corporate tax rate in the world, at 34 percent. Now the Federal Government is proposing to tie a cement block onto American manufacturing that would be extremely difficult to overcome. One thing that we need to consider are the corruption influences that come from manufacturers all trying to fight over scraps, you might say, of permits. Originally, the President said there would be no permits that would be auctioned off to any industry. Now what we're seeing here in the House is that certain industries, certain fossil fuel-based industries are saying, We can't survive unless we have some kind of a free pass. And so now we're hearing of backroom deals that are happening, where different industries are given free passes. All of this adds up to the American people smelling something is rotten in this deal of the cap- and-tax system,

Mrs. BACHMANN. Sure it is.

Mrs. BACHMANN. The problem is the American taxpayer, just as the banking system, the financial system, and now with energy, government is creating a problem where we don't have a problem. Government is creating a false economy where they don't have to do this. This is all to benefit governments coffers--not to benefit the American people, not to lower their energy tax bill, not to create more jobs when, just as Mr. Bishop said, we could take a completely different route. My State of Minnesota, Mr. Latta's State of Ohio will be hit especially hard with this cap-and-tax system. Why burden those who are least able to afford it--senior citizens, people who, in Minnesota, you don't have a choice. You have to turn on the furnace come October. This will be devastating to our economy, and we could have a completely different answer that would bring more money, bring more jobs by opening up all of America's energy resources. I would yield back.

Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin) for yielding. I also am delighted to be a part of this discussion on solutions. As Mr. Bishop rightly stated, there are two approaches that we are taking to America's energy solutions, and as Mr. Latta stated, we are a Nation that is filled with resources. And I am called to mind by one of our founders, you may say, of our Nation, one of the greatest orators of his time and really all of American history, Daniel Webster. Daniel Webster made a statement, and I paraphrase: Should we not recall the resources that we have been given in this land that are extraordinary, unparalleled across the world, and shouldn't we call forth those resources that we've been given to generate something wonderful in our time? I had the privilege of serving in the Minnesota State Senate. We had that quote stenciled around our beautiful rotunda, the Minnesota State Senate chamber. And as Mr. Latta stated, we have 25 percent of the world's coal. We have unlimited resources as far as nuclear power generation goes, as far as hydropower, solar, wind, but yet also natural gas, oil. All of the known reserves that we have, the United States manages to use those resources more efficiently, more cleanly than perhaps any other nation on the planet. Rather than this being one of the most expensive sources of manufacturing in the United States, energy could be one of the cheapest sources of manufacturing components. And yet the United States could be one of the leading exporters of this wonderful resource, energy. So shouldn't it be, as Daniel Webster said, that we should call forth these resources that have been given to us with the greatest benefit that we have, American ingenuity? Use those resources to the benefit, not just of America, but of mankind. And so I would agree with my colleague, Mr. Bishop. There are two ways to approach this solution, and I think that the solution that you gentlemen are speaking of this evening is the one that the American people are raising their hand to tonight saying, yes, don't tax me. In fact, bring resources into the Treasury and make my life better by being forward-looking, not backward-looking, and calling for these resources for the benefit of the American people.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Delta Battery, 216th Air Defense Artillery Battalion as it is honored with the Army's Valorous Unit Award. This award requires an immense display of courage and skill from the United States Army unit when faced with a hazardous situation. I want to congratulate every member of the Delta Battery for their contributions to the Battalion and especially for the actions that have led to earning this award. As the second highest award a Battery unit can receive, you should be proud of your efforts as individuals coming together to accomplish a mission as a team. Your heroic actions are what make America's uniformed services the pride of America. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to honor the Delta Battery, 216th Air Defense Artillery Battalion today. Their heroic acts of bravery are what keep our national values and liberties safe. Every American owes our servicemen a debt of gratitude and I hope these fine soldiers know that we appreciate all that they do.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, as the House considers H. Res. 415, I rise to honor the members of the Civil Air Patrol's Minnesota Wing for their response efforts to the flooding in the Fargo-Moorhead communities this spring. The area saw some of the worst flooding in decades and the fact that so many homes and families were protected is a direct result of courageous and caring volunteers like those of the Civil Air Patrol. The Minnesota Wing sent 122 volunteers into the area to fill and place thousands of sandbags in an unprecedented protection effort. These volunteers also flew aerial damage assessment missions and staffed a mission base in Fargo just when the worst flooding fears were coming true. As the Red River rose higher than anyone expected, these men, women and teenage cadets stepped up their efforts to help their neighbors in their most desperate time of need. I rise today, Madam Speaker, to support H. Res. 415 and to honor the members of the Minnesota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol who crossed flooded and snow-covered roads to answer their neighbors' call for help. The motto of the Civil Air Patrol is ``Citizens Serving Communities: Above and Beyond'' and I can think of no group that embodies this slogan better.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. That's right. There is. But I'd say to the Members, there's an unprecedented number of homeowners that are delinquent on their mortgages and entering foreclosures. In fact, the Mortgage Bankers Association estimates that at least 11 percent of the mortgages now are delinquent and will probably go into foreclosure. This is creating really a desperate situation across the country. Unfortunately, as all desperate situations, this situation has created opportunities for scam artists to take advantage of homeowners in desperate situations through so-called foreclosure rescue schemes. My amendment is designed to at least offer some protection to those homeowners from being victimized in this way. It's just amazing that, whether it was in Katrina or other natural disasters or gas shortages, that people seem to take advantage and act their worst during times of struggle and crisis. This amendment allows mortgage servicers to work together with the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, which is a congressionally chartered organization, to make delinquent borrowers aware that they may be targets of fraud and inform them on how best to protect themselves. The amendment is funded by dedicating 10 percent of the funds authorized under section 404 to this much needed form of housing counseling. Many scam artists use publicly available information about defaults and foreclosures starts to contact troubled borrowers. In States with judicial foreclosures, lenders file a foreclosure action in a local court. In States where there's nonjudicial foreclosure regimes, lenders file a notice of default with the county recorder. All these records are available to the public and provide raw material for fraud artists to prey upon troubled borrowers. In a classic loan modification scam, borrowers are duped into paying up-front fees for a loan modification that never occurs. In some cases, borrowers are told that in order to complete a mortgage refinancing needed to avoid foreclosure, they must sign over the title of the property. Another scam promises homeowners they can stay in their home as renters and buy back their properties at a later date. On February 10, 2009, the administration released the Home Affordable Refinance Program and a Home Affordable Modification Program. Unfortunately, with the introduction of these new programs, unscrupulous persons or companies have yet again found new opportunities to defraud unsuspecting borrowers. In fact, April 6, about a month ago, Treasury's FinCEN announced guidance to financial institutions on filing suspicious activity reports regarding loan modification and foreclosure rescue scams.

Mrs. BACHMANN. I rise in opposition to this amendment, which strips down language in the bill designed to keep tax dollars from falling into the hands of organizations indicted for voter fraud or its related crimes. It was last week during our Financial Services Committee markup of the underlying bill, I offered a straightforward amendment to limit eligibility for the housing counseling grants and the legal assistance grants authorized by the bill to exclude organizations indicted for voter fraud or that employed people indicted for such crimes. Plain and simple, Mr. Chair, it should sound familiar to everyone here in this Chamber, because the exact same language was passed as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 to prohibit groups, such as ACORN, from obtaining taxpayer-funded grants. 272 Members of this body, including the gentleman from Massachusetts who just spoke, voted for that legislation, which became law last July. But not only is it legitimate for Congress to decide the threshold for accessing taxpayer funds, it's incumbent upon this body to do so in our fiduciary capacity to the taxpayers of this great country. And for far too long Congress has cavalierly distributed taxpayer money. Every day we can go on record saying we will no longer set the bar this low. We are all saying, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. But ACORN and organizations like it have fooled us not once, not twice, but seemingly after every election. The stories of their indictments for voter fraud for violating their tax status for voter registration improprieties abound. Grand juries across the Nation have found them and their employees lacking. Yet we continue to funnel millions of dollars to their coffers. Just last week, on Monday, the headlines out of Nevada read ``39 counts of voter registration fraud against ACORN and two of its former employees.'' It was just several hours ago, hot off the presses, that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported breaking news, an Allegheny County district attorney charged seven employees with ACORN ``with forgery and election law violations, saying they filed hundreds of fraudulent voter registrations during last year's general election.'' Can't this body do something about this, Mr. Chairman? How many felony charges does it take to see that this organization has violated the public trust? Congress isn't the arbitrator of guilt or innocence. Congress does decide to spend the people's money. At what point do we finally say that this organization is simply not worthy of the hard-earned money of the American people. According to recent testimony at the House Judiciary Committee, ACORN has been under investigation in States, for, among other things, violations of the Tax Code, 501(c)(3); violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971; fraudulent voter registration activities; and failure to comply with State law in voter registration drives. And here are just a few more headlines of late: January, 2009, a voter registration worker for ACORN in East Saint Louis was indicted on two counts of voter fraud for submitting forged cards for residents at nursing homes without their knowledge. According to the AP in October of 2008, ``a suburban Philadelphia man was charged with forgery, allegedly altering 18 voter-registration applications during his employment with an organization [ACORN] whose voter-outreach efforts have become a flash point in the presidential campaign.'' CNN reported October 28 about an ACORN worker who helped register nearly 2,000 voters for the community group ACORN, not one of them actually existing, and he was convicted last year and spent nearly 3 months in prison. The gentleman from Massachusetts says that his amendment is about due process. But I am sorry, Mr. Chairman, the American people are smarter than that. They deserve better than such an oratory sleight of hand. His amendment is about our duty as stewards of the taxpayers' dollar and mine. Others say this is about the importance of the underlying grant program. But there are plenty of legitimate law-abiding nonprofits who have never seen an indictment that could still apply for these grants. The bottom line is this: either you're against allowing organizations that engage in or employ individuals under investigation for voter fraud to receive tax dollars, or you aren't. Mr. Chair, our votes on this amendment make our positions crystal clear to the people we serve. Are we on the people's side or are we on ACORN's side? We owe it to our constituents who are already tired, frustrated, and outraged by this cycle of spending and bailout and taxing and borrowing to at least show them that we aren't going to pick their pockets to fund groups that are about abusing their trust over and over again. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank the gentleman from Texas for his work and also for yielding to me this morning. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and to the underlying bill. H.R. 1728 is far-reaching legislation, and it will significantly restrict access to credit for consumers and it will ultimately hurt consumers across the Nation, the very people that this bill seeks to help. At a time when the financial markets are still fragile and they are working so hard to recover, I want to caution my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who support this bill and hope that they will think about the potential, even if unintended, consequences that this legislation could provoke. It sounds good and it makes a great sound bite, but I am afraid that it will deliver a very dramatic blow to consumers all across our very fragile economy. The bill imposes harsh penalties on lenders for violations of vaguely defined and, some would even say, undefined lending standards. For instance, how does one truly define what a net tangible benefit to the consumer is or what a reasonable ability to pay really means? The bill leaves it up to banking regulators to determine answers to these questions. But we all know, and we should be concerned about how they might define such vague terms and what criteria they might choose to apply. Every person's financial circumstances are different, and they don't lend themselves to a broad rulemaking process. During the committee consideration of this bill, I asked these questions to Sara Braunstein. She is the Director of the Division of Consumer and Community Affairs over at the Federal Reserve. And I asked her how the Fed and others would define these terms, and it wasn't surprising, really. She stressed how challenging it would be to define them, but promised that the Fed would try. It is not hard to see how their trying would simply open the door to a barrage of lawsuits. That is how this works. And that outcome will ultimately restrict access to credit for families all across our country. But even more troubling is that the bill would take this lack of clarity just one step further, and it would say that assignees and securitizers must also comply with these same standards when they purchase or assign loans. So let's remember that these are parties that were not at the table when the loan originated. Think about that. The last thing our economy and our housing markets need as they struggle to recover is an unknown, widespread shadow of liability cast over them, and one that their government puts over them, by the way. The uncertainties that will stem from this provision pose serious threats to liquidity and our already fragile financial marketplace. We should be looking for ways to help ease liquidity pressures, not forge greater obstacles. And, on principle, how can we expect those who had nothing to do with the loan origination to be held responsible for it later on? It goes against the very principles of law that our Nation is founded on. And I fear the chilling effect this would have on the housing market, and this is not a good time to do more harm than good to the housing market. I would also like to point out that during our committee markup of the bill I offered an amendment to prevent organizations that have been indicted for voter fraud or who employ people who have been indicted for such crimes from being eligible for housing counseling grants and foreclosure legal assistance grants authorized by the underlying bill. I was very pleased when the gentleman from Massachusetts and our committee Chair accepted the amendment right in front of the whole committee and the amendment was passed unanimously by voice vote. I assumed the easy passage was because my amendment used the very same language that this body approved last year as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. So you can imagine, I was quite surprised when later in that markup, during the day, the committee chairman flipped his position and said he wanted to strip down the amendment and that he would move to amend the language himself during House consideration. Apparently, the intention might be to lower the bar so that organizations continue to have access to taxpayer money even after they have been involved with defrauding the American people and violating the American trust not just once, not just twice, but repeatedly, after almost every election cycle. So make no mistake about it. The Chair will talk today about the bedrock legal principle of innocence until proven guilty, but that is not what this is about. The language in the bill today doesn't jeopardize that principle at all. Decisions on criminal guilt will remain in the capable hands of a jury of peers. That is where it should. But it is not only legitimate for Congress to decide the threshold for accessing taxpayer funds, it is incumbent upon us to do so. We have a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers of this country, and for too long Congress has cavalierly distributed taxpayer money. Today, each and every one of us can go on record saying we will no longer set the bar so low; that we will require organizations that want to use taxpayer funds to prove that they are worthy of the taxpayers' trust. There's a saying: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. ACORN and organizations like it have fooled us not once, not twice, but over and over again. The stories of their indictments for voter fraud for violating their tax status, for voter registration improprieties abound. Grand juries across the nation have found them and their employees lacking. Yet, we continue to funnel millions of dollars into their coffers. Just this week, in fact, the headlines out of Nevada were 39 counts of voter registration fraud against ACORN and two of its former employees. How many felony charges does it take to see that this organization has violated the public trust? Congress is not the arbiter of guilt or innocence; but Congress does decide how to spend the people's money. At what point do we say that this organization is not worthy of the hard- earned bucks of the American taxpayer? The amendment offered by the gentleman from Massachusetts has been made in order under today's rule and if passed it will eviscerate the taxpayer protections in the underlying bill. I look forward to further debating this issue later today and I urge my colleagues to make clear today that they stand with the people, not with ACORN.

Mrs. BACHMANN

Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor three people and companies that embody both the spirit of American entrepreneurship and the heart of American public service: John W. McDowall, owner of the McDowall Company, The Mahowald Insurance Agency, and Byron Bjorklund, owner of Short Stop Custom Catering. Today, they will be honored by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce for their outstanding success and positive contributions to the St. Cloud community. I want to congratulate John W. McDowall, this year's recipient of the Chamber's Entrepreneurial Success Award. Mr. McDowall joined the family business after graduating high school in 1973 and worked his way up the ladder until being named President in 1999. Today, this construction company employs 130 individuals and continues to earn an impressive profit despite unexpected price increases and a sluggish economy. In addition to running a successful business, Mr. McDowall contributes to the community through his involvement on numerous boards, including Bremer, St. Cloud Technical College, St. Cloud Opportunities, and the Boys and Girls Club. I also want to recognize The Mahowald Insurance Agency for earning the Chamber's Mark of Excellence Award. The family-owned business, which has been passed to four generations, began in 1930 when Anthony Mahowald started going door to door every week collecting premiums for life insurance polices he sold. When Tony's son, Robert Mahowald, took over in 1956, he expanded the agency beyond personal insurance coverage. The Mahowald Insurance Agency serves people, businesses, and even the schools of the St. Cloud area--and hopefully for many generations to come. Last but not least, I want to recognize Byron Bjorklund, owner of the Short Stop Custom Catering and the 2009 St. Cloud Area Small Business Person on the Year. Beginning his career at the young age of 11, Mr. Bjorklund started in the fast food industry and in 1995, his business evolved into a catering service. He has experienced a nearly 25 percent growth by establishing solid relationships with a variety of businesses and organizations. And thanks to his entrepreneurship, more than 100 people have full-or part-time employment. Madam Speaker, I applaud these outstanding individuals and businesses who have worked hard to achieve the American dream of free enterprise and serve our community by ensuring small businesses remain the job engine of America.