Elijah Cummings

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. CUMMINGS. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to clear up something that the chairman of the committee just said that is not completely accurate. Yesterday, in our committee hearing, we had Dr. Shapiro to testify. And the thing that he said was that when regulations are created, they are created in favor of protecting the health, welfare, and safety of American people. And basically, what he was saying is that we want to make sure that while you look at the cost-benefit analysis, you've got to understand that sometimes it's kind of hard to quantify the benefit of not seeing a baby strangled in a crib, the benefit of making sure that people have clean water, the benefit of making sure that when we eat food that that food is healthy and that it's not poison, the benefit of seeing that if we eat a piece of fish that it's not filled with pfiesteria. Those are the kinds of things that he was talking about. And so he wasn't saying that we should not look at it. What basically he was saying is that you've got to understand that when we came to this Congress and we put our hands up and we swore, we swore that we would protect Americans. And that's what this is all about.

Mr. CUMMINGS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as the ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I rise in support of H. Res. 72. In fact, Madam Speaker, all of the ranking members of the committees that are debating H. Res. 72 have also joined me in expressing their support for this resolution. I believe that we should take every opportunity to thoughtfully and comprehensively reform regulations to ensure that they protect the health and welfare of the American people while not unduly impeding job creation. Obviously, however, this resolution is unnecessary. Our committee already convened a hearing on this exact topic just yesterday. We also adopted an oversight plan that specifically addresses the topic. So spending 10 hours debating this noncontroversial resolution does not seem to be the best use of Members' time. Importantly, any meaningful discussion of regulatory reform must be based on a comprehensive examination that considers the costs and benefits of regulations, that develops conclusions based on solid data, and that seeks input from a wide variety of sources. President Obama launched such an examination when he issued an executive order last month requiring agencies to examine the costs and the benefits of regulations to the overall economy, to small businesses, and to American workers and families. Several of the witnesses who appeared before the committee yesterday testified that the President's initiative is an important first step. By the way, these were the witnesses that were called by the majority. I look forward to receiving the results of the President's review. I hope that our committee will also undertake a balanced and thoughtful evaluation of regulations. And now, instead of wasting 2 days debating a resolution we all agree with, we should use our valuable floor time to consider legislation that will actually create jobs. With our national unemployment rate at 9 percent, and even higher among minority communities--and as I told my committee yesterday, there are areas in my district where the unemployment rate probably approaches anywhere from 20 to 35 to 40 percent--we should be focusing on concrete proposals to get our economy moving. That's what America wants, that's what America sent us here for, and that's what we should be about the business of doing. In his State of the Union message, the President proposed an initiative to create jobs and encourage economic growth through the modernization of our Nation's infrastructure. And on January 26, the President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Tomas Donohue, and the President of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, issued a rare joint statement applauding this proposal. Here is what they said: ``Whether it is building roads, bridges, high-speed broadband, energy systems and schools, these projects not only create jobs and demand for businesses, they are an investment in building the modern infrastructure our country needs to compete in a global economy.'' Similarly, in a study released by the National Transportation Policy Project in January 2011, Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Martin Wachs concluded after extensive analysis, quote, wise and well-targeted expenditures on transportation infrastructure can generate lasting productivity gains, while also providing a more immediate stimulus to accelerate the Nation's ongoing recovery from a devastating recession. These are exactly the kinds of bipartisan efforts our committee and the Congress should be supporting. For this reason, I wrote yesterday to the chairman of the committee, Congressman Issa, asking that we schedule a hearing on these issues, these job-creating issues. I asked that we invite the Chamber, the AFL-CIO, and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. I hope we will follow through on that idea. I think it would be a lot more productive than the debate we are having here today on this noncontroversial issue. Importantly, as we consider such investments, we must also ensure that programs are in place to support small and minority-owned businesses that are so critical to the success of our economy. According to a report published in September 2010 by the Joint Economic Committee, three out of every four workers in the United States are hired by a firm with fewer than 250 employees. These small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy, have struggled over the past 2 years with a lack of access to capital. And minority-owned businesses are particularly limited by their access to bonding. I would ask that the majority join us in trying to find ways to make sure that these businesses have an opportunity to be bonded. This is an issue that I started working on 30 years ago, and we see roadblock after roadblock with regard to bonding for small and minority businesses and women-owned businesses. We see it over and over and over again. That's what we need to be dealing with. Those are the kind of things. And another thing that we find is that if you were to go into my district and bring together small businesses of all kinds, they would tell you that the thing that's stopping them from hiring people is things like access to capital. Many of them have had their lines of credit taken away. That's very significant. Anybody who has run a small business knows that a line of credit is essential and is extremely important for those small businesses to survive. And so, if we want to talk about trying to create jobs, which we should be, then I would hope that we would address that issue today. And so with regard to bonding, I am introducing legislation that would expand the Department of Transportation's ability to assist disadvantaged business enterprises working in the transportation industry in obtaining bid, payment, and performance bonds. This legislation would also create a program through which up to five States could receive Federal funding to implement their own bonding assistance programs. If the Republican leadership is serious, and I mean if they are really serious about creating jobs and making investment in our Nation's future, they should schedule time on the floor to consider legislation like this, rather than squandering days on pointless debates guaranteed to create zero jobs. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. CUMMINGS. I would just say one thing to the gentleman who just spoke, which is that we agree with the gentleman from Maryland. We want a comprehensive look at these regulations. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you in fervent opposition to the bill we are considering today. I have heard from many of my constituents and small business owners who are grateful for the benefits of this law. Children with preexisting conditions are no longer being denied access to private health insurance. Maryland small businesses offering health insurance to their employees are eligible for a 35 percent tax credit. Further, as ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I note that repealing this law would also eliminate the new private health plan currently providing coverage for many uninsured Americans with preexisting conditions. I find it repugnant that Republicans want to strip Americans of this law's protections that will save the lives of our fellow citizens. I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, like every speaker today, I rise with a very heavy heart. Our friend Gabrielle Giffords lies in a hospital bed, fighting desperately for her life. At the same time, dozens are in mourning for those killed in the senseless slaughter, including Judge John Roll and our own Gabe Zimmerman--Congresswoman Giffords' director of public outreach. We join them in a grieving process that is painful beyond words. To those families, particularly that of Gabe's, who reached out in Gabby's voice each and every day, we weep for your loss and know of the constant ache left in your hearts by the sudden loss of those you loved, and we are blessed to join you in the celebration of their lives. As we mourn those who were lost, we triumph, with equal emotion, in miracles. By the mercy of God and the swift hands of our medical heroes, Gabrielle Giffords and many of those wounded by this madman have been saved. When I heard of this tragedy, I immediately asked the question that each of us here must have wondered dozens of times: How could anyone hate or seek to harm this wonderful public servant, this beautiful person, who has never spoken a cross word or shown a downcast expression throughout her time in this great House? Though these answers are painfully slow in coming, I pray her return to the warm embrace of her family will be swift. More selfishly, because she is my friend and because I see in her the pure heart of a servant, I pray she will return to this Chamber as soon as possible to continue her work for the people of Arizona, whom she so treasures. Gabby knows at her core that she is an ordinary lady called to an extraordinary mission. Gabby, you are a champion among champions, a friend among friends, and a fighter among fighters for the common good. We are all pulling for you. Get well soon. We can't wait to have you back.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I rise in fervent opposition to this rule. Despite ardent promises from Republicans that all bills would be considered under regular order, this resolution has neither been debated nor voted on by a single committee of jurisdiction. Additionally, the recently passed Republican rules package requires that all legislation be fully paid for--and yet the Republican leadership has already publicly declared that they have no intention of paying for what is estimated to be a $230 billion increase in the deficit that the repeal of health reform would create by 2021, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Worse than the Republicans' already broken promises are what this rule and the underlying resolution would do to children, to seniors, and to all Americans who are suffering from illnesses. I strongly oppose this rule.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of concurring in a Senate amendment to H.R. 2965 with an amendment that is known as the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. I commend Congressman Murphy and Leader Hoyer for their efforts on this legislation, and applaud Speaker Pelosi for bringing it to the floor. The ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy has been ill-conceived policy from the start--it is discriminatory on its face, and harmful to the gay and lesbian uniformed servicemembers that are forced to keep their sexual orientation from their friends, their coworkers, and their superior officers. Further, these military members are currently subject to discharge from the military if it is uncovered that they have participated in any activity that may be perceived to be associated with homosexuality. Put simply, any policy that would go this far to discriminate against a particular group is just wrong. To date, thousands of brave servicemembers--including individuals who have risked their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq--have been discharged simply because of their sexual orientation. In recent months, members of Congress have researched this issue in- depth--a Department of Defense survey was requested, and both the House and the Senate have held hearings on the issue. In a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing in February of this year, Defense Secretary Gates, and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke out against the policy. Secretary Gates has remained steadfast in urging that Congress act to repeal this policy in an orderly manner. Further evidence supporting repeal came on November 30th, when the results of a Department of Defense survey on ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' were released. The study showed that 70 percent--an overwhelming majority--of servicemembers believe that a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell would be positive, mixed, or of no consequence. Because Congress has been slow to act on this matter, the courts have become involved, and now stand to potentially declare ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' unconstitutional if we do not act. Secretary Gates has warned that judicial repeal will put an administrative burden on the Department of Defense, and has asserted that Congressional action is most favorable. I believe that the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy poses an unnecessary threat to our national security and that the time has come for this policy to end. I urge my fellow members of Congress to join me to repeal this harmful and discriminatory policy.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. I too come here tonight to honor my good friend Chairman Oberstar, and I honor him for all that he is and all that he's not. Chairman Oberstar is definitely a pursuer of excellence. Everything he does, he does it to the highest level, and he realizes how important excellence is. I have talked to his staff. I've worked with him, and his staff tells me that if a comma is out of place, they've got a problem. And that's so very significant because one of the things that he talks often about is how we have moved in our country in so many ways to cultures of mediocrity, and we have to get away from that. And so he is a pursuer of excellence. But he also is a builder. He's not only a builder of bridges and roads, but he is a builder of people. And I am one who has benefited from his handiwork. I will never forget when he and I were working on several projects and I, as chairman of the Coast Guard Subcommittee, he constantly showed me the way to be a stronger and a better chairman. He always had high expectations of me. And because of my respect for him, I wanted to be better, and I became better. And I know that I will go to my grave being thankful for the way he has touched my life. Finally, he is a visionary. He doesn't worry so much about the next election. He worried more about the next generation. He understood that the bridges still had to stand when he is long gone. He understood that there would be roads that would be built for children who have not yet been born. And he acted every day to make sure that that happened, and that they were done in an excellent way. So I have come to honor my good friend. I thank God so very, very much for allowing my life to eclipse with his. Little did I know that a young man and the son of former sharecroppers would meet a man from Minnesota who bikes all the time and that our lives would come together and mesh together and mine would become better. So I thank God for his life, but more important, I thank God for his journey.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. 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. 6516.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6516) to make technical corrections to provisions of law enacted by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6516, to make technical corrections to provisions of law enacted by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 is the first Coast Guard authorizing legislation to become law since 2006. This law represents years of hard work toward improving the service's capabilities by addressing the following issues: oil pollution prevention, acquisition reform, port security, marine safety, and the Coast Guard's organizational structure. This law also protects the public and our environment by prohibiting the sale, distribution, and use of toxic anti-fouling systems for hulls of ships and marine structures. I am very proud of the work of so many who contributed to this important piece of maritime legislation. However, after the bill was enacted, we identified a small number of technical drafting errors. H.R. 6516 corrects those minor errors. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6516. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. I applaud Chairman Miller for his efforts on this legislation, and commend Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer for bringing this legislation to the floor. I also commend First Lady Michelle Obama for her leadership on this initiative. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 expands access to school meal programs to thousands of children across the country. In addition to reauthorizing all expiring authorities and programs in the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act, it will also assist all 50 states in providing meals for at-risk youth after school. This bill contains several innovations in food delivery and safety for young people at school. Importantly, S. 3307 will increase funding for school lunches, increase access to free school meals, improve school meal nutrition standards, expand food service for summer and outside-of-school programs, implement food safety requirements for food served on school campuses, help innovate the WIC program, introduce new nutrition and healthy living standards, and fund state and local initiatives to eliminate childhood hunger. Each day, millions of our young people go hungry, or consume food that is detrimental to their bodies and their minds. For many children, the meals they receive at school may be the only balanced, nutritious meal they have all day. A healthy diet is absolutely essential to a healthy life. Through health care reform, we have already taken steps to cultivate a culture of preventive care; this is another part of our effort to ensure that our children can realize their full potential. The First Lady's Let's Move initiative has also played an important role in spotlighting the steps that can improve our children's health, including the vital role that exercise plays in a healthful lifestyle. It is now our job in Congress to continue to support the important work done through this campaign by supporting this legislation. I am proud to support this legislation, because I know what a profound effect this will have on many children's lives. However, while I do strongly support the legislation that is in front of us today, I am concerned with cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that are on the horizon. We are taking steps now that will make our young people happier, healthier, and more productive individuals, but we must not forget that the SNAP program benefits many of the same children--and their families--that we are trying to help today. For that reason, it must be our priority to fully fund the SNAP program in the coming years. That said, I am eager to see S. 3307 passed, and I am confident that this is indeed landmark legislation that will ensure our children can be all that God meant them to be--and I urge its adoption.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. True leaders. Jim Oberstar is one who we know that even in those moments, as the Greek theologian Swindoll said, when he was unseen, unnoticed, unappreciated and unapplauded that he still did the right thing. That's what leadership is all about. Generations will be better off because Chairman Oberstar touched our lives. I wish him well.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding, and I certainly support the legislation, but I wanted to take a moment to express my thankfulness to the gentleman from Minnesota, Chairman Oberstar. You know, so often we look at our lives and we question how they will intersect with other people's lives. And we hope that when those intersections come about that we are made a better person because of them. And I can say that when my life eclipsed with that of Jim Oberstar's, my life became a better life. As the chairman of the Coast Guard subcommittee, the gentleman from Minnesota was consistently there guiding, showing me the ropes and giving me an opportunity to be all that I could be. It's not every chairman that does that, that says, I'm going to allow you to be all that you can be and then give you the guidance to get there, and then support you throughout. I've learned a lot in all my years, and it's been about 15 years on that committee, from our chairman. But there is also the thing that a number of other people have already said. I've been just amazed with his leadership and his passion with regard to the issues of aviation, the Coast Guard, water, rail, and all of our other subjects. Not only is he a walking encyclopedia, but he is also one who brings a strong history to those issues and has been truly a professor, a guide and a true leader. They say that leaders, people want to follow people who have integrity, who have commitment, who will go the extra mile.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the motion to concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 4783. I applaud Chairman Rahall for his work on this legislation and commend Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer for bringing this legislation to the floor. The Senate amendments to H.R. 4783 include, among other provisions, the funds necessary to implement settlements reached in the Pigford case brought by black farmers who were discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, between 1983 and 1997. These farmers were denied farm loans and related financial assistance--such as disaster assistance--or were forced to wait so long to receive such assistance that many of them suffered significant financial loss and even the foreclosure of their property. Perhaps not surprisingly given how the USDA had already treated them, many of these farmers were subsequently unable to obtain justice from the USDA when they brought discrimination complaints to the agency. Multiple studies of the USDA's lending process revealed the scope of the discrimination inherent in the USDA's practices, showing that the agency awarded a disproportionate portion of aid to white farmers and even to major corporations--and had made significantly larger awards to white farmers. Discrepancies were noted particularly in the provision of disaster assistance payments. I note that according to the 2007 Census, the average annual market value of African American-owned farms was less than $31,000. By comparison, the average value of farms owned by white farmers exceeded $140,000--and many of the corporations that were receiving USDA payments were worth millions of dollars. While the USDA changed its practices in the late 1990s, the agency remained unable or simply unwilling to rectify the harm its discriminatory action had caused to black farmers--leading Timothy Pigford to file a class action lawsuit seeking relief. A settlement resolving this suit was approved in 1999--and according to the Congressional Research Service, as of September 2010, nearly 7,000 of the 22,721 farmers eligible to join this class action suit had received approved adjudications. However, many thousands more who suffered discrimination and were eligible to receive a settlement have still not received an adjudication--or missed the deadline to submit a claim under the original settlement. Subsequently, Congress enacted legislation permitting those who had not received a determination to petition for one in civil court. And in February of this year, the Obama administration reached a $1.25 billion settlement of these so-called ``Pigford II'' claims. The Senate amendments to H.R. 4783 include the funds necessary to pay these claims and bring closure to thousands of families who have waited for so many years for this restitution. I note that the Senate amendments also include the funds necessary to resolve suits brought by Native Americans pertaining to the mismanagement by the Department of the Interior of natural resource royalty funds. The finalization of these funds is a critical step that we take as a nation to show the world that we are truly committed to equality, and that we are a nation where every person is treated fairly, regardless of race, creed or color. We are also a nation where even the Federal Government is not above the law--as evidenced by the payment of reparations to those who have been harmed by the government's illegal and discriminatory acts. I urge the adoption of the Senate amendments to H.R. 4783.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The Senate Judiciary Committee raised concerns about the drafting of section 917, which enhanced criminal penalties for individuals who fail to follow Coast Guard orders to ``heave to'' and stop their boat when they are smuggling people into the United States or when the incident results in a death, an attempt to kill, or a kidnapping. The Senate amendment clarifies those penalties and corrects cross-references in the original bill. The other concern raised by the Senate Judiciary Committee is if the Coast Guard uses the subpoena authority in this act without coordinating that action with the Attorney General, it could compromise a criminal investigation. The Senate amendment addresses that concern by requiring the Coast Guard to coordinate its subpoenas under this act with the Attorney General.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1665, which provides for concurrence by the House in the Senate Amendments to H.R. 3619, with amendments. The Coast Guard reauthorization before us is the product of four years of work. I commend Chairman Oberstar for his leadership and Ranking Members Mica and LoBiondo on the Transportation Committee for working so closely with us. I also thank Chairman Bennie Thompson and Ranking Member King of the Homeland Security Committee--and I thank all of our Senate counterparts for their commitment to completing this authorization. I have often described the Coast Guard as our ``thin blue line'' at sea. That line has rarely been stretched as thin as it was this past year as the service responded to the Gulf oil spill and the earthquake in Haiti while carrying out its other daily missions. H.R. 3619 authorizes $10.2 billion in fiscal year 2011 for the Coast Guard and increases the authorized end-strength for military personnel by 1,500 members to 47,000 total personnel. This is a small down-payment on what we owe our Coast Guardsmen and women--and it is long overdue. This legislation also includes a number of finely tuned provisions strengthening the Coast Guard's implementation and management of its many missions. Title IV of this legislation, which includes provisions I authored and that previously passed the House as H.R. 1665, will modernize the Coast Guard's management of its billion dollar annual acquisition program by imposing requirements that complement reforms the Coast Guard has already enacted and ensure full accountability for taxpayer funds. Specifically, Title IV will require the appointment of a chief acquisition officer who can be a senior military officer or member of the senior executive service but who must be a trained acquisition professional with the highest available acquisition certification. It will also eliminate the use of private sector lead systems integrators and require the Coast Guard to develop independent life- cycle cost estimates for its largest procurements. Further, Title IV requires the Coast Guard to complete a thorough mission needs analysis and a preliminary affordability assessment before initiating a large acquisition; it requires the Coast Guard to consider trade-offs among cost, schedule, and performance when establishing operational requirements; and it requires thorough testing of new assets. Finally, this legislation applies strict cost and schedule breach standards to Coast Guard acquisitions so that Congress will be alerted when cost overruns or schedule delays occur. H.R. 3619 will also reorganize the service's senior leadership, strengthen its marine safety program, establish safety equipment and construction standards for certain fishing vessels, and strengthen the service's homeland security missions. I am disappointed that a number of provisions in the House-passed legislation were dropped in the final bill, including provisions I authored that would have created a student loan program for maritime workers and provisions strengthening diversity at the Coast Guard Academy. I will continue to work on these critical issues, including working to move legislation that I believe addresses significant current challenges. That said, H.R. 3619 is an urgently needed authorization for the Coast Guard and I urge its passage in the House today. Finally, I also join Chairman Oberstar in commending the outstanding service of the Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, John Cullather. John is one of the true professionals on the Hill--and he will be sorely missed. His knowledge of maritime issues and of the history and missions of the Coast Guard is truly unparalleled--as is his knowledge of House procedures and his passion of service to those who work, travel, and recreate on our nation's waterways. John is also an exceptional man--a profoundly generous and caring individual who has the respect of every single person on the Transportation Committee and of everyone throughout our maritime industry. I wish John the very best as he begins his new adventures.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I introduced H.R. 5773 to name the Social Security Operations Building in Baltimore in honor of Robert ``Bob'' Ball, a man who dedicated his career to defending and strengthening Social Security and who helped to expand the safety net for our Nation's seniors by supporting the creation of Medicare. Mr. Ball's legacy of service makes it truly fitting that we designate the Social Security Operations Building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building.'' Mr. Ball helped build Social Security from the ground up. In 1939, he started working for the newly formed Social Security Board as a field assistant in Newark, New Jersey. His experiences in the field demonstrated to him that Social Security was meant to be a contract between the generations enacted to ensure that retired seniors could avoid poverty in their later years. Mr. Ball's dedication to this basic principle guided all of his future work. In 1949, Mr. Ball was appointed assistant director of the Bureau of Old Age and Survivors Insurance. He was subsequently promoted to deputy director and then acting director. Through these positions, he developed a deep technical expertise in Social Security, learned how Congress works, and developed the relationships with Members of Congress that would enable him to serve as a valued technical resource for decades. During his tenure, Mr. Ball assisted Congress members in developing the policies that have been essential to ensuring Social Security programs are run responsibly and effectively. For example, Bob Ball was the architect of the 1950 amendments raising Social Security benefits and expanding coverage to more Americans, including such groups as the self-employed, and making it easier for these groups to begin to qualify for benefits. Ball helped draft the legislation establishing Social Security disability benefits in 1956 and helped Members secure its passage even though the Eisenhower administration opposed this change. In 1957, Ball helped Representative Aime Forand draft a bill that was essentially the forerunner of the legislation that created Medicare. Ball continued to advocate for health insurance for seniors from that time until Medicare's eventual passage in 1965. For this and his subsequent work supporting the implementation of the Medicare program, he is also known as the father of Medicare. President John F. Kennedy appointed Robert M. Ball as commissioner of Social Security in 1962. Mr. Ball served in this post until 1973-- longer than anyone else prior or since. During his service as commissioner, Mr. Ball helped develop the 1972 amendments that linked benefits to inflation, ensuring that Social Security would never fail to meet basic needs. Robert M. Ball continued to serve Social Security beneficiaries even after leaving government employment through his service on several federal commissions, including the Greenspan Commission in 1983, where he helped broker a compromise that averted a financial crisis and brought decades of financial stability to the Social Security trust fund. Robert Ball was described by American Scholar magazine in 2005 as Social Security's ``biggest thinker, longest-serving commissioner and undisputed spiritual leader'' and as ``Social Security's chief advocate and defender.'' I cannot imagine a better tribute to a man who dedicated his life to the health and welfare of others than that his name be permanently attached to the building where Social Security operates. As I close, I thank my colleagues from Maryland who have co-sponsored this legislation as well as Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Member Mica, and my colleagues in the Transportation and Infrastructure committee for working with me to move this legislation. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. As I listen today, Madam Speaker, I ask the simple question, what about our children? This legislation, which I fully support, and the rule, will ensure that the millions of children who are returning to school this fall have the same opportunity to learn and to thrive as their peers did before them. It will also keep first responders on duty and fund vital Medicaid services. Economists have concluded that failure to pass this legislation will put a significant weight on our fragile economy. Nonetheless, my Republican friends continue to paint this legislation as an election season gimmick. This legislation will save more than 130,000 teacher jobs and reduce the deficit by $1.4 billion over the next 10 years. That's not a gimmick. Ensuring the education of our children and the safety of our communities is not a gimmick. The greatest threat to our national and economic security is the failure to properly educate every single one of our children.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. This amendment states that any entity--other than an individual person--with an ownership interest in a vessel, offshore or onshore facility, deepwater port, or pipeline of more than 25 percent is a responsible party under the Oil Pollution Act if the assets of the vessel or facility are insufficient to pay claims arising from oil spilled by the vessel or facility. I applaud Mr. Connolly, Mr. Holt, and Mr. Welch, and I support this amendment, which will ensure that parent companies with ownership stakes in subsidiaries to offshore facility ventures bear the costs owed by these subsidiaries for spills from the facilities if the facilities lack adequate assets to pay the claims. This will prevent such costs from being shifted to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.