Mary Jo Kilroy

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mid-City Electric for fifty years of dedicated service to central Ohio. Mid-City Electric is a family-owned electrical contracting company that is known for its high-quality craftsmanship, exceptional customer service, and tradition of giving back to the surrounding community. Mid-City Electric began operation in 1960. Mid-City Chairman and Founder Jim Dew built his company on the core values of responsibility, hard-work, and loyalty to customers. His children Brian, Dennis, Steve, and Mary, work alongside the company's award-winning electricians to ensure the quality of their services. Their craftsmanship is displayed through numerous major projects in central Ohio, specifically in the 15th Congressional District, including Mt. Carmel West Hospital, Hilliard Bradley High School, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Grant Medical Center. Since the company was founded in 1960, Mid-City Electric has generously supported a number of industry and community causes. The company is an active member of the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio, which fosters communication, respect, and cooperation between building industry members. In 2006, the Mid-City Electric Company Scholarship was started in honor of Jim Dew's contributions to the construction industry in central Ohio. This scholarship recognizes and supports students who exhibit a strong commitment to a career in construction. The company also has sponsored charitable events, such as the annual Katie Fischer Golf Scramble, which raises funds for scholarships to Madison-Plains High School students. For fifty years, this family-run business has provided top-quality, reliable service to central Ohio. The leadership, generosity, and commitment to excellence displayed by Jim Dew, his family, and his company have left a lasting legacy in our community. I am proud to recognize and honor Mid-City Electric for its decades of service to Columbus area businesses and families.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, on the legislative day of Tuesday, December 15, 2009, I was unable to cast a vote on rollcall vote 971. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 971.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. KILROY. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It's been a little over a year since the weight of predatory lending, credit default swaps, murky accounting, and risky bets finally gave way and the American taxpayer was forced to bail out Wall Street and the same financial institutions that set our Nation's economy into the worst crisis since the Depression. The greed and recklessness of Wall Street has cost Main Street dearly. Millions of jobs, hard-earned life savings were lost, and today American families are still recovering. We know that we need to take action so that American taxpayers are not put in that position again. And over the past year, Chairman Frank has held countless hearings, markups, and meetings to help bring to the floor today the most sweeping reform of our Nation's financial regulatory system since the New Deal, and he has done so in a transparent and equitable manner. H.R. 4173, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009, will restore and strengthen our Nation's financial system and provide Americans the confidence that there are rules in place that work for them and protect them, not protect the big banks and hedge funds and mortgage industry, that there will be the oversight, the regulation that should keep this kind of crisis from happening again, that should see an end to the risky practices that led to the taxpayer bailout of Wall Street. But it will also end the ``too big to fail'' problem by implementing a mechanism for the orderly and controlled liquidation of a failed financial institution. And it's very clear that this is going to be funded by the financial institutions themselves. Not by another bailout, not by the taxpayers, no more TARP. But sometimes increased clarity and added emphasis is called for. By adding one word only to the language regarding the use of assessments, we promise and we reassure our taxpayers that they will not be bailing out Wall Street again. The dissolution fund will only be funded by those financial institutions and their assessments, not our hardworking taxpayers from our cities and towns and farms. I urge passage of this amendment. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. KILROY. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), chairman of our committee.

Ms. KILROY. I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. For 8 years the Bush administration and its Republican allies looked the other way as Wall Street and the finance industry engaged in risky practices, risky practices which resulted a little more than a year ago in the whole house of cards tumbling down, and the American taxpayers had to pick up the pieces. We can't let that happen again. And we know Wall Street won't police itself. We need tough new laws and regulations. H.R. 4173, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, will rein in those abusive practices. A new consumer agency will be established to protect consumers from fine print gimmickry and prevent fraud and abuse. It will end the ``too big to fail'' problem by creating a mechanism for the controlled dissolution of failed financial institutions, a financial death panel, so to speak, paid for, not by American taxpayers, but by the financial industry itself. This bill will help protect Main Street and make sure that Wall Street plays by the rules.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Chairman, NRSROs, the credit rating agencies, have played a huge role in the collapse of our markets a year ago. In fact, they bragged that they could rate anything, even a cow. And they continue to play a critical role in millions of financial transactions as pension funds, mutual fund managers, and others rely on the ratings from Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch as they make their investment decisions. The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, H.R. 4173, will provide for greater scrutiny and more responsibility from the credit rating agencies protecting these investors. But the amendment from the gentleman from California would weaken credit rating agency reforms. It would continue an exemption under SEC rule 436(g) that the agency should not retain. At the core of the Securities Act of 1933 is the idea that a company should provide investors with basic information about the securities it is issuing. It requires the issues to publicly disclose significant information about themselves and terms of the securities. Those who make material misstatements of fact or omissions in a registration statement can be held accountable under section 11 of the Act. This provision now covers many experts in the financial world, such as accountants, lawyers, investment bankers, directors, officers, and executives of the issuers. Rating agencies that are not NRSROs fall under it, and there are about a hundred of those. And formerly the NRSROs were held liable under previous rulings of the SEC. Amazingly enough, though, today, Moody's, Standard and Poor's, and other NRSROs are exempt from section 11 liability by SEC rule. It is a very uneven playing field. H.R. 4173 in its current form would correct that. This reform should remain in the bill, and the amendment should be rejected. The highest standard of accountability is the central recommendation of the July 2009 report.

Ms. KILROY. This is a central recommendation of the July 2009 report of the Investors Working Group, an independent task force chaired by former SEC Chair Arthur Levitt, who was appointed by President Clinton, and co-chaired by President Bush's appointee, William Donaldson. As they stated, this change would make rating agencies more diligent about the ratings process and ultimately more accountable for its sloppy performance. Unfortunately, Mr. McCarthy's amendment would remove this much-needed accountability for credit rating agencies, and I strongly urge its defeat.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to address the provisions of section 1103, which specifies the criteria to be considered in determining whether a financial company might be subject to stricter standards. It is my understanding that nondepository captive finance companies do not pose the types of risks that warrant such treatment. Nondepository captive finance companies typically provide financing on a nonrevolving basis only to customers and to dealers who sell and lease the products of their parent or affiliate. As such, they are involved in only a narrow scope of financial activity. Equally important, their loans are made on a depreciating asset, a fact taken into account when the loans are entered into. If they are not a depository institution, they therefore have no access to the Federal deposit insurance safety net. It is my understanding that it is the intent of the committee that nondepository captive finance companies are not the types of finance companies that should be subjected to stricter standards under section 1103 of this legislation; is that correct?

Ms. KILROY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 727, which supports the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. We all know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer and understand the devastating impact that diagnosis can have on the patient and his or her family. Although we have made great strides in recent years in finding new treatments for those afflicted with cancer, ovarian cancer continues to be difficult to diagnose and when discovered in later stages, the survival rate is lower than 45 percent. Ovarian cancer silently spreads because we cannot reliably screen for it and because its symptoms are common with other diseases. As an original cosponsor of H.R. 1816, the ``Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Research Act,'' introduced by my friend and colleague Representative Berman, I believe we should encourage collaboration between the federal government and institutions conducting invaluable research on biomarkers for use in risk stratification for, and the early detection and screening of, ovarian cancer. These types of initiatives will ensure that the United States remains a leader in medical breakthroughs and innovations. We must continue to support funding for research into ovarian cancer, so that we may one day find a cure. We also must devote the necessary resources into developing new screening technology for cancers like ovarian cancer which all too often are found late. Equally important, all women and men need to educate themselves about ovarian cancer so that we save our own lives or those of our loved ones. I want to commend Representative Israel for introducing this important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Pilot Club of Columbus for seventy years of service to the Columbus community. The Pilot Club is a volunteer service organization that focuses on helping those with brain-related disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, autism, chemical dependency, traumatic brain injuries, and other disabilities. Pilot International was founded in Macon, Georgia in October 1921 to provide volunteer services and to raise funds for those with brain- related disorders. In 1939, Pilot International chartered the Pilot Club of Columbus. Over the last seven decades, this organization has promoted awareness and prevention of brain-related disorders in Central Ohio and has provided support for countless individuals and families who are living with developmental, emotional, and mental disabilities. The Pilot Club of Columbus creates a valuable network of service- minded individuals who have contributed to our community in numerous ways. In recent years, Columbus Pilots have provided furniture for a new senior citizen center and organized celebrations for patients at the former Ohio Psychiatric Hospital who have suffered from brain- related disorders such as Alzheimer and autism. The Pilot Club also has raised money to help individuals with autism and other neurological disorders and supports the BrainMinders project, which spreads information about preventing traumatic brain injury. The Pilot Club has spent seven decades serving those who are struggling with the painful and complicated challenges associated with brain-related disorders. The Columbus Pilots have demonstrated their generosity, compassion, and commitment to making a difference in the city of Columbus. I am proud to recognize and honor the Pilot Club of Columbus and all of its dedicated volunteers for 70 years of valuable service.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bill Lane for a lifetime of service to the Worthington community. Bill Lane built a legacy as a dedicated and innovative educator for three decades. He passed away in 2008, but he will be remembered for his extensive service to our community. Bill Lane began teaching at Thomas Worthington High School in the 1950's. He went on to become the high school principal, the assistant superintendent, and the interim superintendent of the Worthington Schools. He was a creative and farsighted educator who contributed greatly to the school's development until his retirement in 1981. As well as overseeing the creation of a large, complex, and modern high school, Bill Lane helped to form the Linworth Campus. This alternative school allows students to make choices about their education, take responsibility, and learn through experiential education. In addition to his loyal service to our schools, Bill Lane was active in several local organizations. As a member of the Worthington Historical Society, he helped organize its semi-annual Antiques Sale. He was also involved in the St. John's Episcopal Church, Kiwanis, and a men's prayer group. To honor the service of this visionary educator, those who knew him have formed the Friends of Bill Lane to raise money for a plaque honoring Bill's career at Thomas Worthington High School. They also are planning to establish a teaching grant in his name through the Worthington Educational Association. They have received donations and support from people throughout the community who remember Bill Lane's devotion and character. His contributions to our school system will not be forgotten, and I am proud to recognize and honor this highly- esteemed and dedicated educator for a lifetime of service.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Steve Baertsche on his induction into the Farm Science Review Hall of Fame on September 22, 2009. Mr. Baertsche was inducted as one of five members of the 20th Hall of Fame Class. Mr. Baertsche recently retired as the Assistant Director for Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension seeks to bring the knowledge of the university to those Ohioans who do not have regular access to campuses around the state. Extension fulfills the land-grant mission of the Ohio State University by interpreting research developed by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Ohio State, and other land-grant universities, so that Ohioans can use scientifically- based information to improve their lives. OSU Extension serves a vital role by strengthening communities through research-based educational programming. Mr. Baertsche led OSU Extension's leadership effort for more than 15 years and helped enhance the program's presence at the Farm Science Review, FSR. FSR manager Chuck Gamble stated that, ``Steve Baertsche's leadership was much appreciated. His understanding of Extension and its mission definitely led to the success of Ohio State University research and educational efforts at Farm Science Review. He took Extension to a higher level.'' I am privileged to say that Steve Baertsche is one of my constituents. I would like to congratulate Mr. Baertsche again, and I thank him for his service and his work to instruct Ohioans how to better their lives through education.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I am introducing the ``Energy Efficiency Modernization Act of 2009,'' to establish market incentives so that federally assisted housing can become more energy efficient. Federally assisted housing programs provide real opportunities for green improvements. However, existing rules and regulations make it difficult for owners of federally assisted housing to maximize efforts and decrease our Nation's energy bill. A 2008 study by the Government Accountability Office found that the Department of Housing and Urban Development spends an estimated $5 billion annually on energy costs to pay for roughly 6 million units of housing, representing almost 17 percent of the Nation's rental housing stock. Improving the energy efficiency of federally assisted housing by 25 to 40 percent would result in savings for HUD at roughly $1 billion to $1.5 billion annually, making the long-term cost savings for the Federal Government--and, most importantly, taxpayers--substantial. Furthermore, energy efficiency improvements will provide stimulus to the economy in terms of capital projects and ``green collar'' jobs, create best practices for the industry on the whole and fulfill the mandate of HUD.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, on the legislative day of Monday, November 16, 2009, I was unable to cast votes on a number of rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 889 and 890, and ``aye'' on rollcall vote 891.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Mr. Speaker, this is an historic day and a very exciting day as we move towards a vote on a bill to make health care affordable and accessible for all Americans. Like you, I have been listening to my constituents. I have been hearing their stories. Even last night I got a call from a friend. Steve, after fighting off lymphoma, got a notice from his insurance company that the policy for his law office was now being canceled, giving him a lot of insecurity about what his future would be and the future of the people who work for him. This bill would end that kind of discrimination, the discrimination against people with preexisting conditions, and provide security to millions of Americans, Americans like me with multiple sclerosis and many of us with other preexisting conditions. This is a moral issue for people, people who will now be able to access our health care system. Mr. Speaker, it is a very proud day to be able to take this historic step and end this discrimination.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent----

Ms. KILROY. I thank the gentlelady from New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in support of the Democratic bill because----

Ms. KILROY. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry. Do I not have the right to be able to continue my sentence without objections that are trying to censure my remarks here on the floor that I have a right to make as a Member of Congress?

Ms. KILROY. I ask unanimous consent again to revise and extend my remarks because this----

Ms. KILROY. I rise in support of this Democratic bill because it won't force women into a bare bones policy, high deductible, and high- cost plan.

Ms. KILROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address some of the claims made by the other side of the aisle that the Democratic health care bill will cost our country's economy jobs. In fact, as noted in the June 2009 Council of Economic Advisers' report, our legislation will most likely have a positive impact on job growth, economic efficiency, standards of living, and the budget deficit. Our bill will provide assistance to small businesses. Small businesses in my district have asked over and over again for help with the crushing cost of health care insurance and for the problems that small groups have in obtaining insurance. Small businesses will see a great deal of help and support in this bill, and large businesses as well because they will be able to contain the costs of their health premiums, which over the years, as employers know, keep increasing at double-digit rates of inflation. Our bill has features that will improve efficiency in the labor market, improve workplace productivity, and lower the rates of disability. We've heard how long our country has waited to get a bill like this. We've heard that it's been since Teddy Roosevelt and other Presidents, other Congresses have tried and failed to bring America up to the standard of making health care affordable and accessible for all of us. You know, we've waited a long time, and there is such a thing as waiting too long. It's been too long for the 14,000 Americans a day who lose their health care coverage. Too long for the millions of us who are deemed uninsurable because we have a preexisting condition. Too long for people without insurance who cannot obtain the lifesaving medication or life-improving medications that will help them live a better life. It is time now to pass the Democratic health care bill, time to finally make coverage accessible, affordable. Give people a choice of doctors and plans and emphasize wellness, prevention, primary care in a bill that reduces the deficit and improves our economy.

Ms. KILROY

Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding leader in the field of affordable housing and long-term services and supports for people as they age. Thomas Slemmer is the outgoing chair of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), and I congratulate him on what he has accomplished for his field during his two-year term. AAHSA members (www.aahsa.org) help millions of individuals and their families every day through mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing the services people need, when they need them, in the place they call home. The 5,700 member organizations, many of which have served their communities for generations, offer the continuum of aging services: adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities, and nursing homes. With Tom Stemmer at its head, AAHSA championed the combination of supportive services with affordable housing to enable seniors to remain in their communities and has taken a leadership role in developing realistic, workable solutions for Congress and states facing the impending long-term service and support needs of the aging baby boom generation. Mr. Slemmer co-chaired AAHSA's Affordable Housing Finance Cabinet, which is developing recommendations for building and preserving housing to meet the physical and financial needs of a growing elder population. He also saw the introduction of the landmark Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act, which would promote the construction of new senior housing facilities, streamline the preservation of existing housing, and support the conversion of existing housing into assisted- living facilities with supportive health and social services. Prior to becoming AAHSA's chair, Mr. Slemmer participated in the organization's Long-Term Services and Supports Financing Cabinet to find a more rational, sustainable and responsible system for funding aging services where he helped shape recommendations for a national insurance plan founded on three core principles: consumer choice, fiscal responsibility, and good stewardship of provider and public resources, and equity of benefits. These recommendations closely aligned with the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act introduced and championed by the late Senator Edward Kennedy. AAHSA has united a wide range of stakeholders to work for the inclusion of CLASS provisions in health care reform, and these provisions are reflected in two of the health care reform measures drafted by congressional committees. AAHSA members from all over the country have advocated tirelessly for a mechanism to enable Americans to plan responsibly for their own long-term services and supports needs while also addressing the issues of access and cost. To address other issues facing the nation's aging population, families, service providers and policymakers, Slemmer has overseen AAHSA member task forces on workforce, nursing home quality, home- and community-based services, and issues specific to rural and inner-city areas. Under his leadership, AAHSA has undertaken pilot technology projects, ``living laboratories'' linking member operations with research to demonstrate the effectiveness of applied technology to improve quality, make operations more efficient, and enable people to live independently wherever they call home. In addition to his service as AAHSA's chair, Tom Slemmer is the president and chief executive officer of Columbus, Ohio's National Church Residences, where he has had a thirty year career. From a single affordable housing facility established in 1961, National Church Residences has grown to provide affordable housing, supportive services, assisted living, and skilled nursing care to low and moderate-income elders, families, persons with disabilities, and homeless families and individuals in facilities throughout the United States. In Central and Southern Ohio, NCR provides home and community based supportive services to allow elders to age in place in dignity in the comfort of their own homes. Its ministry serves over 22,000 individuals in 300 properties nationwide. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, National Church Residences and AAHSA launched a hotline to help displaced seniors find affordable housing. Low-income seniors and family members were able to call around the clock to be connected to housing resource professionals trained to evaluate and locate available affordable senior housing communities nationwide. Hundreds of evacuated elders were able to find temporary or permanent housing through National Church Residences and other AAHSA members. Based on this experience, AAHSA and National Church Residences submitted recommendations to Congress on improving coordination among aging services providers and federal, state, and local agencies in the event of natural disasters. Because of the importance of supportive services to seniors' ability to remain longer in their communities, Mr. Stemmer was instrumental in establishing the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC). AASC's over 2,000 members serve seniors, people with disabilities, and low income families living in affordable rental housing and the surrounding community. Service coordinators assist senior and disabled residents in identifying, locating, and acquiring the services necessary for them to remain independent and help families achieve self sufficiency and economic independence. Mr. Slemmer also has served on the boards of the Association of Ohio Philanthropic Homes, Housing and Services for the Aging; the National Affordable Housing Trust, the Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future, and the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing. I hope my colleagues will join me in commending Tom Stemmer for his longstanding service to our nation's elders and his work to develop realistic solutions to the challenges a growing elder population will pose in the years to come.