Shelley Capito

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, my amendment is really quite simple. As we have heard myself talking and Members on my side of the aisle talking about the difficulties that we have with the bill, I realize that the odds are with it that it may pass out of this House. With that in mind, I would like to offer this amendment to what I think makes the bill better. My amendment would very simply direct the funds to be administered through the Office of Community Planning and Development of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This office already oversees the HOME and CDBG programs which we are very familiar with. One of the concerns that we had with the bill was creating a whole new bureaucracy within HUD to administer this program if it were to go forward. And that is problematic any time you are creating a new bureaucracy, particularly when you are replicating some of the delivery systems that already exist within HUD. Those delivery systems exist in the Office of Community Planning and Development. So with that, I would like to say that rather than the current language which just merely directs the Secretary to implement the program, I would prefer, and my amendment offers to direct those funds to be administered by the existing Office of Community Planning and Development within HUD which deals, as I said, with the CDBG program which we are all very familiar with working in a lot of our communities. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price), who is also a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I seek time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the gentleman's amendment.

Mrs. CAPITO. I yield the gentleman another 2 minutes.

Mrs. CAPITO. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam) 2 minutes.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to a member of the Financial Services Committee, Mr. Roskam from Illinois.

Mrs. CAPITO. I would like to make a comment in reference to the chairman's comments. I live in a small community, just barely over 50,000. And we have local government and State programs in effect right now that deal with foreclosed or blighted projects. They work together with the local nonprofits, with the local land owners and realtors, and we have problems that are moving forward. So to say that we're not in favor of programs that would deal with foreclosure-blighted neighborhoods I think is factually incorrect. I would like now to yield some time to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Feeney), a member of the Financial Services Committee, 3 minutes.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, today I want to thank, first of all, the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Housing, of which I'm the ranking member, for her good hard work and dedicated service. We've had a lot of hearings and a lot of information, and I think we all want to try to achieve help for the homeowners or those who are on the edge. But today I rise in opposition to H.R. 5818, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008. We all recognize that we are experiencing a sharp increase in foreclosure statistics and starts. Over the past year alone, approximately 550,000 homeowners with subprime loans began the foreclosure process. However, we shouldn't rush to act. We must guard against adopting policies which create moral hazards and unintended consequences. Unfortunately, we believe H.R. 5818, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008, is a bill which does both. H.R. 5818 is an unnecessary government intervention in the housing market which will bail out real estate speculators, servicers, and lenders while doing nothing to assist hardworking Americans struggling to make their mortgage payments. This bill will not keep one person in their mortgage or in their home. The bill does this through a $15 billion authorization for grants and loans to be used to purchase already foreclosed homes from lenders, servicers, and speculators who have made bad loans or unwise investments. The Neighborhood Stablization Act will allow investors and servicers to unload their foreclosed properties to the government with the taxpayer footing the bill. Servicers and investors might even be encouraged to pursue foreclosure if this bill is enacted. Instead of incentivizing foreclosure, Congress should be encouraging services to engage in voluntary loan work-outs and modifications. Furthermore, this bill calls on States and local governments to convert foreclosed properties into affordable rental and single-family housing. The increase in housing supply and decrease in prices creates housing affordability without government intervention. I'm also concerned that the overly broad income targeting provisions in this bill, which will allow families making 100 percent and 140 percent of area median income respectively, to rent and purchase properties acquired with funds from this act. It is not appropriate for the government to provide housing assistance to individuals who can afford market-rate housing. Congress should focus its efforts on keeping hardworking Americans in their homes. We should not unnecessarily intervene in the housing market in the process of adjustment after years of what has proved to be unsustainable growth. It is imperative that we recognize the primary beneficiaries of this bill will not be the thousands of Americans struggling to hold on to their home, but the lenders, servicers and speculators who bear much of the responsibility for the current housing slump. Putting aside the issue of how massive this new program would be, the bill's ultimate beneficiaries, as I said, could be our lenders and investors and speculators; and indeed the FHA commissioner, Brian Montgomery, stated in testimony before our committee that ``this legislation may have the unintended consequences of making foreclosure a more attractive option for lenders thereby compounding the very problem of rising foreclosures that the bill purports to address.'' Madam Chairman, I oppose this bill, and I would like to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAPITO. I would just like to express my support for his amendment. I think we have had this debate on the floor many times. And I want to say that we want to assure the American public, I think it's always good to reassure the American public that taxpayer funds are not going to help people here who have entered our country illegally and remain here illegally. I would like to see, as we move forward in this debate on this and other bills, that we tighten down the types of identification that are full proof, that can be used to certify the legality of whoever the resident is residing, whether it's in public housing or in other taxpayer-funded opportunities. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining on each side.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the induction of Sandra J. Hamlin into the West Virginia Affordable Housing Hall of Fame. Born and raised in West Virginia and a graduate of Marshall University, Hamlin has demonstrated a commitment to affordable housing. As the executive director of the Religious Coalition for Community Renewal (RCCR), Hamlin oversees housing assistance for low income families, people with disabilities, seniors and the homeless. In addition to her work with RCCR, Hamlin is the chair of the West Virginia Affordable Housing Trust and was instrumental in the development of EcoDwell, a partnership that utilizes an environmentally friendly home in Charleston's East End. Madam Speaker, the West Virginia Affordable Housing Hall of Fame was created for the purpose of honoring those who are true leaders in affordable housing and have shown dedication and worked diligently to address the affordable housing in the State. Without question, Sandra Hamlin's lifetime of service merits this honor. Congratulations, to Sandra on her accomplishments to provide West Virginians with affordable housing. The Mountain State is proud to call her one of our own.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a civic organization in my district which will celebrate its 50th anniversary on May 6, 2008. The Bedington Ruritan Club located in Berkeley County, WV, started on April 16, 1958 under the guidance of the nearby Marlowe Ruritan Club. For half a century now, the Bedington Ruritan Club has served the citizens of the Bedington area community. The club takes on many civic projects including picking up litter on nearby roadways, sponsoring an essay contest and contributing to Bedington Elementary and Potomack Intermediate Schools, maintaining the ``Light Ceremony'' in Scrabble, and holding fundraisers for various community projects. The Bedington Ruritan Club building is located on Route 11 North and once a month on Saturday's you can find the Ruritan members serving some of the best BBQ chicken in Berkeley County! Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the members of the Bedington Ruritan Club for 50 years of civic engagement and service. It is an honor to represent such a dedicated citizenry in West Virginia's eastern panhandle.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I also want to thank the chairman of the Small Business Committee and the ranking member of the Small Business Committee for their good hard work on this piece of legislation. I would also like to thank the Rules Committee, of which I was formerly a member, for making my amendment in order. I rise today to offer a very simple amendment that adds service disabled veterans to the list of targeted groups to receive consideration from the SBIR bill and SBIR board. Currently in the bill, the board, which is authorized to make recommendations to the grant awarding authorities, is directed to develop a means of how to encourage more applications from small business owners who are minorities or women. My amendment will direct the board to include service disabled veterans owners of small businesses to those who will be encouraged to make more applications from a grant pool of over $50 million. We have a lot of our servicemen and women returning with injuries. But we want to encourage them that they can move forward with their lives and invest and prosper in a small business, and this opens up more opportunity for them. Madam Chairman, recent studies have shown that returning veterans face unemployment rates that are nearly four times as high as that of nonmilitary laborers. Our returning veterans should have post-military opportunities that inspire confidence and don't disappoint them. This amendment will extend to service-disabled veterans more opportunities to succeed after serving our Nation so bravely. Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I yield back my time.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Earth Day in support of H.R. 5151, the Wild Monongahela Act: A National Legacy for West Virginia's Special Places, introduced by my colleague from West Virginia's Third District and the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Congressman Nick Rahall. I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of this important legislation, and I commend the chairman for all of his hard work on this bill. In 1964, Congress enacted the Wilderness Act that permanently protected some of the most natural and undisturbed places in America. Today the U.S. Forest Service preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of the forest system, including those of the Monongahela National Forest for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations. West Virginia's wilderness is part of our history and heritage, and it is passed on as a legacy. This bipartisan bill will protect approximately 38,000 acres of the Mon Forest in West Virginia through the designation of three additional wilderness areas and expansion of three existing Federal wilderness areas including: Big Draft, Cranberry Expansion, Dolly Sods Expansion, Dry Fork Expansion, Roaring Plains West and Spice Run. West Virginia's national forest provides an excellent outdoor experience with our State's majestic mountains, winding rivers and superb hunting, camping, fishing, backpacking and other activities. Protecting these additional acres of pristine forest will ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of our home State of West Virginia. Over the last several months I've engaged in discussion with many of my constituents, many whom are avid hunters, anglers, mountain bikers and outdoorsmen who have a unique and vested interest in the impact of the wilderness designation on their local community. The people of this area are well acquainted with wilderness, and H.R. 5151 reflects their desire to preserve their natural treasures, while maintaining important flexibility for the local residents. Mr. Speaker, this bill is vitally important to guaranteeing that future generations of Americans can experience the natural wonder and beauty of West Virginia. I applaud Chairman Rahall and his staff for all of their hard work on this bill and all those in West Virginia who have seen it come to this point. I encourage my colleagues to support the legislation, and I encourage each of them to experience firsthand the pristine natural beauty of West Virginia and the Mon National Forest.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the career and accomplishments of Charles C. Lanham of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. For the past 50 years, he has been a leader of various civic and professional organizations addressing the needs of his community and small town banks. A graduate of Marshall University and former member of the Army National Guard, Charles began his banking career in Ripley, WV and later took a job as Vice President of Citizens National Bank in nearby Point Pleasant in 1963. He spent the next 40 years as a leader in local community banks and recently retired from his current post as Director Emeritus of the Ohio Valley Banc Corps. Despite his prominent banking career, he is revered most for his public service. He has successfully brought results through his leadership and involvement with countless community organizations that address the needs of Mason County. His greatest contribution; however, is his work to bring attention to improving Route 35. Charles and two of his colleagues, David Hofsetter and Jack Fruth formed the Route 35 Committee to address the dangerous stretch of highway in Mason and Putnam Counties in 1996. For the next ten years, Charles spent countless hours traveling from his home in Point Pleasant to our state capitol and the halls of Congress to advocate funding for this project. His hard work finally paid off in 2003 when funding was first appropriated to begin the upgrade. The link of highway he so tirelessly worked to improve was named in his honor as the Fruth-Lanham Highway. In 2005, Charles answered another call to public service when he was named Senator of 4th Senatorial District where he could work to further his mission for Route 35. Charles represents the true calling of public service. It is an honor to work with such a distinguished citizen who has contributed so much to our great state. I'm proud to call Charles Lanham a friend and a fellow West Virginian. I wish him all best in his retirement.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Poca Valley Bank as it celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Poca Valley Bank's first branch opened in 1908 in Walton, West Virginia, situated along the Pocatalico River in Roane County. Since then, it has expanded its banking services to Clendenin, Elkview, and Sissonville in Kanawha County and Winfield and Poca in Putnam County and opened its latest branch location in Spencer located in Roane County in 2005. Poca Valley Bank gets its namesake from the Pocatalico River that originates in Roane County. Many of the branch locations are located along the Pocatalico River that flows through Kanawha and Putnam Counties. The bank has found its success in catering to West Virginia's rural communities with a strong foundation built upon personal attention and customer service. With its modest roots in serving small towns and its rural outlying communities, Poca Valley Bank has grown into one of West Virginia's larger banking institutions. It is an honor to pay tribute to Poca Valley Bank, a financial institution that represents the best of America's small town banks. I wish congratulations to Poca Valley Bank as it celebrates one century of banking in the Mountain State.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA located in West Virginia's Second Congressional District. For the past century, the Elkins YMCA has played an integral role in the history of the community and its people. The YMCA building was originally built with $25,000 donated by Mrs. Hallie Davis Elkins, the wife of a prominent West Virginia capitalist, Stephen B. Elkins. During the outbreak of World War I and World War II, local troops were reviewed for mobilization in front of the YMCA. The Y building was also used as a training facility for the National Guard between World War I and World War II. Throughout its many renovations over the next 50 years, the original structure still stands in place to serve the youth, families, and senior citizens as the county's premier recreation and community center. The Elkins YMCA has the proud distinction of being one of three YMCA facilities to serve a city with a population under 10,000. On March 22, 2008 friends and members of the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA will celebrate its 100th anniversary and name its newest addition, the Legg Family Youth Center. I would like to recognize all of those who were a part of the Elkins- Randolph County YMCA 100 year history and wish the members and friends of the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA congratulations in celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor four outstanding women in my district who are being honored for their commitment to their communities and for serving as role models to countless young women, empowering them to succeed. The Young Women's Christian Association of Charleston, WV named Helen Lodge, Dr. Jorea Marple, Sarah Stebbins, and Jennifer Bailey as the 2008 Women of Achievement Honorees. Helen has spent her career as a dynamic leader and advocate for health and nutrition in West Virginia. Early in her career, she was integral in the West Virginia State Legislature passing legislation to require early detection testing for newborns for phenylketonuria, PKU, a simple test that can prevent mental deficiency in newborns. She has received numerous recognitions throughout her career and currently chairs the West Virginia Board of Licensed Dieticians. As active leader in her Charleston community, Helen assists with the fundraising efforts of the West Virginia Symphony League and Youth Symphony and the American Heart Association. Dr. Jorea Marple represents one of the most noble professions, educating our young people. Her 30-year career includes stints as a teacher, reading specialist, graduate and undergraduate instructor, and a former superintendent of Kanawha County schools. Her most noteworthy achievement is authoring the book, An Insider's Guide to Making School Systems Work. Dr. Marple currently serves as Assistant State Superintendent of the West Virginia Department of Education overseeing curriculum and instruction. Sarah Stebbins is a pioneer among women in the development of information technology in the aeronautics and astronautics industries. A graduate of WVU, she began her career in the development of early computers and later worked as an aerospace research analyst for the Air Force and as a project leader in the Naval Research Lab in the Space Systems Development Department. Her most notable achievement is helping with the software development of the Global Positioning System, a technology that has revolutionized the way we view and navigate our world and beyond. Sarah retired in her hometown of Charleston, WV with her husband and family. Finally, I would like to honor Jennifer Bailey, the recipient of the YWCA Women of Achievement Empowerment Award. Jennifer stands as a success story among the mission of the YWCA and is an inspiration to women in all walks of life for her ability to persevere and overcome numerous obstacles. The YWCA was there for Jennifer every step of the way in helping her overcome numerous personal obstacles. Jennifer now enjoys spending time with her son, working in retail, and maintaining a 4.0 G.P.A. in her classes. Again, I congratulate Helen Lodge, Dr. Jorea Marple, Sarah Stebbins, and Jennifer Bailey, who will be honored February 21, 2008. It is an honor to represent such distinguished and inspiring women in West Virginia's Second Congressional District.

Mrs. CAPITO

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Chief John Smoot who dedicated his life to serving and saving others. He died on January 20, 2008 after a long illness in Kanawha County, WV where he was a lifelong resident. John served in the U.S. Army during World War II and continued his military service for 32 years in the Army Reserves and in the West Virginia National Guard. He also worked for DuPont Chemical and retired after 37 years of employment. He is most remembered for his extraordinary service to the citizens of Kanawha County, through his 57 years of involvement with first responder services and 50 years as chief of the Cedar Grove Fire Department. He was a champion of emergency services in Kanawha County and in the State of West Virginia. He created the Cedar Grove Ambulance Service and helped establish county wide ambulance services. He is also the original founder of the Kanawha County Fireman's Mutual Aid Association. He is survived by his wife, Lois Robinson Smoot; his son, John R. Smoot; his grandsons, Jonathan and Cody, and his brother; George Smoot. Area fireman paid tribute to Chief Smoot by including trucks from all Kanawha County Fire Departments in the funeral procession. Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in honoring the life of John R. Smoot, whose dedication and service is truly admirable. He will be sadly missed.