John Dingell

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5175, the DISCLOSE Act, as a cosponsor and strong proponent of this legislation. The DISCLOSE Act is a bipartisan response to the Supreme Court's reckless decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission to give corporations the same rights as American citizens with respect to political speech. The decision overturned decades of precedent upholding common-sense campaign finance laws that kept special interests at bay in our elections. Corporations--think Big Oil and Wall Street--can now speak louder and more forcefully than the ordinary American without any restrictions. Moreover, Citizens United opened up the very real possibility that other countries--many of which do not have America's best interest in mind--can spend money to influence our elections. Maybe the opponents of this legislation don't understand that by voting ``no'' they've allowed China Telecom or Venezuela's CITGO the same rights as ordinary Americans when it comes to spending money in our elections. Since we are not yet politically at a point where we have the votes to overturn this reckless Supreme Court decision, the DISCLOSE Act is a step towards ensuring corporations now have these rights, they must spend money in the light of day. For one thing, corporations cannot hide behind shadow groups that do not have to disclose their donors to the public. If corporations choose to advertise close to Election Day, they must report their donors to the Federal Election Commission and include a hyperlink to their disclosure report on their websites. Moreover, chief executive officers will have to stand behind their ads and top donors will be listed on advertisements. American citizens have the right to know and deserve to know who it is exactly that is telling them to vote for or against a candidate. The DISCLOSE Act prevents foreign cash in our elections, and also prevents corporations receiving large government contracts, and corporations that are using money out of the Troubled Asset Relief Fund from spending taxpayer money out of their general treasuries on American elections. These practical limitations are necessary to ensure that American elections are not co-opted by foreign entities and special interests looking out only for their own interests and bottom lines. Mr. Chair, the DISLCOSE Act represents months of hard work and compromise so that American citizens would still have a strong voice in our elections. Most Americans, in fact, did not agree with the Supreme Court's decision because they understand that corporations and individuals are not one in the same. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on this legislation and ensure that American's voices are still heard in our elections.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, we have before us a wonderful opportunity; we can begin to solve a problem that's going to destroy our medical care system in this country. Doctors are abandoning Medicare patients because they can no longer afford to serve them. And it is turning out that we are now finding that we are losing the capability of addressing one of the greatest health problems we've got, and that is seeing to it that physicians do take care of our people and that they have the necessary resources to do it. This is a proposal which has to be adopted today. I commend the gentleman from Texas who has urged the House to work together, and I commend him for having had the courage to say so, but it is something that we must do. We came close to having this issue solved with a permanent fix. The law of interest, compounded interest, tells us that we have a big problem. The numbers in this have grown to $210 billion, and they will grow more. It is time that the House resolves this question so we can assure that we take care of our people, we deal with their health, we preserve Medicare, and we do what is necessary to carry out our responsibility in a fiscally responsible way. We are, in good part, in this mess because of the United States Senate, which diligently disregards its responsibilities on all matters of this kind. And regrettably, as we look to see, we find that this is the best thing that we can do because they refuse to do better. They will tell us that because of their incompetence, we must therefore bow to them and do things the way they only can do them. I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation. And then let us prepare to work together to try and resolve this matter because the time is wasting and the whole system is about to collapse because of our failure to properly address it.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of my colleagues that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend to many of us and a man that many of us here admire greatly on his retirement as UAW President. I refer to Ron Gettelfinger, a great citizen, a great patriot, a great leader of labor, and a wonderful human being. Ron Gettelfinger did not want to have any recognition of his labors on behalf of working men and women and on behalf of the people at this particular time. But I think he will forgive us if we go on to say a few of the things about the respect in which he is held and why that be so. For the last 8 years, Ron Gettelfinger has led the UAW as their president, and he has done so both loyally and ably through some of the most difficult economic times facing our Nation or facing the union. Through his hard work and dedication to his brothers and sisters of the UAW, we have witnessed the auto industry to right itself and to begin to come out of some of the worst times which it has confronted in its history. It is interesting to note that as the head of one of the most democratic unions in the world, Ron Gettelfinger was able to lead the union in a way which saved the industry and which enabled the industry to have negotiations about give-backs and other things always difficult to sell to the rank and file. Elected in 2002 as international president of the UAW, Ron Gettelfinger rose through the ranks, beginning his career first as a member of UAW Local 862 in 1964. He worked in Ford's Louisville assembly plant as a chassis line repairman while he attended Indiana University Southeast at night, and it is the workers there who first recognized Ron's extraordinary qualities and elected him to represent them. He then went on to serve as Region 3 UAW director and UAW vice president. Throughout his time in these roles, he fought relentlessly and tirelessly to ensure workers had the quality of life they deserve by making health care accessible and affordable to all, ensuring new jobs in industry through the manufacturing of advanced technology vehicles, and addressing workers' rights provisions in fair trade agreements. He gave extraordinary leadership not just to the union and the industry but to the country. As we have all known, Ron does not back down from a challenge. During the most difficult times in the auto industry, he worked together with business in a very close fashion to assure the survival of the industry and the companies which the UAW had negotiated agreements with. He negotiated a new round of contracts with The Big Three, creating voluntary beneficiary associations to provide health care to retirees in the Big Three and to save huge amounts of money to the auto companies. He was one of the leadership in not only determining that government assistance would be needed but in seeing to it that the union's voice was heard and that the saving of the auto industry was participated in very actively by the UAW and by the members that he served. He once said of himself, We did what we had to do to save the industry. And now, less than a year later, the auto industry is once again profitable and expanding production. In fact, Chrysler is hiring again for the first time in 10 years. Fortunately, cars from the Big Three, when the companies and the unions and their members work together, are safe and reliable, and this year have earned the highest quality ratings in J.D. Power and Associates' annual Initial Quality Study, beating import brands by satisfying margins. It is the workers and the members and the leaders of the UAW who have worked so hard to ensure that through times of turmoil, our domestic auto industry continues to produce the best and the safest vehicles while increasing in extraordinary ways the productivity of the workplace. And at a time when union membership is at its lowest in years, it has fought relentlessly to ensure that workers who want to organize can do so. Together with his other colleagues in labor, he has advocated for the Employee Free Choice Act, for legislation which will allow workers to decide if they want to use a majority signup to form a union, protecting them from employer coercion. But he has gone well beyond the needs and the concerns of labor. He has worked for education, for health care, for a clean and wholesome environment, for the health of our young and old, and for the protection of the rights of Americans. Now, like Ron, I think our country agrees that these things are necessary and helpful; but he understands, as do many of his admirers, that labor's responsibilities and duties go far beyond the simple concerns of labor, and go to seeing to it that this country is the best that we, working together, can make it be. Ron Gettelfinger and I and most of us here share the belief that the future success of the auto industry is going to be dependent on developing advanced batteries and electric and hybrid cars here at home and other technologies which will enable us to compete in the savagely competitive world marketplace. He is one who has supported training workers in these technologies not only to help the companies and the industry but also to provide workers with continued job opportunities. He has been there through ebbs and flows. And the one thing that you can always count on Ron Gettelfinger having was honesty, integrity, and steadfastness. Whether he was delivering good news or bad, he always dealt with the facts. It is because of his honesty in his dealings with everyone, his brothers and sisters, business management, and labor join me tonight in praising and pointing out that he has properly earned the trust, admiration, and respect of all with whom he works. Ron Gettelfinger once said, We don't accept the notion that America is a country where a privileged few can live well while the rest of us struggle to meet our daily expenses. We are going to fight for something better. Ron Gettelfinger, you have led a fight for something better since the first day that you entered the labor movement, and I am glad that I was able to be your friend and partner in many of those fights. I rise today to honor my dear friend Ron Gettelfinger on his retirement as UAW President. For the last eight years, Ron has led the UAW as their President loyally and ably through some of the most difficult economic times facing our Nation. Through his hard work and dedication to his brothers and sisters of the UAW, we have witnessed the auto industry right itself. Elected as UAW President in 2002, Ron rose through the ranks beginning is career first as a member of the UAW Local 862 in 1964. He worked at Ford's Louisville Assembly plant as a chassis line repairman, attending Indiana University Southeast at night. It is the workers there who first elected Ron to represent them. He then went on to serve as UAW Region 3 Director and UAW Vice President. Throughout his time in these roles he has fought tirelessly to ensure workers have a quality of life they deserve. By making health care accessible and affordable for all, ensuring new jobs in industry through the manufacturing of advanced technology vehicles, and workers' rights provisions in fair trade agreements. And as we have all seen, Ron does not back down from a challenge. During the most difficult of times for the auto industry, he has worked together with business to ensure its survival, negotiating through a new round of contracts with the Big Three in 2007, creating a Voluntary Beneficiary Association to provide health care to the retirees in the Big Three, and standing with the Big Three when it was determined government assistance would be needed. As he has said himself, ``We did what we had to do to save the industry.'' And now, less than a year later the auto industry is once again profitable and expanding production. In fact, Chrysler is hiring again for the first time in ten years. Fortunately, cars from the Big Three continue to be safe and reliable, and this year have earned higher quality ratings in J.D. Power and Associates' annual Initial Quality Study beating import brands for the first time. It is the workers and leaders of the UAW who have helped to ensure that throughout times of turmoil, our domestic auto industry continues to produce the safest vehicles and increase productivity in the workplace. And at a time when union membership is at its lowest in many years, he has fought relentlessly to ensure that workers who want to organize can. Together with his other colleagues in labor, he has advocated for the Employee Free Choice Act or legislation that would allow workers to decide if they want to use majority sign-up to form a union, protecting them from employer coercion. Like Ron, I believe that this legislation is sorely needed and I am hopeful that this will be passed before November. Ron and I also share the belief that the future success of the auto industry is going to be dependent on developing advanced batteries and electric and hybrid cars here at home. Together we both supported training workers in these technologies not only to help the auto industry, but also to provide workers with continued job opportunities. Throughout the ebbs and flows, the one thing you could always count on from Ron was honesty. Whether he was delivering good news or bad, I always knew that Ron was giving me the facts. It is because of his honesty to me, his brothers and sisters, business management and the Members who join me here tonight, Ron was able to earn the trust, admiration and respect of those he worked with. Ron once said, ``We don't accept the notion that America is a country where a privileged few live well while the rest of us struggle to meet our daily expenses. We're going to fight for something better.'' Ron you led the fight for something better, and I am glad I was able to be your partner in that fight. I now will yield to my good friends from Michigan and from elsewhere around the country who have a desire to express, as do I, compliments for our dear friend who is now retiring. I yield first to my dear friend, Congressman Dale Kildee of Michigan.

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I yield now to my distinguished friend from Michigan (Mr. McCotter).

Mr. DINGELL. I thank the gentleman, and I yield now to the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick).

Mr. DINGELL. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman. And now I yield to my dear friend from Maryland, the Honorable Donna Edwards.

Mr. DINGELL. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Maryland. I now yield to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. DINGELL. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman. I yield now with a great deal of pleasure and respect to my good friend from New York, the Honorable Edolphus Towns.

Mr. DINGELL. I thank my good friend from Michigan, and I yield now to another distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schauer).

Mr. DINGELL. I thank my distinguished friend from Michigan. I yield now to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. DINGELL. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas. I yield now to the distinguished gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Mrs. Dahlkemper).

Mr. DINGELL. I want to thank my dear friend from New York for his kindness, his fine words, and for his great patience. He is my dear friend. Mr. Speaker, I have the remarks of many of our other colleagues which will be inserted into the Record paying tribute to our great friend, Ron Gettelfinger. I simply want to observe two things: first, we are saying good-bye tonight to a giant, a patriot, a wonderful human being, a man who cared about his fellow Americans and who spent his lifetime making it the best he could for his fellow Americans, especially members of the trade union movement. He was never afraid to give leadership to causes that were important, and he never was afraid to speak the truth, including to work with me and with the companies to address problems that those companies had here in Washington, and he was never afraid to tell the truth, even to his own members when that was necessary to be done. I am pleased to report that in his leaving of office, he leaves behind him a great and respected trade union movement, and a wonderful union in the UAW. And I am pleased to report to my colleagues that his successor, the new president, Bob King, will serve with great distinction and as a worthy successor in all aspects of this very important leadership responsibility. I congratulate him and wish him well.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act. I want to thank the Chairmen of the Financial Services and Small Business Committees, Representatives Barney Frank, D-MA, and Nydia Velazquez, D-NY, respectively, for their leadership in bringing to bear this jobs-creating measure and Congressman Gary Peters, D-MI, for providing critical guidance for Michigan on the bill as it moved forward. Today, we are, voting on legislation that will encourage lending to small businesses and in-turn job creation. First, H.R. 5297 sets up a $30 billion small business lending fund for small- and medium-sized community banks, which could leverage up to $300 billion in lending. The fund encourages small business lending by decreasing the interest rate at which the loan is paid back when the bank expands lending to small businesses. Second, the bill creates a State Small Business Credit Initiative to be administered by the Treasury Department which would provide funding for new or existing state lending programs. It is estimated the new Credit Initiative would create an estimated $20 billion in new lending. Finally, H.R. 5297 contains a provision to restart private investment to meet small businesses' evolving financing needs through a new SBA public-private partnership. While the Democratic Congress blunted the downward spiral of our economy that was born out of Bush administration policy, our unemployment rate still hovers around 9.5 percent nationwide and around 14 percent in Michigan. It is clear that we can and must do more to ensure our government continues to put the economy on the path to recovery. In particular, small businesses must have access to capital so they can expand and hire workers. In the beginning of this month at a Federal Reserve Bank meeting in Detroit, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke highlighted this need as he called on banks to lend to small businesses ``for the safety and soundness of our banking system.'' This legislation fulfills the need articulated not only by Mr. Bernanke and other leading economists, but by small businesses in the 15th district such as our automotive suppliers and manufacturers, high tech start ups, and innovative alternative energy firms. I have listened to the concerns of small businesses in my district about the lack of available credit and with the passage of this bill we are taking action to address their concerns. The statistic has been cited many times before, but it is worth remembering that small businesses have created two-thirds of net new jobs over the past 15 years. Let's help our small businesses help grow our economy by passing this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on H.R. 5297.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Detroit Tigers and the pitcher Armando Galarraga for his spectacular performance against the Cleveland Indians last week. During a game on June 2, Galarraga threw 8\2/3\ innings perfectly against Cleveland, without giving up a hit, walk, or error. On what would have been his 27th out, Major League Baseball umpire Jim Joyce made what he admitted was a mistaken call, spoiling what would have been the Detroit Tigers' first perfect game in franchise history. Joyce has since conceded that Donald was out and has apologized to both Galarraga and the Tigers' manager, Jim Leyland, for a missed call. Throughout the ensuing controversy, Joyce and Galarraga have displayed extraordinary grace under pressure and tremendous sportsmanship, setting a fine example for sports fans everywhere. It's my hope the Major League Baseball commissioner will reconsider the decision and will correct what was clearly a faulty call. With the full support of the entire Michigan delegation, I am introducing a resolution today declaring that Galarraga pitched a perfect game and urging the MLB to overturn a mistaken ``safe'' call. I believe that to do so will more than please the 17,000 fans who were in the stands that day and place Galarraga in a part of the game's history of having pitched a perfect game.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, I rise today in strong support of this legislation. In recent years we have watched as our country has fallen behind in educating our children for the 21st century and developing technology that our neighbors envy. Today's legislation will help to turn these trends around by making the strong investments necessary in research, education and manufacturing. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes our basic research programs and lays the groundwork for doubling funding levels for the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of Science and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Funding through these programs has been critical to many of the faculty, staff, scientists and investigators in my district who rely on funding from these agencies to support their research. Research that has led to spin-offs such as A123, now a leader in advanced battery technology. America COMPETES also reauthorizes the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, which has made great efforts at developing the energy technology of the future. This research cannot be done without providing our students with the strong educational foundation necessary for a college education. This legislation will expand and improve STEM education from kindergarten to college through scholarships to train secondary teachers in STEM fields to teach in high need schools, provide grants to increase the number of students who pursue undergraduate degrees in STEM fields, and establish fellowships for recent doctoral degree candidates who can lead STEM education research and program development. America COMPETES will also help our colleges and universities to retain and recruit underrepresented groups in STEM fields. These are necessary improvements to ensure that the next generation of researchers, faculty, engineers, and entrepreneurs can compete with their counterparts abroad. America COMPETES legislation will also provide critically needed help to our small- and medium-sized manufacturers who have been hard hit by the financial downturn. In order to improve competitiveness and access to capital, America COMPETES will provide Innovative Technology Federal Loan Guarantees for these manufacturers. To help manufacturers modernize, this legislation authorizes the National Science Foundation to support research needed for advances in manufacturing. To ensure manufacturers will have the skilled employees they need, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers will be directed to work with local community colleges to ensure training programs fit the needs of local manufacturers. It will also reduce the cost share contribution for Manufacturing Extension Partnership program centers, which provides invaluable assistance to manufacturers by increasing their technological capabilities, instituting green or lean manufacturing techniques, and increasing their sales. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues all agree that our country has the best education system in the world and the most talented and innovative manufacturers and entrepreneurs. However, they cannot continue to compete with their foreign colleagues who have benefited from strong leadership and investment from their government and a clear plan for the path forward. The future success of our children and grandchildren depends on our government partnering with private industry in investing in the education and innovative technology of the 21st century. To truly compete with our neighbors abroad, we must pass the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, which is why I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend from Missouri for his kindness to me, for his support of this amendment, and for the yielding of this time. This is an amendment which is to deal with a very important injustice done to marines by the Department of the Navy, and you may read more about it in my remarks as they are extended. In a nutshell, people in the Marine Corps are being hurt, injured, poisoned, given cancer and other things by the way the Department of the Navy has run the posts and has provided contaminated water to the members of the Marine Corps and to their families. This will at least begin the process of getting information to these marines about what has happened and why it is that they are suffering this way, and see to it that we are taking a step forward to have the Marine Corps deliver some of the information that they're supposed to deliver under agreement. I urge my colleagues to vote for the amendment, and I thank my friend from Missouri. Mr. Chair, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the amendment I have offered with my colleagues, Congressmen Stupak and Miller, pertaining to the historic water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. I would like to thank Chairman Skelton for his willingness to work with me on this important issue. Mr. Chair, I am offering this amendment on behalf of the marines and veterans that were exposed to the toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987 and whose lives have been forever changed because of it. There's Jerry Ensminger, whose daughter Janey was carried to term at Camp Lejeune and died at age 9 after a long and heart-wrenching battle with childhood leukemia. There's Jim Fontella and Mike Partain, two among the dozens of former Lejeune residents battling breast cancer, a disease rarely found among males. These are the poisoned patriots who have lent their stories and their voices to the others who have not spoken out. They want answers about the water contamination and our amendment will help provide them. Put simply, our amendment would require the Department of the Navy to fulfill its obligation under an existing memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry--that is, to share all relevant environmental information pertaining to historic water contamination at Camp Lejeune. In addition, it requires the Navy to use its in-house experts to help ATSDR gather this information. This amendment constitutes a small piece of a larger quest to get answers for our former marines and their families who were exposed to the highly toxic chemicals, TCE, PCE, and benzene. The fact is, 23 years after the contaminated wells were shut down, there is still much unknown. How much and to what extent were housing areas exposed to the contaminants? When did the contamination take place? What is the extent of the exposure to the specific chemicals? And finally, is there a link between the exposure to the toxic water and illnesses experienced by former Camp Lejeune residents? Our amendment will ensure that ATSDR-- mandated by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act to assess human health effects of exposures to toxic chemicals at Superfund sites--has the information it needs to complete its studies and answer these questions. Mr. Chair, it is unfortunate we must require something as simple this by statute. But after 23 years, we have had enough delay from the Defense Department. Ironically, I first came to know about this problem when the Defense Department came before the Energy and Commerce Committee seeking broad exemptions from the Clean Air Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, and CERCLA, among others. The military wanted these exemptions in the name of readiness, public health be damned. To say the least, it is troubling to think about where ATSDR's studies would be or what terrible tragedies would await our servicemembers in the future if the Department of Defense were exempt from CERCLA. In closing, I'd ask my colleagues to look at the bigger picture when considering this amendment. With Memorial Day approaching this weekend, what could be a more fitting tribute to our servicemembers and veterans than to uphold the sacred trust they place in our Government when they sign up to serve and potentially make the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation?

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5014, legislation to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Spina Bifida Program and the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Program constitutes minimum essential coverage under the new health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148). While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act explicitly states that it covers health care programs administered by the VA, some have questioned whether the VA's Spina Bifida Program, which provides health care to children of Vietnam War and certain Korean War veterans for spina bifida-related medical conditions, and the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Program, which provides care for certain birth defects of the biological child of a woman veteran who served in Vietnam, meets the individual requirement. H.R. 5014 leaves no room for doubt. As a veteran of WWII, I understand what our brave American men and women give up to serve our country. For the past several years, the Democratic Congress has honored them and their dependents with benefits worthy of their service. This legislation continues to pay tribute to our veterans, providing them the respect they deserve by codifying that all VA Health Care programs are covered by the health care reform law. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5014.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a wonderful public servant, an exceptional individual and a patriotic American on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Sir Michael Berry is a prominent lawyer in Dearborn, Michigan whose venture into politics began in 1948 with the first campaign of G. Mennen Williams, who was running for governor of the great State of Michigan. Michael was active in Michigan's 16th Congressional District of the Democratic Party, which he joined in 1950. Michael became a precinct delegate, then a member of the Executive Board, and finally a member of the Democratic State Central Executive Committee, a position he retained until 1964. Under Michael's leadership from 1964 until 1972, the 16th Congressional District became one of the most powerful congressional districts in the State of Michigan, and grew in the 1960s into the largest in the United States. Michael led the district with an extraordinary sense of fairness and discipline. Michael was one of the best district chairmen the 16th District ever had. He was smart as all get out, hard-working and he had a great sense of policy and public interest. His sensitivity and honesty always kept the district in good shape. In over 50 years in Congress, the 16th District had many good chairmen, in fact, we have never had a chairman I didn't respect, admire and love, and Michael was amongst the best of them. Michael Berry went on to serve as the longtime chairman of the Wayne County Road Commission. The International Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport and the Michael Berry Career Center in Dearborn were named in his honor. He was awarded the National Order of Cedar by the Lebanese government on October 21, 1993, and was the recipient of the 1998 Ellis Island Medal of Honor--among many other honors. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise and join me in wishing Sir Michael Berry, a truly great American, a very happy 90th birthday.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Chair, I am proud to stand in support of HomeStar, which holds much promise in three important areas. First and foremost, it will create jobs. Second, it will lead to greater residential energy efficiency. Third, it has the potential to lead to significant consumer savings. In terms of jobs, Madam Speaker, my home state of Michigan is in a desperate situation. Our current unemployment rate is 14.3 percent and Wayne County has an unemployment rate of 15.7 percent. Between 2001 and 2009, Michigan lost nearly 43 percent of its construction jobs. The bottom line, we need jobs and we need them desperately. This program has the potential to put 168,000 workers back on the job. Not only will this help individual workers, but also small business, which has been a particularly hard hit segment of our economy. We cannot afford not to move forward. According to the HomeStar Coalition, the energy efficiency gains have the potential to equal the removal of 615,000 cars from the road. This is particularly important since the Senate has yet to act on broader climate change legislation. Finally, this program will be of great benefit to homeowners. This could save families as much as $9.4 billion in energy costs over ten years. In addition, it makes homes more valuable. In these economic times, these savings and increased home values cannot be underestimated. Madam Chair, HomeStar follows on the heels of the wildly successful Cash for Clunkers program in which the federal government provided consumers vouchers to purchase new, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The initial allocation of $1 billion was exhausted sooner than anticipated and we had to secure an additional $2 billion in funding for the program. Cash-for-clunkers was responsible for the sale of nearly 700,000 new vehicles in the U.S. during its run, and it added nearly one percent to third quarter GDP growth. Cash-for-clunkers has been hailed as the most successful of all recent government economic stimulus programs. According to the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), cash-for-clunkers created approximately 40,200 new jobs nationally, of which 5,800 were in Michigan. I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 5013--the IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010. I thank my good friends and colleagues Congressman Rob Andrews and Armed Services Committee Chairman, Ike Skelton, for continuing the good work the Committee did last year to reform the defense acquisition process. Importantly, the bipartisan IMPROVE Acquisition Act will save taxpayers $27 billion each year. H.R. 5013 will, among other things, update the system by which the Department of Defense acquires weapons systems, commercial goods, and services. Over the past 20 years, the Defense Department has shifted its primary purchases from weapons systems to services. To reign in the costs associated with this outdated system and ensure the warfighter's needs are met, the committee has written a comprehensive bill that provides for better management of the acquisition system, reform of the requirements process upon which the acquisition process depends, a more professional acquisition workforce, more effective financial management, and improvements in outreach to the industrial base so that the government is getting the best quality at the lowest price. In particular, Title IV of the IMPROVE Act has several important provisions to Michigan's 15th District and cleaning up the abuses of government contractors. First, it develops measures to utilize more of the defense industrial base in order to reach small- and mid-size businesses. I am fully supportive of this provision. As a personal note, Mr. Chair, I hear from companies throughout Michigan's 15th Congressional District with innovative technologies and ideas, companies that have been working on cutting edge research and development in association with our Michigan Universities but which have not developed the necessary relationships with the Department to successfully sell the Department their products, services and ideas. This section will help link the Department to these smaller companies by identifying and communicating with non-traditional suppliers using tools and resources available within the federal government and in the private sector. Second, this Title reinforces a major priority for the Obama Administration by requiring a contractor to disclose whether it has outstanding tax debt when it is bidding on a new contract. Like many Members of Congress, I have been disillusioned by the scandals and abuse perpetrated by government contractors. Not only have some of these bad actors cost American and foreign lives, but they have also been a heavy burden to taxpayers. I support measures in this Title to ensure the government is contracting with responsible, high-quality suppliers. Moreover, this section gives the government better enforcement mechanisms by providing contracting officers new statutory authority to verify with the Treasury Department that the contractors under review are being forthcoming in their applications with respect to their tax status. Finally, Title IV creates a new, independent oversight authority over the Department's contracting system. It provides for an independent General Counsel within the Defense Contract Audit Agency to carry out reviews of contractor business systems. This provision will also help to save taxpayers money in the long run, ensure effective services are provided to the Department, and ultimately protect the warfighter and the American people. Mr. Chair, the IMPROVE Acquisition Act contains many important provisions deserving of the House's full consideration. I am pleased to support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to proudly support the House Amendments to S. 1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act; legislation that recognizes and aims to meet the needs of our veterans who have bravely served in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/ 11. My colleagues will remember that this legislation was held up in the Senate due to one senator's objection that the bill was not paid for. However, our warriors have already paid a very high price through their sacrifices and selfless devotion to our national security, and they should be repaid with excellent care when they return to civilian life. Fortunately, this legislation builds on the Democratic Congress' record of supporting our veterans through new and innovative programs, fixing some of the existing problems in the VA, and increasing funding for the VA budget. The legislation we are voting on today is a comprehensive approach to caring for our veterans. Specifically, it provides robust support for those who care for our wounded warriors, addresses the needs women veterans, expands services to rural veterans and for mental health care, and closes a loophole for disabled veterans health care. Specifically, the House amendments to S. 1963 provides services, training, and reimbursements for the caregivers of veterans who return from war with serious injuries. It will strengthen support for caregivers of all veterans and will provide reimbursements for lodging and healthcare to caregivers of Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, the legislation expands health care services for our 1.8 million women veterans including provisions mandating a study of the barriers to women veterans seeking health care, education and training for mental health professionals caring for veterans with sexual trauma, a reintegration and readjustment pilot program, establishment of a child care pilot program for women receiving regular and intensive mental health care and intensive health care services, and post- delivery health care for new born children. This comprehensive bill also improves health care for our veterans living in rural areas, including by expanding transportation for veterans to local VA hospitals and clinics through VA grants to local Veterans Service Organizations and provides increased access to counseling and other mental health centers to any member of the Armed Forces. Other provisions in this legislation include prohibiting the VA from collecting copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled; creating a pilot program to provide specified dental services to veterans, survivors, and dependents of veterans through a dental insurer; providing hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and Gulf-War era veterans who have insufficient medical evidence to establish a service-connected disability; and expanding the organizations offering transitional housing and other support for homeless veterans that can receive grants or per diems from the VA, which is particularly important to veterans in rural areas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation and for the Senate to swiftly act so that this legislation can become law and our veterans can begin to benefit from the important programs this comprehensive bill implements.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of one of the most respected and honored musical groups in the nation, the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club. Alumni of this august group, which has received international acclaim for its outstanding singing over the years, will be hosting a reunion in Ann Arbor to help mark the 150th anniversary of the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club on April 8th through the 11th. Since the class of 1859-1860, the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club has been entertaining audiences well beyond the boundaries of their namesake. Formed from many different glee clubs, the singular Men's Glee Club has become one of the signature facets of one of the world's foremost universities, which I have the pleasure of representing in Congress. The group has toured around the world over the past 50 years on behalf of the university. It has been recognized for its excellence from New York City to Europe, South America, and Asia, as well as all across the nation and has won numerous competitions and awards. The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club ensemble has been so successful and talented that it has spawned many subgroups, including the Friars, who patterned themselves on Yale's Whiffenpoofs. The group's sesquicentennial is being held this April and their camaraderie and tradition is so strong that over 400 alumni have registered to return to campus for the celebration. Whether it is singing familiar U of M songs like ``Laudes atque Carmina'' and the alma mater ``The Yellow and Blue,'' or performing classical or humorous songs of the day, the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club has always carried itself with both class and enthusiasm. There are many things for which I am proud of the University and having such a wonderful asset as the Men's Glee Club is one of my favorite reasons for that pride. As the second oldest of such musical groups in the nation, The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club will continue to bring excellence in musical performances for many more years to come, I am sure. Madam Speaker, I hope the House will join me in saluting this outstanding musical ensemble on the eve of their 150th anniversary.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Michigan's men's gymnastics team on winning the 2010 NCAA national championship. Michigan won the championship with a score of 360.500, edging defending champion Stanford, 359.800, and Oklahoma, 357.050. This is the program's fourth national championship, and Michigan's first varsity team championship since 2005. The national championship capped a successful season for the team, as well as individuals. Chris Cameron won the NCAA men's all-around championship and Mel Anton Santander finished third. Michigan swept the high bar, with Ryan McCarthy, Ian Makowske, and Mel Anton Santander finishing first, second, and third, respectively. In all, Michigan finished with the team championship, all-around championship, seven individuals earning all-America honors, and the Elite 88, an award given to the competing student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average, which went to Ben Baldus-Strauss, a chemistry honors student. In addition to its considerable athletic achievements, the team serves as a model of community service and academic excellence. The 20- member team is comprised of individuals from 13 States and Singapore. Members study topics as diverse as American culture, English, economics, political science, biology, and aerospace, biomedical, and mechanical engineering. The program also consistently has one of the highest team grade point averages at the University and is a leader in community service and volunteerism. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the student-athletes and coaches of the 2010 NCAA national championship- winning Michigan men's gymnastics team: Ben Baldus-Strauss, Syque Caesar, Kent Caldwell, Chris Cameron, David Chan, Devan Cote, Steve Crabtree, Phillip Goldberg, Adam Hamers, Garrett Hamers, Evan Heiter, Douglass Johnson, Jr., Thomas Kelley, Torrance Laury, Joe Levine, Ian Makowske, Ryan McCarthy, Mel Anton Santander, Rohan Sebastian, Andrew Vance, and coaches Kurt Golder, Geoff Corrigan, Xiao Yuan, and Ralph Rosso.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true public servant, Mary Canavan. Mary has been with the Federal Government since a week after graduating from college in 1970. After 40 years of dedicated work, Mary is retiring this spring. Mary is one of two children of Irish immigrants--who like most immigrants to the United States--worked incredibly hard to provide for their children. The family was a close one, with Mary taking care of her parents as they got older. To this day, Mary is incredibly close to her brother, a priest, who comes over every Sunday for dinner with his sister. A few years back, Mary's brother was in a car accident and was hurt severely. Typical for Mary, she stepped up to ensure he got the best possible care. As I mentioned, just a week after graduating from college, Mary joined the Federal Water Quality Administration in June of 1970. She joined the Environmental Protection Agency when it was established and the Federal Water Quality Administration was abolished. She began her career in public affairs and thoroughly enjoyed working with students on college campuses. Mary also worked in the water grants program and as a State coordinator, working with Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In 1987, Mary became a congressional relations officer and has served in that capacity ever since. Mary is very involved in her Church, Chicago's 135-year-old Holy Name Cathedral. She recently served as head of the parish council. And after a fire damaged the cathedral last year, Mary, yet again, stepped up to the plate, making sure that the church could continue to accept parishioners and guests during construction. She also helped to plan a fund-raiser to help with church renovations. Mary continues to plan events like the annual gala. I have never heard a bad word about Mary Canavan. She is universally loved and respected. Mary is a Federal employee of the highest caliber. She has served EPA and the offices she deals with tremendously well. I know my office will miss her and based on my discussions with the rest of the Michigan delegation, we are not alone. I wish Mary all the best in retirement, as she looks forward to travel and being able to devote more of her time to her Church and her beloved brother. I ask all my colleagues to rise and pay tribute to Mary Canavan as she leaves Federal service.