Blaine Luetkemeyer

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chair, I apologize to the ranking member. I do have one additional speaker. If the gentlewoman is out of time, I am more than willing to allow the gentlewoman to have some of our time to be able to rebut in case there is something that is an issue.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Guinta).

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to close with a few remarks here. It won't take very long. I think you can see that this is a very important and, also, very emotional issue for many, many people and it is extremely important for those folks who are in and around and utilize public housing. In putting this bill together, we tried to listen to all the different parties as well as both sides of the aisle and address all the concerns that everybody had. We have a few amendments to go here, but I think we are going to work through those pretty quickly. I think you can see from the support that we have seen on both sides of the aisle today, from the discussions we have had that we have come to an agreement on what is in the provisions of this bill. You have here a whole list of 30 different letters of support from different groups from around the country that represent all the different groups, from leased housing to housing authorities, to investment individuals, to Realtors, to you name it. We have yet to receive a single letter against this proposal. So I think you can see that we managed to find the right balance with the bill, to find the middle ground where we can all agree that we can accept the provisions that we have. In the bill, we have done things with flexibility that people within the different housing authorities have asked for who manage these things to be able to do things more efficiently, more effectively. We got rid of duplicative rules. We built the condos up so they could now be part of the program. We have cut the costs not by cutting programs, but by cutting out the waste and the duplicative rules and have given flexibility to those groups that need it to be able to do the job. Is this an end-all, be-all? No. We have a lot more to do. We recognize that. This is a good first step. We believe that we need to be empowering people and enabling people to be able to do better and help themselves. We believe that, when it comes to housing, it is not just a place to live, but people need to have a place to have a life. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chair, Congressman Capuano has asked whether it is the intention of the bill's managers that the commitment of project- based vouchers to replace the former public housing units in a newly constructed development such as one he described in Boston would fall within the bill's exception for units attached to units previously receiving another type of long-term HUD subsidy. The answer is yes. It is the managers' intention that the replacement units for the current public housing units would be covered by the bill's exception for units previously receiving long-term HUD assistance, and thus that commitment of project-based vouchers to such units would not count against the 20 percent limitation.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to speak in support of the amendment. I believe the amendment reduces the burden on families for using solutions that already are likely to be in place with regards to interacting through other means testing programs. I think it improves the efficiency for public housing authorities and landlords, providing more accurate and timely eligibility information. It minimizes the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse of tax dollars and ensures limited resources are better targeted to families in need by requiring public housing agencies to access data used by other means tested programs or by assets. This amendment further strengthens the response to the 2015 inspector general's audit, which revealed individuals with substantial assets were receiving rental subsidies. This amendment builds on the progress made by the Committee on Financial Services to better target housing assistance to the needs of low-income individuals and families. The current system in determining eligibility for rental subsidies is burdensome to program recipients to report income that can vary as much as every week and time consuming for public housing agencies and landlords to collect and verify this information, unfair to taxpayers who expect tax dollars to be targeted to families most in need. I think you can see what I believe is an asset here from the standpoint it is going to streamline the system. It is going to save money. I think it makes it easier for the people to access, it is going to make it easier for the individuals who are working with those folks to be able to do a better job of getting and accumulating the information as quickly as possible to better ferret out the ones who need the help and ones who don't, and therefore do a good job of managing our taxpayer dollars.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, in listening to the discussion with the gentleman from Minnesota with regard to his amendment, he made the comment that they already report it whenever the people don't make their payments, and they need to be reporting it when they do make their payments. Does that mean we are going to have to start reporting car payments, house payments, and all those things, too, when people make them on time? Because this is what he is asking us to do is, every time somebody does something right, suddenly now we have got to be reporting that. If you go down that road, then I think we have got some problems. Also, in your amendment here, you indicate that, with the data as reported, they are not able to identify if the person is a recipient of housing assistance--we are going to tie their hands, yet force them to do some stuff. I think this is a rather ill-conceived amendment, quite frankly, Mr. Chairman. I certainly urge the body to reject it.

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

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. I thank the gentleman for the additional time. Basically, we have got 518 rules in one day, 18 pages of rules in one day. I think it is important that our citizens have access to these rules in a way that they can understand and a form they can access. I certainly urge its support. I thank the good chairman for his hard work on H.R. 712.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Goodlatte for working with us on this piece of legislation. If there is one thing that I hear most often from my constituents, it is the onslaught of Federal regulations to keep up, let alone interpret. Our constituents should not need a law degree or employ an army of consultants and accountants to understand the rules they are required to follow. Unfortunately, they do, which is why I am pleased the legislation we consider today addresses the lack of regulatory transparency and accountability. Title III of H.R. 712, the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2015, includes language from a bill that I introduced earlier this Congress. That bill, the Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act, provides a bipartisan and commonsense reform to afford the American people straightforward and comprehensive access to rules proposed by our executive branch. Since enactment of the Administrative Procedure Act in 1946, Federal agencies have been required to keep the public informed of proposed rules and regulations. This law has provided an avenue for the public to access rules and regulations drafted across government agencies. Nevertheless, given their technical nature, it can be extremely difficult to fully understand proposals unless one is an expert in that field. To help address this issue and promote government transparency and accessibility, title III of the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2015 will require each Federal agency, when providing notice of a proposed rulemaking, to produce a Web link to a 100-word, plain-language summary of the proposal. Accordingly, this requirement will provide access to regulations in a more clear and consistent manner. Moreover, this reasonable proposal has already proven its effectiveness in my home State of Missouri. After hearing from local school districts and administrators struggling to implement State regulations for Common Core, the State enacted a measure requiring each agency to provide online-accessible, plain-language summaries of proposed State regulations. Since enactment, the statute has been an exceptional resource for Missouri localities, schools, organizations, and citizens. I think it would be just the same here for us here at the Federal level as well. Just by looking at the daily copy of the Federal Register, which I just happen to have here from Monday, December 28, it is a 519-page copy.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Lutheran High School Cougars for their first place win in the 2015 Class 2 Volleyball State Championship. This team and their 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 the Lutheran High School Cougars for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Herculaneum Black Cats for their second place finish in the 2015 Class 2 State Boys Cross Country Championship. This team and their coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home 2nd place to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing the Herculaneum Black Cats for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Fatima High School Comets for their first place win in the 2015 Class 2 State Girls Cross Country Championship. This team and their 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 the Fatima Comets for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Crystal City High School Hornets for their first place win in the 2015 Class 1 Girls Cross Country State Championship. This team and their 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 the Crystal City Hornets for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Herculaneum Black Cats for their second place finish in the 2015 Class 2 State Girls Cross Country Championship. This team and their coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the second place win to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing the Herculaneum Black Cats for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the New Haven High School Shamrocks for their second place finish in the 2015 Class 2 Volleyball State Championship. This team and their coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home the second place win to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing the New Haven Shamrocks for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Festus High School Tigers for their first place win in the 2015 Class 3 Boys Cross Country State Championship. This team and their 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 the Festus Tigers for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Eldon Mustangs for their first place win in the 2015 Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association Class 3, Large Division, State Championship. This cheerleading squad and their coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home this first place state championship to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing the Eldon Mustangs for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Helias Crusaders for their third place finish in the 2015 Class 1 Girls Golf State Championship. This team and their coach should be commended for all of their hard work throughout this past year and for bringing home third place to their school and community. I ask you to join me in recognizing the Helias Crusaders for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding. A majority of the Financial Services Committee and, in fact, the majority of Congress recognizes the need to preserve the current State- based model of insurance regulation. It is an important conversation because our model, different from others around the world, centers on the protection of policyholders before anything else. H.R. 1478, the Policyholder Protection Act, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) works to guarantee the policyholder protections that have served the U.S. insurance system and consumers so well. The bill guarantees the authorities of State regulators to protect an insurance company from contagion, ensuring that policyholders can be paid for claims regardless of how that insurer is organized. It also codifies the existing role of the FDIC to consult with State regulators and requires full consideration of all implications a resolution could have on policyholders. The legislation also ensures that the States maintain authority over an insurer's resolution process. Insurers typically hold large amounts of capital. They do so because the primary function of an insurer is to pay claims. Mr. Posey's bill makes sure those assets which go towards payment of claims aren't used to offset other activities of affiliated businesses. There is a genuine concern that other affiliates could raid an insurance affiliate's assets to prop up another entity within its company's holdings. This should never be allowed. This bill prevents that from happening. In other words, it says ``hands off'' to other assets of the insurance company. The Policyholder Protection Act enjoys broad bipartisan support. It was passed unanimously by the Financial Services Committee because it codifies protections for insurance policyholders. I congratulate the gentleman from Florida and the gentleman from California on their bill and thank them for their work on behalf of the consumers. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Yanis Coffee Zone with being named 2015 Small Business of the Year by the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce. Yanis Coffee Zone, known for its Rocket Fuel house brew, has been serving customers since October 7, 2003. For the past twelve years, Yanis Coffee Zone has expanded from fifty customers to an average of four hundred patrons a day. This award is based on a business' overall success accounting for innovation and creativity, growth, and involvement in community- oriented projects. Yanis Coffee Zone's owners and employees have shown dedication and commitment to the hard work that contributed to receiving this award. It is evident that Yanis Coffee Zone represents excellence within the business community and in serving their patrons. I ask you to join me in recognizing Yanis Coffee Zone on receiving this outstanding award.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating New Haven High School on their recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2015 from the U.S. Department of Education. This award is based on a school's overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. As one of only 285 public schools receiving national recognition, New Haven High School's administration, teachers, and students have shown dedication and commitment to hard work that contributed to receiving this award. It is evident that New Haven High School represents excellence within the school and also with the surrounding community. I ask you to join me in recognizing New Haven High School for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, there is no doubt reform of TILA and RESPA is needed. Change has been advocated by all parties, and by Members on both sides of the aisle. Like many of you, I continue to hear from lenders, real estate professionals, and title insurance companies in my district that third parties were not frilly prepared for the October 3rd implementation of TRID. This is particularly true for small businesses with fewer resources. Beyond preparedness issues, there remain questions over TRID processes and associated liability. Countless concerns have also been raised over the lack of a formalized restrained enforcement period. A hold harmless period would allow a better understanding of the changes associated with TRID, and help to ensure consumer confidence and stability in the housing market. In addition to a wide array of financial services industries, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has expressed the need for a hold harmless period like the one included in H.R. 3192. In fact, more than 250 Members of Congress, 92 of whom were Democrats, expressed strong support for the idea in a letter led by Mr. Barr of Kentucky and Mrs. Maloney of New York. CFPB Director Richard Cordray indicated in an April 22nd letter that the Bureau ``expects to continue working with industry . . . to answer questions, provide guidance, and evaluate any issues . . .'', but that he would not use his authority to institute a grace period. This summer, a bipartisan group of Financial Services Committee members met with Director Cordray to make an appeal for a commonsense approach to implementation of this rule. The request was reiterated at a Committee hearing just last week. In both instances, Director Cordray indicated that he would institute a hold harmless period; and in both instances, despite assurances, he failed to do so. The changes to the home-buying process in TRID will affect millions of Americans. We owe it to consumers to ensure that the rule put in place serves its purpose without causing unintended consequences. The practice of buying or selling a home is confusing. Buyers and sellers put pen to paper on pages they've not read and don't understand. Make no mistake, we all believe the procedure needs to change; but, on something this important, CFPB needs to move slowly and deliberately, taking into account concerns from consumer groups and industry alike. It's my sincere hope that implementation of this rule moves forward without complication; however, the unfortunate reality is that a change of this magnitude will create issues for consumers, lenders, and the CFPB alike. I want to thank the gentleman from Arkansas, Mr. Hill, and the gentleman from California, Mr. Sherman, for their work on this legislation, as well as the many other Members, including Mr. Pearce of New Mexico, for their leadership on this front. This is not a partisan issue; it's a consumer issue, a small business issue. I ask my colleagues for their support of H.R. 3192.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Doug Crews for his 36 years of service to the Missouri Press Association. Since 1990, Doug has led the Missouri Press Association as Executive Director. His service has been dedicated to promoting open government, in particular by advocating for the protection of state and federal Sunshine Laws. In addition, Doug has advocated on behalf of 75 North American press associations as President of the Newspaper Association Managers. Doug's leadership has extended beyond the press community. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Doug served as President of the Mizzou Alumni Association and the State Historical Society of Missouri. This February, Doug will join his wife Tricia in retirement. He can do so with great pride, knowing that in the span of his career he has accomplished so much and helped so many. While he will be missed in the communications world, I wish him the very best that retirement has to offer. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in congratulating Doug Crews for his service to the State of Missouri and to journalists everywhere.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Chamois High School on its Bronze Medal Award as a top Missouri High School from U.S. News and World Report. This school's administration, teachers, and students should be commended for all of their hard work throughout the past year and for their commitment to education. I ask you to join me in recognizing Chamois High School for a job well done.