Stephen Lynch

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 942) commending the Real Salt Lake Soccer Club for winning the 2009 Major League Soccer Cup.

Mr. LYNCH

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

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mrs. Biggert for her leadership on this very important issue, and I want to urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 779. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present House Resolution 779 for consideration. This resolution recognizes the importance of youth runaway prevention and at-risk youth programs. House Resolution 779 was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Judy Biggert of Illinois, on September 25, 2009, and was favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee December 10, 2009, by unanimous consent. Notably, this measure enjoys the support of 55 Members of Congress. Madam Speaker, according to the National Runaway Switchboard, between 1.6 million and 2.8 million young people run away from home every year. As additionally noted by The New York Times in an October 25, 2009, article on this issue of runaway youth, this societal problem is growing. Specifically, The New York Times reported that the number of contacts made by federally financed outreach programs with runaways increased to 761,000 in 2008, and that was up from 550,000 in 2002, the year that the current methods of counting began. Notably, National Runaway Switchboard reports that among those young people at greatest risk of running away and facing homelessness are those that have been expelled from school, those that have suffered domestic abuse, and those that have been discharged by State custodial systems without the benefit of an adequate transitional planning program. Additionally, young people who have separated from their parents by death or divorce, live in poverty, and/or are unable to access adequate or mental health resources are similarly at risk of running away and becoming homeless. And the National Runaway Switchboard also reports that youth homelessness affects males and females equally, although females are more likely to seek help through shelters and hotlines. Despite these concerning reports and statistical programs, there are efforts, such as The National Network for Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard, that provide effective support to runaway youth and assist young people and their families in remaining together by developing partnerships with families, community-based agencies, schools, and faith-based organizations. These two programs offer invaluable services, including advocacy on behalf of the runaway youth and their families, crisis intervention, and various forms of community-based support to address critical needs. In addition, the two programs have worked together to cosponsor National Runaway Prevention Month, which occurs in November, and attempts to increase public awareness of the life circumstances of youth in high-risk situations and the need for safe, healthy, and productive alternatives, resources and support for runaway youth and their families. Madam Speaker, in light of the prevalence of the problem of runaway youth as well as youth homelessness, let us take this opportunity to join Mrs. Biggert of Illinois to pass House Resolution 779 and recognize the important role that youth runaway prevention and at-risk youth programs play in addressing these issues. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to join Mrs. Biggert in supporting H. Res. 779, and I reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 779) recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month, as amended.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, in closing, I would just ask all Members to join with Senator Voinovich, Chairman Towns, and Ranking Member Issa in support of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and Chairman Ed Towns, I am proud to present S. 303, the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, for consideration. Senate 303 was introduced by Senator George Voinovich of Ohio on January 22, 2009, and passed by the United States Senate on March 17, 2009, by unanimous consent. The legislation was subsequently referred to the House Oversight Committee on March 18, 2009, and approved with a manager's amendment on December 10, 2009, by voice vote. Madam Speaker, the legislation will reauthorize and enhance the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999. Specifically, Senate 303 reauthorizes and makes significant enhancements to the Web site, www.grants.gov, which serves as a central location for grant applicants to search and apply for Federal grants, as well as to submit the necessary financial reports. The Web site is a one-stop-shop for grant recipients, alleviating much of the paperwork burden that has traditionally been associated with the grant application process and allowing recipients to focus their attention on serving the American public. In addition to reauthorizing the grants.gov Web site, Senate 303 directs the Office of Management and Budget to improve the administration of Federal grants and submit corresponding reports to Congress on its progress towards this end. I'd also like to note that the gentleman from California, Representative Darrell Issa, and the ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform joined Chairman Towns in offering a manager's amendment to this legislation during our committee business meeting last week. The amendment makes a number of important technical changes to the bill. Specifically, it incorporates the provisions of H.R. 2392, the Government Information Transparency Act, legislation directing the Office of Management and Budget to adopt a single data standard for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of business and financial information. The standard must be common across all Federal agencies and make the data widely available to the public. This standard will also be applied to the data on Federal grants, making it easier to evaluate the use of grant funds. This will make Federal financial information much more accessible to the public, thereby improving the transparency of this data and allowing the public to analyze it more easily. It will also improve the availability and interoperability of financial data reported to the government by the private sector, addressing concerns that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform raised in their hearings earlier this year. Madam Speaker, Senate 303 will help strengthen a great resource for Federal grant recipients as well as improve the public's access to important financial data. I'd like to close my statement by thanking Chairman Ed Towns, the gentleman from Brooklyn, New York, and Ranking Member Darrell Issa, the gentleman from California, for their work on this measure, and I urge my colleagues to join both of those gentlemen in supporting S. 303. And I reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 303) to reauthorize and improve the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999, as amended.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. The gentleman should perhaps read the amendment. This does not interpose government into the clearinghouses. Ironically, this is very light regulation. The people who are against this amendment are the five banks, the five big banks. They are the ones that are against this. What this does, instead of inserting the government in here, what we are doing is allowing competitive commercial interests to balance out, rather than allow these five banks. These five banks control 97 percent of the market here; 97 percent. And the gentleman is complaining that it might reduce competition? It's a monopoly now. We are trying to break it open and allow more companies in and lower the costs of operating. Look, this is a pretty simple issue. The ``too big to fail'' banks caused huge damage to the taxpayer, the way they operated this derivatives market. We are creating a clearinghouse. They are trying to buy the clearinghouse.

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, my friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. LYNCH. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, firstly, I would like to thank Chairman Frank, Chairman Peterson and also Chairman Waxman for their great work on this bill, and I want to thank those three chairmen for supporting this amendment. My amendment addresses a fundamental problem in the derivatives industry, and it seeks to close a gap in the underlying legislation. Madam Chair, what many Members of Congress and the public don't realize is that the U.S. derivatives market is about $605 trillion, which is more than five times the value of the stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange. More important than simply the scale of the derivatives industry is the fact that, according to the Comptroller of the Currency, a total of 97 percent of the derivatives trading in this country is controlled by just five banks. So it's a near monopoly. Four of those five banks were top recipients. During their recent financial meltdown, these same banks engaged in very risky behavior involving complex derivatives, which endangered the entire financial system. They had to be bailed out by the taxpayers. As a result of all of these banks--Citigroup, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley--as well as major swap participants, such as AIG, they received $200 billion in taxpayer money. The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act attempts to prevent that from happening again. The bill would require over-the- counter trading to be conducted through clearinghouses, which are set up to police derivatives trading and to make sure there is sufficient protection from the reckless behavior that these ``too big to fail'' banks have engaged in. Clearinghouses are a good idea. Think of them as financial police stations. That's the function they are intended to serve. Some describe them as a blast wall that will prevent the failure of a derivatives deal from impacting the real economy. However, the problem is--and in my view, this is a huge problem with the bill--the bill would allow these same big banks to purchase the clearinghouses that are being created to police the big banks in their derivatives trading. The big banks would be allowed to own and control the clearinghouses and to set the rules for how their own derivatives deals are handled. My amendment would prevent those big banks and major swap participants, like AIG, from taking over the police station--these new clearinghouses. It would do so by limiting to a 20 percent voting stake the ownership interest in those banks and the governance of the clearing and trading facilities. Essentially, by providing entry to the market, it would introduce competing commercial interests to bring competition and transparency to the derivatives industry and to keep those banks honest. At this time, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Good evening, Madam Chair. I believe I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2711) to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the transportation of the dependents, remains, and effects of certain Federal employees who die while performing official duties or as a result of the performance of official duties, as amended.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. LYNCH. Again, Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to support Mr. McGovern in the sponsorship of this measure, H.R. 4017. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, as a procedural matter, H.R. 4017 was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Jim McGovern, who we heard from earlier, on November 4, 2009, and was favorably reported out of the House Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on November 18, 2009. In addition, I am proud to say that I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 4017, which enjoys the support of the entire Massachusetts House delegation. A beloved resident of the town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Mrs. Ann Marie Blute passed away on May, 1, 2009 at the age of 83. While Mrs. Blute is no longer with us, she will forever be remembered for her dedication to her loving family as well as her genuine and longstanding commitment to public service. Born in the city of Boston on May 30, 1925, and as the oldest daughter of eight children, Mrs. Blute quickly learned how to help in raising a large and very busy family. In addition, Mrs. Blute was also able to witness the value of public service at a very early age as her father, Colonel Paul Hines, a distinguished veteran of World War I, went on to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. As noted by the Boston Globe upon Mrs. Blute's passing, a commitment to public service ``ran in the genes'' of the Blute family, as Mrs. Blute's brother, Peter, served as chairman of the Boston city council and her son, Peter, as has been mentioned earlier by Mr. McGovern, was elected to the United States Congress. After receiving her education in the Boston public school system, Mrs. Blute accepted a position in the business office at the Boston Post newspaper where her mother, Margaret Galvin Hines, worked as a reporter. In 1947, however, Mrs. Blute left Boston for the town of Bremerhaven, Germany, after marrying Dr. Robert Blute, a doctor with the United States Army and Mrs. Blute's beloved husband for the next 62 years. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Blute would go on to have 11 children-- five sons and six daughters. Upon their return from Germany, the Blute family settled in the town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, where Mrs. Blute embarked on her life's work and journey as a mom, not only to her own 11 children but also to the many neighborhood children that entered her life. In addition, Mrs. Blute's arrival in Shrewsbury also marked the continuation of her lifelong dedication to serving others. A devout Roman Catholic and devoted parishioner of St. Mary's, as has been mentioned, Mrs. Blute actively participated in a variety of church community programs and activities. Specifically, Mrs. Blute served on the Women's Guild, taught catechism, as Mr. Cao has mentioned, and became a Eucharistic minister. In addition, she was a founding member of the Associates of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, based in Ipswich, Massachusetts. And in 1994, Mrs. Blute, as Mr. McGovern has mentioned, was called to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York by Cardinal John O'Connor to receive the title of Dame of Malta, granted to those who demonstrate an intense devotion to service and one of the Catholic church's highest honors. Moreover, Mrs. Blute also served as a dedicated board member of various community organizations, some of which have been mentioned, including the Nazareth Home for Boys in Leicester, Massachusetts, and the Mustard Seed homeless shelter in the city of Worcester. In addition, Mrs. Blute's community work included her service as a trustee of the Shrewsbury Library, as well as her membership in the Shrewsbury Garden Club, the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Vincent's Hospital, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Notably, Mrs. Blute also spent several years volunteering for the non-profit organization, Aid to Incarcerated Mothers. As so eloquently stated by her beloved husband, Robert, Mrs. Blute's lifelong ambition was ``to perform each of the works of mercy--to feed the hungry, to help the poor, to visit the prisoner, and give aid to the sick and the stranger.'' Mrs. Blute's driving purpose was evidenced time and time again through her many good deeds. Among them was the kindness and generosity that she displayed toward Lucy Hoang, a Vietnamese immigrant who Mrs. Blute lovingly took into her home for 3 years. Mr. Speaker, the life of Mrs. Ann Marie Blute stands as a testament to public service. Her memory will undoubtedly live on through her husband, Robert; their 11 children, 23 great grandchildren, four great- grandchildren, her four siblings, and the countless friends and neighbors for whom Mrs. Blute's dedication to community service made the ultimate difference. It is my hope that we can pay further tribute to Mrs. Blute's remarkable legacy through the passage of this legislation to rename the Shrewsbury post office in her honor. I urge my colleagues to join Mr. McGovern, the chief sponsor of this bill, in doing so and supporting H.R. 4017. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the chief sponsor of this measure.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4017) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 43 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, as the ``Ann Marie Blute Post Office''.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge all our colleagues to join Mr. Cao, the principal author of this bill, to support House Resolution 3951, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, I am pleased to present H.R. 3951 for consideration. This legislation will designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 2000 Louisiana Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the ``Roy Rondeno, Sr. Post Office Building.'' Introduced by my colleague, Representative Anh ``Joseph'' Cao of Louisiana on October 28, 2009, and reported out of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on November 18, 2009 by unanimous consent, H.R. 3951 enjoys the support of the entire Louisiana House delegation. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Roy Rondeno, Sr. served his beloved community as a dedicated employee of the United States Postal Service for over 30 years. Notably, Mr. Rondeno worked at the United States Postal Service facility at Uptown Station located at 2000 Louisiana Avenue in New Orleans, the very facility that we seek to designate in his honor. The true embodiment of the old adage that ``neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet'' will keep a postman from completing his rounds, Mr. Rondeno was roundly known as a dedicated and beloved letter carrier who would never fail to deliver even the smallest package in the pouring rain. As noted by the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper, many residents along Mr. Rondeno's route had formed a close relationship with this letter carrier and described him as a charismatic man who always had a kind word for everyone. According to friend and Uptown resident Susan Hereford, Mr. Rondeno did not only deliver the mail every day but rather also delivered ``a little piece of himself'' and connected with everyone on his route. Dr. Brian Ghere, another Uptown resident, further describes Mr. Rondeno as ``an exceptional human being, a great letter carrier, and a real credit to his profession.'' The extent of Mr. Rondeno's commitment to his job and his Uptown residents that he was proud to serve was never more evident than on September 26 of this year. Mr. Rondeno volunteered to work on his day off given that the Uptown Station lacked enough letter carriers to cover the day's route. As Mr. Rondeno was sorting mail on the back of his truck, he was struck by a car and tragically lost both of his legs as a result of the accident. The outpouring of support for Mr. Rondeno and his family that followed his hospitalization stands as a true testament to Mr. Rondeno's standing in Uptown New Orleans as a model public servant and community member. Notably, local merchants and community leaders promptly established a donation fund to assist Mr. Rondeno in his recovery, and signs of support for the letter carrier could be seen hanging in a variety of local storefronts along his route. Regrettably, on October 2, only 6 days after this accident, Mr. Rondeno died from heart failure during surgery. Mr. Rondeno was only 57 years old at the time of his death, and he had planned on retiring from the postal service early next year so as to focus his attention on serving his New Orleans community in a different capacity, through an outreach ministry that he had recently founded with his beloved wife, Shirley. As noted by Acting Louisiana District Manager Peter Sgro upon Mr. Rondeno's passing, ``Roy was a dedicated postal employee who wore his uniform proudly. Everybody who knew him agreed he had a tremendous work ethic and always worked to provide the best service to his customers and the postal service.'' Mr. Speaker, while Mr. Rondeno is no longer with us, his memory will undoubtedly live on through his wife, Shirley; his three sons, Roy, Richard, and Ryan; and all those who were fortunate enough to know this dedicated and hardworking public servant. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that we can pay tribute to the life and legacy of Mr. Roy Rondeno, Sr. through the passage of this legislation to designate the Uptown postal facility in his honor. I urge all of my colleagues to join us and Mr. Cao, the chief sponsor of this measure, in supporting H.R. 3951. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.