Jeb Hensarling

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. It is, in some respects, deja vu all over again. It is dangerous for government to have one view of risk--one view of risk. The regulators told all the banks that there was virtually no risk in mortgage-backed securities, no risk in sovereign debt, so you don't have to reserve practically any capital against those. Think Fannie, Freddie, and Greek bonds, and it almost brought down the entire national financial system, and we are obviously repeating the same mistake. So I appreciate the gentleman from Arizona for his observation.

Mr. HENSARLING. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona.

Mr. HENSARLING. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. HENSARLING. The gentleman is obviously a quick study, but it doesn't take long when you speak to your constituents to realize, again, they are still hurting in this limping economy. When one looks at the President's economic program, it is really based on a couple major pillars. It is based on his healthcare program, ObamaCare, but it is also based on Dodd-Frank; and in many ways Dodd- Frank is to household finances what ObamaCare is to household health care, and it is harming low-income and working American families. It is hurting their ability to achieve greater levels of economic opportunity, greater levels of financial independence. Mr. Speaker, we have an economy that is limping along at about 2 percent economic growth, when historically we know it has been at 3\1/ 2\ percent. The economy is underperforming by 40 percent, and one of the reasons is because of Dodd-Frank. You can ask any person who is out there--an entrepreneur, small-business person who is helping create jobs--and they will tell you about this drag that the sheer weight, volume, complexity, and uncertainty of this tsunami of regulation is causing. I am very happy, Mr. Speaker, that someone that we have on our committee is a businessperson who has a history of creating jobs in my native State of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) to give us his thoughts on Dodd-Frank as well.

Mr. HENSARLING. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. HENSARLING. Again, in many respects, I do believe the economy is more fragile. The good news is that more of our financial institutions are holding more capital. They are more liquid. But what is ironic is the regulators, prior to Dodd-Frank, had all the regulatory authority they needed to have made these balance sheets even safer; yet there has been no effort on the part of the administration, notwithstanding the good work of our committee, to do anything about Fannie and Freddie that were at the epicenter of the crisis. Again, this whole government idea of putting people into homes that ultimately they cannot afford to keep, it is terrible for them. It is bad for the taxpayer. It is bad for the economy. We have to move to a sustainable housing system: sustainable for homeowners, sustainable for the economy, and certainly sustainable for taxpayers.

Mr. HENSARLING. Well, before I do, Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining?

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 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 the Special Order.

Mr. HENSARLING. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for his comments tonight. I thank him for his leadership on our committee, not only on dealing with Dodd-Frank, but dealing with the very serious issue of terrorist financing, where he serves as the vice chair of our task force on that subject. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer), the newest member of the House Committee on Financial Services. Although he is new to the committee, it didn't take him too long to figure out, by speaking to his constituents and speaking to his credit unions and community banks, that Dodd-Frank is not working, that Dodd-Frank is helping make this economy less stable and making the American people less prosperous and less free.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership tonight especially, of all times. Mr. Speaker, it is our highest ideal as Americans that every human life is endowed with dignity and has value. As Americans, we have a shared responsibility to protect the innocent and defend the rights of those who are unable to defend themselves. But rather than protecting and defending this dignity, Planned Parenthood is seemingly attempting to cash in on it. Recently, shocking and appalling videos have come to light exposing senior employees at Planned Parenthood casually discussing both the harvesting and selling of organs of aborted children. These videos portray a chilling transactional approach to ending human life. Mr. Speaker, as a matter of morality, history, science, reason, and, most importantly, my personal faith, I can come to no other conclusion but that every human life begins at conception and every human life is worthy of protection. Psalm 139:13 says: For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. What God has knit together, apparently Planned Parenthood wishes to crush. But that is not my word, Mr. Speaker; that is their word. You have heard it spoken on this House floor as Senior Director of Medical Services at Planned Parenthood said: We have been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we know that, so I am not going to crush that part. I am not sure I have ever repeated such vile and cruel words on this House floor before, Mr. Speaker; and whether one considers themselves pro-life or pro-choice, I would hope that every American believes that harvesting and trafficking baby organs violates the sanctity to which every child created in the very image of God is entitled to. So, Mr. Speaker, I add my voice thanking our leadership of this Congress for calling on investigations of these horrific acts, and I call on the Obama administration to denounce them and find a way to stop these gruesome practices. Almost every day, Mr. Speaker, we hear somebody utter words on the House floor, ``We must do something for the least of these.'' Truly unborn life is the least of these. So let's start tonight and hold life precious.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Mr. Edward Leyden for his 33 years of outstanding service to Bishop Lynch High School and his community. Mr. Leyden was hired in 1982 as the school's first lay president during a time of transition and uncertainty with a struggling school enrollment. Mr. Leyden immediately began working to make the school a better place, and he hasn't stopped since. Thanks to Mr. Leyden's years of hard work and dedication, the school's student population has more than doubled in size and the campus has undergone numerous expansion and improvement projects. Shortly after Mr. Leyden's arrival, the school received the first of two National Blue Ribbon Awards--an honor given by the U.S. Department of Education to recognize schools of exemplary academic achievement. While he points to the prestigious award for the school's success, many believe the credit goes to Mr. Leyden's leadership and open door policy. Under Mr. Leyden's leadership, the school--once primarily attended by East Dallas pupils--now has students from all parts of the city-- from Frisco to Plano and Oak Cliff to Northwest Dallas. A performing arts center was built, science wing, arts and athletics complex, and other renovation projects all have come to completion thanks to Mr. Leyden's vision and dedication to making Bishop Lynch an exemplary place for students to learn. Mr. Leyden has achieved much in his life. A graduate of St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas and Barry University in Miami, Florida, he was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Dallas in 2006; was the Catholic Foundation Award honoree in 2015; received the Bishop Lynch JFK award for service; is a member of St. Edward's University Board of Trustees and the advisory committee for Ferguson Road Initiative. He has been in Catholic education for more than 50 years and has presided over 33 graduation ceremonies, but if you ask Mr. Leyden what he considers his greatest accomplishment, he will say that he is leaving the school a better place than he found it. This month, Mr. Leyden will retire from his career in education. While his time as an educator has come to an end, the results of his hard work will no doubt continue to be seen for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Fifth District of Texas, I am honored to recognize Mr. Edward Leyden for his devotion to education and for helping to shape a brighter future for our community and our country.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Dr. Linda Henrie, Superintendent of Mesquite Independent School District, who is retiring after 43 years of service. Dr. Henrie has been an invaluable asset to the students, teachers, and community of Mesquite, and will be sorely missed. Dr. Henrie leaves behind a legacy of leadership that started in the 1980s when she began shattering glass ceilings. She began her career with Mesquite ISD as a business teacher at Mesquite High School and became president of the Mesquite Education Association. In the fall of 1986, Dr. Henrie became one of the first women to be appointed to a secondary administration position in the district. Dr. Henrie has served MISD in a variety of positions throughout her long and successful career. She spent 15 years in administrative positions and four years as deputy superintendent prior to assuming the role of superintendent in 2005. In addition to her official job description, she has also been a cheerleader for many athletic events, a patron of countless school plays and shows and an overall supporter to everyone in MISD. Thanks to her fiscal savvy and wise stewardship of limited resources, the school district was able to succeed and even reach new accomplishments in recent years. She found a way to avoid job cuts and often reminded her hard-working staff--in both word and by example-- that they were charged with giving the taxpayers a good return on investment at MISD. While overseeing the 46-campus MISD, Dr. Henrie has somehow found time to be involved in other professional groups and organizations. The Texas Association of School Administrators, Mesquite Education Association, Texas Staff Development Council, Texas ASCD, UIL Legislative Council, and the National Federation of State High School Associations and Equity Center have all benefitted from Dr. Henrie's wisdom and leadership. During her tenure, MISD was a recognized district in 2010 and 2011, received the Texas Award for Performance Excellence from Quality Texas, gained membership in the Comptroller's Gold Leadership Circle, and was a large-district finalist in the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards for three consecutive years. MISD is also one of only 11 public school districts to earn the highest rating of five stars on the Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) for three consecutive years. Dr. Henrie received personal recognition as the recipient of Mesquite Social Services' Women in Service and Enterprise Award, Texas ASCD's Brownlee Leadership Award, the ATPE's 2011 Administrator Educator of the Year honor, and City of Mesquite Pillar of the Community Award. This year Dr. Henrie will retire. Though her time as an educator has come to an end, the results of her hard work will no doubt continue to be seen for generations to come. While she may be giving up the title of superintendent, I have no doubt her role as one of MISD's biggest fans will continue. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Fifth District of Texas, I am honored to recognize Dr. Linda Henrie for her devotion to education and for helping to shape a brighter future for our community and our country.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Mr. John J. Dawdy for his courageous service to our country. A graduate of Mabank High School, Private First Class Dawdy served in the 1 Marine Expeditionary Force (1 MEF) during Operation Iraqi Freedom. On March 19, 2004, Pfc. Dawdy was driving a seven-ton truck in his unit's convoy. Shortly after leaving Camp Fallujah, Iraq, the convoy hit an improvised explosive device. With his leg torn with shrapnel, Pfc. Dawdy still managed to maintain control of his truck and maneuvered nearly one hundred yards before pulling off to the side of the road and losing consciousness. As a testament to his bravery and leadership, a fellow Marine called Pfc. Dawdy a ``father figure'' who made ``all the wise decisions.'' Pfc. Dawdy was awarded the Purple Heart for the injuries he sustained in combat while bravely serving his country. Humbly, I echo the words of President Ronald Reagan, ``We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.'' And humbly, I offer my sincere gratitude to Pfc. John J. Dawdy for his service and acts of bravery that allow us the freedoms we enjoy today.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Joshua Ray Johnson for his sacrifice and service to our country. Upon graduation from Eustace High School, Petty Officer 3rd Class Johnson enlisted in the Navy in October 2006. Petty Officer Johnson served stateside in the Military Police before being deployed overseas. He was assigned to the MOB Accounting OPS unit. Petty Officer Johnson's assignment was part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) that was established after the regime change in Afghanistan in 2001. Initially, the ISAF was established to train the Afghan National Security Forces and assist Afghanistan in rebuilding key government institutions. When Josh arrived in the Middle East, the ISAF had expanded its operations to more intensive combat operations and part of this involved reconnaissance missions to evaluate, account and report on the status of residential occupants. Petty Officer Johnson was wounded in Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated and he suffered a bullet wound in his arm. He was honorably discharged in April of 2010 and was the recipient of the Purple Heart. While serving his country bravely and courageously, Petty Officer Johnson battled enemies and faced danger and possible death every day. Today, Petty Officer Johnson faces the toughest fight ever. He was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer that is inoperable and incurable in November 2014, on the day before Veterans Day. We will continue to keep him, his family and medical personnel in our prayers daily, that he will overcome this battle. Humbly, I echo the words of President Ronald Reagan, ``We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.'' And humbly, I offer my sincere gratitude to Petty Officer Joshua Ray Johnson for his service and acts of bravery that allow us the freedoms we enjoy today.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Jack Hearn, a veteran of World War II, for his exceptional service to our country. Beginning his service just after graduating high school, Mr. Hearn enlisted in the Texas National Guard in 1940. Soon after, the Army incorporated all guardsmen for active duty. From November 1940 to November 1945, Mr. Hearn served in the U.S. Army, initially as an enlisted man in the field artillery division of the 36th battalion. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant shortly after and ultimately received a direct commission to Second Lieutenant. During the twenty-five months he spent in the European theater, Mr. Hearn fought in many battles and helped fight the Germans through France to the Rhine River. He was wounded in action in December of 1944 after running over a land mine. For his exceptional and brave service, Mr. Hearn was awarded the Purple Heart, FAME ribbon with four battle stars, the Invasion Arrowhead, American Defense Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Distinguished Unit Citation. Humbly, I echo the words of President Ronald Reagan, ``We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.'' And humbly, I offer my sincere gratitude to Mr. Jack Hearn for his service and acts of bravery that allow us the freedoms we enjoy today.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, many of us are taught that death can come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. The thief came to Texas and Arkansas this past weekend in the form of deadly tornadoes and flash floods. In the wake of their destructive path were left two dead in Nashville, Arkansas; one in Cisco, Texas; one in Corsicana, Texas; and in the Fifth District that I am proud to represent, one in Henderson County, Texas, and two next door in Van Zandt County, Van, Texas. They have left families, they have left friends, and they have left great holes in their communities that cannot be filled. Besides the tragic loss in life, there were many who are left injured, and in the case of Van, Texas, one-third of the town is either damaged or destroyed by tornado. Should anyone have wonder about the future of Van, Texas, as the Member of Congress, I can tell you you need not worry. The citizens of Van, I know their resilience, I know their values, I know their faith, and I know their can-do optimism. Van, Texas, will be rebuilt. I am joined, Mr. Speaker, today by Congressman Westerman of Arkansas, Congressman Barton of Texas, Congressman Burgess of Texas, and Congressman Conaway of Texas. Their districts were hit. Lives were lost in their districts as well. Mr. Speaker, as Members, we are called upon to vote, we are called upon to speak, we are called upon to lead, and there are times we are called upon to mourn. In many of our faiths, we are taught there is a time for everything, including a time to mourn. Now is that time. On behalf of my colleagues in the well, I would ask that all Americans remember these good citizens in their prayers and their thoughts. Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the House join us in honoring those who perished by observing a moment of silence.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor the Martin's Mill Lady Mustangs basketball team who won the Texas 2A High School Basketball Championship on March 7, 2015 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. This victory marked the third time since 2008 the Lady Mustangs captured the title. I would like to recognize teammates Jocie Bennett, Cheyenne Brown, Calli Camacho, Hailey Celsur, Hannah Celsur, Madi Daniel, Jacee Greenlee, Hailey Hawes, Briley Moon, Hannah Munns, Sarah Munns and Alyssa Pate. I would also like to recognize Head Coach Lauran Jenkins, Assistant Coach Melissa Camacho and Managers Lydia Burns, Mollie Daniel, Hannah Manry, Abbie Orrick and Taylor Sparks. As the congressional representative of the families, coaches, and supporters of the Lady Mustangs, it is my pleasure to recognize their outstanding season and continued success. This victory and accomplishment is an event that these young ladies will remember for the rest of their lives.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I just want the House to, again, focus upon what this underlying bill is all about, a most modest and bipartisan effort to simply ensure that the CFPB, perhaps the single most powerful and unaccountable agency in the history of the Federal Government, has some people to represent the voices of our small- business people, those that are being so harmed as we are losing a community financial institution a day in America, a community financial institution that helped fund our small mom-and-pop restaurants, our automobile transmission repair shops, a farmer, a rancher, all of our small businesses. All we are asking is that we have that council available, and what started out as a bill that came out of our committee 53-5, unfortunately, yet again, there were some of my friends on the other side of the aisle who were for it before they were against it. We will have very substantive debates on the issues dealing with the CFPB, but this one is a very modest one to have small business council, one that the Congressional Budget Office says will not cost trillions, will not cost billions, will not cost millions, but actually a figure we rarely hear around here, Mr. Speaker, thousands, on an annual basis, thousands. We should reject the motion to recommit. There is no reason to include it. Already, veterans' voices will be represented, and if there is any group that deserves representation in all of the forms of council of government, it is our men and women who serve this Nation honorably in uniform--and our veterans, already assured. It is time to get on to the larger business of the House. I urge all of my colleagues to oppose the motion to recommit and to approve the underlying bill from the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Pittenger), and let's get small business council at the table of the CFPB. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of a point of order.

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, for 12 years, the greater Mesquite area has embraced the opportunity to honor many exceptional women in the community through the Women in Service and Enterprise (WISE) Award Luncheon and Style Show. Today I would like to honor this year's award recipient, Mrs. Jennifer Vidler, who is a shining example of a committed community advocate and servant. I would also like to recognize honorees Beth Gaddis, Debbie Jacobson, and Linda Pimentel for their valuable service and commitment to their community. Jennifer Vidler has lived in Mesquite most of her life. She is a graduate of North Mesquite High School and proudly served in the United States Air Force as a Specialist. Afterwards, she studied cosmetology and graduated with a perfect score through the state board of exam. Her salon has been a Chamber of Commerce member for 15 years, and voted best salon several times. Jennifer has been a member and chairwoman for the Board of Adjustments for six years and now she is a Planning and Zoning Commissioner. She has been Vice President and then President of Old Town Mesquite/Community Heart of Mesquite. For the last nine years Jennifer has worked very hard with the fundraising, planning, and implementing of Kid Fish and Pumpkin Fest. For many years Jennifer led the decorations for Christmas on the Square by herself, before a few people came to help. She has worked hard to bring a Farmers Market to Mesquite, and this year will be the 2nd Annual Farmers Market on the Square. Jennifer says, ``I truly love Mesquite and think it can only be even better.'' Past WISE Award winners have served in a variety of ways, but they are united by the long-lasting impact they have made on their community. Their service, community involvement and dedication to enterprise continue to inspire younger generations. Today, I would like to recognize all of the WISE honorees for their outstanding service and congratulate them on their awards. Thank you, ladies, for helping make our community, state, and country a better place.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Every single American should have that opportunity, and it is the gentleman from Tennessee who is hearing their voices and is representing their voices on the House floor today. Again, I want to thank him for his leadership and thank him for the thousands and thousands across the Fifth District of Texas that I have the privilege and honor of representing that, just because they are low income, he knows--he knows--they still deserve that chance for the American Dream. He is fighting for their American Dream. This was compromise language, Mr. Speaker. This is not the bill I wanted; it is not the bill he wanted. It was compromise language. In fact, the ranking member supported even a broader provision in the previous Congress. But what has happened is, yet again, the left hand doesn't always know what the far left hand is doing; and the far left hand has decided that all of a sudden we are going to aim at Wall Street banks, and it doesn't matter if any person working at a Walmart or working at a Whataburger loses their chance at the American Dream. That has to stop. We need to support the legislation of the gentleman from Tennessee. I urge the House to adopt it.

Mr. HENSARLING

Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his leadership on our committee and for his leadership in bringing this bill through our committee on a strong bipartisan vote. I have got to tell you, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that the House Financial Services Committee just a couple of weeks ago voted out 11 different bills to help American families achieve that coveted goal of financial independence, and part and parcel of that quest, that dream, is the dream of homeownership. Regrettably, there are some people within this body who believe in bipartisanship more in theory than they do in practice. I regret those who supported a bill before they were against it, but that is where we are here today, Mr. Speaker. What we are really about here is trying to ensure that low- and moderate-income people do not have their Federal Government protect them out of their homes, and what we have seen is bad and dumb regulation out of Washington do just that. The goal of consumer protection ought to be to help empower consumers to buy homes they can afford to keep, that we have competitive, transparent, innovative markets that are vigorously policed for forced and fraud and deceptive advertising. That is the vision we have on this side of the aisle, and, frankly, it is at least a vision that some Members on that side of the aisle have as well. So, Mr. Speaker, this is an incredibly modest--it is still important, but an incredibly modest bill. By definition, if it is bipartisan, it is going to be modest. I am somewhat shocked that under our rules and procedures that this wouldn't be on the suspension calendar. And in fact, in the last Congress, there wasn't one single vote cast to object to this bill from the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), the chairman of our Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee, a real leader on our committee on housing opportunity for low-and moderate-income Americans--not a single dissenting vote. But I guess that was before, again, the left hand knew what the far left hand was doing. And now, all of a sudden, we have entered yet another fact-free zone and we are having all this incredible verbiage about Wall Street, when all this bill is doing is leveling the playing field between those firms that would be affiliated and those that would not so that consumers can have a few more choices and benefit from lower cost as they try to get their American Dream. If we followed the logic of the far left, McDonald's could serve you a burger, but they could no longer serve you fries. You would have to go across the street to Burger King for your fries there. I guess National Tire and Battery would have to be ``National Tire.'' They couldn't sell you a battery anymore. Consumers would be protected and not have their choices recognized. I guess the phone company could no longer offer you a discount on Internet and cable and phone put together because, my lord, those are affiliations, Mr. Speaker; and apparently the far left wants to ensure that American consumers are stripped of their economic liberty to make choices for themselves, to be able to get discounts when products are put together. I don't understand it. We are trying to ensure that low- and moderate-income Americans have convenience, that they have choice, and that they have lower prices. The Truth in Lending Act will apply and should apply. We have to protect consumers against force, fraud, and deception, but we have got to quit protecting consumers right out of their homes. So again, I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) for doing everything he can to help this segment of our American population. So often we hear the left and far left talk about affordable housing. Once again, it is something they recognize in theory; it is just not anything they want to support in practice. This is an affordable housing bill. This is an affordable housing bill. Consumers will have choice under this bill, thus, the name. So we know that talk is cheap, but, unfortunately, votes tend to be expensive. This started out as such a bipartisan piece of legislation, but then somebody said: Oh, my Lord, this is a clarification or modification of Dodd-Frank, and Dodd-Frank is something that came down from Mount Sinai. It was chiseled into stone tablets. Former Chairman Frank, who chaired our committee, doesn't seem to believe that. He came before our committee and testified at least a half a dozen different ideas he had for amending his own signature legislation. Yet there are those on the far left who would hurt the most vulnerable in our society, who would deny them fundamental economic liberties to choose the mortgages they want to allow them their American Dream of homeownership. That is not right. That is not fair. That is not economic justice. That is why, Mr. Speaker, it is so critical--so critical today--that we support H.R. 685. It was designed to be a bipartisan bill. It should be a bipartisan bill, and I urge every single Member to adopt it. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his leadership.