Donald Manzullo

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).

Mr. MANZULLO. I recognized the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling).

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentlelady from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt) for 5 minutes. Before I formally recognize her, I noted with great interest that when Mrs. Schmidt was elected to Congress in that special election, I don't think there was a time that I came in when Henry wasn't here that Congresswoman Schmidt wasn't seated right next to him talking to him, listening to him, and observing his spirit. And it is most appropriate that she speak about this great American this evening. I recognize Jean Schmidt.

Mr. MANZULLO. Reclaiming my time, there are some great Henry Hyde stories. The first time I met him was in his office in your congressional district, and he was wearing this incredible Hawaiian shirt, and sticking out of his pocket was this oversized cigar. I had never seen a cigar that big in my entire life. And he was a connoisseur of his cigars. And I remember one time my Chief of Staff had given me this cigar. He said, ``I got this and you've got to give this to Henry Hyde the next time you see him.'' So I was carrying this cigar in my pocket, and I needed him to sign a document, and he signed the document, and I said, ``Henry, I've got this cigar for you.'' And I think his eyes got bigger than that cigar. What a sense of humor, what a joy, what a thrill to have served with him. We are honored and blessed to have served with somebody by the name of Henry Hyde of Illinois.

Mr. MANZULLO. I recognize the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) for 5 minutes.

Mr. MANZULLO. I yield to the Congressman from Arizona, Trent Franks, 10 minutes.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the remaining time that we have.

Mr. MANZULLO. Okay. I'll claim 5 minutes for myself. I was elected to this Congress in 1992, was sworn in in 1993, and never got used to the name Congressman. When someone said Congressman, I would turn around and I'd look for Henry Hyde. I thought that you had to be here an unnamed number of years and garner the utmost respect of your colleagues before you could be called by that name, Congressman. And I had the opportunity to work with Henry. I recall in either 1993 or 1994, when it was going to be very difficult because of some procedural problem for Henry Hyde to offer the Hyde amendment, and the only way that he could do that was through unanimous consent of this body. It was on I believe an appropriations bill. I sat next to Henry Hyde at this table to my immediate right, and he turned to me and he said, Don, if I can't offer this amendment, tens of thousands of children will die. And I was numbed by what he said, and also by the immense power that one person could have to intervene in the lives of those who had not, who could not see the light of day because of their circumstances. The chairman of the Appropriations Committee, William Natcher, from Mississippi stood up in a very noisy Chamber, and he said, I ask unanimous consent in this body that the Hyde amendment be allowed in order. And I remember him peering over those glasses, this man from Mississippi who never missed a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives. One person could have said, I object, and no one did. And Henry Hyde offered the amendment that particular afternoon and it passed this body and went on to become part of the continuing law forbidding the use of taxpayers' funding for abortions. I shall never forget the sweat that was emanating from his body, how his hands were being wrung together. And I never thought it possible that one person could make that much of a difference in the United States Congress. And he made the difference to people who could never vote for him. He just did it because he said that this is the right thing to do. And there were other occasions in my career as a Member of Congress where I would see him stand up. And when Henry Hyde stood up to speak, this noisy body of 435 independent contractors would become very quiet and listen to Henry Hyde. When the Contract with America was penned, and he handled several bills dealing with that very difficult piece of, series of legislation, in the section on product liability he allowed me to give the concluding speech on the floor because one of the companies that I represent back in Rockford, Illinois, had gone out of business on the 100th anniversary because it was sued over a machine that it had manufactured 50 years earlier. And sitting on the desk of the president of that great company was a summons starting a suit over a machine that was manufactured at the time of the House of Romanov when it ruled Russia. And he gave me the honor of giving the concluding speech on that very difficult topic. You ask yourselves, where are the Henry Hydes of America today? Where are the orators of this House? And no one stands up because they're gone. I would recognize the gentleman from Illinois, Peter Roskam, for as much time as he would consume.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 211, commemorating World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2007. The search for a cure for diabetes is a cause close to my heart. Both my parents were afflicted with the disease, which now strikes 246 million people worldwide. Without early screening, prevention and awareness, this number is expected to rise to 380 million by 2025. In the United States, diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death. Across the world, diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death, with 80 percent of diabetes cases now being found in the developing world. The case for diabetes awareness is so compelling that President Bush recently declared November 2007 to be National Diabetes Month. I would like to add his recent remarks on the subject to the Record. It is clear that action must be taken to slow the pace of what can only be described as an epidemic of diabetes. This year, the theme of the World Diabetes Day Campaign focuses on raising awareness of diabetes in children and adolescents. More than 200 children get diabetes every day, making it one of those most chronic diseases of childhood. Additionally, this demographic faces unique challenges when diagnosed with diabetes, as the disease can interfere with the normal developmental tasks of childhood and adolescence, which include succeeding in school and transitioning to adulthood. Through raising awareness, the World Diabetes Day Campaign focuses on improving early screening to catch early incidences of diabetes in children and promoting healthy lifestyles to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. I am proud to lend my support to H. Con. Res. 211. Together we can limit the incidence of this debilitating disease by spreading the message of awareness, treatment and prevention. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution. National Diabetes Month, 2007--A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America Diabetes is a debilitating disease that affects millions of Americans of all ages and all walks of life. National Diabetes Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about risk factors, prevention, and treatment of this serious disease. Diabetes is a chronic illness that leaves the body unable to produce or properly use insulin to maintain healthy blood glucose levels. The two most common forms of the disease that affect our citizens are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes, is usually diagnosed in children and young adults who are unable to produce insulin and require daily medication. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, is often attributed to lifestyle risk factors and can be controlled by a modified diet, regular physical activity, and medication. Americans can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease by maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits, and consulting with a doctor about diabetes testing. My Administration is committed to providing better care for people living with diabetes and furthering efforts to find a cure. We have supported research initiatives and education programs that encourage healthy living, and we have also modified Medicare coverage to include diabetes screenings. This year, the National Institutes of Health estimates that more than $1 billion will be spent on diabetes research. By working together, we can help identify problems early, manage them before they grow worse, and help ensure more Americans live longer, healthier lives. Throughout National Diabetes Month, we recognize the medical professionals, scientists, researchers, and all those whose efforts have made a positive difference in the fight against diabetes. By raising public awareness, we can help combat the effects of diabetes in our society and bring hope to children and families living with this disease. Now, therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2007 as National Diabetes Month. I call upon all Americans to learn more about the risk factors and symptoms associated with diabetes and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. But it is set up under the State. What reassurance can you give that these loans will be paid and paid on time? That's what I am trying to get at.

Mr. MANZULLO. I think the gentleman and I agree on the fact that the loan should be repaid and not be a grant, but I think we disagree fundamentally on how it would be administered. That's why this amendment is a backup amendment to make sure that the loans are repaid.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. MANZULLO. Right. FEMA doesn't lend money to the States.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 3355 requires the Treasury Department to offer low-cost subsidized Federal loans to State reinsurance funds. This bill employs the lesser used loan approach for States, rather than block grants or emergency funding, the usual methods of Federal assistance. The concept of the loan is unique from a block grant, as a loan implies a temporary extension of funds with agreed-upon terms of repayment. The concept of a loan also implies that there are consequences for those who do not abide by the terms of the loan, such as ineligibility to receive additional loans should one become delinquent on a current loan. It is not in the lender's interest to lend money to someone who has proven that he or she will not pay it back according to the contracted terms. This bill contains no prohibition on continued lending to States that are delinquent on loans authorized under this bill or extended through other Federal entities as found in other Federal loan programs. This consequence free-lending program will also allow States that choose to ignore the repayment responsibility to treat the loans as being in a state of eternal deferral, and expose the taxpayer to a tremendous amount of risk. My amendment seeks to protect the taxpayer by insuring that Federal loans go only to States with a proven track record of fiscal responsibility. Specifically, this fiscally responsible amendment will disqualify States that are delinquent on any Federal disaster loans from receiving additional loans under this program. H.R. 3355 already entitles these States to subsidized loans at below- market rates from the Federal Government. It only makes sense that they should be held to the same responsible standard that applies in the private market and elsewhere in the Federal Government. Without this standard, the loan program becomes no different than a block grant or a taxpayer-financed giveaway. H.R. 3355 requires very little of the States in the way of mitigation to reduce the cost to taxpayers. By ensuring that States act responsibly before receiving another subsidized loan, my amendment is a small but important step towards protecting the interest of the tax- paying Americans that will be funding this bill. I urge support for this amendment and would cite as precedent TANF funds, for example, under title 42, chapter 7, a failure to timely repay a Federal loan fund for State welfare programs, if the Secretary determines that a State has failed to repay any amounts borrowed from the Federal loan program, then they become ineligible or that the amounts they receive in the future are deducted to pay the prior amounts that are due. I would urge support of this amendment. This makes sure that this is a loan program and not a grant program. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MANZULLO. Is it FEMA money?

Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MANZULLO. It's obvious that the gentleman agrees with me on the absolute necessity of making sure that this is a loan program and not a grant program. This amendment simply gives more teeth to the assurance that the gentleman gave us as to the language that is in the bill. Therefore, I would suggest that he agree with the amendment.

Mr. MANZULLO. Thank you. I actually concur with what the gentleman from Florida said. But what he was talking about was in terms of the traditional FEMA emergency funds. That's not the topic of this bill. Those funds are totally separate and independent of the topic that we have here. What we are talking about is making loans to the reinsurance fund of the State. We're not talking about emergency grants under FEMA, nor are we talking about emergency loans under the Small Business Administration for purpose of reconstruction or for loss of business, et cetera. This is an entirely separate program to make sure that the reinsurance fund of each State remains solvent. What we are saying here is that we want to make this as ironclad as possible that this not become a grant program but that it is a loan program. And the only way to make sure that that is the case is that those States that are delinquent as to repayment on these funds simply do not qualify to accept any more funds. What that does is it places the responsibility upon the States to come up with a plan themselves in order to make sure that their reinsurance fund would remain solvent.

Mr. MANZULLO. Under this program. If you are in default under this program, then you are not eligible to receive further moneys.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. According to the International Trade Administration, approximately 91 percent of U.S. exports to Peru are manufactured products. Currently, all of these goods are assessed high tariffs--in some instances at double-digit rates. Peruvian manufacturers are not assessed any tariffs when selling to the U.S. market. This market-opening trade agreement levels the playing field for America's manufacturers by eliminating high tariffs on all U.S. manufactured goods within 10 years. Eighty percent of Peruvian tariffs on consumer and industrial goods would be eliminated immediately upon this agreement coming into force. To put the cost of these tariffs into perspective, a Caterpillar off- highway truck made in Illinois used for mining exported to Peru costs the end-user an additional $100,000 because of the tariffs. This agreement eliminates this duty immediately. Because Peru does not have a free trade agreement with Japan, H.R. 3688 gives a competitive advantage to Caterpillar over its global competitors such as Komatsu of Japan. The northern Illinois district I am proud to represent has many suppliers to Caterpillar, many of them small manufacturers, selling about $150 million worth of product each year. Having an agreement like this insures the long-term viability of the manufacturing jobs at these firms that may not even know that their product they make eventually finds its way to export markets like Peru. Madam Speaker, this agreement will greatly benefit other manufacturers of Illinois as well. In 2001, Illinois machinery manufacturers exported $65.8 million worth of goods to Peru. In 2006, that number more than tripled to $198.2 million. Our manufacturers were able to do this in spite of the high tariffs. Imagine what they will be able to do when these tariffs are removed! The independent International Trade Commission estimates that U.S. exports to Peru will increase by $1.1 billion once this agreement is fully implemented. We have seen examples of other market opening agreements that resulted in increasing U.S. exports. Since the adoption of the market-opening agreement with Chile in 2004, U.S. exports to Chile leapt by 33 percent in 2004, 43 percent in 2005, and 38 percent in 2006! Our trade agreement with Australia also helped boost U.S. exports ``down under'' by 25 percent in just two years. I urge my colleagues to support America's manufacturers by voting ``yes'' for this agreement.

Mr. MANZULLO

Mr. MANZULLO. Madam Speaker, on Monday, November 5, 2007, I was unable to return to Washington in time to vote because of unexpected flight delays at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 1034, dealing with closing portions of the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Department appropriations conference, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 1035, dealing with the National Heroes Credit Protection Act, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 1036, dealing with recognizing and honoring the contributions of Native American veterans.