Luis Gutiérrez

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of my bill, the Consumer Fairness Act of 2009. In the last decade, too many of our nation's consumers have been subjected to abusive payday lending and increasingly relied on high-cost credit cards and predatory mortgage loans. To make matters worse, a consumer's ability to fight back against predatory lenders or to challenge unfair credit card fees and rates has been severely constrained by consumer contracts that require binding, mandatory arbitration to settle disputes between the borrower and the lender. We cannot allow these unfair practices to compound our economic challenges. Mandatory arbitration clauses undermine existing consumer protections. They prohibit class action lawsuits by requiring consumers to waive their right to access a court of law and by forcing them into an arbitration system that has been set up for the benefit and expediency of corporate America. In many cases, individual consumers are required to pay thousands of dollars in arbitration fees that they cannot afford before their case is even heard. If this strikes my colleagues as unfair, then I ask them to support my bill, the Consumer Fairness Act of 2009. The Consumer Fairness Act of 2009 would prohibit binding arbitration clauses in any consumer contract by recognizing these clauses as an unfair and deceptive trade practice. This legislation will help to level the playing field in the fight against predatory lending practices by giving consumers access to the courts and to class action lawsuits in order to address these unfair practices in an environment free of bias. When our constituents suffer through the worst recession in decades, the very least we can do is to give them a fair environment to defend themselves against predatory practices.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 30 and 31.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. I would like the record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 1 and 4; ``nay'' on rollcall vote 3; and for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA-08) on rollcall vote 2 for the election of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 676, 677 and 678.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of my bill, the H.O.P.E. resolution of 2008: Honoring Organizers for Promoting Equality. In every community across our Nation, the contributions of community organizers are woven into the fabric of our history. They have worked to ignite movements such as the Underground Railroad, farm laborers' rights, civil rights, and women's suffrage. Today, community organizers in my own city of Chicago fight for improved housing, adult literacy initiatives, equal access to quality healthcare, and fair and just immigration laws. As citizens of the United States--a country founded on the principles of freedom and justice--we should not discredit the serious and historic responsibilities of community organizers. I believe that there is no greater responsibility than standing up to injustice. The men and women who followed in the footsteps of Cesar Chavez and were committed to speak out for the voiceless, who saw the work of Jane Addams and decided to champion an unpopular cause, or who heard the words of Dr. Martin Luther King and chose to stand firm against the status quo--these men and women know where true power lies. In educating and encouraging others to reject injustice and to demand change, organizers create better communities and a better country for us all. Madam Speaker, let me conclude with these words from Thomas Jefferson: ``Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.'' Community organizers play an integral role in empowering people of every faith, gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, and their efforts are worthy of more than a punch line.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber for a short period today. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 675.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4544) to require the issuance of medals to recognize the dedication and valor of Native American code talkers, as amended.

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4544, the Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008. This legislation directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to authorize the award of gold medals to deserving individual Native American code talkers from specified Native American tribes. The bill defines ``code talker'' as a Native American who served in the Armed Forces during a foreign conflict and who participated in military communications using a native language. However, the bill excludes members of the Navajo tribe because, in 2001, the Congress honored Navajo code talkers with Congressional Gold Medals for their contributions as radio operators during World War II. The legislation further directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Defense to identify individual code talkers deserving of this recognition. I urge passage of this bill. House of Representatives, Committee on House Administration, Washington, DC, September 12, 2008. Hon. Barney Frank, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Frank: I understand that your committee is considering bringing to the Floor H.R. 4544, the ``Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2007.'' The Committee on House Administration received an additional referral for this bill due to the inclusion of section 5(c), which gives an important role to the Smithsonian Institution in maintaining a list of tribes and receiving medals which the tribes may choose to donate. It is my understanding that the intent of the legislation is that, if the tribes provide the medals to the Smithsonian, they then would become the Smithsonian's property for possible exhibition or other appropriate purpose. The House Administration Committee is the principal committee of jurisdiction over the Smithsonian Institution under Rule X. We recognize that, at this point in the session, there is a desire to move legislation as expeditiously as possible. Therefore, we will waive any further consideration of the bill and agree to be discharged. However, we do so with the understanding that the Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional claims over similar measures. In the event of any conference with the Senate, the Committee reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees and to have your support. I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter in the Congressional Record during any consideration of H.R. 4544 on the House floor. Sincerely, Robert A. Brady, Chairman.

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

Mr. GUTIERREZ. I ask if there are any further requests for time on the other side or does the gentlelady yield back?

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Boren) for 7 minutes.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

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

Mr. GUTIERREZ. I would ask the gentlelady if there are any requests for time on her side.

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes. I rise in strong support of H.R. 6894, the Defense Production Act Extension and Reauthorization of 2008, and urge my colleagues to support the bill's passage. This legislation reauthorizes the Defense Production Act of 1950, which expires at the end of fiscal year 2008, through September 30 of 2009. Although the act is due for a comprehensive review, we did not have adequate time to conduct hearings and a markup in this Congress. Therefore, we are seeking this straight, 1-year extension that makes no substantive changes to the act. Mr. Speaker, the Defense Production Act, or DPA, is a little known bill of great national significance. Put simply, the DPA gives the President a vital set of tools to ensure the constant readiness of those portions of our industrial base that support national security. These tools include production priorities and financial incentives, but they also extend to monitoring the increasing effects of globalization on the defense base. Since it was enacted in 1950 during the Korean war, every administration since President Truman's has used the act carefully and prudently. In addition to its national defense uses, the DPA holds the promise of helping to mitigate civil emergencies during peacetime. For example, during the California energy crisis, former President Clinton authorized the U.S. Energy Secretary to use the act to compel a continuing supply of natural gas to Pacific Gas & Electric. Mr. Speaker, the United States is currently fighting wars on two fronts--rebuilding from the damages caused by Hurricane Ike and, regrettably, still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina. The DPA is a key component of our national security and civil emergency readiness, and we cannot let the act lapse. I know that some of my colleagues have questions about how the act has been used, if at all, by the current administration during civil emergencies. I share these concerns, but I believe these oversight issues would be best addressed in the next Congress. Next year, the Financial Services Committee will conduct a comprehensive review of the DPA, specifically looking at proposals to increase the amounts authorized in title III of the act. The 1-year extension will give the committee time to do its work in a thoughtful, bipartisan manner, and I urge the bill's passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6894) to extend and reauthorize the Defense Production Act of 1950, and for other purposes.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 616, 617, and 618.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 674, legislation to make the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans permanent. I have sponsored this legislation along with Congresswoman Corrine Brown, who serves on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Current law mandates the termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans (ACMV) on December 31, 2009. This bill would simply repeal the provision of law that sunsets this important committee so that its critical work on behalf of minority veterans can continue. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans operates in conjunction with the VA Center for Minority Veterans. This committee consists of members appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and includes minority veterans, representatives of minority veterans groups and individuals who are recognized authorities in fields pertinent to the needs of minority veterans. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans helps the VA Center for Minority Veterans by advising the Secretary on the adoption and implementation of policies and programs affecting minority veterans, and by making recommendations to the VA for the establishment or improvement of programs in the department for which minority veterans are eligible. The Committee has consistently provided the VA and Congress with balanced, forward-looking recommendations, many of which go far beyond the unique needs of minority veterans. In 2002, the Committee met in my hometown of Chicago and warned that in the Chicago regional office, ``it was mentioned that it was much easier to deny benefits than to grant benefits because of stringent requirements of the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Court of Appeal for Veterans Claims.'' The Chicago Sun-Times later exposed that Illinois veterans ranked 50th in disability benefit compensation. That information` sparked a campaign by the Illinois Congressional Delegation to rectify the situation. Since then, the VA Inspector General has issued his report and recommendations, and the Secretary has pledged additional staff and resources to the Chicago regional office. The Committee will also be needed in the future since the unique concerns of minority veterans will become increasingly important for our nation over the next decade. Currently, 17 percent of the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are African-American, while 11 percent are Hispanic. The concerns of these veterans and others will not disappear on December 31, 2009, nor should the Committee that represents them. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans has helped our minority veterans from past wars with programs to address their concerns. We should not shortchange our newly returning soldiers by allowing this Committee's tenure to expire. Many specific issues of concern to minority veterans need to be addressed further. Minority veterans confront the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse in greater numbers. Minority veterans suffer from a higher incidence of homelessness. Access to health care for Native American veterans is also a common problem. In addition, access to adequate job training is a difficulty for many minority veterans, a high percentage of whom qualify as low-income, category A veterans. Unfortunately, discrimination and cultural insensitivity remain problematic for minority veterans at many VA facilities. The Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans still has a lot of work to do, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to make this important Committee permanent.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this Chamber yesterday. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 512, 513 and 514.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. I thank the gentleman for the time. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1029, congratulating and recognizing Mr. Juan Antonio ``Chi-Chi'' Rodriguez for his continued success on and off the golf course, for his generosity and devotion to charity and for his dedication to the intellectual and moral growth of thousands of low-income and disadvantaged youth in our country. I am proud to have introduced this resolution honoring a great American. Chi-Chi Rodriguez was born the fifth of six children to an agricultural worker and to a housekeeper in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. From these humble beginnings, he rose to become one of the Nation's most talented professional golfers, using his skills and status to benefit others. Chi-Chi is distinguished as a great humanitarian and role model for children across the Nation. Chi-Chi joined the ranks of professional golfers at the age of 24, and over the next four decades, he earned 38 professional wins, including 8 PGA tour wins and 22 Senior PGA tour wins. In 1979, Chi-Chi Rodriguez had used his national recognition as a great sportsman to help found the Chi-Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation and the Chi-Chi Rodriguez Academy, which have collectively raised $4 million to assist disadvantaged youth. The Chi-Chi Rodriguez Foundation has been honored by the National Golf Association, by the Jackie Robinson Foundation and by the Points of Light Foundation for its youth and community service efforts. Chi-Chi also joined with the FBI Agents Association to create the Chi-Chi Rodriguez G-Man Desert Shootout Tournament in order to fund college scholarships for the children of those FBI agents who have been killed in the line of duty. Chi-Chi has been heard to say, ``For me, satisfaction comes from knowing that I was put on this planet to make it better.'' This philosophy has guided his life and has made him an example of dedication and generosity of spirit. Madam Speaker, as Members of Congress, one of our great honors is to recognize our fellow citizens who stand out as exceptional individuals. I am proud to support this resolution, honoring a great Puerto Rican- American humanitarian.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent on June 3, 2008. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 367, 368, and 369.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 5614, the Original Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Ultra-High Relief Palladium Bullion Coin Act, of which I am an original cosponsor. H.R. 5614 instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $20 coins in memory of Augustus Saint-Gauden Double Eagle gold pieces of 1907. The issuing of this coin will begin on January 1, 2009. The introduction of this famous piece as a collectors' proof coin would not only give collectors an opportunity to own a version of a legendary coin that has never before been available for private ownership but also inaugurate a neo-renaissance in United States coin design. The coin will also demonstrate the technological advances in engraving and minting the U.S. has achieved over the last century. I congratulate my friend from the Financial Services Committee, Mr. Castle, for introducing this bill and urge all Members to support its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GUTIERREZ

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

Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5872, the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. The Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $1 silver coins in celebration of the 100 years of the largest youth organization in the United States. The issuing of this coin will begin on or after February 8, 2010, and before January 1, 2011. Over the last 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America have accumulated over 5 million members, which include many influential Americans like Neil Armstrong and former President Gerald Ford. The bill recognizes the achievements of its members and their overwhelming dedication to public service. I urge all Members to support its passage. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, May 5, 2008. Hon. Barney Frank, Chairman, Financial Services Committee, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Frank: I am writing regarding H.R. 5872, the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains jurisdiction over bills that raise revenue. H.R. 5872 contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the bill, and thus falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. However, as part of our ongoing understanding regarding commemorative coin bills and in order to expedite this bill for Floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action. This is being done with the understanding that it does not in any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of Conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the future. I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 5872, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the record. Sincerely, Charles B. Rangel, Chairman.