Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I strongly, resolutely, and steadfastly support this bill to extend critical unemployment benefits for our citizens through the end of November. This bill will provide vital assistance to over 137,600 Illinoisans, and to the 2.5 million Americans, who lost their benefits between June 2nd and July 17th. This bill helps address a national emergency resulting from one of the worst economic recessions in our country's history. Unemployment insurance is not a theoretical concept to these citizens. Unemployment is a very real lifeline. It allows mothers and fathers to buy food for their children. It allows people to help keep a roof over their families' heads. I have received so many tearful calls from my constituents who call to beg for my help. They are disheartened by their continued unemployment despite active and prolonged efforts to find a job. They are embarrassed that they cannot support their families, and they are frightened that their children will suffer from their inability to feed, clothe, or provide housing. When they learn that their government allowed these lifeline benefits to expire and failed to reinstate them for almost 8 weeks, they are shocked. They worked and paid taxes for years with an understanding that government would help them in a time of need. Yet, this assistance was not there. I think it is unfortunate that Republicans have delayed this critical financial assistance for so long. To add insult to injury, while proclaiming that our government could not afford $33 billion to help our citizens who are suffering during an economic emergency, the Republican leadership confidently asserted the position that we want the government to spend $650 billion for tax cuts for the wealthy. This is approximately 20 times the cost of this critical unemployment assistance. This is the same leadership that had no difficulty spending a trillion dollars for two wars and giving tax breaks to the wealthiest of the wealthy. The extension of the aid for 99 weeks is an important first step in helping our citizens who are struggling to find employment. I promise to continue to work with the Democratic leadership to push for ways to help those remain unemployed beyond the 99 weeks. Long-term unemployment is an unfortunate reality for Chicago and for my constituents. Passing this bill today tells our citizens that we are working for them. Further, passing this bill today reinforces their confidence in their government--confidence that they will help care for them in the lean times. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote for its passage.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in support of the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010, H.R. 4380. This bill seeks to bolster manufacturing across the country through reductions and suspensions of duty taxes on non-competitive industrial goods. American manufacturing companies will be able to save considerably on production costs due to the decreased prices of industrial materials. I believe this legislation is essential to saving American manufacturing by creating jobs all across the country and by improving the competitiveness of American manufacturing in the global market. It will ease the pressure on American manufacturers at a time when it is most necessary. American manufacturing is in dire need of government support. From the years 2002-2007, the GDP of America's private manufacturing sector expanded at 2.3% per year, an adequate growth rate. In 2008, the GDP declined by 2.5%, and last year, the GDP growth rate plummeted by 5.3%. Congress must act to reverse this trend. This bill is projected to expand the GDP by billions of dollars. Locally, the Cook County unemployment rate currently stands at 10.7%. As a major industrial center of the U.S., Chicago businesses will benefit significantly from this bill. It will produce tens of thousands of jobs nationwide and many in the Chicago area. The bill is supported by over 130 companies as well as the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. Reducing the cost of industrial materials will create jobs, boost revenues, and put the U.S. in a better position to compete on the international market. I strongly believe the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010 is critical to the future of American manufacturing, and I look forward to seeing this bill move through the House.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Social Security benefits make a significant contribution to the well-being of many Americans. Today, 83,545 persons in the Seventh District of Illinois rely upon these payments to sustain their monthly living expenses. Fifty-nine percent of them are elderly, and 11 percent are children. These persons receive an average monthly benefit of $996 a month, with the cost of living for rent and utilities in Illinois being $957 per month, equating to 96 percent of their Social Security income. While we celebrate Social Security for the last 75 years for the American aged, disabled, and survivor populations and their children, I encourage my colleagues to make sure that these funds are sustained without further impact on the economic well-being of our most challenged populations. Thank you, Social Security.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, Members of Congress are working to remedy the current economic imbalance, immense unemployment, job creation and both domestic and international energy based issues. As we look to the future; we must confront the many dimensions of these complex challenges to create solutions that will have a lasting positive benefit for America. I believe investing in renewable energy sources, including ethanol, is an efficient and effective economic stimulus. Ethanol serves as an aid to meet energy policy goals by promoting domestic production of renewable energy, reducing green house gas emissions and providing financial support for the agriculture sector. Nationwide, ethanol has increased tax revenues for both State and local governments by over $5 billion. Ethanol production and use today reduces green house gas emissions compared to gasoline by 59 percent. According to the Congressional Budget Office report as of this July, Argonne National Lab concluded corn based ethanol produced 20 percent less green house gas emissions in its life cycle compared to gasoline and petroleum diesel. Ethanol production contributed $53.3 billion to the Nation's gross domestic product and created over 200,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy. The state of Illinois produces over 1.5 billion gallons of ethanol annually and is ranked third in ethanol production with 14 facilities. Just as ethanol has been a valuable tool for the state of Illinois, I strongly believe support for this renewable energy source can be a great benefit to the Nation. Our current energy economy is not sustainable. It is imperative we restructure our energy infrastructure in a sustainable manner while simultaneously reducing our green house gas emissions. Investing in ethanol and other renewable energy sources are an important piece of our Nation's economic and energy future.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, Members of Congress are working to remedy the current economic imbalance, immense unemployment, job creation and both domestic and international energy-based issues. As we look to the future; we must confront the many dimensions of these complex needs responsibly, to create solutions that will have a lasting positive benefit for America. I believe investing in renewable energy sources, including ethanol is an efficient and effective stimulus. Ethanol serves as an aid to meet energy policy goals by promoting domestic production of renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing financial support for the agriculture sector. Nationwide, ethanol has increased tax revenues for both State and local governments by over $5 billion. Ethanol production and use today reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline by 59 percent. According to the Congressional Budget Office report as of this July, the Argonne National Lab concluded corn-based ethanol produced 20 percent less greenhouse gas emissions in its life cycle compared to gasoline and petroleum diesel. Ethanol production contributed $53.3 billion to the nation's Gross Domestic Product and created over 200,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy. The State of Illinois produces over 1.5 billion gallons of ethanol annually and is ranked third in ethanol production with 14 facilities. Just as ethanol has been a valuable tool for the State of Illinois, I strongly believe support for this renewable energy source can be a great benefit for the Nation. Our current state of our economy is not sustainable. It is imperative we structure our energy infrastructure in a sustainable manner while simultaneously reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in ethanol and other renewable energy sources are an important piece of our Nation's economic and energy future.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Tommy Durham, a gentleman in my community who passed away a few days ago. Tommy was known as the mayor of West Madison Street, where he ran a used appliance business and fixed air conditioners, stoves, heaters. Anything that needed fixing, Tommy could do it. He was passionately involved in politics and ran for office more than 40 years ago. He did not win the election, but he did win a place in the hearts and minds of the people, and I pay tribute to him and his life today.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1508) to amend the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note) in order to prevent the loss of billions in taxpayer dollars.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Office of Management and Budget recently reported that the Federal Government made $98 billion in improper and overpayments last year. This is a staggering amount and completely unacceptable. No family or business in America would tolerate being charged twice or overbilled for anything, and neither should our government. We need to do everything we can to ensure that the government spends every tax dollar in the most responsible way possible. In fact, we have an obligation to the taxpayers to fight waste, fraud and abuse and to ensure that if the government overpays for something, it has the means to recover those precious tax dollars. The bill we're now considering, S. 1508, the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010, will provide the government with the means to fulfill this obligation to the taxpayers. Senate 1508 amends the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 to require the head of each Federal agency to review agency programs and activities every 3 fiscal years and identify those programs that may be susceptible to significant improper payments. If agency heads determine that significant overpayments have occurred, they must then recover them by following the procedures in the act. The bill also requires the agencies which make significant improper payments to implement internal controls and other procedures to help eliminate any future improper payments. The House passed a companion bill, H.R. 3393, the Improper Payments Elimination Act of 2009, introduced by Representative Patrick Murphy on April 28, 2010, by a voice vote. S. 1508 has small but important changes from the base text in H.R. 3393. S. 1508 strengthens the bill by requiring recovery audit contractors to report the fraud they find and to conduct appropriate training on the means and methods to do so. S. 1508 also requires the agencies to report to Congress and OMB their actions and plans to address the recommendations they receive from the audit recovery contractors. S. 1508 provides the Federal Government with the tools needed to prevent mistakes and overpayments in the first place, and recover funds that are paid in error. It makes Federal agencies more accountable for properly managing taxpayer funds. The bill requires agencies to develop and report corrective action plans based on measured error rates, and creates incentives for meeting their goals and penalties for failure. Importantly, the bill also gives the agency the means to go after the funds they have overpaid, which will make the taxpayer, agencies, programs, and activities which relied on those appropriations whole. We are living in a time when our government is living under extreme fiscal demands, and we need to do everything possible to ensure that every tax dollar goes to where it is needed. To ensure this takes place, we need to provide our Federal agencies with the tools to properly manage their spending. We also need to give the agencies the ability to follow through with their oversight and provide them with the ability to recover erroneous payments. However, we cannot stop there. We must do everything we can to ensure that Federal agencies that make improper payments fix the problems that allowed the improper payments in the first place. I would like to thank Representatives Murphy, Bilbray, Towns, and Issa for working together in a truly bipartisan manner to get this important piece of legislation enacted into law. S. 1508 is a commonsense, good government bill, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to one of the persons who worked extremely hard to bring this legislation to the floor and to craft a very excellent piece of legislation, Representative Murphy.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, my father always taught us that a penny saved was a penny earned. And, of course, if it's good enough for our families, it certainly is good enough for our national government. I compliment the gentleman on the development of an excellent piece of legislation. I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5390) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13301 Smith Road in Cleveland, Ohio, as the ``David John Donafee Post Office Building''.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from Cleveland, Ohio, Representative Kucinich.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Ohio, Representative Betty Sutton.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I rise in support of H.R. 5390, a bill designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13301 Smith Road in Cleveland, Ohio, as the David John Donafee Post Office Building. H.R. 5390 was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio, Representative Dennis Kucinich, on May 25, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on June 7, 2010. The measure has the bipartisan support of 17 Members of the Ohio delegation. Mr. David John Donafee was a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service for 14 years. An active member of his community, Mr. Donafee volunteered with the youth hockey league in his town of Parma, Ohio. Tragically, he passed way on February 14, 2008, at the age of 42, after being struck by the driver of a car while delivering mail on his regular route. He is survived by his wife, Sandi, and two sons, Derek and Liam. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Donafee's untimely death during the course of his duties as a letter carrier is deeply saddening. Let us now pay tribute to this man's life through the passage of H.R. 5390. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5450) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3894 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, as the ``Tom Bradley Post Office Building''.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Los Angeles, California (Ms. Watson), the author of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present H.R. 5450 for consideration. This measure would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3894 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles California as the ``Tom Bradley Post Office Building.'' H.R. 5450 was introduced by my colleague, the gentlewoman from California, Representative Diane Watson, on May 27, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on June 17, 2010. The measure enjoys the bipartisan support of 52 members of the California delegation. Mr. Speaker, Tom Bradley was born on December 29, 1917, in Calvert, Texas. The son of a sharecropper and the grandson of former slaves, Mr. Bradley achieved many firsts over the course of his career in Los Angeles, where he moved with his family as a child. He was the first African American lieutenant in the Los Angeles Police Department, where he served for 22 years. He took night classes at the Southwestern University School of Law during this time and received a law degree in 1956. In 1963, he was elected to the Los Angeles City Council and was its first African American member. He was also the city's first African American mayor as well as the longest-serving mayor in the city's history, serving from 1974 to 1994. Mr. Bradley was a physically imposing figure, standing well over 6 feet tall, but his manner was soft, low-key, and calming. He helped lead Los Angeles through difficult times, including the first energy crisis of 1973 to 1974, and helped to boost economic development and investment in the city. Following the riots associated with the Rodney King incident in 1992, Mr. Bradley, along with then-Governor Pete Wilson, formed the Rebuild Los Angeles Task Force, an extensive effort to revitalize the city. Mr. Bradley also formed the Christopher Commission in July of 1991, charging it with conducting ``a full and fair examination of the structure and operation of the Los Angeles Police Department, including its recruitment and training practices, internal disciplinary system, and citizen complaint system.'' And so, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Bradley's leadership, vision for his community, and skill as a conscientious administrator are inspirations to us all. Let us now pay tribute to this great American through the passage of H.R. 5450. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it. Again, I commend Representative Diane Watson for introducing this legislation. It deserves all of our votes, and I would urge its passage.

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today I celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Year of Africa--that pivotal year of 1960 when seventeen African nations gained independence from European colonial rule. On this day, in this year, and in the many years to come, we mark this milestone given that, as Americans, we know first-hand how precious freedom truly is, and the heavy price it often takes to attain it. At the center of our connection to Africa is a simple concept: to be free. What does it mean to be free? For centuries, philosophers, revolutionaries, and politicians alike have debated this very question. While I do not claim to be an expert, I humbly believe that being free means having the freedom to reach one's full potential. Whether that means having the resources to pursue a passion in academia or the support and finances to raise a healthy family, this freedom can mean many things to many people, and for a lot of us, we were gifted with this freedom from birth. For many, however, freedom is not a gift, but a goal. In the United States alone, more than thirty-seven million citizens live in poverty and look so far ahead as to the next meal, much less dreams for the distant future. For Africa, the numbers and the situations are even more daunting. In the Republic of Madagascar, one of the first African nations to gain independence in 1960, more than two-thirds of the population lives below the international poverty threshold of $1.25 a day. Throughout Africa, instability and poverty persist. Between the unprecedented rates for various deadly diseases, the bloody ethnic clashes, languishing economies, and notoriously corrupt government bodies, it is hard to celebrate this ``freedom'' that they have attained without realizing the long-lasting consequences of Colonial rule and injustice. For these people, in the same countries that celebrated freedom from European powers just decades and years ago, true freedom is still, but a goal. As policymakers, we work toward fulfilling the promises of our founding fathers and the generations of leaders that have come after them. Their message is simple: to achieve freedom. We must remember today, tomorrow, and for every day of the foreseeable future that while we have come far from our colonial days, there are still many people who have not yet achieved that freedom. We must remember, too, that our Nation was once in the same situation as the many African nations are in today, and that we must support their progress and efforts toward helping their citizens fulfill their potential. While we celebrate this year as a cornerstone of their struggle toward attaining freedom, we must also remember that more change is needed to attain our shared promise.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 4840) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1979 Cleveland Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, as the ``Clarence D. Lumpkin Post Office''.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.