Sander Levin

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 1\1/2\ minutes to another very active member of our committee, the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Pascrell from New Jersey.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the time in opposition be controlled by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott).

Mr. LEVIN. How much time is remaining?

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to our very, very distinguished colleague from Georgia (Mr. Lewis).

Mr. LEVIN. First, Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3920.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 4 minutes. I would like today to talk about the facts, and next week we will talk about the facts on trade legislation. I think the approval of the U.S.-Peru FTA that came out unanimously from Ways and Means is the antithesis of CAFTA. Let me talk about the facts on TAA, which relates to those who are dislocated. We received a letter dated October 23, 2007, from the Secretary of Labor, and she said it is important, and I quote, ``that the negative impacts that are borne by a few are offset in the form of assistance to persons and firms that may be adversely affected.'' I just want to say the facts are very different. It isn't a few. Trade isn't the only source of dislocation, but it is one of those and a substantial source. It's not a few. It's hundreds of thousands of people. We have lost 3 million manufacturing jobs in this country in recent years. The President, or at least the administration, has sent a letter indicating their strong opposition, and I want to go over the facts quickly. It says, and I quote, that this legislation converts TAA from a trade-related program to a universal income support and training program. That is simply not true, and I will come back to that when I talk about services. Number two, it says the increased duration of income support under this bill would result in some workers remaining out of the workforce and on assistance for 3 full years. That's really not accurate because the first 26 weeks are usually taken up by unemployment compensation when people are not using TAA directly. And then there are 2 years. In order to receive income support, they have to be in a training program. Now, there is a provision for an additional 6 months, but it applies to a relatively few people. So these facts don't support the strong opposition of the administration. I am still hoping for bipartisan support. We did accept, voted for three amendments from the minority side in the Ways and Means Committee. We had three votes from the minority side, and I hope for very, very many more here on the House floor. Next, the administration statement talks about industry-wide eligibility determinations and says that it would include workers not demonstrably affected by trade. It's the Department of Labor that has the ability to determine this, and so that sweeping statement is simply not true. As to the service sector, the administration letter says the bill does not clearly articulate any separation of such workers from their employment, must be attributable to trade. I just ask they read the language in the bill because it talks about articles or services like or directly competitive with articles that are produced or services that are provided by such firm that relate to overseas competition. Lastly, I want to say a word about health care. Look, we increased it from 65 to 85 percent because 65 percent doesn't work. Only 10 percent of those eligible for TAA now receive health care. We have an obligation in this institution for people who are laid off, who are dislocated, to receive health care for themselves and their family, and 65 to 70 percent isn't going to work. We know it. We know it.

Mr. LEVIN. It is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to a colleague of mine and a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. McDermott from Washington. (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, now I yield 2 minutes to another distinguished member of this Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Neal from Massachusetts.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to another distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Becerra from California.

Mr. LEVIN. I would now like to yield 1\3/4\ minutes to another distinguished member of our committee, Mr. Blumenauer from Oregon.

Mr. LEVIN. The choice is clear. We have heard your rebuttal. Your bill does really nothing about the problem for people in manufacturing. If there is an outsourcing to China, the workers are out in the cold. That is cold, not like you. But it is cold. Service employees, why distinguish? It is an increasing part of our economy. You do nothing. In health care you put a little patch on a big problem, and that is not good health care. Essentially what you are trying to do with your substitute is to minimize the problem rather than maximizing an effective response. The 3 percent figure as to the impact of trade is really out of thin air. It is surely not true of manufacturing. Not at all true. Some who served in Republican administrations say it has been much more than that. In the capping of training, we heard the response from the representative of the administration. That $3,000 figure at best is an average, and even that is indefensible. Mr. McDermott read to you the number of States where training is much higher, so you essentially cut the worker off halfway. That's what you are going to do in terms of training. Seven States ran out of resources in 2007, nine in 2006; you do nothing. We need a new trade policy. We need a new, vigorous TAA. We need more than a pat on the back. Our bill does what needs to be done. I am afraid the substitute at best is a pat on the back. Let's vote it down. Let's have a bipartisan vote for this TAA. Bipartisan, as we did in the Ways and Means Committee. Bipartisan. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of that to the original sponsor of this legislation going back a number of years, Mr. Smith of Washington. (Mr. SMITH of Washington asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of overriding the President's veto on the Children's Health Insurance Program. The bill would provide health coverage to more than 10 million low- income kids. In my home State of Michigan, this means expanding a program that works to 80,900 kids that are already eligible. The families of these kids make between $20,535 and $41,300 a year. The claims against the bill are false. This program is not for well-to-do families. Most kids the bill would cover are in families making less than $41,300 a year. This is not about socialized medicine. It covers kids under the same private health plans and private doctors that treat the 6 million kids in the original program authorized in 1997 under a Republican Congress. This is not about providing health insurance to illegal immigrants. Undocumented immigrants have never been eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program and this bill requires that kids show proof of citizenship to enroll. Today we have a choice to make. Do we, as Representatives of the 9 million uninsured kids in America, expand an effective program to provide insurance to 10 million low-income kids? Or do we let rigid ideology and false arguments stand in the way?

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of a talented group of students from Lawrence Technological University in Southeastern Michigan for being selected to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy's 2007 Solar Decathlon. Lawrence Tech's AloeTerra team is one of just twenty teams from across the United States, Europe and Canada chosen to participate in this event. The Solar Decathlon is an international competition organized by the Department of Energy that brings together young people from many countries to design, build and operate an energy-efficient, completely solar-powered house. More than that, the Solar Decathlon is a chance to engage the public on how small changes in building and design practices can have a big impact. With rising energy prices and increased public concern over global warming, Americans want to know what they can do in their own lives to use energy more efficiently and cleanly. Indeed, the name of the Lawrence Tech team says it all: AloeTerra means ``healing the land.'' At the same time, there is a large and growing world market for renewable energy and efficiency technologies. This market is worth hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade. Clean energy creates good jobs, and that is something that all of us should encourage. I am proud that Lawrence Technological University is in the 12th Congressional District and I am proud to represent these bright young people who have worked so hard to show how sustainability, aesthetics, and comfort can coexist. I urge all my colleagues to go down to the National Mall where the twenty Solar Decathlon teams have assembled their homes into a solar village.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mel Joseph as he receives the March of Dimes 2007 ``Alexander Macomb Citizen of the Year'' award. Mr. Joseph is currently the General Manager for Kem-Tee & Associates in Macomb County. He worked to expand the company, which today covers over 21 counties, and has become one of the largest surveying and engineering businesses in southeast Michigan. Combining his love of sports and work experiences, Mr. Joseph is deeply involved in a variety of community and professional organizations. He is an active member of the Michigan Mortgage Lender's Association, Michigan Mortgage Bankers Association, Women's Council of Realtors, Commercial Real Estate Women of Detroit, National Association of Mortgage Brokers, Detroit Association of Realtors, Western Wayne & Oakland Consolidated Association of Realtors, North Oakland County Board of Realtors, Grosse Pointe Board of Realtors and Downriver Association of Realtors. He has served as chairperson for the Continental Amateur Baseball Association, a board member for the Macomb Community College Surveying Advisory Board, and a member of the Luxury Suite Advisory Committee for the Detroit Tigers. Mel Joseph was born and raised in the lower east side of Detroit. He attended St. Martin's school where he played basketball and was captain of the football team. He worked his way through college at his father's trucking business, and earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Wayne State University. After graduation, Mr. Joseph went to work for Phillip Morris U.S.A. as a sales and marketing representative and advanced through the company to Divisional Sales Manager for the State of Illinois. He left Phillip Morris to pursue his love of sports and became the executive vice president of Professional Sports Representatives for Professional Management and Consultants. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mel Joseph for his commitment to excellence, as well as his professional and personal devotion to his community.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Barbara Rossmann as she receives the 2007 ``Alexander Macomb Citizen of the Year'' award from the March of Dimes. This award goes to the heart of what Barbara Rossmann means to health care in southeast Michigan. She is a leader and visionary in the field of health care. Her commitment to building relationships and partnerships, as well as her determination to create a superior environment for patients and families, has led to numerous advancements in our local health care system. Barbara Rossmann joined St. Joseph's Healthcare in 1999 as executive vice president and chief operating officer. She was appointed president and chief executive officer in 2004. Since assuming this role, Barbara Rossmann has led the implementation of a $30 million expansion project at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, as well as a multi- million dollar investment in integrated computer systems. With these systems and the implementation of evidence-based processes, Henry Ford Macomb Hospital is providing patients and physicians with the nation's most advanced care and safety environment through an electronic medical record. In July 2007, Ms. Rossmann helped lead the St. Joseph's Healthcare transition from joint ownership by Trinity Health and Henry Ford Health System to full ownership by Henry Ford Health System. With this change, Ms. Rossmann was named president and CEO of Henry Ford Macomb Hospitals, which encompasses the former St. Joseph's Healthcare as well as the former Henry Ford Bi-County Hospital, now Henry Ford Macomb Hospital--Warren Campus. Her commitment to the southeast Michigan region extends beyond her work through Henry Ford Macomb Hospitals, She is a board member of the Sterling Heights Chamber and Macomb Community Bank. She serves on Macomb County's County Health Plan Board and as committee co-chair of Focus, Macomb's Education & Workforce Development Committee. A long- time supporter of the American Heart Association, she serves on the leadership committees for the American Heart Walk and the Go Red for Women initiative. Madam Speaker, it has been my pleasure to work alongside Barbara on issues relating to health care and as varied as higher education and local transportation. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Barbara Rossmann for her commitment to excellence, as well as her professional and personal devotion to her community.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. On the Democratic side, we've been emphasizing the importance of fairness in the code, of equity in the code, the ability to go home, meet our constituents, look them squarely in the eye and say that we're taking steps to make the Tax Code more equitable. And this legislation is a step in that direction, and an important one so a loss isn't taxable when it should not be. So this is one step, an important step, towards meeting the subprime mortgage crisis. My home State of Michigan has very much suffered from this phenomenon, and I'm glad that we're taking this step today. As mentioned, also included in this legislation is a 7-year extension of the deduction for mortgage insurance premiums. This is also necessary. What it does is to level the playing field among the products of mortgages; and this will be helpful, especially helpful now, in view of the crisis with these mortgages. Let me just say a word about the payment. There's been some comment about the pay-for, and I mean to say this charitably. I think this pay- for is better than, much better than no pay-for. And we've been having too much, in recent years, legislation that proceeded without any pay- for at all. And this is an effort to be fiscally responsible, and I think it does so in an effective and an equitable way. I urge support for this legislation.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, on Friday, September 28, 2007 the Sterling Heights' Fire Fighters Union will host their Annual, Dinner-Dance, honoring Sterling Heights firefighters for their dedication to their community and recognizing their numerous contributions to the city. They will also pay tribute to the career of one retiring firefighter, Patrick O'Lear. I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the tireless and courageous career of a good friend and public servant. Patrick O'Lear retires this year with twenty-one years of dedicated service, having been promoted three times in his career from lieutenant on August 16, 1997, to Captain on January 11, 2003, and to Fire Inspector on May 21, 2003. Mr. O'Lear was appointed as a Sterling Heights firefighter on September 8, 1986. After graduating from St. Clement High School in Center Line in 1977, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mercy College in 1982. In December 1991, Mr. O'Lear received his Masters in Science Administration from Central Michigan. In 1989, he was temporarily assigned to the training division and in the same year was immediately recognized as the Employee of the Month. Mr. O'Lear became a Fire Equipment Operator on September 6, 1993. In 1994, Mr. O'Lear received the Meritorious Unit Citation for a CPR run at Jefferson Elementary. He received Fire Chief Awards for the many training programs presented to the Sterling Heights Fire Department and for the Residence Assistance Program. He has served as a member of the local Safety Committee for nine years and a member of the Apparatus Committee. Mr. O'Lear also became nationally certified as a Fire Explosion Instructor. Mr. O'Lear has also worked to represent and improve the employment for other firefighters through his service at the local, state and federal levels. He has served as the Secretary and President of the local union, as the State Representative of the International Association of Firefighters and as the 6th District Vice President. Madam Speaker, I have been pleased to work with Pat over the years in many community service endeavors and have witnessed the tireless and compassionate devotion of Pat and his wife Joan to the individuals and families around them. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Patrick O'Lear, a good friend who has dedicated himself to the community with valor, commitment and honor.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the State Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007. This legislation renews and strengthens a program that provides health insurance to children whose families cannot afford it on the private market. The legislation we are voting on today will extend children's health insurance to enroll almost 4 million kids that are currently eligible for the program and not yet enrolled. That's in addition to the 6 million low-income children already receiving health care under the SCHIP program nationwide, including 55,000 kids in my home state of Michigan. I regret that many of the provisions the House included this summer did not make it into the compromise bill. I'm hopeful that we will work with the Senate to approve legislation before the year's end in order to ensure Medicare beneficiary access to physicians and stop the further erosion of Medicare solvency. Nonetheless, I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote in support of the compromise bill. Providing health care for children should not be a partisan issue. The legislation has the support of a large majority of state governors, Republicans and Democrats alike. The bill has broad bipartisan support in the Senate; unfortunately, most of the Republican minority in the House has failed to join us in crafting this compromise and the President has threatened to veto this important legislation. So it comes down to this: Clearly, a majority of the House will vote for the SCHIP bill today; the only real question is whether the House will pass this bill with enough votes to discourage a Presidential veto. Do we stand with the President or with kids who need health care coverage? Instead of working with Congress to expand health care coverage for children, the President's proposal would actually cause 840,000 kids that are currently covered under SCHIP to lose their benefits, not to mention leave hanging the 4 million children that Congress' bill would bring into the program. The American people want the children of America covered by health insurance. A bipartisan majority of House and Senate Members are committed to carrying this out. The question remains as to whether or not the Bush Administration will get on board.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes. We clearly need to reform and reauthorize TAA. We also need to be sure that we reform trade policy. One is not a substitute for the other. We need to do both. In the continuing resolution that was passed last February, Congress included language prohibiting the United States Department of Labor from issuing final regulations concerning the TAA program. Critically and problematically, these regulations would contravene Congress's legislative intent in the important policy areas and cause confusion among State and local operators of the TAA program. In short, these regulations would change the very nature of this program, a program specifically committed to ensuring that workers adversely affected by trade get the assistance and training they need to obtain new, good- paying, family-wage jobs, as I said before. For example, these rules would, number one, compel States to implement a ``rapid reemployment'' strategy; two, permit States to establish monetary caps on training for dislocated workers; three, compel States to integrate the TAA program into the Workforce Investment Act system; four, permit the privatization of the administration of programs; and, five, abolish merit staff standards. These rules are extremely troubling. They undermine the program and, more generally, the intent of Congress. Fortunately, my colleagues on the majority side felt the same way about the Department of Labor proposal. Recognizing the serious implications of these flawed rules, Chairman Obey included the following language in the February continuing resolution: ``None of the funds made available in this division or any other act shall be available to finalize or implement any proposed regulation under the Workforce Investment 12 Act of 1998, Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, or the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 until such time as legislation reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 is enacted.'' And I quote that because it is so important. Mr. Speaker, I now would like to yield such time as he may consume to my colleague from Washington, Adam Smith, who has been working so hard on this issue.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I now yield myself such time as I may consume. Today we are considering an extension of a critical component of our trade agenda, an extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. All three programs that make up TAA, Adjustment Assistance for Workers, Adjustment Assistance for Firms, and Adjustment Assistance for Farmers, expire on September 30. Trade Adjustment Assistance helps to make sure that workers impacted by increased trade get the help and retraining they need and deserve so that they can go out and get new, good-paying, family-wage jobs. It's not a perfect program. In fact, it needs work. The committee will be taking up legislation reforming and reauthorizing Trade Adjustment Assistance shortly. Critically, this program will improve the effectiveness of the program by, among other things, offering TAA access to service workers, increasing funding to satisfy unmet demand, getting rid of complicated and burdensome rules that make it hard for people to take advantage of Trade Adjustment Assistance. I think all of us can expect a discussion draft of the bill reforming and reauthorizing TAA to be circulated in the next week. The committee should take up the bill sometime after that; and if all goes as planned, the program will be authorized before the end of the year. We will hammer out the details of TAA overhaul; and while we do that, we need to pass this short-term, 3-month extension. The bill under consideration today was originally introduced by Mr. Herger. His support for the extension reflects the bipartisan support for Trade Adjustment Assistance that's really necessary, and I hope for in the future. It is also a recognition of the fact that the program has an important element of America's overall trade agenda. I also want to thank, in addition to Mr. Herger and those of you on the Republican side, I want to thank Mr. Adam Smith for his work on Trade Adjustment Assistance. We all have been focusing on this issue for many years, and now there is the opportunity to act within this House. I also want to thank Mr. McDermott, another subcommittee Chair for his help. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3375) to extend the trade adjustment assistance program under the Trade Act of 1974 for 3 months, as amended.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise.

Mr. LEVIN. That is absolutely correct. As Chairman Rangel has stated and I have stated at the markup last week, this is an extension of existing law. It is not a reauthorization. As Ranking Member McCrery stated at the markup and as Mr. Herger explained in the remarks he submitted for the Record, this piece of legislation is a simple extension of existing law, nothing more, nothing less. So the prohibition on the implementation of the rules remains fully in effect.