Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I would like to respond to my good friend and colleague on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Castle, for whom I have great respect, and we have worked together productively in many ways. If you support these reforms, as you have so stated, then you should vote for them, and you should not vote for delay and weakening by waiting for some action that may happen in the future. If you support these reforms that have been called unfair and deceptive, then I hope you will join us in a bipartisan effort to correct the system. Now many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have said that we should not act. But how in the world can we not act now? We are providing a $700 billion rescue for banks. How can we not provide basic fairness to consumers and some help and rescue to Main Street? These practices have been called by the Fed unfair and deceptive and anticompetitive. We are helping consumers and the market by getting rid of them. The current situation makes it more urgent that we do so, not less. Many, many people worked long and hard on this bill, and I would like to first and foremost thank the chairman of this committee, Barney Frank, for his consistent support and input; the 155 cosponsors of this legislation; other members of the Financial Services Committee that took a leadership role, Keith Ellison, Emanuel Cleaver, Lincoln Davis; also Mark Udall, Peter Welch, and Louise Slaughter for their leadership on the issue; Walter Jones and Chris Shays who were supportive from the beginning; the many consumer groups without whom we could not have gotten the broad base of support for this legislation; the labor unions, the AFL-CIO, especially the SCIU, which made this a top priority, civil rights groups; and certainly, the staff: my own staff, Eleni Constantine and Edward Mills, who have poured their heart and intelligence into this effort for 2 years; and the staff of the full committee, Michael Beresik, Patience Singleton, Charles Yi and Rick Maurano. Thank you for your efforts. I urge very, very strong support for this long overdue reform.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the gentleman on the other side of the aisle if he would be open to a UC change to change the term ``promptly'' in the bill to ``forthwith.'' If this UC is agreed to, I would support it and accept the motion. I yield to the gentleman from Delaware.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Then regretfully I oppose your motion to recommit because it would effectively kill the bill because we are in the last week of session, and it is yet another delay tactic. If this was a serious concern, you would have raised this in the committee, and it is obviously just another effort to kill the bill. We are being called upon to help Wall Street. We should also help Main Street, and I would urge my colleagues to understand that this bill has been supported not only by 155 of their colleagues but over 52 major publications across this country in editorials or op-eds, every single consumer organization in this country, and three of the regulators, including the Federal Reserve. Rarely are my colleagues on the other side of the aisle given an opportunity to vote against stopping unfair, deceptive, and anticompetitive practices that have been endorsed and called upon by many in this country to stop. I urge a ``no'' vote on this motion to recommit. It is an effort to kill the bill. It is an effort not to help consumers, and it is an effort that would roll us backwards. They say they're for it. Well, we're giving them an opportunity to vote for consumers with this bill. I urge a ``no'' vote on the motion to recommit. It kills the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I thank my colleague from New York for his tremendous leadership and my friend from the other side of the aisle for her support for this critical bill and so many others that are important to our country. I would like to thank Chairman Berman and Representative Brad Miller for their leadership along with 39 of our colleagues who have cosponsored this important Resolution 1227. I thank my colleagues for highlighting the sexual violence crisis that is plaguing the women and girls of the Democratic Republic of the Congo or the DRC. The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the world's richest countries in natural resources, but it has been recognized as the worst place on Earth to be a girl or a woman. Women and girls from the age of 8 to 80 are being violently raped systematically on a scale unimaginable in the hundreds of thousands. As a strategy of war, they are often raped with guns and knives which destroy their sexual organs and forces them into a life of suffering from fistula and other deformities. As my friend from the great State of Florida mentioned, there are hospitals that are dedicated only to trying to restore their destroyed bodies from not only rape but the use of a knife or a gun. Countless women are being sold in sexual slavery for months on end. According to UNICEF, the DRC is currently witnessing the world's deadliest humanitarian crisis since World War II. In this war, the battlefield is literally the bodies of women and girls. Congress must continue its commitment to the people of the DRC as it has demonstrated in the past. I thank my colleagues for their support. The women in DRC and the girls deserve justice.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6842, the National Capital Security and Safety Act and in opposition of the Childers substitute. H.R. 6842 is a commonsense bill that requires the District of Columbia to revise its gun laws in order to comply with the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the case of District Columbia v. Heller within 6 months and does not violate Home Rule and the self governance of the District of Columbia. Over 30 years ago, the District banned the ownership of handguns, making it among the stiffest bans in the Nation. Like many large metropolitan areas, gun violence contributes to the high crime rates in the District, but the ban has helped to reduce homicide rates. Instead of working to increase the number of guns in the District, we should be helping to stem the availability of these weapons and protecting District residents and visitors from the threat of violence. This Congress should not be dictating to the District of Columbia the laws that govern them when their own elected delegate does not even have the right to vote on her own bill or its substitute. The Childers substitute is dangerous. It both ignores the will of District residents and puts more guns on the street of our Nation's Capital. The Childers substitute repeals a ban on semi-automatic weapons and removes the ban on carrying these weapons in public, prohibits registration requirements for most guns, and drops criminal penalties for possessing an unregistered firearm. Mr. Chairman, Congress must not strip the District of its power to regulate guns. We must not be reckless when it comes to protecting the citizens of D.C., our highest elected officials, and visitors to our Nation's Capital. I urge a vote in favor of the Norton bill and strongly urge a ``no'' vote on the Childers substitute which severely puts the safety of the District at risk.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6604, the Commodity Markets Transparent Accountability Act. Before I outline my opposition to this legislation, I want to be clear that I am seriously concerned about the cost of oil and the cost Americans are paying at the pump. To this end, I have been proud to support a series of other bills that this House has considered to help bring down the cost Americans are paying at the pump as well as efforts to create new alternative and renewable sources of energy. I have been a long-term supporter of reforming the royalties the oil and gas industry pays for the natural resources they extract from public lands. Last year I was proud to stand with my colleagues as we, for the first time in a generation, increased the fuel efficiency standards on cars sold here in the United States. Just yesterday, I was pleased to vote in favor of H.R. 6899, the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act. The legislation is a bold step forward, helping end our dependence on foreign oil and increase our national security. It launches a clean renewable energy future that creates new American jobs, expands domestic energy supply--including new offshore drilling--and invents and builds more efficient vehicles, buildings, homes, and infrastructure. It will lower costs to consumers and protect the interests of taxpayers. It is a comprehensive strategy and the product of bipartisan compromise. I want to be clear that I am completely opposed to energy manipulation, which is a crime, but what we are talking about here is the role of legitimate investors in the commodities market. To that end, my main concern with this legislation is that it would crack down on legitimate trading practices, resulting in the loss of American jobs. Additionally, I am concerned that this legislation will significantly reduce liquidity in the U.S. futures and derivatives markets and drive trading overseas at a very precarious time for U.S. financial markets. This legislation also could create legal uncertainty and could also increase market disruption in the over-the-counter, OTC, markets. Moving this trading overseas and creating legal uncertainties could result in lost jobs here in the United States, especially for our constituents who work in these markets. At a time we are fighting to keep New York City and the United States as the financial capital of the world, any measure that could cost our economy quality jobs without providing any benefit in return is not a measure I can support. Joining me in my skepticism that speculators have been able to manipulate the oil market is what many may consider an unlikely source, Paul Krugman of the New York Times. In a May 12, 2008 column, titled ``The Oil Nonbubble'', Krugman writes: ``The only way speculation can have a persistent effect on oil prices, then, is if it leads to physical hoarding--an increase in private inventories of black gunk. This actually happened in the late 1970s, when the effects of disrupted Iranian supply were amplified by widespread panic stockpiling. But it hasn't happened this time: all through the period of the alleged bubble, inventories have remained at more or less normal levels. This tells us that the rise in oil prices isn't the result of runaway speculation; it's the result of fundamental factors, mainly the growing difficulty of finding oil and the rapid growth of emerging economies like China. The rise in oil prices these past few years had to happen to keep demand growth from exceeding supply growth.'' To be clear, I stand ready to support legislation that will reduce the cost Americans are paying at the pump, and I am fully in support of efforts to create new, affordable and renewable energy options that will move us towards energy independence. However, this legislation, while certainly well intentioned, could potentially create more harm than good and lead to the loss of American jobs.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, the U.S. Justice Department estimates that 8 percent of all rapes occur on the job. Yet, many of these victims are told their only remedy is workers' compensation. When rape occurs on the job, employers should not be able to hide behind a system designed to compensate for job-related accidents. The bill that I am introducing today sends a clear message: Rape is not all in a days work. Workers' compensation systems were created by States to provide a means of redress for work-related personal injuries which occur during the course of employment. Workers' compensation is an exclusive remedy. In the event that an injury is covered by workers' compensation, no other legal action may be taken by the injured employee. This bill gives victims of workplace violence across the Nation a remedy outside the workers' compensation system. It does this by creating a Federal civil rights cause of action, under certain conditions, for employees who have been the victims of gender-motivated violence at work. We need to create an American workplace safe from violent crime. This bill will encourage employers to create a job environment free of violent sexual assault and rape.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, on September 9, 2008, I missed rollcall votes numbered 567, bill to designate the United States courthouse located in the 700 block of East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, as the ``Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr., United States Courthouse'', 568, a bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse''; and 569, the Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2007. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 567, 568, and 569.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, on September 15, 2008, I missed rollcall votes numbered 589, a resolution honoring the dedication and outstanding work of military support groups across the country for their steadfast support of the members of our Armed Forces and their families; 590, a resolution honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States; and 591, a bill to extend the authority of the Secretary of Education to purchase guaranteed student loans for an additional year, and for other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 589, 590, and 591.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6899, and I thank Speaker Pelosi for bringing it to the floor today. This Democratic energy plan increases domestic energy supply, ensures more renewable energy and greater energy efficiency, and protects the American taxpayers by making sure that Big Oil pays their fair share of royalties. It takes strong action to lower the price at the pump, free our nation from its reliance on foreign oil, and create good-paying, green collar jobs right here in America. Quite simply, it is the American-owned, 21st century energy policy the country has been waiting for. My Republican counterparts have been advocating a ``drill, baby, drill'' approach, which supports any drilling, any where, any time, no matter the environmental consequences. Instead, H.R. 6899 offers a responsible compromise on drilling, with strong environmental protections. We don't need ``drill, baby, drill' when we can have ``change-baby- change.'' That's what this bill gives us.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, I join my colleagues to remember and celebrate the life of a dear friend and colleague, Stephanie Tubbs Jones. It is during times like these that we are both able to smile, thinking about those who we admired and who have distinctly touched our lives--and in the case of Stephanie Tubbs Jones--touched the lives of thousands of Clevelanders who were so devoted to her and she to them. And of course, we sadly mourn the death of a woman who was dedicated to making the lives of Ohioans and Americans better. From increasing the minimum wage to making healthcare available to all, Stephanie was at the forefront, fighting for all of our families. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones is the real-life American success story. Born to a factory worker and skycap, Stephanie went to public schools in Ohio, then became a prosecutor and municipal judge and finally, the first African-American woman from Ohio elected to the United States Congress. Nearly 10 years ago, she was a little-known Democrat from Ohio who rose to prominence becoming Chair of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Like so many, Stephanie was taken from us too soon and too abruptly. I extend my sincerest condolences to Stephanie's family and especially to her beloved son, Mervyn. Your mom was a great lady and a wonderful friend. We will all miss her dearly.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a true American institution--James R. McManus, who has led the McManus Midtown Democratic Association since 1963, on the occasion of his 74th birthday. Jim McManus has devoted his life to New York politics and to his community. He is a warm and generous friend, and a thoughtful advisor to generations of politicians. Politics is in Jim's blood. He was born into one of the great political families. His great-uncle Thomas J. McManus (widely known as ``The McManus'' or just simply ``The'') earned the respect of the entire political world by defeating George Washington Plunkitt, one of the most powerful members of Tammany Hall, to win the position of District Leader. He later became a New York State Assemblyman and State Senator. Jim's great-uncle Charles A. McManus was Vice President of the Board of Aldermen, the predecessor to the New York City Council. His father, Eugene McManus, was a local District Leader. And Jim McManus has followed the family tradition and proudly serves as District Leader and leader of the McManus Midtown Democratic Association. Under Jim's leadership, the McManus Midtown Democratic Association is one of the few political clubs that continue to consider service to the community to be one of their prime responsibilities. People turn to the club for help with housing, social services, immigration, education, ESL classes and other concerns. Through the years, they have helped thousands of local residents and businesses resolve difficult problems. Jim McManus worked for 12 years in the production department of The New York Times, and subsequently was a senior administrator of the Board of Elections. He has also worked with the family funeral home. Throughout, politics was Jim's first love and his chief preoccupation. Jim loves his neighborhood, his city and his country, and he has always worked to improve the quality of life in his community. He is a giant in New York's Democratic Party. His advice and good wishes are deeply valued. Of all the events on the political calendar, the one I have always liked best is the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast hosted by Jim McManus and a few fortunate others. Everyone who is anyone in New York politics views this event as a mandatory stop--politicians from both parties, Mayors, Senators, Congressmembers, local elected officials all stop by to pay homage to the Irish, and to salute the magnificent Jim McManus. Madam Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing one of New York's great political forces--the incomparable James McManus.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, this bill amends the Expedited Funds Availability Act, EFAA, to provide a 1-time adjustment in certain dollar amounts to account for inflation over the 21 years since the enactment of such Act, to provide for future adjustments of such amounts on a regular basis, and for other purposes. In reviewing the effects of the Check 21 Act, it came to the attention of many observers, including the Federal Reserve, that the amounts specified by the EFAA as available for immediate withdrawal had not been increased in over two decades and no provision had been made for indexing those amounts for inflation. This bill accomplishes those two goals with respect to some of the amounts specified in the statute. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve approved an earlier version of this legislation which also contained provisions increasing the amounts immediately available under the large deposit and new account sections of the EFAA. Those provisions have been removed from this legislation due to industry concerns, but no provisions have been added that were not approved by the Board. This legislation is long overdue and will adjust basic banking regulations for inflation.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Community Protection and Response Act to eliminate confusion in responding to disasters following homeland security events. One of the major lessons learned in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001 is that timely response is critical. Any delay complicates short-, medium-, and long-term recovery efforts. Sadly, many of the lessons that we have learned have gone without an appropriate response. In response to the attacks of September 11th, for example, Congress took a series of actions to bring relief to affected areas. These legislative actions along with existing statutes, including the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Act and the Disaster Mitigation Act, formed the framework for the Federal Government's response. The magnitude of the attacks and the need for Congress to take action before certain relief could be delivered added to the challenge of the recovery efforts and exposed critical weaknesses in Federal authority to respond. The Community Protection and Response Act would amend the Stafford Act along with other statutes and would give the President a series of policy options to choose from following a homeland security event. A homeland security event is defined as an event that poses a significant risk to the security of people and property and is of such magnitude that effective response is beyond the scope and capability of the affected State and local government. Many of these options are based on congressional action following September 11th, or other policy suggestions in reports by the Congressional Research Service, the General Accounting Office and the New York branch of the Federal Reserve. Specifically, in the event of a homeland security event, the President can provide grants for lost tax revenue, aid to school systems, and assistance to medical facilities and utility companies. The bill also establishes guidelines to ensure the public health of area residents and disaster workers. This bill is an important failsafe and preventative measure that will ensure America is prepared to respond to any homeland security event in the future.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 30th anniversary of American Citizens Abroad, ACA. This organization deserves to be honored for promoting and protecting the rights of the global American community thereby contributing to the political, social and economic prosperity of all Americans. Americans living abroad are a key demographic in many ways and are often overlooked in Washington. Americans living abroad continue to vote and pay taxes in the United States. Their role in extending American influence around the globe is vital to the well-being of our Nation. Moreover, they are unofficial ambassadors, often the first contact many people around the world have with America and our nation's representatives abroad. The ACA provides reports containing important information and statistics free of charge to contribute to hearings and debates in the Congress on issues of importance to the American community abroad and to all citizens at home. These efforts are designed to help Congress and the Federal government better understand and serve the members of the American community abroad. The ACA also works hard to ensure that Americans are aware of their rights and privileges while living abroad. The ACA was founded on July 10th, 1978 in Geneva, Switzerland. Since its inception the ACA has brought together U.S. citizens living all over the world to work together to promote and protect their rights. As a cofounder of the Americans Abroad Caucus with Rep. Joe Wilson, it gives me great pleasure to stand before this Congress and honor the 30th anniversary of this wonderful organization.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing the ``Whatever It Takes to Rebuild Act of 2008''. A disaster can leave the tax base of an affected community eroded, necessitating Federal assistance to pay for essential services. These essential services, including police, fire, and school personnel, are even more critical in the wake of a disaster. To aid communities, Congress created the Community Disaster Loan Program. While this program has worked with great success, there are two significant issues that need to be fixed. The first issue is that this assistance is delivered in the form of a loan and the second is that any loan is limited to $5 million. Providing this aid as a loan can further delay the recovery of a local community and the $5 million cap does not allow for adequate assistance for medium or large communities. The ``Whatever It Takes to Rebuild Act'' would repeal the requirement that disaster affected communities repay the assistance they receive under the Community Disaster Loan Program. This legislation would permanently repeal the $5 million cap on these loans, would make states eligible for this assistance, repeal the cap that limits loans to 25 percent of a municipality's operating expenses, and would provide this assistance as grants when a disaster has been declared an ``Incident of National Significance'' under the National Response plan. All of these provisions are aimed at giving the federal government the tools and flexibility we need to fully respond following a disaster. This program was used most recently immediately following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. While it was able to provide significant benefits, repayment requirements have raised significant hurdles for many recipient communities. In the wake of a disaster, the government should give American communities the financial assistance they need to get back on their feet with no strings attached. That is why I am reintroducing the ``Whatever It Takes to Rebuild Act.''

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, on July 30, 2008, I missed rollcall vote No. 542, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act and rollcall vote No. 543, H.R. 4040, the Conference Report for the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes Nos. 542 and 543.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, we talk about family values. And the most important way that we can show that we value families is to ensure that a woman earns a fair day's pay. Most women work outside the home, including over 70 percent of all mothers. Yet among full-time workers, women earn only 77 percent compared to men. Unequal pay practices hurt not only women but their entire families. The typical wife brings home about one-third of her family's income. The Paycheck Fairness Act will help prevent, regulate, and reduce discrimination against women. It will prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information with their coworkers, as we saw in the Lilly Ledbetter case. Women's work should be valued equally. This bill is an important step towards gender equality. And I thank my colleagues, Rosa, George, and many others, for their hard work on it. Most women are in the labor force, including over 70 percent of all mothers. Yet, women continue to earn less than men even if they have similar educational levels and work in similar kinds of jobs. A 2003 Government Accountability Office (GAO) study that I commissioned showed that when occupation, marital status, job tenure, industry, and race are accounted for, women still earn 80 cents for every dollar men earn. Research has found that women's choices cannot explain about 40 percent of the wage gap between men and women. Pay discrimination hurts not only a working woman, but her entire family--especially in the face of rising prices for basics, like food and gasoline. The typical wife brings home about a third of her family's total income. Over the past three decades, only those families who have a working wife have seen real increases in family income: Families without a working wife have real incomes today that are nearly identical to what they were over 35 years ago. Congress passed the Equal Pay Act nearly half a century ago, yet women still experience pay discrimination. According to the National Committee on Pay Equity, working women stand to lose $250,000 over the course of their career because of unequal pay practices. The Paycheck Fairness Act will prevent, regulate and reduce pay discrimination for working women nationwide. It will help women become better negotiators, enforce equal pay laws for federal contractors, and require the Department of Labor to work with employers to eliminate pay disparities. As we saw in the Lilly Ledbetter case, if a woman doesn't know how much her male colleagues earn, she cannot know that she is being discriminated against. The Paycheck Fairness Act will prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information with their co-workers. Women need to know the true value of the jobs that they do and this is an important step towards gender parity. I strongly urge you to vote yes on this bill.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer the National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act Amendments of 2008. This legislation is necessary to make a technical correction to the statute of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act. The National Consumer Cooperative Bank, NCB, was created by Congress in 1978 and is dedicated to strengthening communities nationwide through the delivery of banking and financial services, complemented by a special focus on cooperative expansion and economic development. The National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act of 1978 established a non- profit corporation to reach further into low income communities and to serve disadvantaged populations. NCB Capital Impact is that non-profit, mission-driven subsidiary of NCB that works to provide housing, education, healthcare, cultural centers, small businesses and social services in economically distressed communities. In the last 10 years alone, NCB Capital Impact has invested more than $600 million in assistance to low- and moderate-income communities. Cumulatively, these funds helped finance 32,000 affordable housing units, 8,700 affordable assisted living units for seniors and persons with disabilities, 94,000 school seats, 2.4 million square feet of community health center space serving 350,000 patients, and helped created 15,000 jobs for low-income individuals. In my home city of New York, NCB Capital Impact has played a significant role in providing housing finance to much of New York's 14th District. In fact, NCB has participated in more than 600 loans in my district alone. Most of these loans are for housing, including affordable housing, as well as loans for community facilities and loans to non-profit organizations like the Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums. Together, these groups are able to provide assisted living, affordable housing and services to the frail and elderly. Presently, NCB Capital Impact is working with 5 community-based organizations to help finance 17 projects that will create 558 housing units. Despite their good work in serving low-income communities and disadvantaged populations, NCB Capital Impact is not eligible for assistance authorized under the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994, which is administered by the CDFI Fund. The Fund has ruled it cannot certify NCB Capital Impact as a CDFI because of the corporate structure of its parent NCB. In short, NCB Capital Impact is shut off from critical sources of financial awards that are needed to maintain their housing and community development efforts. The interest of NCB Capital Impact in gaining CDFI certification is two-fold. First, it has a track record that is comparable to other organizations that received CDFI status; its mission is dedicated to working with low income populations and communities. Second, increasingly in the community development finance field, CDFI certification is viewed as a `good housekeeping seal' of approval in working with other Federal agencies and other private and public institutions. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this technical amendment to the NCB statute so that the non-profit, mission-driven NCB Capital Impact may continue to provide services to distressed and underserved communities throughout New York and the country at-large.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today, along with my colleagues, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Fossella, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Engel, Mr. Towns, and Mr. Weiner, I am introducing an updated version of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which we had introduced previously in this Congress as H.R. 3543. After conferring with Speaker Pelosi and the leadership of both committees of jurisdiction, it became clear that some changes were needed in the legislation in order to sharpen the scope of the proposal, so that the House could consider taking up the bill by the seventh anniversary of 9/11. This bill is our best attempt, working with the City of New York, the AFL-CIO, and the local community, to put forth a bill that the House could approve, and that would also provide medical monitoring to all who are at risk of illness because of exposure to Ground Zero toxins and treatment to all who are sick, as well as compensating those who sustained economic injuries due to their exposure to Ground Zero toxins. We believe that the revised James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act does just that.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today, millions of workers will be getting a much-deserved raise. In the first 100 days of this New Direction Congress, we voted to raise the wage floor for workers nationwide. Today, the Federal minimum wage goes to $6.55 per hour. This raise was long overdue. Prior to passage of this legislation, the minimum wage had sunk to its lowest point in over half a century. Most minimum wage workers are adults, many of whom are the sole breadwinners for their families. Families are being squeezed by the rising costs for basic necessities and wages that are failing to keep pace. I call this economy the stag- gas-food-lation economy; stagnant wages, many workers have lost up to $1,200 since this administration took office; rising gas and food prices; and now inflation. Today's raise in the minimum wage provides an important boost for the millions of workers who have been left behind in this administration's economy.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill which will restore some order to our Nation's housing market and will provide greater certainty to our economy. It was developed in a bipartisan way with the support of the administration. Important aspects of this legislation include the FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act, which provides mortgage refinancing assistance to keep at least 400,000 families from losing their homes and to help stabilize our housing market at no cost to the American taxpayer. This bill strengthens regulations of the GSEs by creating a strong independent regulator with real teeth, responsibility and power. Very important for my district in New York and other high-cost areas, it raises the GSE loan limits. This bill creates a new permanent, affordable housing trust fund, a very creative effort led by our chairman, Barney Frank, financed by the GSEs and not by taxpayers, to fund the construction and maintenance of affordable rental housing for low and very low-income individuals and families nationwide in both rural and urban areas. This bill includes important provisions that will provide for a backstop of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to shore up the housing market, a critical piece of restoring confidence in our economy. This is done by giving the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to increase the already existing line of credit to Freddie and Fannie for the next 18 months, as well as giving the Treasury Department stand-by authority to buy stock in these companies, to provide confidence in the GSEs and stabilize housing finance markets. Not only are we addressing the current crisis but we are working to prevent future abuses and crises by establishing a nationwide loan originator licensing and registration system that will set minimum standards for loan originator licensing, substantially improving the oversight of the mortgage brokers and the whole industry. It is a much-needed reform. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I want to bring to my colleagues' attention a powerful statement from more than 500 of the world's leading skin cancer researchers on the harmful effects of over- exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The petition was prompted by a national media campaign initiated by the indoor tanning industry, which seeks to dispel the link between melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and UV exposure from natural or artificial sources (such as tanning beds). Backed by clear, evidence-based data demonstrating the harmful effects of UV radiation, nearly 500 of the world's premier melanoma researchers expressed their concern by signing a petition affirming the role of UV exposure in increasing one's risk for skin cancer. Please find below the official language of the statement signed by nearly 500 researchers: Melanoma Research Foundation and Society for Melanoma Research's UV Exposure & Tanning Joint Statement There are clear, evidence-based data demonstrating harmful effects of UVA and UVB radiation, including carcinogenic/ mutagenic effects on DNA. Purposeful exposure to UV rays increases the risk for skin cancer, including multiple types which may be lethal. Use of indoor tanning (outside of medical practice) represents one of the most striking examples of an avoidable cause of lethal cancer in man. We deplore any efforts to distort scientific research for financial gain, and urge regulatory agencies to crackdown on this practice because the lives of so many people, including young people, are at stake. The petition was prompted specifically by two ads the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) ran earlier this year. The ads not only distort scientific research, but ignore the clear, evidence-based data demonstrating harmful effects of UVA and UVB radiation. I am attaching a press release issued by the Society for Melanoma Research and the Melanoma Research Foundation accompanying the public release of the petition. Researchers Take Hard Line Against UV Exposure--Hundreds Affirm Harmful Effects of Ultraviolet Rays, Discourage Intentional Tanning Washington, DC.--Researchers have expressed concern over a new campaign initiated by the tanning industry, which seeks to dispel the link between melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and UV exposure from natural or artificial sources (such as tanning beds). In response, nearly 500 of the foremost experts on melanoma signed a statement affirming the existence of evidence-based data demonstrating the harmful effects of UVA and UVB radiation. The statement, which was initiated at the 5th Melanoma Research Congress in Sapporo, Japan on May 7-12, not only states that UV rays increase one's risk for skin cancer, including melanoma, but also maintains that the use of indoor tanning (outside of medical practice) represents an example of an avoidable cause of lethal cancer. Studies show that UV light is a carcinogen (i.e. causes cancer). This occurs when skin cells are damaged after UV exposure (either from the sun or a tanning bed). The same DNA damage that triggers tanning also appears capable of causing cancerous mutations in skin cells. If those mutations are not completely repaired--as frequently occurs--skin cancers may result. Additional data demonstrates that indoor tanning devices emit UV radiation that is similar to, and sometimes more powerful than, that emitted by the sun. In fact, a systematic review of worldwide data, published in the March 2007 issue of the International Journal of Cancer, found a prominent, consistent increase--75 percent--in risk for melanoma in people who begin using tanning beds in their teens or twenties. Additionally, the review also showed that people across all age groups who have ever used tanning beds face a 15 percent higher risk of developing melanoma than those who have not. Even more dramatic increases were seen in certain non-melanoma forms of skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma, a tumor that only on occasion spreads from the skin and may then be lethal. Many scientists also point out that vitamin D, although produced in the skin, can easily be obtained by non-UV related means, such as dietary supplements. These dietary supplements would not carry the risk of cancer associated with UV radiation, in cases where increased vitamin D levels are deemed beneficial. The Melanoma Research Foundation's (MRF) Scientific Advisory Committee stated, ``The petition was developed to reinforce that the scientific community continues to stand behind strong data supporting the connection between skin cancer and UV-exposure. As physicians and scientists, we are concerned that this campaign may confuse the public, putting them at an increased risk for a disease that is too often lethal.'' Melanoma is one of the fastest growing cancers in the U.S. and can strike people of all ages, all races and both sexes. In fact, one in 50 people have a lifetime risk of developing melanoma. Further, approximately 65 percent of all melanomas are attributed to UV exposure resulting from natural and artificial sources. A wealth of information exists about how to reduce the risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers, yet both MRF and SMR advise that the most important measure the public can take is to avoid intentional sunbathing and indoor tanning devices. For those who want to learn safe ways to access to vitamin D and look ``tan,'' or for more information about melanoma and UV exposure, please visit www.melanoma.org or www.societymelanomaresearch.org. About Melanoma Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, is one of the fastest growing cancers in the U.S., and can strike people of all ages, all races and both sexes. One in 50 people have a lifetime risk of developing melanoma. In fact, in 2008, more than 62,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with invasive melanoma, resulting in an estimated 8,400 deaths. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25- to 29-years-old and the second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15- to 29-years-old. Nationally, one person dies of melanoma nearly every hour-- and this number is rising. About the Melanoma Research Foundation The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) is the largest private, national organization devoted to melanoma in the United States. The Foundation is committed to the support of medical research in finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma. The Foundation also educates patients and physicians about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, while acting as an advocate for the melanoma community to raise awareness of this disease and the need for a cure. The MRF Web site is the premiere source for melanoma information seekers. More information is available at www.melanoma.org. About the Society for Melanoma Research The Society for Melanoma Research (SMR) is an all-volunteer group of scientists working to find the mechanisms responsible for melanoma and, consequently, new therapies for this cancer. SMR contributes to advances in melanoma research by bringing together researchers to unite the scientific community and hasten the discovery of preventative and curative therapies. More information is available at www.societymelanomaresearch.org.