John Conyers

Mr. CONYERS

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

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 25) granting the consent and approval of Congress to amendments made by the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact.

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. This jurisdiction comes to the Judiciary Committee under the commerce clause, which says that all compacts must come through the committee. The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is being replaced with the District of Columbia agency with oversight of matters relating to the commission. The State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia is being replaced with the Commonwealth's Department of Motor Vehicles. There are a number of our colleagues in the Senate that should be thanked for helping expedite this matter: Senators Cardin, Mikulski, Mark Warner, and Jim Webb. We are grateful to them all. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution because it is obviously in the interests of all that this commission be governed by a three-member board with one representative each from the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the State of Maryland. I urge its support. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CONYERS. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4994, the ``Tax Assistance Act of 2010.'' With Tax Day around the corner, this Congress is continuing to build on its strong tax cutting record by instituting a series of commonsense tax cuts and credits. Among other things, this bill will require the IRS to pay interest when it sends taxpayer refunds late and end the outdated practice of requiring businesses to keep cumbersome records related to their cell phone use. It will also make Tax Day less stressful in 2011, by allowing the IRS to provide additional help to low income filers. In addition to the commonsense, pro-business tax cuts found in this bill, this Tax Day, Americans across the country will also be able to enjoy the $800 billion in tax cuts aimed at working families enacted by this Congress. These include the Recovery Act, the largest health care tax cut in history, and tax credits and accelerated write offs for small businesses. Even Bruce Bartlett, President Reagan's domestic policy advisor, noted that ``federal taxes are very considerably lower by every measure since Obama became president.'' As Americans file their 2009 income taxes, they may qualify for a series of other generous tax cuts--for example, you could save money for attending college, making energy-saving home improvements, purchasing a home for the first time, or buying a new car. Other benefits being claimed this year include: The Making Work Pay tax credit--95 percent of working families are already receiving the Recovery Act's Making Work Pay tax credit of $400 for an individual or $800 for married couples filing jointly in their 2009 paychecks--and will continue to see these benefits in 2010. Expanded family tax credits--moderate income families with children may be eligible for an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit and the additional Child Tax Credit. Tax-free unemployment benefits--thanks to the Recovery Act, individuals who received unemployment insurance in 2009 do not have to pay taxes on the first $2,400 of such earnings. I firmly believe that unemployment benefits should never be taxed and I pledge to work in the coming tax year to enact legislation that would do away with this tax forever. In the meantime, I will continue to work with my colleagues to enact additional middle class tax cuts, like the Recovery Act and the Tax Assistance Act of 2010. I encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 1246 with a heavy heart to express my deepest condolences to the country of Poland, its people, and the Polish American community. This weekend the country of Poland suffered a tragic loss. Saturday, I awoke to news that the president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, Poland's first lady Maria Kaczynski, President of the Polish central bank, Slawomir Skrzypek, and many other high ranking military officials all died in a plane crash. The President and these other leaders were in route to Russia to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the tragic massacre at Katyn. Although these leaders will be missed, I have faith that many talented people in Poland will help their country emerge from this time of sorrow and mourning. I want to let the people of the country of Poland know that I and Metro Detroit's Polish American community extend our deepest sorrow and extend to you our thoughts and prayers in your time of need.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 4849, the ``Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act of 2010.'' Today's legislation would provide much needed tax relief to small businesses, as well as assistance to states for infrastructure projects, housing tax credits, and direct aid for communities hit the hardest by job losses. This is a very timely bill and will provide a real benefit to States suffering through periods of unemployment, like my own State of Michigan. As we are all too aware, states have been struggling with staggering budget deficits and have painfully cut back on many vital programs. One of the important proposals within the Act would extend $2.5 billion funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Contingency Fund through 2011. TANF gives a one-time aid for needy families and subsidizes employment programs I also support provisions in H.R. 4849 that would allocate over two billion dollars in additional funding for Recovery Zone bonds and extend the popular Build America Bonds initiative. Recovery Zone bonds are low interest bonds aimed at funding investment in economically depressed areas, such as my congressional district. Build America Bonds, lauded as one of the most successful parts of the Recovery Act, are bonds with tax exemption on interest and will be extended for three years under this bill. Build America Bonds will allow for the construction of new schools, roads, environmental projects, public safety facilities, and government housing projects. Madam Speaker, this. Congress has passed sweeping legislation such as the Recovery Act, health insurance reform and fair pay for women. These actions have shown the American people that we can act in times of crisis. In this vein, I believe tax relief, coupled with aid to the States, can spur substantial job creation. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, we are facing a crisis with our young adults--many of whom are unable to find work during this economic downturn. According to the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for 16 to 19 year olds is 25 percent. This is simply unacceptable and that is why I rise in support of the ``Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010.'' This legislation, offered by my good friend, the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, will help mitigate this emergency by providing funds to summer youth programs. The bill will also ensure Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has adequate funds at its disposal to enable it to comprehensively and quickly respond to future natural disasters. Today's legislation will appropriate funds to provide 300,000 youth workers a $600 million grant this summer. Furthermore, this appropriation will fund Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) that will expand programs previously funded in the Recovery Act. I believe this is an effective way to develop our young citizens' critical leadership skills, and practical training, and in helping them become productive members of society. I believe these programs will have a positive and lasting impact in our communities. Mr. Speaker, the tragedy after hurricane Katrina highlighted the need for proper management and resources at FEMA. The proposal being considered today will give $5.1 billion to complete urgently needed projects and ensure they are fully equipped to respond to future disasters. If we are to build a better America, we need to invest in our country. I believe the proposal today will make America a stronger country and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the American people's call to pass health reform, and I urge this body to pass this historic bill. We are here at this moment, principally, because of one number: 45 million. These are the uninsured Americans, many of whom have lost their job and their health insurance in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Today's vote on this imperfect legislation is necessary because our fellow citizens desperately need access to affordable comprehensive health care services. This legislation will give them that foot in the door and pave the way for greater future reforms. America remains the only nation in the industrialized world where health care is a for-profit corporate enterprise, where approximately 45,000 uninsured people die each year from lack of coverage, and over 1 million people go bankrupt each year. Let me be clear. This is not a perfect bill. I would have preferred a different approach that covered more people. But let me address those who oppose this bill. Tomorrow, they are going to wake up and our democracy will still stand. We will continue to live in the greatest country with the hardest working, most patriotic, freedom-loving citizens on the planet. The real impact of the bill will be felt tomorrow when: Insurance companies can no longer drop a person's coverage once they become sick; The average senior citizen will gain an additional $1,727 in prescription drug coverage; and Our children cannot be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions and will be covered under our policies until they are 26. When health reform is fully enacted, approximately 31 million additional Americans will have access to health insurance, with 15 million of them receiving care via an improved Medicaid. Don't let anyone fool you--Medicare will be strengthened by this bill. The only Medicare cuts in this bill are the billions in corporate welfare subsidies to health insurance companies that provide minimal benefit to seniors. The bill takes this wasteful spending and applies these funds to benefit consumers, not insurance companies. Medicare will become more affordable, offer more comprehensive benefits, and continue to provide peace of mind to America's seniors for years to come. We will not end our efforts to improve our health system with the passage of this bill. Just as we have improved Medicare and Social Security, so too will we strengthen this initial package of reforms. Members of the Senate Leadership have made it clear they will revisit the idea of a public health insurance plan this year. I call on my fellow progressives to hold firm in our insistence on such a vote. The health insurance monopolies fear the competition an efficient not-for- profit public health insurance plan would provide and that is exactly why we must have an up or down vote on this proposal. I support a public health option because I fundamentally believe in the value of public health insurance. For this reason, I remain an ardent supporter of universal single-payer health care. This system has successfully provided quality, affordable, and cost-effective health care wherever implemented, whether with Medicare, the U.S. military, Europe, Taiwan, or Japan. Adoption of a single-payer system is the only long-term means to eliminate the corporate-medical-industrial-complex which threatens to undermine our health system with continued rising costs and an insatiable desire to pass costs onto already burdened citizens. For-profit investor-owned hospitals, prescription drug companies, and medical device manufacturers are just as culpable as the health insurance industry and future reforms must seek to address the profits-first mindset that prevails in these industries. If this bill passes, we should celebrate it. Tomorrow we will begin the work to make it better--to truly secure health care as a human right.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1107, which recognizes the 189th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrates Greek and American democracy. This resolution honors the Greek republic on its 189th anniversary, but the culture of the Greek people is over three thousand years old and has been the intellectual and philosophical foundation for many democracies throughout modern history. Modern Greece is a living, breathing example of the trials and struggles of many countries over the last hundred and eighty-nine years. Greece had to remove the shackles of empire to forge its own identity and destiny. The Greek people joined the allies in their fight against fascism during World War II. In the war's aftermath, Greece was in the physical and geopolitical center of the east and west struggle in the Cold War. The Greek people and culture have also had a lasting impact in the Detroit Metropolitan area. What started out as a small group of people on Monroe Street who wanted to preserve their rich culture, has grown into a successful group of business owners and, most of all, great Detroiters. Greece is an example of the steadfast determination that all people admire. The Greek People have seen their land invaded by foreign nations, experienced coups and rebuilt after tragedy. While this happened, America stood with them offering aid and assistance. It is only fitting we celebrate this occasion with them.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on the Judiciary, I call up House Resolution 1031 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include therein extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 minutes to my friend the distinguished ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control the time on his side for purposes of debate.

Mr. CONYERS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Members of the House, it is a sad day that we must find that a Federal judge has betrayed his office and should be impeached, and yet that is our task today. It is assigned to us by the Constitution to protect the institutions of government from those who show themselves unfit to hold positions of public trust, and, of course, we take this duty very seriously. The judge in question is G. Thomas Porteous, who has cast a long shadow on the administration of justice under his watch. Your House Judiciary Committee has completed an independent investigation conducted with thoroughness by a special task force on our committee chaired by Adam Schiff, with much distinction. I also thank his co- Chair, Bob Goodlatte, and Hank Johnson, the subcommittee Chair on Judiciary from which this matter arose. Members of the House, our investigation has demonstrated that Judge Porteous has engaged in misconduct in various spheres of his public life spanning decades. His misconduct is described in detail in the report filed by our committee, which is available to any Member that wishes a copy, and our committee has subsequently voted unanimously to recommend four articles of impeachment. Our Chair of the Impeachment Task Force, Adam Schiff, is going to expand on the details. Since so many Members want time, I just want to make this opening comment: The Department of Justice and the Judicial Conference have determined that Judge Porteous had clearly committed serious misconduct in various spheres of his personal and professional life. The Judicial Conference referred the matter to the House for possible impeachment. The Fifth Circuit suspended him from sitting on the bench. This committee, through a specially appointed task force, has thoroughly and independently investigated the facts, held detailed factual hearings relating to the judge's misconduct in connection with his relationships with lawyers, in connection with his personal bankruptcy filing, and his relationship with bail bondsmen. Additional hearings included testimony from experts on judicial ethics and on the constitutional standards that surround impeachment. So the four separate articles before us today are laid out in detail and include a variety of offenses that we will go into shortly. The misconduct, I am sorry to say, easily satisfies the constitutional standard of being high crimes and misdemeanors, and clearly renders the judge unfit to continue service. I bring this resolution to the floor with regret that we are called upon to take this action, but I have no doubt that we must take action. The grounds for impeachment are overwhelmingly established, and, therefore, I urge my colleagues' careful consideration in support of the resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California, Adam Schiff, who was our task force chairman and who had ample time over these many months to display his legislative and judicial skills.

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains on both sides?

Mr. CONYERS. I yield such time as she may consume to a member of the committee, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee). (Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Mr. CONYERS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CONYERS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the very thoughtful discussion that has gone on around this matter. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4621, the ``Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act,'' and commend Representative Maloney for bringing this issue to the Floor. Like my colleague from New York, I am concerned about any mailing that could cause confusion and impact the response rate in the 2010 Census. Because of the importance of the Census, with its count determining many important calculations for federal funds and political representation, we must make every effort to ensure the integrity of the process. I believe this legislation will mitigate some of the confusion and fraudulence that could cause underreporting, especially among targeted populations. The requirement for organizations that include ``Census'' on their mailings to provide a disclaimer that they are not writing on behalf of the federal government will help our constituents know that those materials are not part of the official 2010 United States Census. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.