Jim Langevin

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Financial Services Committee's work to overhaul our financial system. Across the Nation, including my home State of Rhode Island, predatory lending and unregulated mortgage brokers led to unsustainable home loans and a drain on our economy. Now, with unemployment at 13 percent, my constituents, like many across the country, have had no other choice but to turn to credit cards to support their families and small businesses. Now what's happening is these struggling Rhode Islanders are subjected to the deceptive practices of credit card companies greedily generating more profit before new regulations go into effect. We've all seen it. These practices include rising minimum payment amounts and interest rates, decreasing limits and closing accounts without proper notification. For these reasons and many more, consumer protection must be the cornerstone of financial reform. Further, we must restore accountability and transparency of financial institutions and eliminate risks that contributed to the financial collapse. I look forward to voting on legislation which will address these past failures, strengthen regulation and oversight and put our country back on a path to economic stability.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this rule and the underlying bill which finally puts us on the path to solving our Nation's health care crisis. Since coming to Congress, I have heard from countless constituents in Rhode Island struggling with the failures of our health care system. I have heard from constituents forced to make unconscionable choices between seeing a doctor or their next meal, paying their mortgage or losing their coverage, and families facing bankruptcy due to catastrophic medical costs. The time for inaction is over. This bill represents an historic opportunity to enact reforms that will allow constituents who lose their jobs to keep their health care coverage, eliminates preexisting conditions, and protects people by abolishing lifetime insurance caps. Every American deserves the promise of quality affordable health care, and this is our moment to fulfill that promise.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my shock and sadness in the wake of yesterday's tragedy at Fort Hood. This type of senseless violence is tragic in any circumstance, but it is especially painful to have it strike at our men and women serving in uniform, who sacrifice so much for their country. It is crucial that we work to protect not only our forces deployed overseas from road-side bombs or insurgent attacks, but also the safety of those who are serving at home on bases around the nation. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Fort Hood community, and especially the families, friends and colleagues of those killed and wounded in this tragedy.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the rule for H.R. 2868, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act, and in strong support of the underlying bill. I thank the gentleman for yielding the time and for all those who had a hand in bringing this legislation to the floor. This bill will help secure our chemical infrastructure from attack or sabotage, and I want to particularly thank Chairman Thompson for focusing particular attention on cyber threats to this sector. Securing our critical infrastructure from cyber attack cannot be an afterthought. The vulnerabilities to control systems and network infrastructure are numerous and, if ignored, could have serious consequences just as severe as a physical attack. This bill will require increased cybersecurity training, improved reporting of cyber attacks and a chemical facility security director who is knowledgeable on cyber issues, greatly increasing the opportunity to address and prevent cyber attacks before any damage occurs. Cybersecurity and cyber vulnerabilities are one of those areas that are not fully addressed across government to this point. We can see that from numerous cyber penetrations and exfiltration of data that clearly more needs to be done in this area. The most critical area, though, and the area of greatest vulnerability is critical infrastructure. This act today takes a major step forward in addressing an area that could cause widespread damage or potentially loss of life. This is an important piece of legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3639, the Expedited Card Reform for Consumers Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this measure, which would move the effective date of the remaining provisions of the Credit CARD Act of 2009 up to December 1, 2009. This law provides tough new protections for consumers by banning unfair rate increases, abusive fees and penalties, and strengthening enforcement. So far this year, I have hosted three telephone town halls. During every call, I have received numerous inquiries from constituents asking when Congress is going to put an end to outrageous interest rates, hidden fees, and other deceptive practices by credit card companies that have gone on for far too long. While credit card companies argued that they needed several months to implement certain provisions included in the Credit CARD Act, many of them have instead taken advantage of this lag time, and their customers, by raising minimum payment amounts and interest rates, decreasing limits, and closing accounts without proper notification. The Pew Charitable Trusts' Safe Credit Cards Project recently reported that every one of the 12 largest bank issuers that control ninety percent of credit card outstanding balances nationwide had at least one provision that is labeled ``unfair or deceptive'' by the Federal Reserve, and they would not meet the tough provisions of the Credit CARD Act. The actions of these companies highlight the need for the consumer protections we passed into law to take effect as soon as possible. I have heard from too many of my constituents that have experienced these deceptive practices to let this go on any longer. A longstanding cardholder who makes payments on time each month and who is struggling in this economic downturn should not be subjected to a company's attempts to rake in some last-minute revenue before they are forced to abide by the new laws. Mr. Chair, we must continue our work to put an end to the tricks and traps used by credit card companies to undermine a competitive market. I encourage all my colleagues to vote for H.R. 3639. I would also like to thank Congresswoman Maloney and Chairman Frank for their hard work on this issue and bringing this measure to the floor.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, as this House, this Congress, takes up the debate during this historic opportunity to address and to fix our Nation's health care crisis by passing universal health care, I'd like to take a minute to talk about a family from Rhode Island. Barbara, from Cranston, is a devoted mother of two remarkable boys, one of whom has hemophilia. A 3-month supply of his life-sustaining medication costs $60,000, never mind the costs of doctor visits or of hospitalizations. She came to my office to advocate for her son, casting little attention to her own condition--multiple sclerosis. Despite her challenges, she knows she is one of the lucky ones because she has insurance coverage, but without health care reform, she is forever held hostage by insurance companies' annual and lifetime caps and by barriers on preexisting conditions. There are countless families like Barbara's who are struggling to afford to keep the coverage that they have or who are struggling to afford to get coverage in the first place. It is time to pass health insurance reform. The bill before us is fundamentally going to change the system in America from health care's being a privilege for only those who can afford it to its being a right for everyone. We need to act now.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act. This legislation will directly support small business jobs in Rhode Island by extending certain small business American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provisions and updating SBA programs to help meet the needs of businesses. Small businesses have borne the brunt of this economic crisis. I continue to hear from many small business owners in Rhode Island that accessing credit remains a significant problem. Remarkably, small businesses make up 96 percent of all employers in Rhode Island, and their inability to access credit to keep their businesses operating has clearly added to our high unemployment rate of 13 percent. It is imperative that our small businesses have access to the tools they need to weather this economic downturn, as well as to keep and create jobs. H.R. 3854 does this by extending Recovery Act provisions that eliminated fees on SBA loans and guaranteeing these loans at 90 percent. This gives local banks and credit unions the confidence to lend to small businesses. This bill also raises the cap level on 7(a) loans from $2 million to $3 million, makes microloans more affordable for budding entrepreneurs, and streamlines the cumbersome loan application process. Additionally, the legislation boosts programs that help small manufacturers and improves a renewable energy investment program to encourage small enterprises that are researching alternative and renewable energy solutions. H.R. 3854 also provides tools for veterans to start their own businesses and also makes permanent the Community Express program, which promotes lending to small businesses owned by women and economically disadvantaged individuals. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 3854, which will help our small businesses grow, keep people employed and create new jobs. A few months ago, I had the chance to visit Jamiel's Shoe World, a small, family-owned business and a Rhode Island institution, which was able to take advantage of a loan guaranteed by the stimulus bill--a loan that enabled them to keep their doors open and keep Rhode Islanders employed. I look forward to seeing this legislation signed into law so that other small Rhode Island businesses can access the capital they need to flourish.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as the sixth annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The theme for 2009, ``Our Shared Responsibility,'' emphasizes the need for government agencies, businesses and especially private users to each take responsibility for their own online safety and not fall victim to cyber attacks that can spread to other users. It is vital that the public is engaged and aware of how to properly utilize security software in order to protect their Social Security numbers, financial information, health information, and other personal data. We must all work together and take responsibility for securing our own networks and computers to ensure that government systems, personal data and even critical infrastructure remain safe from attack.- Improving public awareness of threats to home or office computer networks is a crucial step in working to make the Internet, and our critical data, more safe and secure. Due to the massive scope and scale of the Internet, fraud and malicious attacks will always persist in some form. However, educating the public about small steps, such as keeping up-to-date with the latest security patches or installing basic anti-virus software, can easily strengthen our economic and national security. I applaud the Department of Homeland Security for sponsoring this month of outreach. As a Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the House Cybersecurity Caucus, I will continue to fight to deliver the latest tools and training to support both our national security infrastructure, and the personal data of all Americans.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I am very encouraged by the progress being made on health insurance reform in this Congress. Where we are in this health care debate is truly historic. However, we're not there yet, and we cannot let this opportunity pass us by. For millions of people without insurance, health reform will mean access to affordable, quality coverage. But what will it mean for people who already have coverage? For them, health reform will create stronger consumer protections that ensure coverage isn't dropped or scaled back when they get sick. It will ensure a lower out-of-pocket cost to make coverage more affordable, and it will provide greater access to routine checkups and preventive care. It will ensure real competition and transparency in the health insurance market so the American people are getting the best plans at an affordable price. In short, health reform will mean security and stability for millions of Americans, and we should not make them wait any longer for these commonsense reforms. The time to act is now. This is a historic opportunity for the American people, and this Congress cannot let them down.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his outstanding leadership on solar technology issues. Mr. Chairman, I also, of course, want to rise in strong support of H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. I particularly would like to acknowledge Congresswoman Giffords for her leadership on this important issue and for her work to advance our Nation's efforts to become a world leader in solar technology. Clearly, this is an essential step as we work to transition our Nation off of our dependence on foreign oil and as we work harder to try to protect our environment. Beyond all of this, though, my home State of Rhode Island recently reported an outstanding unemployment rate of 13 percent. Congress' top priority right now must also be creating an environment where new jobs are developed and where new industries can flourish. The Solar Technology Roadmap Act does just that by establishing a committee of government and industry officials to set short- and long-term goals for the industry as well as by providing guidance to expedite the process of improving solar technologies right here at home. This bill is the right road map at the right time. It is visionary, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important bill.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of S. 1793, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act. There are nearly 40,000 new HIV/AIDS infections reported each year, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approximately 1.1 million Americans are currently living with the disease. While contracting the HIV virus used to be considered a death sentence in our society, significant medical advances over the past 20 years have turned it into a very treatable condition. Today, many individuals with HIV are living long, happy and productive lives, but there are also many among us who don't have the means to access life- sustaining treatments and social supports. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program was originally enacted in 1990 to provide HIV-related health services to those without sufficient health coverage or financial resources to cope with the disease. Last year, Rhode Island received approximately $7.2 million in funding and supplied 2,800 people with access to primary medical care and case management services, including $4.3 million in vital medications. The bill before us today will authorize the continuation of this very successful program through FY 2013--including emergency relief, comprehensive care and early intervention programs. It will give our local, state and community partners the resources necessary to continue providing compassionate care for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. I strongly support this bill and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of its passage.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 790, I was unavoidably detained and missed the vote. Had I been present, I would have vote ``yea.''

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep outrage over AIG's plans to give $198 million in bonuses to their employees next March, especially after paying out $165 million in bonuses earlier this year. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs is on track to provide a record payout to its executives by the end of 2009 and other firms will undoubtedly follow suit. Well, I find it infuriating and insulting that these firms continue to reward incompetence and egregious risk-taking with taxpayer money. They have not only received billions in direct Federal bailouts to avert crises largely of their own making, but they also benefited from an array of Federal fiscal policies that have placed increased burdens on taxpayers and our deficit. These companies must be held accountable for their decisions and for the Federal assistance they only too gladly accepted. That's why I supported legislation to block these bonuses and to ensure that taxpayers receive a full refund. I will continue to press my colleagues and the administration to ensure that as Wall Street again enjoys profitability, American taxpayers also see some reward. I want to commend Chairman Frank and the Financial Services Committee for their hard work on the financial regulatory overhaul that is so critically needed in our country to prevent another crisis from happening. I anxiously look forward to seeing this legislation come to the floor very soon. It's clear that our financial system demands commonsense regulation, increased transparency, and improved oversight. Wall Street CEOs cannot run their businesses assuming that the fruits of success will be entirely theirs to enjoy while the cost of failure will be shared, will be the shared responsibility of the American people. Wall Street's compensation plans can no longer benefit top executives at the expense of their companies, shareholders and employees, and ultimately the American taxpayer. After all this country has been through, when we have an unemployment rate of 9.8 percent nationally, and especially when 12.8 percent of Rhode Islanders are unemployed, seeing that Wall Street has not learned its lesson is a tremendous disappointment. We have to take action now so that we don't go down this road again.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the President's call to provide assistance to our nation's elderly, veteran and disabled citizens who will see no Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in their 2010 Social Security payments for the first time in over 40 years. Since the Great Depression, Social Security has proven a vital safety-net program that has kept over half of our seniors from falling into poverty. It has been adjusted annually according to inflation to maintain the purchasing power of beneficiaries since 1975. In my home district, over 95,000 people collect Social Security benefits. This program provides 40 percent of all income received by elderly people in the United States, and supplies significant financial support for individuals with disabilities. Despite encouraging signs of economic stabilization, millions of vulnerable citizens continue to struggle in the wake of a recession that brought record housing foreclosures, job losses and bankruptcies. Particularly hard hit are older Americans who have seen the value of their assets and savings wiped out, forcing them to postpone retirement or reenter the workforce, if employment can be found. We must ensure that the purchasing power of older and disabled Americans remains strong. To that end, I look forward to working with my colleagues and the President to enact policies that will help rebuild retirement savings, restore lost asset value and achieve long- lasting financial security and independence.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference agreement on H.R. 2647, the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. I'd like to personally thank Chairman Skelton for his outstanding leadership in bringing this bill to the floor and always looking out for our troops, as he always has in the course of his career. I also want to recognize the leadership of Ranking Member McKeon. As chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I'm proud of the provisions this legislation includes to sustain and modernize our strategic weapons systems. In the area of nuclear weapons, the conference agreement increases funding for the Stockpile Stewardship Program by $48.7 million and establishes important new guidelines for nuclear weapons stewardship, including a new Stockpile Management Program. The program clarifies that changes to the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile must be limited to sustaining current capabilities and requires that any changes use weapons components that can be certified without nuclear testing. Now, regarding ballistic missile defense, this Congress has made this program a priority. The conference agreement fully funds the administration's request of $9.3 billion for missile defense programs. It authorizes $1.8 billion for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, adding $23 million for additional SM-3 missiles, and authorizes $1.1 billion for the Theater High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD. These amounts reflect an increase in the funding for these proven systems by $900 million over the FY 2009 levels. The bill also authorizes up to $309 million for the recently announced European missile defense plan if the Secretary of Defense certifies that the system is operationally effective and cost effective in providing protection for Europe and the United States. Further, the bill includes over $1 billion to test, sustain, and improve the existing Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, and includes a provision requiring the Department to establish a plan to maintain its operational effectiveness of the system over the course of its service life. Within the strategic intelligence programs, the conference agreement requires the Department of Energy to develop a plan to ensure that our national security laboratories have sufficient funding and technical abilities to monitor, analyze, and evaluate foreign nuclear weapons activities and requires the Department of Defense to assess gaps in U.S. intelligence for foreign ballistic missile programs and prepare a plan to ensure our intelligence centers can sufficiently address these shortfalls. Lastly, in addition to our national security priorities, I am pleased that the Federal hate crimes legislation is included in this bill to allow law enforcement to more aggressively pursue individuals who commit violent crimes that are motivated by a person's religion, disability, or sexual orientation. Finally, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I, again, thank Chairman Skelton for his outstanding leadership on bringing this bill to the floor and shepherding it through the process. It clearly shows that this Congress is clearly behind our Nation's military and our warfighters.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to my colleagues and friends Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and Congresswoman Myrick for their incredible courage and leadership in fighting for those who are affected by breast cancer. October, as we know, is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I can think of no better way to honor and support the women living with this disease or to honor the memories of those who have lost their battle with breast cancer than to help raise awareness by sharing some of our own personal stories. Each one of us has a personal story to tell about how breast cancer touched the lives of our families and has changed our lives, and I'm no exception. My mother is a breast cancer survivor. She beat this disease several years ago, and I'm so proud of her for the strength and the courage that she has shown throughout a very difficult journey. She has served as an inspiration to me to be a voice here in Washington, not just for her, but for the hundreds of thousands of women and men who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. For far too long, our Nation was silent about this disease because of a pervasive fear and stigma. Thankfully, education and advocacy efforts over the past several decades have empowered survivors to come out of the shadows and walk down the Halls of Congress to demand action. It's because of my mother and the Rhode Island advocates who I am so proud to represent that I joined with a strong majority of my colleagues to fight for increased funding for research at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense so that we may continue to advance lifesaving treatments for breast cancer patients everywhere. However, this is not just about research. We must also ensure that every patient has access to proper medical care. I believe that the only way to do this is through comprehensive health insurance reform. Madam Speaker, Congress certainly must pass a bill that covers preventative services such as mammograms and MRIs, that eliminates discriminatory exclusions for individuals with preexisting conditions, and ensures gender parity. I strongly believe that access to quality health care should be a fundamental right and not a privilege for the wealthy who can afford it. I hear stories daily from friends and constituents whose lives are turned upside down due to a cancer diagnosis. Our Nation can and we must do better. Together we can make a difference in the lives of breast cancer patients everywhere. I would like to once again acknowledge my colleagues here this evening for speaking out in the fight against breast cancer, and I look forward to my continued work with them in the future.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009, which will provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals in states with unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or higher. This bill provides a critical boost to the many Rhode Islanders, and Americans across the nation, who are struggling to find employment. In order to receive these benefits, workers must have lost a job through no fault of their own, be actively searching for a job, be able to work, and must have worked twenty weeks prior to being laid off. Only unemployed workers who become eligible for the additional weeks of benefits before January 1, 2010, will qualify for this extension. I am encouraged by reports that our country's recession is easing, but that is little consolation to the many people still suffering in my home state. In Rhode Island, the unemployment rate has reached 12.8 percent, which is the third highest rate in the country. It is also estimated that nearly 4,500 Rhode Islanders will exhaust their benefits before the end of this year. With recent reports estimating that there are six job seekers for every job opening, Congress must act to help workers through this challenging time. I understand the hardships Rhode Islanders are facing, and that is why rebuilding our economy is the top priority for me and this Congress. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has saved the jobs of teachers, police officers, and nurses across our state and has created jobs through new highway and infrastructure projects, with more coming online in the next few months. I am also pleased to see that the programs we have passed are being turned into smart investments in our future, such as the creation of clean energy jobs in our state through weatherization and offshore wind development. As the President has stated, it may take some time before we see significant improvements in our unemployment rate, but I am confident that the programs we are putting into place will yield results over the next several months, while the longer-term investments we're making will ensure that our workforce and our job market are stronger in the years to come. While unemployment benefits and stimulus programs help jumpstart our economy in the short term, Congress must also work to build a new foundation for a lasting recovery. That is why we are making much needed reforms to our health care and financial systems and investing in our education and workforce training systems. As Members of Congress, we have the power to give hard-working Americans another chance to continue their job search and provide for their families. I encourage my colleagues to pass this bill to help those who are most vulnerable during these trying times.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. This legislation makes urgently-needed investments in our education system by helping students and their families pay for college, modernizing schools and curricula, and training our future workforce for the 21st Century. H.R. 3221 will provide reliable, affordable, high-quality federal student loans for all families. Beginning July 1, 2010, all new federal student loans will be originated through the Direct Loan Program, which is insulated from market swings and can guarantee students access to low-cost federal loans in any economy. I am also pleased that $40 billion of the money saved from switching all loans to the Direct Loan Program will go to boosting Pell Grants. Over the next ten years, this measure will invest more than $154.6 million in Rhode Island to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarships to $5,550 in 2010 and to $6,900 by 2019. In the 2010-2011 academic school year, this will help nearly 12,000 eligible students in my congressional district. Far too many students face unnecessary barriers when it comes to pursuing a college degree. This measure will make it easier to apply for financial aid by simplifying the FAFSA form, which many families find confusing and overly burdensome, and allowing applicants to use the information on their tax returns. Meanwhile, under this bill, Rhode Island will receive $3.8 million over the next five years for the College Access Challenge Grant program, which will bolster college access and completion support programs, increase financial literacy education, and help retain and graduate students. H.R. 3221 also strengthens our state's seven community colleges that teach more than 15,000 students each year. Community colleges excel at meeting the needs of students from all backgrounds and work with businesses to ensure students have the skills they need to fulfill local workforce needs. This measure will establish a competitive grant program for community colleges to raise graduation rates, modernize facilities, and create new online learning opportunities. This legislation not only invests in our college students, but also focuses on the next generation of students by ensuring that all children have the preparation and skills they need on their very first day of school. By creating the Early Learning Challenge Fund, competitive grants will be awarded to states that implement comprehensive reform of birth-to-five early learning programs. H.R. 3221 also provides more than $13.7 million over the next two years to Rhode Island school districts for school modernization, renovation and repair projects that will create healthier, safer and more energy- efficient teaching and learning climates. Madam Chair, this measure will have long-term benefits for our economy. Going forward, we must continue to build upon these advances so the next generation is encouraged to pursue their dreams.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, as the Congress is working to resolve our Nation's health care crisis, I would like to take a moment to read an excerpt from a constituent's letter which I hope will serve as a reminder of why we are fighting for health care reform. ``Dear Congressman Langevin, ``Ten years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As a single mother raising two children, I was nervous about supporting, feeding, clothing, and providing a roof over my children's heads. After my brain tumor was removed, I spent 30 days in the hospital. I was then terminated from my job. When I lost my job, I lost my health benefits. So I faced a choice that I don't want any other American to have to make--pay my mortgage or my COBRA premiums for continuing health coverage.'' Signed, Nancy from Warwick, RI. Mr. Speaker, choosing between your home and your life, it's not a decision that any American should have to face. In fact, catastrophic illness or accident is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in America, and that shouldn't happen. We have an opportunity and an obligation to reform our health care system. We must not let our constituents down.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be here today to associate myself with the comments of Speaker Pelosi, who spoke just a few moments ago in strong support of this pay-as-you-go legislation. I do rise in opposition to the Republican substitute that's offered by my colleague, Mr. Ryan, which I see completely abolishes the pay-as- you-go rules contained in the base bill, and it replaces them with unrealistic and infeasible restrictions that do nothing to address the long-term budgetary challenges that we face. The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act, offered by Majority Leader Hoyer, will restore fiscal discipline through the most basic principle of responsible accounting. Every dollar spent must be offset by a dollar earned or saved. This is the way that American families balance their checkbooks, and it's the way that we should balance the Federal budget. Statutory pay-as-you-go governed our budgetary policies in the 1990s. As we saw, it helped turn deficits into record surpluses. Unfortunately, when the Republican majority allowed the law to expire in 2002, our fiscal accountability went with it. Well, today, we have a chance to turn that around. We saw what happened when we had these kinds of fiscal disciplines in place. The country was on much more sound fiscal footing. This bill is not a panacea, of course, for our budgetary challenges. The fiscal health of our Nation will ultimately depend on a thriving economy. However, this is an important step to restoring budgetary discipline, to forcing tough choices on taxes, on spending, and on bringing down the deep deficits that we face. We have a moral obligation to pass this legislation, and instill the kind of fiscal discipline that we need to see, not only for now but for the future. We have an obligation to do this, not only for our children today but for the children of tomorrow. Without reducing the deficit, we cannot invest in vital priorities like health care, education and clean energy, which are critical to our economic future. Mr. Speaker, it's time to get our fiscal house in order. I would like to thank Leader Hoyer, Chairman Spratt, and my colleagues on the Budget Committee for their exceptionally hard work on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to reject the Ryan substitute and to support the passage of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act in its current form. It's the right thing to do, and its time has come.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I just want to echo your comments because you're right on target. Clearly, in the United States, we have a health care system that is broken. We're in crisis and it's unsustainable. It is clear, when you look at statistics from around the world, that we have the highest costs and yet the worst outcomes when it comes to health care. That's because, when you look at the number of uninsured and when you aggregate it, well over 47 million Americans are without health insurance. That is the reason we are on a path that we cannot sustain, and it's not serving anyone in terms of delivering good health care and good quality when we have a system that has so many who are uninsured and when we're spending our dollars so inefficiently. So I want to be here tonight to add my voice to this clarion call for health care reform. I want to begin, of course, by thanking my colleague from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) for organizing this Special Order to discuss health care reform. I thank Mr. Ryan for his contributions to this effort tonight, and I thank the other speakers who have spoken or who will speak later. Let me say that I believe that we need to have a frank discussion, an honest discussion, with the American people about this issue. It's an issue that directly impacts everyone in this country--individuals, families, businesses--at every level of our government. Regardless of one's age, gender, race, religion or income level, everyone has a direct stake in our health care system, and it's important that Americans are properly informed of their choices as Congress moves forward with health care reform. Now, I think every Member of Congress certainly is in agreement on one fact, which is that our current health care system, as I said before, is not sustainable. I'm really disturbed, I have to say, by allegations from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that proposing real solutions which offer substantive changes to the status quo is somehow seeking to socialize medicine or is seeking to ration care. I think this is something that we should address, so I'd like to offer some insights into this, some clarifications on this point. First of all, the thing that we must acknowledge--and Mr. Ryan was talking about it earlier, the unfortunate truth--is that we're already experiencing rationing under the current system. We experience it when insurance companies deny individuals coverage based on their health statuses or preexisting conditions. We see it in the millions of families whose premiums and co-pays are so high that they have to forgo basic care and life-sustaining treatments or have to choose between medications and groceries. We see it in businesses that can no longer offer insurance as a benefit to the employees, not because they don't want to but because they simply can't afford it. Each of these circumstances represents a form of market-based rationing, which is a basic failure of our current health care system, of our private health insurance markets, due to skyrocketing costs. I want to be very clear to my colleagues and to the American people that reducing costs and expanding health coverage to all Americans doesn't mean reducing quality, access or choice. On the contrary, we can and we must use the money already in the system more efficiently to ensure access and to expand everyone's choices of insurance coverage-- of doctors and of more effective treatments. The most recent draft of the House proposal, while far from a finished product and while far from perfect, does build on the strengths of our current system, the employer-based system, and then supplements that with a health insurance exchange. What does that mean? Well, it means that Americans who are happy with their current health care coverage can keep it, but those who don't have coverage through their employers will be able to shop for their choices of private health plans just like Federal employees and Members of Congress do. They will also have the option, of course, of choosing a public plan alternative, which, I think, is vitally important. Those Americans who cannot afford to purchase insurance in the private market will receive assistance in paying for the coverage that they do choose. Under this new system, private health insurance companies will now have to play by a new set of rules. The insurers are no longer going to be in the driver's seat. We are putting the American people in the driver's seat. We're going to make sure there is a basic new set of rules and fairness in our health insurance system. Again, the health insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage based on a person's previous health condition, and they'll have to participate in a more transparent and competitive marketplace. This means reducing out-of-pocket costs or unexpected fees when patients become sick and need the care that they have paid for and have been promised. Greater transparency will translate into more manageable costs so that when we open our bills or statements, we know exactly what we're paying for. Most importantly, under this vision of health care, doctors and patients will make medical decisions, not insurance companies or the government. I cannot overstate this point enough. Medical decisions should always be left to the patient and his or her health care provider. That's what we're going to ensure under this system. This is the health care system that we can and we must strive for, one that offers stability for families, where coverage is not lost because someone changes or loses their job or becomes unexpectedly ill. These are, as we know, without a doubt challenging times. We face extraordinarily high unemployment in this country. In my home State of Rhode Island right now, the unemployment rate has reached 12.1 percent. This is on my mind every single day when I come to work, at night when I go to sleep, the first thing when I wake up in the morning is this on my mind, and how do we fix that and get our economy back on track. Well, fixing health care is going to be vitally important to do that because the current status quo is just unacceptable. Even more unacceptable is that every job lost places access to even the most basic health care coverage at even greater risk. As I conclude here tonight, let me just say this: That in a Nation that has led the world in health care innovation, every citizen should have access to affordable high-quality care. I believe this to be true not only for moral reasons but because this is what will ensure that we remain the global leader in health care innovation in the 21st century. It also makes sure that our workers and our businesses will continue to be competitive in this global economy in which we now live. I urge my constituents and Americans from across the Nation to engage in a real, honest, clear discussion on health care reform and to demand a universal health care proposal that puts the American people first. I am just proud to be able to join this Special Order tonight, talking about the need for health care reform. Again, I want to thank and commend the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) for organizing this event. I'm pleased to be here with you, with Mr. Ryan and with all of our colleagues who care passionately about health care reform. This is our time. This is the year when we are going to fix health care in America once and for all for the American people.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Filner-Langevin amendment to provide full funding to the United States Olympic Committee's Paralympic Veterans Program. I would like to thank in particular Chairman Edwards for his great work in support of our service men and women through increased funding levels in the underlying bill and Chairman Filner for his continued advocacy for our disabled veterans especially. The USOC Paralympic program provides a unique opportunity for personal recovery and achievement for our wounded servicemembers who return from combat with serious and life-changing injuries. Daily physical activity is often the most critical mental and physical aspect of the rehabilitation process. It reduces stress, depression and secondary medical conditions while increasing self- esteem, employment rates and quality of life. Full funding of the U.S. Paralympic Adaptive Sports Program will expedite the expansion of services and programs to injured veterans. The USOC has created Paralympic programs in 99 communities, providing access to physical activity and sports opportunities, regardless of skill level, for over 5,000 injured servicemembers and veterans. Paralympic, community and veteran organizations are partnering with the USOC to invest more than $40 million in private resources annually to develop programs, provide Paralympic mentors and expand to 250 U.S. communities serving over 8,000 injured servicemembers by 2012. After all our servicemembers have sacrificed for our country, we have an obligation to provide services and opportunities for them as they return home. The Paralympic program has already touched thousands of lives, and with additional resources, it can help countless more veterans regain both physical strength and self-esteem. And I urge my colleagues to support the Filner-Langevin amendment.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act. I thank our leaders who made this bill a priority, especially Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Chairman Waxman, Chairman Rangel, Chairman Peterson, and Chairman Markey, who worked tirelessly to bring this bill to the floor today. I have long been an advocate for reducing harmful carbon emissions and investing in a clean energy economy. The path that we are on is unsustainable. Last year's spike in gasoline prices and home heating oil was only a small example of the challenges our nation faces due to our reliance on foreign oil. The effects of climate change are already beginning, and I believe that we must act now if we are to stop--and ultimately reverse--the damage done to our planet and our economy. I support this legislation because it will set our nation on a path toward an energy independent future. The bill increases the renewable energy standard to 20 percent by 2020, which means that more of the energy we all use at home will come from clean, renewable resources. It caps harmful carbon emissions that are damaging our environment and ecosystem through a responsible and transparent approach, reaching an overall reduction of 83 percent by 2050. With this reduction, it is my hope that we will be the first generation to pass on a healthier planet to our children and our grandchildren. The $90 billion investment included in this bill will help create 1.7 million clean energy jobs throughout the nation, particularly in manufacturing industries as demand for construction of renewable energy components will dramatically increase. Increased funding for research and development of renewable technologies, including wind, solar, and wave energy, will drive American entrepreneurship and competitiveness to make the U.S. a global leader in clean energy development. This bill was also carefully written to ensure that consumers are not overburdened by any increase in cost. Allowances are provided to electricity, natural gas, and heating oil companies that must be redirected to their customers. Low-income families are given even further protections in the bill and will receive specific allowances in the form of monthly energy refunds. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that protecting our nation through a cap on emissions would cost an average family $175 per year, or less than 50 cents a day, by 2020. Alternatively, if we fail to act and continue to rely on oil, energy prices per household are estimated to reach $3,500 annually. Further, CBO has determined that the bill meets PAYGO requirements and will not increase the deficit. Lastly, it must be noted that our nation spends over $400 billion for foreign oil each year. The time has come to stop investing our taxpayers dollars overseas, and to bring them home to invest in clean energy jobs and a healthier planet for our citizens. By increasing the renewable energy standard, capping carbon emissions, and investing in the creation of domestic jobs, this bill is directing our nation towards a sustainable and economically viable energy future. I urge my colleagues to invest in the future of this great nation, and vote yes on the American Energy and Security Act.

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the American Clean Energy and Security Act. I thank our leaders who made this bill a priority, especially Chairman Waxman and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) who worked tirelessly to bring this bill to the floor today. I have long been an advocate for reducing harmful carbon emissions and investing in a clean-energy economy. The effects of climate change are already beginning, and we must act now not only for this generation but for generations yet to come. By increasing the renewable energy standard, capping carbon emissions and investing in the creation of domestic clean-energy jobs, this bill is directing our Nation towards a sustainable and economically viable energy future. This bill also establishes five programs to protect consumers from energy price increases. I want to say that again. It establishes programs to protect consumers from energy price increases. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the American Clean Energy and Security Act. It is time for America once again to lead on sustainable energy. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, and I want to thank my good friend Chairman Skelton for his leadership in crafting an excellent bill. This bill gives not only gives our service men and women the tools they need to keep our nation safe, but it also makes valuable investments in programs and projects that support our military families, increase oversight of our war efforts and further critical non-proliferation efforts. It recognizes the sacrifices made not only by our troops, but by their families as well, providing a 3.4 percent pay raise, expanded TRICARE coverage, and $1.95 billion for military family housing. This measure will increase oversight and accountability by requiring the President to report on U.S. goals in Afghanistan and Pakistan and our redeployment from Iraq. It also adds $2.5 billion to programs designed to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons, one of the most urgent threats the world faces today. Finally, the bill strengthens our nation's missile defense capabilities, by increasing funding for systems vital to protect against real threats while balancing technology development to face the needs of tomorrow. I am particularly pleased with the steps taken in this bill to ensure that contractor waste, fraud and abuse is brought to an end and that we have an efficient and fair system for meeting critical defense needs. During the Armed Services Committee's mark-up, I offered an amendment, which was adopted by voice vote, to alter the OMB Circular A-76 process for determining which activities are inherently governmental functions and vital to our national defense. My amendment will ensure the A-76 process is fair for our government workforce and provide the Obama Administration a chance to address past failures of the A-76 process. This legislation also addresses the need to enhance our military's cybersecurity capabilities. Cyberspace is a growing component of the modern battlefield, and we must ensure our forces are prepared for the wars of tomorrow. I applaud the efforts of the Secretary of Defense and the services to meet the growing threat of cyberattacks. I am concerned, however, that individuals with critical cyber skills are not making a career in the uniformed services. We need to do everything in our power to recruit and retain talented and experienced individuals, and that is why I offered an amendment during committee consideration that requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report assessing the challenges to retention and professional development of uniformed and civilian cyber operators. I am pleased that this requirement is now included in the bill before us today. This report will help define numbers of personnel, recruitment and retention incentives, policy impediments, and methods to improve interagency and academic outreach to individuals with critical cyber skills. Finally, I also want to give praise to Secretary Gates, Chairman Skelton and Chairwoman Tauscher for working with our military commanders to shape a budget that protects the U.S. and our allies from real ballistic missile threats. The bill provides $9.3 billion for missile defense, supporting critical programs that are tested and operational and eliminating unnecessary and unproven programs that waste taxpayer dollars. The U.S. Intelligence Community estimates that the most significant ballistic missile threat to U.S. interests, deployed forces, and our allies comes from short- and medium-range ballistic missiles that represent 99% of the total number of ballistic missiles other than those held by the United States, NATO nations, Russia, and China. H.R. 2647 supports the President's request to increase funding by $900 million for systems that counter this threat, such as the Aegis BMD system and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Looking forward, this bill also provides $1 billion to support the requests of President Obama, Secretary Gates, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to support the development and operation of 30 Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptors, designed to guard against future emerging threats. According to senior defense officials, these 30 interceptors are more than what is necessary to deal with any long- range threat from a rogue state in the near and mid-term. This will ensure our nation is able to face the threats of today and tomorrow. Mr. Chair, this bill admirably balances critical national security needs with realistic budget considerations, and I am proud to support it. Again, I thank Chairman Skelton for his leadership and urge my colleagues to vote for this important legislation.