Steve Chabot

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday next.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, even at a time when consumer confidence is falling and energy costs are skyrocketing and the economy is slowing, Washington is racking up huge tax surpluses. This is just more evidence that Washington is overcharging taxpayers and that we desperately need to refund the surplus to the people who created it. Even as some economists are forecasting gloom and doom, the surplus numbers since Republicans took the majority control in Congress continue to roll in. That is why the time is now to pay off the public debt and to offer tax relief to hardworking Americans. If we are to pay off the debt and provide needed tax relief for economic growth and job security and balance the budget, we must keep government spending down and get rid of the waste and the fraud and the abuse. Last year's budget, let us face it, was out of control. But this is a new White House, one that is fiscally responsible. This White House realizes we are talking about the people's money. Mr. Speaker, tax relief will result in job security and economic growth and give some of the money back to the people who earned it in the first place. Let us cut their taxes. Let us do it now.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2001. I would also like to thank the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), for his leadership in this area and for moving the bill so expeditiously through the Committee on the Judiciary to the House floor for debate. It has been debated and debated; and we have had many, many hearings on this bill, so it is clearly not being rushed. I want to also thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) for his tireless commitment to securing meaningful bankruptcy reform. The text of H.R. 333, the bill we are considering today, is the result of last spring's conference committee between the House and Senate on which I served as a conferee. This vital piece of legislation protects individuals and businesses from having to pick up the tab for irresponsible debtors, debtors who are capable of paying off a significant portion of their debts. It protects responsible consumers and requires those who can afford to pay their debts to honor their commitments. Mr. Chairman, there are people who truly have a legitimate need to declare bankruptcy. No one is denying this. At times, hard-working Americans come up against special circumstances that are beyond their control. Family illness, disability, or the loss of a spouse may necessitate the need to seek relief. This legislation effectively protects these individuals. Too frequently, however, people who have the financial ability or earnings potential to repay their debts are simply seeking an easy way out of making good on their debts. While this may prove convenient for the debtor, it is not fair to their friends and neighbors who are ultimately stuck with the bill. As has been correctly stated by previous speakers, estimates show that the average American pays as much as $550 per year as a bad debt tax in the form of higher prices and increased consumer credit interest rates to cover the economic costs associated with excessive bankruptcy filings of others. Mr. Chairman, I urge support of the bill.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, for 30 years when Democrats controlled the House of Representatives they talked about a balanced budget. But it was only talk. The debt continued to rise and we did not have a balanced budget. For many years they talked about welfare reform. But it never happened. For years Democrats talked about middle class tax relief. But they raised taxes on everybody in America, not just the middle class, but everybody. Then, 6 years ago, Republicans took over the House and we finally saw a balanced budget, we finally saw welfare reform, even though the President vetoed it twice before finally signing it into law and taking credit for it. And we have seen welfare rolls come down across country. Now that we have a balanced budget, we have a surplus. Republicans want to use that surplus to save Social Security and Medicare and give prescription drugs to seniors, to pay down the debt, and to cut taxes on everybody, especially the middle class. That is the right thing to do for America.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. A recent Bureau of Justice Statistics study estimates that there are over 283,000 mentally ill offenders incarcerated in Federal, State and local prisons and jails. In fact, according to that report, 7 percent of Federal offenders, 16 percent of State inmates, and 16 percent of those held in local jails are mentally ill. A similar percentage of persons on probation, approximately 547,000 people, also have a history of mental illness. The Bureau of Justice Statistics also has a study that revealed that mentally ill offenders have a higher rate of prior physical and sexual abuse than other inmates. They have higher incidents of alcohol and drug abuse by parents and guardians while they were children. Mentally ill offenders were more likely than other offenders to have been unemployed and homeless prior to their arrest. And these offenders are more likely than other offenders to be involved in fights with other inmates and to be charged with breaking prison rules. Over the last year, law enforcement and corrections officials, prosecutors, judges, and mental health officials have called and written to the Subcommittee on Crime to urge the subcommittee to address the problem of mentally ill offenders in the criminal justice system. In response, the Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on this issue just last month. At that hearing representatives of all these groups urged Congress to develop a special program to address the needs of these offenders so that they will be incarcerated less often and so that they will be less likely to commit repeat crimes when they are released from custody. The bill before the House today will help to do just that. This bill, introduced by Senator DeWine, of my State of Ohio in the other body, is similar to a bill introduced in the House by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland). It authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to States, State courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments for up to 100 programs that involve specialized treatment for mentally ill offenders. These programs include continuing post-conviction judicial supervision of nonviolent and misdemeanor offenders, training for law enforcement and correction officials on how to appropriately handle mentally ill offenders in their custody, and centralized case management of cases involving mentally ill or mentally retarded defendants. I believe this is a good bill. The testimony before the subcommittee from officials throughout the criminal justice system, from both Republicans and Democrats, was that by taking just a few minor steps, the government can have a great impact on the treatment of these offenders. Simply incarcerating the mentally ill is not going to address the underlying cause of their behavior, but if we deal with their illness, they are less likely to commit future crimes, and that is a result that benefits us all. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1865) to provide grants to establish demonstration mental health courts.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the Senate bill under consideration, S. 1865.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 605) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that communities should implement the Amber Plan to expedite the recovery of abducted children.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. 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.Res. 605.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 605, introduced by the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson). This resolution will express the sense of the House of Representatives that communities across the United States should implement what has become known as the Amber Plan to help find and recover children who have been abducted. Crimes committed against our children is a serious problem in the United States. Congress has played a significant role in our national struggle to protect children by providing grant money to the States to fight crime committed against children and by passing tough new Federal laws to prosecute criminals who victimize children. But of course most of the work to prevent these crimes and punish those who commit them occurs at the local level. Today Congress has an opportunity to bring national attention to an effective program working at the local level called the Amber Plan. This program, begun in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, helps save the lives of children who have been kidnapped. The Amber Plan was created in 1996 in memory of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman who was tragically kidnapped and murdered in Arlington, Texas. Because of its success in Dallas-Fort Worth, it has been replicated in communities across the country. The Amber Plan works by utilizing the national Emergency Alert System. When a child is reported abducted, the abduction, including the description of the alleged perpetrator, is immediately broadcast by local radio and television stations using the Emergency Alert System. These alerts get the word to everyone who might recognize the child or might recognize the abductor and then call the police. Since its inception, the Amber Plan has led to the safe recovery of at least nine children nationwide. The use of the Emergency Alert System to blanket broadcast areas with the news that a child has been abducted is a wonderful idea. Any time a crime such as a kidnapping is committed, quick action can make all the difference in whether the criminal gets away with his crime or is apprehended. I want to thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson) for her leadership on this issue. I urge all my colleagues to support the resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this very pro-consumer bankruptcy reform conference report. This vital legislation protects individuals and businesses from having to pick up the tab for irresponsible debtors, debtors who are capable of paying off a significant portion of their debts. This bankruptcy reform bill establishes a clear causal link between a debtor's ability to pay and the availability of Chapter 7 bankruptcy super-discharge. It requires those who can afford to pay their debts to honor their commitments. Let me emphasize at the outset that individuals who make below the median income will not be forced into Chapter 13 under this bill, although they may still voluntarily choose to file there. What this bill does do is require individuals who make above the median income and are determined to have significant repayment capabilities to file in Chapter 13. Mr. Speaker, there are people who truly have a legitimate need to declare bankruptcy. No one is denying this. At times hardworking people come up against special circumstances that are beyond their control. Family illness, disability, or the loss of a spouse may necessitate the need to seek relief. This legislation effectively protects these individuals. Too frequently, however, people who have the financial ability or earnings potential to repay their debts are simply seeking an easy way out of repaying debts. While this may prove convenient for the debtor, it is not fair to their friends and neighbors who are ultimately stuck with the bill. Estimates show that the average American pays as much as $550 per year as a bad debt tax in the form of higher prices and increased consumer credit interest rates to cover the economic costs associated with the excessive bankruptcy filings of others. Nationally, consumer bankruptcies reached a record 1.4 million in 1997 and those numbers have remained high. What makes these statistics particularly alarming is the fact that this trend began in 1994 during a time of solid economic growth, low inflation and low unemployment, during an unprecedented peacetime boom in our economy. The primary culprit of this dramatic increase in bankruptcy filings is a system that allows consumers to evade personal responsibility for their debts. Under this legislation, individuals who can pay their debts will be moved to Chapter 13 where they will be given a generous 5 years to establish a fair repayment plan and get their financial houses in order. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. McCollum) for their leadership in this area, and I urge its passage.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on International Relations and pursuant to clause 1 of rule XXII, I offer a motion.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my request for the previous question. Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the other side and 10 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the purpose is to go to conference on H.R. 2415. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the motion. Parliamentary Inquiries

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the motion. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment this morning to welcome into this world Jack Christopher Lindgren, who was born just a couple of weeks ago, on September 21. I want to congratulate his proud parents, Gary Lindgren, chief of staff in my office, and his lovely wife, Susan. I know they are delighted with their handsome baby boy. There is some good news for little Jack. Thanks to a Republican Congress, his parents will enjoy a $500 tax credit for their new child. That will help buy diapers and baby food and some of the clothing that babies seem to grow out of in a couple of weeks. But here is a dose of reality for young Jack. Because of the steadfast opposition of the Clinton-Gore administration, Jack's parents will be paying a penalty again this year to the Internal Revenue Service. Their offense? They chose to be married. When Congress tried to correct that inequity in the Tax Code this year, President Clinton said no. There is hope for all of those American families who work hard every day to pay their taxes and support their families. They will have a chance to reduce their tax burden by saying good-bye to the Clinton- Gore team. Mr. Speaker, American working families deserve a break. Let us give it to them.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, for far too long, government spending reigned supreme in Washington. Deficit spending ran rampant, the debt ballooned, and taxes skyrocketed. It was always spend first and worry about the debt later. But today Republicans are changing course and saying that paying off the debt for our children's future should be at the front of the line, not at the end of the line. Republicans are committed to paying off the national debt. We have already reduced the debt by about $350 billion and are committed to eliminating the national debt altogether. The Clinton-Gore administration vetoed relief on the marriage and death taxes. Remember? Republicans are not about to sit back and let the Democrats now spend that money. As we finalize next year's budget, we are dedicated to three core principles. Let us pay down the debt. Let us make sure Social Security and Medicare are on sound financial ground for this generation of seniors and future generations. Let us give the American people substantial tax relief. They deserve it. That is what is right for the country.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, would we go on a huge credit card spending spree if we knew that once the bill came we would leave it to our children; that they would be responsible for paying it off? Of course not. Most responsible Americans work hard to make sure they can give their kids a good life. They want to leave their children something when they die. Most responsible Americans would never dream of leaving their children a pile of debt for their inheritance. That is exactly what the Federal Government has been doing for years. For 40 years, Democrats here in Washington spent money on bigger and bigger government and created a bigger and bigger debt. They knew our children would be the ones saddled with the bill, but they just kept spending. That was wrong. Republicans are putting an end to that kind of spending spree and that kind of spend now and pay later mentality. That is why we want to pay down the debt. We want to pay off those bills so our children do not have to. Let us work together to make sure our legacy to our children is a sound economy, lower taxes, safe neighborhoods and quality schools, instead of decades worth of bad debt.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks, and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4047, the bill under consideration.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4047) to amend title 18 of the United States Code to provide life imprisonment for repeat offenders who commit sex offenses against children.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion.