John Dingell

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us today takes measurable and concrete steps to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Most importantly, it is a piece of legislation that will be signed into law by the President. And as such, it represents a glimmer of hope that we will be able to get beyond the gridlock that has afflicted us for far too long in far too many areas. Despite the birth pains of this legislation, and there have been many, it is a good bill. Is it a perfect bill? No. But it is good enough to be supported by the Members. More has to be done, and we will do it. This is, then, a good bill. Its core is a series of requirements that will improve energy efficiency of almost every product and tool and appliance that is used in the United States from light bulbs to light trucks. We are requiring a 40 percent increase in the fuel economy of our motor vehicles, and we are doing it in a way that gives manufacturers the flexibility they need to get the job done while preserving American jobs. Congress is establishing specific numbers and targets, including new categories of vehicles, in a comprehensive approach to fuel efficiency. Along with the efficiency standards for homes, appliances and lighting, we will be removing from the atmosphere 10 billion tons or more of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2030. That is the equivalent of taking all cars, trucks and planes off the road and out of the skies for 5 years. This legislation is not the final word on energy security or climate change. We will be needing to do more, and we will. To be specific, I believe that it is possible for us to craft renewable energy requirements for electrical utilities, something which was dropped in the final stages of the bill because of the imperfections of the Senate's work, and a low carbon fuel standard. These are matters we will be addressing next year as we craft comprehensive climate change legislation on which the Committee on Energy and Commerce is now working. But that takes nothing away from today's achievement, which represents solid accomplishment and an essential downpayment towards reducing our dependence on foreign sources of oil and reducing greenhouse emissions. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to yield the gentleman 30 seconds.

Mr. DINGELL. I just want to say a word of gratitude to the gentleman from California for the fine work he has done on this matter and how much the country owes him for his labors on this. I also want to say a word of praise for both Mr. Hill and Mr. Terry who have done a superb job in working for a better piece of legislation. I want the gentleman to be aware of my personal gratitude and appreciation. I think the country also will have reason to thank the gentleman.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman, my good friend from California (Mr. George Miller).

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez).

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield to the distinguished member from New Hampshire, the Honorable Ms. Shea-Porter, 2 minutes. She is a valuable Member of the body, and we are glad to hear from her.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California, the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, my friend, Mr. Waxman.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland, a member of the committee, my friend Mr. Wynn.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill), who has provided such extraordinary leadership in the consideration of this legislation, 2 minutes.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin). (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, we have no remaining speakers save my strong desire to yield the remainder of our time to our distinguished Speaker who will close for our side, but I want to say a nice word about my good friend, the gentleman from Texas. He is a valuable Member of the body and a great friend of mine and it is always a pleasure to work with him, even when we are on opposite sides. If he would proceed to close, then I would yield to our Speaker for our closing remarks.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Lampson) 2 minutes.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Michael K. Wheeler, who is retiring on January 3, 2008, as Director of the John Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit. Mr. Wheeler's career is marked by numerous hospital administration roles and a dedication to our men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. Mr. Wheeler was born in Detroit and moved to Canton, Ohio, when he was a teenager. He received a BS in business administration from the University of Dayton and an MA in hospital administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati. Mr. Wheeler began his career as a Hospital Administration Specialist in the U.S. Air Force and has served in an impressive number of VA Medical Centers, including Durham, North Carolina; Portland, Oregon; Prescott, Arizona; Coatesville, Pennsylvania; Cleveland, Ohio; and Dayton, Ohio. Prior to assuming the position of Director of the John Dingell VAMC, Mr. Wheeler was the Medical Center Director of the VAMC Battle Creek, Michigan. Additionally, Mr. Wheeler has conducted seminars in postgraduate education in management principles, strategic planning, and quality assurance for the VA, Duke University, and the American College of Health Care Executives. Undoubtedly, Mr. Wheeler was more than prepared when he began his tenure at the John Dingell VAMC in 2001. There, he oversees all operations of the 108 bed primary, secondary, and tertiary care medical center which provides acute medical, surgical, psychiatric, and other inpatient care as well as both primary and specialized outpatient services, including substance abuse, among others. His job necessitates flexibility and strong decisionmaking abilities. Mr. Wheeler is a patriot and a role model for us all. His colleagues and associates know him as an approachable, humorous, and very hard- working Director. I am proud to call him a friend. The John Dingell VAMC has been lucky to have him for these past 6 years. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Wheeler for his dedication to the VA and to the men and women who have served our country. I wish him well as he moves on to new adventures.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4351, legislation that will provide critical tax relief to millions of middle class Americans. I support the Democratic majority's commitment to passing sensible legislation that will provide a solution to the looming Alternative Minimum Tax crisis. I am disappointed that President Bush and the Republican minority are opposing our efforts to pass this legislation. If this bill is not passed by the Senate and signed by the President, more than 60,000 families which I have the honor of representing here in the House will be required to pay the AMT when filing their 2007 return--an increase of almost 1000 percent since 2005. I also support the Democratic majority's continuing commitment to responsible fiscal policies. The relief provided in this bill is paid for by closing tax loopholes that allow hedge fund managers and corporate CEOs to use offshore tax havens as unlimited retirement accounts. That the President and his party would side with a few of the wealthiest individuals over millions of middle class American families speaks volumes about their misplaced priorities.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, in accordance with clause 2(a) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I respectfully submit the rules of the Committee on Energy and Commerce for printing in the Congressional Record. The Committee on Energy and Commerce adopted these rules by a voice vote, a quorum being present, at our organizational meeting on January 10, 2007.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2601, the ``Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007'', of which I am the lead Democratic sponsor. This bill enjoys wide bipartisan support. Its passage will help to ensure the continued operation of one of the most popular Federal consumer protection programs ever adopted by the Congress, the registry that allows consumers to list their phone numbers and thereby protect themselves from unwanted telemarketing phone calls. Congress originally assigned the task of implementing and enforcing the Do-Not-Call Registry to the Federal Communications Commission, but they proved less than enthusiastic and nothing ensued. Congress then directed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to perform these tasks. To date, the Registry established by the FTC includes more than 145 million telephone numbers, and the FTC has initiated 27 cases alleging Do-Not-Call violations, resulting in orders totaling $8.8 million in civil penalties and $8.6 million in redress or disgorgement. This is a proud record indeed. To maintain the success of this program, however, legislative action is needed. The authority of the FTC to collect fees to support maintenance of the Registry and the related enforcement program expired at the end on September 2007. H.R. 2601, whose lead sponsor is Rep. Stearns, will provide the FTC with a permanent fee structure for this purpose, contingent on approval of the fees in annual appropriations acts. This will provide appropriate oversight over the funding mechanism. The bill also requires the FTC to prepare two reports on the use and effectiveness of the Registry, including allegations regarding abuse surrounding a number of exemptions. The Committee takes these consumer complaints seriously and intends to look into them, in connection with review of the FTC reports. I urge my colleagues to vote for this important consumer protection bill.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3541 the ``Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007''. This bill enjoys wide bipartisan support. Along with H.R. 2601, legislation considered by the House immediately before this bill, these measures will strengthen and ensure the continued operation of one of the most popular Federal consumer protection programs ever adopted by the Congress, the registry that allows consumers to list their phone numbers and thereby protect themselves from unwanted telemarketing phone calls. Current rules provide that telephone numbers be removed from the list after 5 years, thus requiring consumers to re-register their numbers in order to fend off pesky telemarketing calls. Most consumers are unaware of this requirement. And I would observe that it places a particular burden on the elderly, the group most often victimized by telemarketing frauds. The FTC testified before our Committee last month that they would not remove any expiring numbers from the Do-Not-Call Registry, that is, phone numbers will stay registered, pending action by Congress to address this issue. To that end, H.R. 3541 will eliminate the automatic removal of telephone numbers registered on the Registry, subject to certain common sense exceptions, such as at the request of the individual to whom the number is assigned. To maintain the accuracy of the Registry, H.R. 3541 directs the FTC to ``periodically'' check telephone numbers on the Registry against national or other appropriate databases, and remove from such Registry telephone numbers that have been disconnected and reassigned. The Committee intends for the FTC or any subcontractor to check these numbers at least once a month and preferably more frequently as technology allows. Nothing in this bill prohibits the FTC from removing invalid telephone numbers from the Registry at any time. The Committee expects the FTC to work with industry and technology experts to ensure the accuracy of the Registry. The legislation directs the FTC to report to Congress, not later than 9 months after date of enactment, on efforts taken by the agency to improve the accuracy of the Registry. I commend Representatives Doyle and Pickering for their strong bipartisan leadership on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote for this strong package of important consumer protections. Let us hope for swift action on H.R. 3541, as well as on the legislation establishing a permanent funding mechanism, leading to quick enactment so that Americans are not once again inundated with unwanted calls from telemarketers.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 846 and as designee of the majority leader, I call up from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 6) to reduce our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging energy technologies, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy, and for other purposes, with Senate amendments thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 846, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1 minute to my distinguished friend and colleague, the majority leader of the House, the Honorable Mr. Hoyer, a great Member of Congress and a great friend of mine.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and am proud to join my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts and Chairman of the Committee on Financial Services, Rep. Frank, in sponsoring this bill. It represents an important first step in improving the protection of consumers of depository institutions. H.R. 3526 was referred to both of our Committees (Energy and Commerce has Rule X jurisdiction over consumer protection and consumer affairs) and reported unanimously by both. I urge its adoption by the House. The Supreme Court's ruling earlier this year in Watters v. Wachovia Bank N.A. upheld a regulation by the Department of Treasury's Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that permits operating subsidiaries of national banks to violate State laws with impunity. The Court ruled that the bank's operating subsidiary is subject to OCC superintendence, even if there effectively is none, and not the licensing, reporting, and visitorial regimes of the States in which the subsidiary operates. The practical effect of the OCC's far-reaching preemption authority as interpreted and blessed by the courts is that it prevents States from using their historical authority to protect consumers and communities in large parts of the financial services marketplace, a huge consumer protection gap that evildoers have exploited and the Federal banking regulators have not shown an inclination or an ability to fill. As explained more fully in our respective Committee reports, banks are covered by the Federal Trade Commission Act's prohibition against ``unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce,'' but the rule writer for them is not the Federal Trade Commission, the expert agency who implements and enforces this provision across the vast majority of the U.S. economy, but rather the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. It has done very little. Given the tide of complaints about abusive practices with respect to loans, credit cards, checking accounts, and other products, this is clearly unacceptable. H.R. 3526 therefore includes all Federal baking regulators, and not just the Federal Reserve, within the existing mandate under Section 18(f) of the FTC Act to adopt rules identifying and prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices by depository institutions. The Committee on Energy and Commerce was pleased to adopt improvements to this legislation. We amended it to require the banking regulators to consult with the FTC when promulgating any such rules, to allow the FTC to use the notice and comment procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act in concurrent rulemakings with the bank regulators, and to require GAO to report on the status of bank rules under these authorities. I want to assure Members that the Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection intend to engage in vigorous oversight, in consultation with the Committee on Financial Services, to make sure that this authority is aggressively used. The public will greatly benefit from it.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Dixboro First United Methodist Church, located in Superior Township, MI. This year marks the 150th anniversary of this proud institution. The Dixboro United Methodist Church has a long and honorable history of service to its community, one which has both strengthened the faith of its members and solidified the church's place as an integral part of the Dixboro area. The earliest known religious service in the recently-formed Village of Dixboro took place in 1828 It and subsequent services throughout the next three decades were led by Methodist Circuit riders. Traveling a 40-mile route stretching from Nankin (Canton) to Ann Arbor, these preachers on horseback would arrive every 3 to 4 weeks, lead worship in a private home or 1-room schoolhouse, then move on to the next point on the circuit. The dedication of these traveling preachers inspired those they served and in 1857 a group of local citizens met and formed a board of trustees to authorize the building of the church. Dixboro United Methodist was then built the following year, in 1858. The original building is now listed in the National Registry of Historical Buildings and Places and it is still utilized as the sanctuary for services. Dixboro United Methodist has historically had a strong rural congregation, made up largely of local farmers. The rural character of Dixboro began changing with the advent of the building boom of the 1950s. New subdivisions and residential developments have brought fresh perspectives into the community and growth to the congregation. The present Dixboro United Methodist congregation is a diverse mix of young and old, traditional and contemporary; many are descendents of the original congregation. The people of Dixboro United Methodist put their motto. ``People Helping People'' to work. A strong commitment to mission and community outreach is a hallmark of this congregation. Throughout a century and a half of growth, change and development, Dixboro United Methodist Church has remained a warn and welcoming member of its community. With such a rich history, one full of service, compassion and fellowship, I am proud to recognize Dixboro First United Methodist Church as it celebrates its first 150 years.