Buck McKeon

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, there are three simple reasons why Congress should support H.R. 4546. America is at War. We must accept the fact that terrorist groups like al-Queda have one goal and that is to destroy America and our way of life. As such, we must protect ourselves aggressively. More importantly, we must support our President in his efforts to root out the terrorists. Our troops must continue to receive excellent training, but that alone won't ensure victory. We have to equip our troops with the most advanced equipment available. This legislation helps to do just that. The programs funded in the bill are helping to win the war on terrorism. We have funded initiatives that the men and women on the front lines say work. For example, the bill fully funds Global Hawk--This is something the good people in my district know something about. I know how important this program is to our national security. But don't take my word for it. Listen to the people leading the fight in Operation Enduring Freedom: Theatre Commander General Tommy Franks called Global Hawk ``invaluable''. Air Component Commander, General Mosley said ``I could use a dozen Global Hawks right now.'' While the legislation has funded a number of significant program needs, we also understand that those systems are useless without the brave men and women that operate them. As the men and women of the armed services fight for our freedom, we must fight for their families. We can say we value our troops and the sacrifices they make all day long, but those words mean absolutely nothing if not backed by action. After years of neglect, we finally have an administration dedicated to supporting our military and their families. This administration and this congress have taken steps to finally give the military the support that they deserve. By including a 4.1 percent pay raise, this legislation shows our troops that we value them and their sacrifices. Mr. Chairman, I am also pleased that this legislation bears the name of my friend and colleague Bob Stump. It is truly a deserving recognition and I certainly urge my colleagues to support it as well.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Education and the Workforce be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 383) congratulating the University of Maryland for winning the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball championship, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. From the other side of the country I also, Mr. Speaker, would like to rise in support of House Resolution 383. This resolution congratulates the University of Maryland Terrapins for winning the 2002 NCAA Basketball Championship. As my colleagues know, the Terrapins finished the 2002 season with 32 wins. This is quite an accomplishment and one that we should recognize. I would also like to congratulate Coach Gary Williams, who led the team during this victorious season. Many good things have been said about him, and I would like to recognize and associate myself with those words. I would also like to thank our colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), for introducing this resolution, and our colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest), for bringing this resolution to my attention. I would ask all of my colleagues for their support.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3762, the Pension Security Act; and I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) for their hard work on this legislation. In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush called on Congress to enact important new safeguards to protect the pensions of millions of American workers. The President called on Congress to move quickly to enact these important reforms so that people who work hard and save for their retirement can have full confidence in our retirement system. In response to the President's call, Congress immediately took action by holding several hearings on the Enron collapse and its implications for worker retirement security. Mr. Speaker, we have listened to both workers who have lost or are at risk of losing their retirement savings, and we have listened to employers who voluntarily offer their employees retirement savings plans. After listening to employees and employers, I am pleased to announce that the House is here today to provide new safeguards to help workers preserve and enhance their retirement savings. At the same time, it will still allow employers to have the incentive to provide retirement benefits by refraining from overprecipitous regulation. The Pension Security Act provides workers with the tools they need to protect their retirement savings. For example, the bill gives workers freedom to diversify their investment options, creates parity between senior corporate executives and rank-and-file workers, clarifies the fiduciary duty of employers, gives workers better information about their pensions, and enhances worker access to quality investment advice. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3762 promotes security, education and freedom for America's workers who have saved all of their lives for a secure retirement. I, therefore, encourage all of my colleagues to join me in strongly supporting it. I would like to use the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker, to engage with the chairman in a colloquy. Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned that the diversification provision of the act not be applied in the case of a nonpublicly traded employer with affiliates that may have a limited amount of publicly traded stock outstanding. I do not believe it is the intent of the legislation to have the diversification provision apply in such a situation; and I would ask the distinguished chairman if he would confirm my understanding, and if he would be prepared to work with me to clarify the application of the provision in this respect as this legislation moves.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 383.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the ``Working Toward Independence Act of 2002'' to reauthorize the work- related provisions of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). This legislation will build upon the historic welfare reform law passed in 1996--a law that made a fundamental shift in policy by encouraging personal responsibility and promoting work. For the first time in the history of social welfare policy, benefits were tied to work. Because of the principle of ``work first'' and a purpose to help people better themselves, a whole new culture of personal responsibility was created within the program. The results have been nothing short of dramatic. For example, there has been an historic decline in the welfare rolls; increases in employment for low-income single mothers, who comprise the population most likely to need assistance; and a sustained decline in child poverty. Even with the robust economy of the late 1990's, recent studies confirm that welfare reform is largely responsible for the declining caseload and increase in work. The law's promotion of work made the crucial difference in maximizing opportunities for welfare recipients. But there is work remaining for us to do. Too many families receiving assistance are not engaged in activities that will lead to self- sufficiency. This year, Congress must build upon the success of the 1996 law by providing additional options for families on welfare to move into productive jobs, become self-reliant and obtain independence. I am proud to say that the bill that I am introducing today will do just that. The legislation, based on the Administration's proposal, strengthens work rules to ensure that all families are engaged in a full week of work and other activities that will lead to self sufficiency. Families will be permitted to combine real work with education and training to help recipients advance in their jobs. In addition, states will need to have plans achieving the work related goals of TANF. States will be encouraged to coordinate their TANF work programs with the One-Stop Career Center system created through the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, so that former recipients will continue to have access to additional training resources. However, we know that families cannot maintain employment without reliable, safe child care for their children. That is why this bill will also maintain the unprecedented commitment of federal support for child care by authorizing $2.1 billion annually for CCDBG for state child care programs. In addition, the bill improves the program by helping target funds set-aside for quality activities and encouraging states to address the cognitive needs of young children so that they are developmentally prepared to enter school. The bill also provides states maximum flexibility in developing child care programs and policies that best meet the needs of children and parents. Finally, the bill will provide significant new waiver authority for states to design programs that improve services to needy families. This provision will encourage states to continue the experimentation at the state and local level that preceded the federal welfare reform action in 1996. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation that enhances opportunities for families to move up the economic ladder and access quality child care for their children.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that President George W. Bush will be making a state visit to the People's Republic of China in late February. As Secretary of State Colin Powell said, the United States and China have many common interests and also many disagreements, one of which is Taiwan. I hope that President Bush will stand firm on the issue of Taiwan in his discussions with the Chinese. The United states and Taiwan have been maintaining strong relations for decades. In recent years, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Taiwan, Taiwan has been unwavering in its support of the United States in all areas. In the wake of the Twin Towers tragedy, Taiwan went into deep mourning and its government ordered all flags lowered at half-staff for two days. Taiwan stands with the United States on nearly all issues including safeguarding human rights and fighting terrorism around the globe. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan is not an issue that divides the United States from China. As long as we stand firm on our principles of providing what Taiwan needs militarily, there will be stability in the Taiwan Strait and that is in everyone's best interests. I wish President Bush the best of luck in his journey to China.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. I rise in strong support of the rule for S. 1762, this very important legislation to ensure the availability of higher education financing to the students embarking on a very important time in their lives. This closed rule is necessary to ensure that this bill is passed without amendment so as to allow the White House to sign the legislation into law without delay. I do not believe there is a better way to serve the students of this Nation than to assure a stable source of higher education funding for those who need it most: low and middle- income students. This legislation provides for the uninterrupted continuation of the Federal Family Education Loan Program, known as FFELP, and provides certainty of interest rates for all borrowers in later years. I urge my colleagues to support this closed rule in an effort to allow swift action on this bill. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have been involved in each stage of development of this legislation, and while we believe we had a commitment to this legislation prior to the end of our last session, unfortunately, due to unrelated circumstances, the bill failed to pass on the suspension calendar. The efforts of our colleagues to take down the bill previously now forces us to bring it up again and avoid additional politics in an effort to do what is right for students and parents, as well as student loan providers, who have been vital partners in the Federal Family Education Loan Program for more than 35 years. It is my hope that we can pass this rule and move immediately to the legislation at hand and pass it overwhelmingly. Let us show the students of this country that we put their needs above all else and ensure the availability of low cost student loans for them to embark on the road to achieving their goals of higher education. Vote ``yes'' on this rule and ``yes'' on S. 1762.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time, and also for the great leadership that he has provided in the education area during this Congress. I also thank the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) for working with us. They have provided strong leadership in passing H.R. 1, and that is very important to the youth of our country. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1762. This legislation, which has been supported by both Democrats and Republicans and was passed expeditiously by our colleagues in the other body, will ensure the availability of higher education financing to the students embarking on a very important time in their lives. There is no better way to serve the students of this Nation than to ensure a stable source of higher education funding for those who need it. This legislation quite simply provides for the uninterrupted continuation of the Federal Family Education Loan Program, known as FFELP, and will provide certainty of interest rates for all borrowers in later years. Many of my colleagues will remember that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) and I worked diligently in 1998 to correct the problem in the Higher Education Act of 1965 dealing with student loan interest rate calculations. The success of our bipartisan efforts is evidenced by the current student loan interest rates. Students in repayment now pay 5.99 percent, the lowest Stafford rates in the program's history. This low rate and other benefits provided by student loan providers allows students to partake in a low-cost means of financing their education while maintaining a strong and stable student loan program. The agreement we reached in 1998 is now running up against the clock. The interest rate formula resulting in new low rates while maintaining the viability of the FFELP is set to expire in the year 2003. If that occurs, students and parents will be unable to obtain these low-cost loans from lenders across the country, and lenders that make these low-cost loans will not be able to finance student loans under the formula set to take effect. While we intended the fix to be permanent in 1998, we were unable to institute it for more than 5 years. By taking this action now, there will be no interruption in the availability of student loan funds, and Congress will be able to concentrate fully on many issues that will confront us during the next reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, including grant aid eligibility, distance education, access, and the cost of higher education, to name a few. This legislation also takes one additional step for students and their families: it provides assurances as to what interest rates will be in the future. While S. 1762 would extend the current viable interest rate formula until 2006, it would then provide for both student loans and parent loans to be at a fixed interest rate. Supporters of this provision feel this will allow families to plan future expenses knowing clearly what the interest rates on their education loans will be. We can make the continued availability of low- cost student loans one less thing students pursuing their dream of higher education need to worry about. I would like to thank especially Kathleen Smith and George Conant from the committee staff, and Bob Cochran and James Bergeron from my staff; and as I mentioned earlier, the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner); the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller); the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink); and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for all of the excellent help on this bill.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the American people who need this stimulus package to get back to work. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3529, the Economic Security and Worker Assistance Act. This important piece of legislation will bolster our economy in many ways, but I am particularly pleased that it addresses the needs of our dislocated workers and their families. This legislation incorporates President Bush's proposal to expand the existing National Emergency Grants, found within the Workforce Investment Act, to assist our workers. These grants complement the workforce development resources available in states to ensure an effective response to significant worker dislocation events. Currently, these grants are used to provide a variety of employment and training assistance to workers who have been laid off. These include (1) job training and reemployment services; (2) income support for those that are not eligible or have exhausted their eligibility for unemployment compensation, if they are enrolled in training; and, (3) supportive services such as transportation and child care to allow individuals to get back to work. The proposal before us today would expand the allowable supportive services to include temporary health care coverage premium assistance. A state would be required to use at least 30 percent of its grant to provide temporary health care coverage of its choosing. The Economic Security and Worker Assistance Act provides $4 billion to enhance this critical safety net for workers. Using the National Emergency Grant as a means to provide additional assistance is the right one for our workers and their families. First, it is flexible, allowing each governor to implement a seamless package of assistance for the needs of the dislocated workers in his or her state. Second, it can be implemented quickly since it uses an established mechanism to provide needed assistance without creating a new federal bureaucracy. Finally, the program is targeted and temporary. The assistance aims to help those affected by the economic downturn, including families impacted by the terrorist attacks of September 11, get back to work. By passing this legislation, we will keep our commitment to helping every worker return to work while ensuring that they and their families have the critical support they need at this difficult time. I encourage my colleagues to support America's working families and vote yes on the economic stimulus package.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the Senate bill, S. 1793.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1793, the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act. This legislation is extremely important and will serve students in a number of ways. First, as my colleagues know, the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 3086, its version of the bill, on October 23 by a vote of 415 to zero. We showed our commitment to those directly affected by the attacks of September 11, and now our colleagues in the Senate have shown that same commitment. It is important to ensure that the Secretary of Education has the ability to address the needs of students, their families, institutions of higher education, and loan providers as they relate to the events of September 11. The legislation before us is almost identical to the bill that this body passed previously, with one exception. This version of the HEROES legislation, as passed by our colleagues in the other body, makes clear that those individuals called to active duty in the National Guard in response to the national emergency called by the President would be included in those individuals eligible to participate in the regulatory relief provided by the Secretary of Education. As my colleagues know, under the bipartisan HEROES bill, the Education Secretary can grant waivers so that reservists leaving their jobs and families may be relieved from making student loan payments for a time. Victims' families may be relieved from receiving collection calls from lenders, and consecutive requirements for loan forgiveness programs may be considered uninterrupted. This legislation will provide relief for the men and women of our military who are defending the freedoms of this great Nation. As families send loved ones into harm's way, the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act will allow the Secretary of Education to reduce some of the effects of that disruption here at home. This bill is an indication of the Congress's commitment to our military and to our students and families, as well as to those on the front lines who make higher education accessible. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, renew the commitment they put forward just 2 short months ago, and let us move forward with the goal of assisting those affected by the tragedy of September 11. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1793) to provide the Secretary of Education with specific waiver authority to respond to conditions in the national emergency declared by the President on September 14, 2001.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for yielding me time and let you know that I rise in strong support of S. 1762. This very important legislation ensures the availability of higher education financing to the students embarking on a very important time in their lives. I do not believe there is a better way to serve the students of this Nation than to ensure a stable source of higher education funding for those who need it. This legislation provides for the uninterrupted continuation of the Federal Family Education Loan Program, known as FFELP, and provides certainty of interest rates for all borrowers in later years. As many of my colleagues will remember, in 1998 the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) and I worked diligently on correcting the problem in the Higher Education Act dealing with student loan interest rate calculations. The success of our bipartisan efforts is evidenced by current student loan interest rates. Students in repayment now pay 5.99 percent, the lowest Stafford rates in the program's history. This low rate, coupled with the discount programs available to students with excellent repayment histories and expanded tax benefits signed into law earlier this year by President Bush, provides students with a low cost means of financing their education, while maintaining a strong and stable student loan program. However, the agreement we reached in 1998 is running up against the clock. The interest rate formula resulting in new loan rates while maintaining the viability of the FFELP is set to expire on July 1, 2003. If that occurs, students and parents will be unable to obtain these low cost loans from lenders across the country and lenders that make these low cost loans will not be able to finance student loans under the new rate. Unfortunately, in 1998 we knew we were only providing a temporary fix to the problem and we would need to address it again in order to permanently correct the problem. By taking this action now, there will be no interruption in the availability of student loan funds and Congress will be able to concentrate fully on the many issues that will confront us during the next reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, including grant aid eligibility, distance education, access, and the high cost of higher education, to name a few. This legislation also takes one additional step for students and their families. It provides assurances as to what interest rates will be in the future. It provides for both student loans and parent loans to be at a fixed interest rate beginning in 2006. Supporters of this provision feel this will allow families to plan future expenses, knowing clearly what the interest rates on their education loans will be. We can make the continued availability of low cost student loans one less thing students pursuing their dream of higher education need to worry about. Mr. Speaker, we have worked all year on trying to reach this compromise and work out this solution to this problem. We have worked both sides of the aisle and we have worked with the other body. Sometimes there comes a point where you either do it, or you lose that opportunity forever. I think we all know that we are at that point right now. I really feel sorry about the thing that has happened with my good friend from New York on not being able to bring her bill up today. But, as the chairman has said, that is above all of our pay ranks on determining that. But it seems to me that hearing the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) talk about taking this bill down when we have the final vote tomorrow, to inflict the pain of those who have suffered greatly in New York and now to expand that across all the students that will be coming for loans, does not seem to be just to me. It does not seem to be right where we should inflict somebody's pain or somebody else. I think we would be better off trying to find some other kind of different solution for the problem of the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy). I would pledge to help her, as we have in the past, to solve this problem. I think there are other ways to do that, rather than to inflict punishment on all of the students that may want to attend school and have to have this financial aid to achieve their dream, their part of the American dream. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this bill, to let the students, the young people of this country, have the opportunity to further their education.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference for H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This landmark legislation will reform our Nation's public school system. As a grandfather of 24, all of whom having reached the proper age and are attending public schools, I stand here with great pride to support a bill which embodies the principles President Bush has championed since taking office in January of this year. Leadership really does make a difference; and last year, many of us on the committee, along with Senators on education, were called to Austin to meet with then President-elect Bush. He put forth the principles that he believed in, and he gave us all an opportunity to tell him how we felt. And then the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) took up that challenge, and they have worked together very diligently. They have provided an atmosphere where all of us could participate and be a part of working on this great bill. I want to thank them for that. This bill contains the President's vision that the best way to improve America's schools is to hold them accountable, to increase local and State flexibility, to fund what works and to expand parental options. Even though the centerpiece of the President's proposal is the annual testing, where problems can be found before it is too late to fix them, and parents can be given information to choose a better performing school, I would like to touch on a few other provisions which I believe are very important. First, the bill will provide unprecedented new flexibility for all 50 States in every local school district in America in the use of Federal education funds. Having served on a local school board for 9 years I know that those school boards will appreciate that flexibility. I know that the superintendents will appreciate that flexibility. Under the conference report, every local school district will immediately receive freedom from red tape to transfer up to 50 percent of the Federal dollars that they receive among an assortment of programs. It will also allow up to 150 local flexibility demonstration projects, where locals can receive a waiver from Federal education rules in exchange for signing an accountability contract with the Department of Education, and it will allow seven States to receive waivers from various Federal education requirements. Hopefully these demonstration projects will help us in further moving more freedom of flexibility to all the other local schools. State and local officials know best how to educate our children. This bill will allow States and local school districts to advance their own priorities such as reducing class size, hiring new teachers or buying new textbooks and computers. Next, as chairman of the Subcommittee on the 21st Century Competitiveness, I am especially pleased to see this conference report includes strong teacher professional and education technology sections. The bill retains key provisions that the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), my colleague and good friend, and I, along with many others, have been working on over the last Congress with the flexibility to decide whether to spend funds on hiring new teachers or improving the skills of the teachers already in the classroom. Technology can be a powerful means for improving student achievement and academic achievement. In fact, States and local school districts are already experimenting with promising technology programs, everything from online research to distance learning. Such innovation should be encouraged by the Federal Government and bolstered by Federal spending. To help further the effort to integrate technology into teaching, we need to make sure teachers know how to use that technology in their teaching and increase access to technology for their students. The conference report on H.R. 1 accomplishes this by consolidating a number of technology programs into a single stream of funding to our local school districts. Further, the bill fully integrates technology into the curriculum by increasing access to the highest quality teachers and courses possible, regardless of where the students live. Mr. Speaker, I just want to again thank the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), and all those who have worked so diligently to pass this bill that will help further the education of all of our children and leave none of them behind. I urge support of this bill.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the life and memory of Louis Brathwaite and to acknowledge his many contributions to the Santa Clarita Valley. Louis passed away in early November after suffering a heart attack. He was born on April 25, 1933, in New York City. Louis served in management positions with the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 1990 after 38 years of service. He was also a member of the U.S. Naval Air Reserve and in addition, he designed office furniture and sold personal computers. Louis moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in 1969 and quickly amassed a list of civic accomplishments. Always a community activist, Louis was involved in the creation of the City of Santa Clarita. He went on to become a planning commissioner where he influenced local development decisions. Louis took his responsibility as a planning commissioner very seriously and was a proponent of environmentally friendly, quality growth as well as a wonderful advocate for the arts. Louis took an exceptional interest in everything he did. I first met him when we served together on the William S. Hart Union High School District governing board. I soon discovered he was a man of kindness, strength, and integrity. Louis was also very involved in the creation of the headquarters of the Boys and Girls Club in Newhall. He assisted with the entire spectrum of the population. As a board member for the Committee on Aging with the SCV Senior Center, he was a driving force to acquire senior housing. With any project he was involved with, Louis brought a sense of compassion and he always tried to make the world a better place. Just prior to his death, Louis completed his autobiography, ``Black Man's Job, White Man's World,'' chronicling his accomplished career with the federal government at a time when blacks were rarely found in positions of responsibility. A man who achieved a tremendous amount in life, he was pivotal in bringing the Equal Employment Opportunities Act to the United States Navy. Louis will be remembered as a kind, caring, and capable man who was generous with his time and talents in order to help others. Louis is survived by his widow Mary, her daughter, Valerie, his daughter, Neshia, their son Louis II, and Grandchildren Kate and Akira.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2269, the Retirement Security Service Act. I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), the subcommittee chairman, for bringing this important legislation to the floor for our consideration. Many workers might not know it, but there is an outdated provision within a 27-year-old Federal law that unintentionally prohibits their employers from providing access to high-quality investment advice. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act, also known as ERISA, was written in 1974 at a time when no one had heard of 401(k) plans and no one ever imagined that so many people would participate in the stock market like they do today. Under ERISA, the mutual funds, banks, and insurance companies that administer 401(k)s can only provide general investment education directly to participants in those plans. They are prohibited from providing advice about a person's specific investments. Since last year when the market began to slide and the economy began showing signs of weakness, many workers have watched their retirement savings dwindle. People need sound advice, especially during these times, to maximize their investment opportunities by making it possible for workers to be able to get the same kind of advice that wealthy individuals are able to pay for out of pocket. H.R. 2269 would do just that. This legislation modernizes ERISA to let employers give their employees access to high-quality, tailored investment advice, as long as financial advisors fully disclose their fees and any potential conflicts. I have heard some scare talk here about, we need to protect people from charlatans or from people who would take advantage of them. But I think that we need to give the people credit for understanding and being able to separate advice. The important thing is that they should be able to get it. This bill retains important safeguards and includes new protections to ensure that participants receive advice that is solely in their best interests. The measure requires that advice be given only by fiduciary advisors which are qualified, fully regulated entities, like insurance companies and banks, that would be held liable for any failure to act solely in the interests of the worker. Moreover, the whole process is completely voluntary, because the bill does not require any employer to contract with investment advisers, and no employee will be obligated to accept any advice. As Members can see, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2269 provides assistance for hard-working Americans so that they can wisely plan their retirement years. Therefore, I strongly urge all my colleagues to support this much-needed legislation.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, recently a wonderful friend of mine lost his life. On August 15, 2001, Howard Lydell Hill passed away at the age of 61. Howard's death is a great loss to his family and his friends, as well as to the entire community. He was a kind, caring, and capable man who was always generous with his time and talents in order to help others. Howard was born on March 30, 1940 in Utah to Franke and William Hill. His family moved to California in 1941 and settled in Burbank. During his youth, he forged numerous life-long friendships. Many of those persons attended his burial, offering testimony to the high quality of his character. Howard led an exemplary life as a longtime resident of Newhall. He and his wife, Carolyn, were married 39 years and raised seven children. He cherished his family and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Howard truly loved God, his family, and his fellow man. Howard possessed a sharp mind and had a strong background in math and physics. He attended Brigham Young University, where he learned the compounding of plastics. After joining Keysor-Century as a production foreman, he held increasingly important managerial positions at plants in Delaware and in the Santa Clarita Valley. Howard assumed the position as CEO in 1982. He was an innovative man with a keen intellect and was able to manage the company extremely well. In addition to his business endeavors, Hill was an invested community participant. He served as a governing board member for the Newhall School District from 1977-1985 and was one of the finest board members the Santa Clarita Valley has ever seen. He was a counselor for young singles at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Newhall, second ward, a former church bishop and counselor to the stake president, a Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital board member from 1986-1994 and a board member for the Santa Clarita Valley Boys and Girls Club. Howard had a genuine interest, and heartfelt concern for children and their education. He loved working with youth and young adults and was a father figure to many. Although Howard leaves a legacy of service that will long be remembered by our community, his family and friends will remember him best as a great man with a kind heart and tremendous integrity--one who was devoted to making his world a better place.

Mr. McKEON

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

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the things the gentleman is saying. I realize that there are broader things that could have been perhaps addressed in this bill, but we wrote the bill specifically to give the Secretary the help he needed to help the students and those people that were called up to join in the war effort, and we went around the floor and we got a lot of cosponsors. The gentleman knows how it is when people sign onto a bill. They do it based on what is in the bill. With that idea, we have felt like we could not go back and make additional significant changes without having to go back and individually contact each of those people to see if they would still support the new bill. The gentleman knows how the process works. I would be happy to support the gentleman in other efforts he wants to do to help other people. But this bill, as we put it together and as we gathered support for it, was specifically to help those people that we have named. I appreciate the gentleman's work in this regard. I would be happy to support the gentleman as we move forward in other areas.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to see that the higher education community, as well as the student loan providers, have come forward to assist students in this difficult time. Some of the administrative burdens within the student aid programs often thwart efforts of these professionals to work with students on individual needs. However, in this case, they really have worked diligently to step forward and do what is necessary and, with the Secretary's initial guidance, made great efforts to do what is right, even though it meant additional processes or paperwork for their operations. I appreciate the support from both sides of the aisle on this bill, and I realize that there are some concerns that it does not do everything that we would like to do, but I guess we could probably say that about every bill that we bring to the floor. I know at least myself, I could have found several things in bills that I did not care for or felt were left out, and that is the case with this bill; but we have made a good effort, and I think it does great things for those who are being called up to defend us in these times of this war and the stress, and I think that we should move forward and support this bill. I appreciate my good friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy), for the help that she has been on this. I would like to thank members of our committee staff and personal staff, Kathleen Smith, George Conant and James Bergeron, from my personal staff for all the work that they did. I know over the weekend they were trying to find a place to meet. It was difficult and they put in extra hours, and I want to thank them for their efforts.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3086.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3086) to provide the Secretary of Education with specific waiver authority to respond to conditions in the national emergency declared by the President of the United States on September 14, 2001, as amended.

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