Rubén Hinojosa

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to honor the life and numerous accomplishments of former Senator Claiborne Pell. As a six-term United States Senator from Rhode Island and the former chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, he was a strong voice in educational policy, international policy, and the arts. Sadly, Senator Pell passed away on the first of this year at the age of 90. Born in 1918, Senator Pell committed himself to public service throughout his life. He served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II and later in the Coast Guard Reserves. Returning to civilian life, Senator Pell worked in the Foreign Service in Czechoslovakia, in Italy, and right here in Washington, DC. Elected to the United States Senate from the State of Rhode Island in 1960, Claiborne Pell quickly became a leading spokesman in both international and domestic policy. Senator Pell campaigned ardently for human rights, speaking out against genocide occurring around the world. As a supporter of the issue of diplomacy and law over military force, he advocated against the use of nuclear weapons. While in the Senate, Claiborne Pell sponsored the High Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965, which helped create the Amtrak system that more than 25 million people ride each year. Senator Pell also sponsored legislation creating the National Endowment For the Arts and the National Endowment For the Humanities, entities which play a vital role in developing and supporting the arts and historical preservation. Perhaps the accomplishment for which Claiborne Pell is best known is the creation of the Pell Grant. He was the architect of the 1972 Basic Education Opportunity grants, which were later renamed in his honor by the U.S. Congress. Senator Pell often remarked that he had been inspired to help students pay for college by the provisions in the GI bill, which had meant a great deal to him as a veteran whose comrades were propelled to succeed by its educational provisions. Pell Grants, which have helped more than 54 million low and middle income students attend college, have changed the face of American education, opening doors for millions of Americans, including a great number of our colleagues and friends and families and community members. Among all that he had accomplished during his time on Capitol Hill, Senator Pell often called these grants his greatest achievement. A consummate gentleman renowned for his integrity, Claiborne Pell was respected and loved by his colleagues in Congress as well as his constituents at home in Rhode Island. On this day I would like to commemorate Senator Pell's empowering work and recognize his numerous accomplishments. He is an inspiration to us all and an example of how one person can make a difference. Senator Pell had a profound understanding of what truly makes this Nation great. In Senator Pell's words, and I quote, ``The strength of the United States is not the gold at Fort Knox nor the weapons of mass destruction that we have, but the sum total of the education and the character of our people.'' His legacy left the United States stronger. His life's work opened the doors of educational opportunity wider than they had ever been opened before. He is an example of the great character of our people. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring this great Senator who did so much to help Americans who might otherwise not be able to attend college, pursue higher education, and reach for new heights. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I want to say that I am so happy to hear Congressman Dreier make those kind remarks. As I listened to him, it reminded me of 2 years ago when I was chosen by members of the Democratic Caucus to be the chairman of the Higher Education Committee, and one of the first things that I did was to invite presidents and chancellors of different universities throughout our land to come into our office and tell us about what they consider to be the priorities that they had on higher education. I am pleased to say that the chancellor from California, Cal State system, came by to visit me. He pointed out that through the association of presidents and chancellors that there was no question that the highest priority that they had for the 110th Congress was that we do something about increasing the amount of Federal investment in Pell Grants. I am pleased to say that we heard the message and we did something about it, and that we have, in this Congress, the 110th, and we pledge in the 111th Congress, to continue paying attention to the need for funding for Pell Grants. Because if we are to address the affordability and the accessibility of higher education for many of the children of working families, it requires that additional Federal investment as we now talk about the Pell Grants. With that, I urge everyone to vote ``yes'' on this suspension bill.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 43) recognizing the efforts of those who serve their communities on Martin Luther King Day and promoting the holiday as a day of national service.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 43 into the Record.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of the resolution before us, which recognizes the critical role of service and those who give of their time to give back to their communities. This resolution also reminds us that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a national day of service and encourages everyone to take part. It is fitting that the day named in honor of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., is also a day for neighbors, for friends, young and old, to give back to their communities. Dr. King's leadership in the ministry and public service produced epic and societal change to this great nation. He set an example for all of us to follow. His words offer us very simple directions. In his ``drum major instinct'' speech he said, ``You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.'' Over the last few years, the United States has endured and survived the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and hurricanes and floods that devastated families and communities. Without hesitation, volunteers across the Nation rallied together to help stabilize and to rebuild our devastated communities. And just as critical, during times of peace and calm in communities across this country, people hear the call of service and provide assistance in the classroom, in hospitals, in parks, and to children, the elderly, and to each other. I want to thank the Service Caucus and my friend and colleague Representative Todd Platts of Pennsylvania for bringing this resolution forward and reminding us that our country was built on the idea of service. And while we set aside Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a day of service, there are opportunities to give back each and every day. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), who serves on the Rules Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from the State of Illinois (Mr. Davis), a gentleman who serves on the Ways and Means Committee and has served and distinguished himself on our Committee on Education and Labor.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the honorable gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) so that he can speak to this House resolution.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1424, the Senate amendment to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. I will vote ``yes.'' No one wants to be voting on this legislation today because none of us want to be in the horrific economic situation in which our country finds itself. The greed and lack of regulatory oversight that got us into this mess should never have happened. However, today we have to deal with the practical economic reality. Inaction is not an option. This bill is not about bailing out Wall Street. It is about making sure that average Americans can continue to get credit for their basic needs like housing, students loans, and automobiles. It is about saving pensions for our retirees and making sure that the small businesses that are the engines of growth in my district can continue to get the credit they need to operate. This bill is not perfect and doesn't have everything I would like. However, the changes that have been made to the original proposal by Secretary Paulson address many of the concerns of my constituents. The changes will protect taxpayers, keep people in their homes and rein in huge CEO salaries. It will allow the American people to see where this money is being spent and what is being purchased. Many of the tax extenders that the Senate added are needed to keep our country competitive and bring tax relief to average Americans. Pell Grant The Continuing Resolution included $2.5 billion to address shortfalls and projected cost increases in the Pell Grant Program. $750 million was for the FY 2007 Pell shortfall. $1.8 billion was to cover anticipated cost increases for FY 2009. Still needed are $2 billion to address the anticipated shortfall for 2008. This has to be addressed by Fiscal Year 2010. Additionally, there another $1 billion may be needed for 2009, which would have to be addressed by 2011. Student Loans The frozen credit markets have affected the ability of student loans providers to raise capital to offer student loans. The Ensuring Continued Access to Federal Student Loans Act (H.R. 5715) was extended through 2010. This legislation gives the Secretary of Education the authority to purchase federal student loans from lenders, thereby injecting liquidity into the market. The $700 billion rescue package gives the Secretary of Treasury the authority to purchase troubled assets that the Secretary determines necessary for the health of the economy. Freeing up the credit markets will help lenders, including student loan lenders, in accessing the capital necessary to make college loans. I urge my colleagues to support this bill today so that we can bring immediate stability to our markets, our credit system and the economy as a whole.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I would have voted as follows: On rollcall No. 669, S. 906, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 670, Previous Question, H.R. 1517, ``yea''; on rollcall No. 671, rule, H.R. 1517, ``aye.''

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, it is with deep and heartfelt sympathy that I join my colleagues today in conveying my sincere condolences on the death of my good friend, International Boundaries and Water Commissioner, Mr. Carlos Marin. On September 17, 2008 aircraft wreckage located in the Sierra Madre mountain range was confirmed to be that of an airplane on which U.S. Commissioner Carlos Marin and Mexican Commissioner Arturo Herrera of the International Boundary and Water Commission were passengers. At the time of this tragic accident, the Commissioners were traveling to assess Rio Grande flood conditions at Presidio, Texas-Ojinaga, Chihuahua and to coordinate joint response efforts. Carlos Marin was a brilliant, enthusiastic, and devoted public servant. He played a lead role in the IBWC, overseeing flood control, sanitation, boundary demarcation, and mapping projects. It has been an immense pleasure to know and work with him over the course of my career. I have whole-heartedly enjoyed collaborating with him on innumerable projects along the U.S.-Mexico border. I have admired his ability to bring people together across borders and his dedication to and understanding of the U.S.-Mexican border region. We will all greatly miss his leadership and wisdom. Above all, Carlos was an exceptional American. He will forever be remembered for his dedication to his country and for his tireless efforts to forge cooperation across borders in the name of the common good. Madam Speaker, let me once again express my deep regret on learning of Carlos's death. I wish to portray my condolences to his wife, Rosa, his children, and family. All those whose lives he touched, directly or indirectly, mourn at his passing.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5422. I want to commend Chairwoman Maloney for introducing H.R. 5422, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation which is supported by many organizations, including the National Council of La Raza, LULAC, MALDEF, and many others. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, I am concerned that thousands of students each year do not enroll in higher education institutions because of financial barriers. I am equally concerned about the amount of debt that students are incurring while attending institutions of higher education. I have been working diligently with our Democratic leaders to make college more affordable and accessible. We are tackling that issue as well as trying to ensure that students graduate with the least amount of debt possible. I am interested in the relationship between institutions of higher education and credit card companies. Many receive revenue from credit card deals. I want to know the nature of the deals, how much the credit card companies make from those deals, how they market those credit cards to students, and whether the institutions approach the credit card companies or vice versa. We need to address this issue and find out how widespread the practice is and whether it is national in scope. This legislation will eliminate unfair and arbitrary interest rate increases, end unfair penalties to cardholders who pay on time, and require the fair allocation of consumer payments. Moreover, it will help college students reduce their debt. Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to again thank Chairwoman Maloney for introducing the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights legislation, and I support it.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 613, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6889) to extend the authority of the Secretary of Education to purchase guaranteed student loans for an additional year, and for other purposes.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 6889 into the Record.

Mr. HINOJOSA. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6889, legislation to extend the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act for an additional year. We are all united in our commitment to provide every assurance to students and families that there will be no disruption in the Federal student loans program regardless of what is happening in the financial markets. In May, the President signed the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act. This law is providing much-needed liquidity to the student loan marketplace by authorizing the Secretary on a temporary basis to purchase student loans so that lenders have the funds to make new loans. As a result of our swift action, there has been no disruption in students' and families' access to loans for the 2008-2009 academic year. The Department of Education, the lenders, secondary markets, guaranty agencies, and institutions of higher education are to be commended for their efforts to get new financing systems in place and operational for the start of this academic year. Their cooperation has ensured continued access to college loans. Come spring, students and families will be making their plans for the next academic year. Given the ongoing turmoil in our financial markets, it is critical that we extend the authority for the Secretary to purchase student loans to avoid any uncertainty about the access to this critical source of student financial aid. It would be a tragedy for a student to decide to forego or postpone college because of a fear of not being able to get a Federal student loan. This legislation has no budgetary cost. It will simply extend the Secretary's authority under the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act for an additional year. Mr. Speaker, students and families will be able to rest assured that we have the mechanisms in place to make sure that there is sufficient capital for student loans even if the current credit crisis continues or worsens. This Congress has taken unprecedented steps to make college more accessible and more affordable. We enacted the largest increase in student aid with the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, a $20 billion investment in human capital. In August, the President signed the Higher Education Opportunity Act into law. The legislation takes significant steps to improve our student aid delivery system, ensure the integrity of our student loan programs, and provide students and families with the tools that they need to make informed choices about which college to attend and how to finance it. These are complex issues, and on a bipartisan, bicameral basis, we came together with some practical solutions. Today's legislation is another example of our bipartisan commitment to college access. I would like to thank our committee chairman, George Miller, and our senior Republicans on the full committee and the Higher Education Subcommittee, Representative Buck McKeon and Representative Ric Keller from Florida, for their leadership in quickly moving this legislation forward. We stand united in our goal of ensuring continued access to student loans. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 6889. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Bishop from the State of Utah for his support of this student loan extension, H.R. 6889. And let me reassure him that this week, if our friends and colleagues from the great State of Texas and the State of Louisiana are able to get back because of the devastation that occurred with Hurricane Ike, we will be able to address the energy bill that he was referring to. And I am sure that the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and others in leadership position are prepared to give us the opportunity to take care of this great need that we have throughout our country on the lack of energy. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HINOJOSA

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1372) celebrating the 100th anniversary of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and recognizing the partnership between the city of Omaha, its citizens, and the university to build a vibrant and dynamic community, as amended.

Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1372 into the Record.