Blaine Luetkemeyer

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Devon Ridenhour from the Owensville Dutchmen for his first place win in the long jump at the 2017 Missouri Class 3 Boys Track and Field State Championship. Devon and his coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing Devon Ridenhour for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Alicia Burnett of the Fort Zumwalt South Bulldogs for her first place win in the 100, 200, and 400 meter dash at the 2017 Missouri Class 4 Girls Track and Field State Championship. Alicia and her coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing Alicia Burnett on a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Kate Ruediger of the New Haven Shamrocks for her first place win in javelin at the 2017 Missouri Class 1 Girls Track and Field State Championship. Kate and her coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing Kate Ruediger on a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Emma Engelbrecht of the New Haven Shamrocks for her first place win in the triple jump at the 2017 Missouri Class 1 Girls Track and Field State Championship. Emma and her coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing Emma Engelbrecht for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Adam Gauzy of the Washington Blue Jays for his first place win in the 400 meter dash at the 2017 Missouri Class 4 Boys Track and Field State Championship. Adam and his coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing Adam Gauzy for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Chloe Ramsey of the Helias Catholic Crusaders for her first place win in pole vault at the 2017 Missouri Class 4 Girls Track and Field State Championship. Chloe and her coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the state championship to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing Chloe Ramsey on a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Mitchell Huston, on his 2nd Place finish at the National Speech and Debate Tournament that took place in Birmingham, Alabama June 17-24, 2017. Mitchell, who is a junior at Jefferson City High School, performed a piece entitled: ``Not a Genuine Black Man,'' by Brian Copeland. Mitchell chose this piece because of the important message it instills about the need for our society to be accepting of all races and creeds. Throughout his performance, Mitchell portrayed Brian Copeland's life story that involved years of criticism about his status in the African American community and eventually how Copeland confronted stigma and successfully overcame it. To make it to the National Tournament, Mitchell took 3rd place in the St. Louis District Tournament and at the National Speech and Debate Tournament, Mitchell placed 2nd in the prose category. To receive 2nd Place at the competition was a great accomplishment for Mitchell. As this was Mitchell's first year on the Jefferson City High Debate Team, Mitchell's coach, Jordan Hart, was especially excited with this accomplishment. While competing during the national competition, Mitchell exhibited humility and as he continued to excel, he gave the glory of his success to God. Besides his participation with the debate team, Mitchell is also a member of the Jefferson City High School football team and participates in several other extracurricular activities. I ask you to join me in congratulating Mitchell Huston on his 2nd Place finish at the National Speech and Debate Tournament. The commitment he has shown to the Jefferson City High School Debate team is a commendable accomplishment.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff).

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, and I think we are going to have some answers to those important questions that the ranking member just asked.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk), a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney), a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr), chairman of the Financial Services Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, that is what arbitration is all about, to allow the individual to defend himself. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Trott), a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), vice chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams), the vice chairman of the Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), chairman of the Capital Markets, Securities, and Investments Subcommittee.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution which would block the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from denying the American people use of arbitration as a means to resolve consumer complaints. I went to the CFPB website last night, and the first thing I saw read: ``We are the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a U.S. Government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly.'' If we handed out grades to government agencies based on their ability to meet a mission statement, the CFPB would most decidedly receive an F. That is because the Bureau's arbitration rule does absolutely nothing to ensure that consumers are treated fairly. In fact, this rule is proof of what House Republicans have said for years: the CFPB does not operate in the best interests of the American consumers. The Bureau's own study, which we have cited several times already and will continue to cite, shows that arbitration helps consumers and that the alternatives are far less successful. Mr. Speaker, the truth of the matter is that this rule is anticonsumer. It hurts the very people the CFPB is supposed to protect, and it is yet another example of Washington bureaucrats looking out for their friends instead of the American people. Today, this body will cast a vote to ensure U.S. consumers are treated fairly and that they have the tools necessary to get the best possible settlement in their case. Mr. Speaker, if the CFPB can't adhere to a simple mission statement and provide actual consumer protections, Congress will do it for them. I want to again thank Chairman Hensarling and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus) for their leadership on this issue and so many more issues that impact consumers. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Wentzville Civil Air Patrol on their numerous accomplishments during the past year. In 2016, the Wentzville Civil Air Patrol served as an outstanding organization from Missouri's Third Congressional District. In October, the group attended the 2016 Wing Conference where it received numerous awards including the Quality Unit Award, the Squadron Commander of the Year award, the Cadet Program of the Year award, and the Squadron of the Year award. In addition to these awards, it was named Squadron of Distinction for the North Central Region. This distinguished title requires competing against 25 other squadrons in Missouri then against the winners of seven other states at the national level. Recently, the Wentzville Civil Air Patrol competed at the National Cadet Competition against 15 teams from across the United States. The group performed admirably and achieved 2nd Place in Robotics, the 2nd Place Team Leadership Award, and the Overall Team Spirit Award. The Wentzville Civil Air Patrol comes from an outstanding tradition of service and protection. The Civil Air Patrol was founded on December 1, 1941 and the Cadet Program started October 1, 1942. On February 1, 1982, the Wentzville Composite Squadron was chartered under Commander Frank Lancaster. The membership roster includes 48 active members, 30 cadets, and 18 senior members who meet every Monday. The members of Wentzville Civil Patrol are dedicated to the local community. Historically, the organization has assisted the St. Charles County Fair Board with parking cars during the fair, volunteered during Living Lord Lutheran Church's ``Back to School'' event, presented the colors for the Veterans Day event at Heritage Elementary School in Wentzville, and worked alongside Wreaths Across America during their ceremonies at the Wentzville and Wright City Cemeteries. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in congratulating Wentzville Civil Air Patrol on their accomplishments. The commitment of this organization to each other and their community deserves our utmost appreciation and gratitude.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Buck) for his help in quickly bringing this resolution to the floor. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying resolution, which would block the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from denying the American people the use of arbitration as a means to resolve consumer complaints. Since the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, consumer costs have gone up and access to financial products has been severely restricted. In some cases, access has evaporated altogether. The Bureau's arbitration rule is proof of what we have said for years: the CFPB does not operate in the best interest of American consumers. It does not protect the American people, their access to financial products, or their ability to achieve financial independence. Take as evidence the CFPB's own study on arbitration. It shows that just 13 percent of class action suits actually provided a benefit to consumers, with an average payout of $32. Let me say that again: an average payout of $32. Arbitration, on the other hand, provides an average of more than $5,000--let me say that again: over $5,000--to the aggrieved parties. Again, these figures come from the Bureau's own analysis, their own study. The fact that they cannot somehow justify this rule in the name of consumer protection should offend every single person on this floor today, Madam Speaker. Simply put, this rule is anticonsumer. It hurts the very people the CFPB purports to protect. It is yet another example of the Washington- knows-best attitude that makes the American people so mad. This is also why Congress has the oversight tools granted under the Congressional Review Act. In this instance, it is time for Congress to intervene on behalf of the people we represent. We have argued about the CFPB in the past, but the reality is that this rule, in particular, will have devastating consequences for American consumers. It should serve as a dramatic wake-up call for the need to restrain what is the most powerful and unaccountable government agency in the history of our Nation. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus) and Chairman Hensarling for their steadfast leadership on this very important issue. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues for their support on the rule and the underlying measure.