Doris Matsui

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rule and the bill before us. The bill would increase the national deficit by $230 billion, increase costs to individuals, families, and small business owners, and deny the American public the consumer protections they have been seeking for years. Repeal of the health care law would also mean that young adults would not be able to stay on their parents' plan. This is something that would have devastating effects on constituents of mine such as Elizabeth. Shortly after graduating college, she was dropped from her parents' plan and soon developed a severe thyroid condition. As a result, she had to purchase her own individual insurance plan, which proved to be a severe financial hardship for her and her parents. Thankfully, she was able to re-enroll under her parents' plan as of January 1 because of this health reform bill. Repeal would also mean that senior citizens in Sacramento would not see any relief from the Medicare part B doughnut hole. The health reform bill would close the doughnut hole, which is critical to seniors in my district. One such senior, Gary, regularly pays over $2,000 a month for his prescription drugs. Repeal would mean that Gary and the thousands of other seniors in my district would see no relief from this part D doughnut hole. This is unacceptable. Madam Speaker, a vote against this rule and against this bill is a vote to protect the American public from unfair insurance company practices, to provide relief to young and old alike, and to stay on the path to a fiscally responsible future. I urge my colleagues to vote down this rule and vote against the underlying legislation.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Article VI: ``All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.''

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation that I introduced, along with Congresswoman Richardson, which would reauthorize the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, DERA, to fund the modernization of diesel engines through retrofits. Countless studies have shown that diesel emissions are one of the most significant health risks to Americans. More specifically, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has linked these emissions to premature death, aggravation of symptoms associated with asthma, and numerous other health impacts every year. To address this problem, in 2005, Congress enacted the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, which established a five-year voluntary national and state-level grant and loan program to reduce diesel emissions, protect public health, and help states meet air quality standards of the Clean Air Act. Retrofitting diesel engines provides enormous environmental benefits, yet before this program was implemented, there were few direct economic incentives for vehicle and equipment owners to do so. The financial incentives provided by DERA support voluntary rather than regulatory efforts to assist states meet current air quality standards. Reauthorization of this critical program, which cleans up more than 14,000 diesel-powered vehicles and equipment annually, would strengthen our ongoing efforts to reduce pollution, create additional demand for clean diesel technology, and employ thousands of workers who manufacture, sell or repair diesel vehicles and their components. It is for these reasons that the DERA program, which averages more than $13 in health and economic benefits for every $1 invested according to the EPA, needs to be reauthorized. I would be remiss if I did not recognize Senators Voinovich and Carper for authoring the DERA reauthorization program in the Senate, and to commend them for their outstanding leadership on this important issue. Their legislation served as the counterpart to the measure we introduced in the House of Representatives. H.R. 5089, which was unanimously approved by the other chamber, has garnered the support of a broad coalition of more than 530 environmental, public health, industry and labor stakeholders. In closing, I urge my colleagues to join me in improving America's air quality by upgrading and modernizing older diesel engines by voting in favor of H.R. 5089.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1377, which honors the accomplishments of Norman Y. Mineta. Known to us as Norm, Mr. Mineta has played an important role in our nation's history: completing many firsts; and helping the pave the path for many more to follow. A distinguished serviceman, he joined the United States Army as a young man, and completed tours of duty as an intelligence officer in both Japan and Korea. Norm served our great state as a Member of this body from 1975 to 1995, working tirelessly to improve the lives of California families. With his support, and that of my late husband Bob Matsui, Congress established the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. Moreover, they were instrumental in passing H.R. 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which served as the official apology for sending families of Japanese descent to internment camps and redressed the injustices endured by Japanese-Americans during World War II. Norm also served as Chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, authored the landmark Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, and founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, CAPAC. His lists of `firsts' include being the first Asian American mayor of a major United States city when he became mayor of San Jose in 1971, and he was the first Asian American in a Presidential Cabinet. As many of us remember, Norm also served as a Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton, and as a Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush. Mr. Speaker, Norm Mineta has had a long and respected career in public service. As the resolution before us states, the House of Representatives honors the accomplishments and legacy of Norman Yoshio Mineta, for his groundbreaking contributions to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and to our Nation as a whole through his leadership in strengthening civil rights and liberty for all and for his dedication and service. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 1377.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sacramento City Councilwoman Lauren Hammond, as she steps down from the Sacramento City Council after 14 years of honorable service. As her colleagues, friends and family gather to commemorate her many years of service to the people of Sacramento, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Councilwoman Hammond's leadership and lasting impact on the City of Sacramento. Councilwoman Hammond is a Sacramento native; she grew up in Land Park and attended McClatchy High School, the same high school as my late husband Robert Matsui. After high school, she continued her higher education in Sacramento, graduating from Sacramento City College and the California State University, Sacramento where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Government. After graduation from Sacramento State, Lauren began her distinguished career in public service by working 22 years for the California State Senate. While with the Senate, she has served as a Telecommunications Contract Administrator and as the Senate's Coordinator for the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 1997, Lauren ran for Sacramento's City Council. She won the special election in to become the first African-American woman elected to the City Council. As a City Councilwoman, she put her skills as a long-time community leader and neighborhood activist to work, focusing on working families and ensuring that the City of Sacramento is run efficiently. In her work, she concentrated on improving her district by ensuring safe walkways to schools and expanding youth services. She tackled citywide concerns such as youth empowerment, accessible health care for all, predatory lending and implementing smart growth policies. She has also helped revitalize Sacramento's Oak Park neighborhood, as well as lead the efforts to improve the Broadway, Stockton Boulevard and Franklin Boulevard corridors in order to make those areas more business friendly. She has worked tirelessly to make Sacramento a better place to live and do business. Councilwoman Hammond's duties kept her busy, as she served on numerous boards of local government agencies. Some of these include the governing bodies of the Sacramento Area Sewer District, the Sacramento Transportation Authority, the Downtown Sacramento Revitalization Corporation, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, the Sacramento Regional Solid Waste Authority Board, the Regional Transit District and Paratransit Inc. She also served as the Chairwoman of the City's Law and Legislation Committee. Madam Speaker, as Councilwoman Hammond's family, friends and colleagues gather to honor her for her service to the people of Sacramento, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting her for helping make Sacramento a great place to live, work and play.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5987, the Seniors Protection Act of 2010. Social Security is a pillar of our society based on the premise that if you work hard and play by the rules you will in turn receive the stability and security of a minimum level of guaranteed income as you get older. While sometimes it gets pushed aside as nothing more than an entitlement program, the reality is that Social Security provides all of the retirement income for six out of ten seniors in this country. Mr. Speaker, for 75 years, Social Security has never been a day late or a dollar short. But this year the Social Security Administration has recommended that there be no Cost of Living Adjustment--or COLA--for the second year in a row. That means that the very seniors who are struggling to make ends meet will receive a significant amount less than they were expecting for 2011. While the lack of COLA is not a result of Congressional or Presidential action, today we have the chance to vote to make things right. The Seniors Protection Act of 2010 would simply provide a $250 check to Social Security recipients in lieu of a Cost of Living Adjustment for 2011. For some, a few hundred dollars may not seem like a large amount of money. But for the millions of American seniors who are making hard choices, choosing between filling their prescriptions, paying their rent, or feeding their families, a modest increase in their Social Security income could make all of the difference in the world. Furthermore, ensuring America's seniors can make ends meet would have a broader, positive, effect on the economy as a whole. A recent study by the Economic Policy Institute shows that similar payments to Social Security recipients have proven to be an effective economic stimulus. Mr. Speaker, we must commit ourselves to continuing to provide the foundation for Americans' retirement security. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5987.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1230, the Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research and Treatment Act. Every year, it is estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with some form of acquired bone marrow failure disease. This classification of diseases, which include myelodysplastic syndromes (commonly known as MDS), aplastic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (known as PNH), and others, take a debilitating and deadly toll on those diagnosed, forcing patients and families to deal with significant health, social, and economic hardships. In some cases, MDS can even progress over time to become leukemia, which affects hundreds of thousands of Americans in its own right. And while individuals stricken with these conditions can take some action to prolong their lives, this diagnosis offers little hope that affected patients will ever fully recover. In light of this, I introduced the Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research and Treatment Act to enhance and intensify current and future efforts in the fight against bone marrow failure diseases. This legislation would support increased research on these still relatively unstudied diseases, including what genetic and environmental factors may be associated with the condition and best practices for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. In addition, the bill would authorize coordinated outreach and informational programs targeted to minority populations affected by these diseases, including information on treatment options and clinical trials research. These provisions are critical to the individuals affected by bone marrow failure diseases and their families, as it would bring both tangible progress to fighting these diseases, and provide hope to those who have suffered their effects. This bill has bipartisan support, 62 cosponsors, and has incorporated suggestions from both sides of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I commend our Leadership and thank Chairman Waxman and Chairman Pallone and their staff for bringing H.R. 1230 to the floor, and for their commitment to protecting the health of all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 3751, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010. This legislation is identical to H.R. 6081, a bill that I introduced with Mr. Young of Florida to reauthorize critical bone marrow and cord blood transplant programs that save thousands of lives each year. Each year, nearly 40,000 people under the age of 55 are diagnosed with fatal bone marrow illnesses, and about 16,000 of those individuals can only be treated via blood stem cell transplant. These patient's lives depend on finding an acceptable adult stem cell donor match--quickly and easily. The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010 would reauthorize the key programs responsible for helping these individuals by recruiting bone marrow, adult stem cell, and cord blood donations; matching donors and potential recipients; and linking these patients to care. S. 3751 includes two main parts to achieve this spectrum of donation, connection, and care. The first is the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, which houses the National Registry, the Office of Patient Advocacy, and the Stem Cell Therapeutic Outcomes Database. The second is the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI), a program that provides grants to public cord blood banks to assist them in collecting a diverse population of donated cord blood units. These units are then listed on the National Registry, where patients and doctors can find them. The reauthorization represents legislation that is truly bipartisan and bicameral, which is evident in the fact that it passed the Senate by unanimous consent on September 28, 2010. Mr. Speaker, I commend our Leadership and thank Chairman Waxman, Chairman Pallone and their staffs for bringing the reauthorization to the floor in time to vote before these programs expire on Thursday, September 30, 2010. This is meaningful legislation with strong bi-partisan support and a proven track record. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this important legislation.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I want to take a moment to recognize the extraordinary work of the Rules Committee's Chief Counsel, who will be retiring this November. For more than three decades, Sophie Hayford has served this chamber with grace and humility. Beginning her tenure as a legislative aide to Representative Joseph Moakley, Sophie then went to work for the Rules Committee. Over the past 24 years, Sophie has guided the Rules Committee and the House as a procedural specialist. She has been a constant resource to me and my staff and has helped guide the passage of several important initiatives. My good friend--Chairwoman (Louise) Slaughter--has been privileged to have Sophie on her staff. And I know I speak for my colleagues when I say that Sophie will be sorely missed on the Committee. But we all wish her the very best in the future. Sophie: thank you so much for your hard work, dedication and the many late nights. It really has been a pleasure working with you. Please enjoy your retirement, you certainly deserve it.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Collette Johnson-Schulke, who has been a tireless advocate of quality health care in the Sacramento Region. As she retires from her position with Sutter Health, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in thanking Collette for her immeasurable service to the Sacramento community. Before serving as Director of Government Relations for Sutter Health, Collette worked as District Director for my late husband, Congressman Robert T. Matsui, from 1991 to 1997. For seven years, she coordinated his official duties and worked diligently on his behalf for the people of Sacramento. As Director of Government Relations for Sutter Health, she has been instrumental in supporting Sutter's commitment to the Sacramento community. In recent years, Sutter has started a major expansion of their Women and Children's Center, as well as comprehensive renovations of Sutter General Hospital and the Sutter Cancer Center. Collette has served on the Boards of Directors of numerous local non- profits that serve the people of Sacramento. This includes the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Valley Vision, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and Sutter's Sacramento Community Benefits Board. As part of Sutter's Sacramento Community Benefits Board, she helped identify and implement local community benefit activities through partnerships with government and non-profit agencies. Collette also served on the Board of Directors of the Midtown Business Association and as the Division Vice President of State and Municipal Legislation for the National Association of Realtors. Madam Speaker, as Collette, her husband, Francis Schulke, family, friends and colleagues gather to celebrate her retirement, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting this truly remarkable woman for her many years of service to the people of Sacramento.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Sacramento City Councilman Robbie Waters, who has served the people of Sacramento for more than 55 years. In recognition of his public service, the Sacramento Public Library Authority has named its new library, the Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library, in his honor. As his colleagues, friends and family gather to celebrate his career and this outstanding project, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting this outstanding public servant. Robbie has a long history of serving his country and community. Not long after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and completed his service in 1957. He then returned to his hometown of Sacramento and became an officer with the Sacramento Police Department. During his time with the Sacramento Police Department he held several key positions, including leadership roles in the detective bureau and homicide unit. Robbie was elected to the position of Sacramento County Sheriff in 1982 and served in that position until 1987. He accomplished many goals during his term as Sheriff, including focusing more resources in the North Area, expanding the Sexual Assaults Bureau, implementing the 911 Emergency Response System, and developing the ``Thumbs Up'' fingerprinting program to help protect local children. Altogether, Robbie has served over 28 years in law enforcement. After retiring from the Sheriff's Department, Robbie was elected to the Sacramento City Council where he has served for 16 years. As a councilman, he worked on a variety of community projects, including renovation of all 13 of his district's playgrounds, and collaboration with neighborhood associations to improve the quality of life for Sacramento families. He has received numerous awards for his work, most notably the prestigious Certificate of Merit from President Bill Clinton. The Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library is a new 15,000-square- foot library which will be used by the public, including thousands of Sacramento area students. The project features a 100-seat community room, two group study rooms and quiet reading rooms, and will eventually hold more than 50,000 books. The library is truly a leap forward for the Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood. When completed, it will be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council with a LEED Silver rating. Councilman Waters has played an important role in getting this library built and has worked tirelessly as a board member for the Sacramento Public Library Authority. In addition, he helped initiate the Pocket-Greenhaven Friends of the Sacramento Public Library, an all- volunteer community organization, whose mission has been to advocate for the library as well as provide funding for books, materials, programs, and library activities. Madam Speaker, I am truly honored to pay tribute to my friend and dedicated public servant, Councilman Robbie Waters. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in wishing Robbie, and his wife of 49 years, Judie, continued success and happiness in all of their future endeavors.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. The Education Jobs and Medicaid Act would relieve strained state budgets, save jobs, protect public health and safety and ensure our nation's youth receive the educations they deserve. This critical legislation is fully paid for and would help states and local communities in two ways: First, the bill would provide states with funds to preserve the jobs of teachers, keeping educators in the classroom. Second, it would extend a temporary increase in the federal Medicaid matching rate, providing desperately needed assistance to already cash strapped states. These problems are known all too well in California and in my home town of Sacramento where we have been grappling with teacher and police layoffs to balance the budget. My district's unemployment rate is 12.6 percent and the cutting of any jobs for those who teach and protect our children will continue to have a devastating impact on our future. And if we cannot deliver money to FMAP the state will be forced to cut Medi-CAL and other programs, endangering the health of families and jobs in the health care sector. These cuts would not only put the safety and well-being of our constituents at risk, but would also result in additional job losses, which we clearly cannot afford. H.R. 1586 would make certain that my constituents and all Americans get the care and services they need. The American people are feeling the effects of state budget constraints every day and they should not be forced to wait any longer for relief. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my legislation, H.R. 5156, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010. Our Nation is running a trade deficit in green technologies ranging in the billions, and the U.S. clean tech industry is lagging behind many of its competitors in exports, most notably China and Germany. Currently, only six of the top 30 global clean energy companies are American-owned. This is simply unacceptable. We must not become a Nation dependent on foreign clean energy products. We must be the Nation that leads the world in manufacturing and exporting clean energy technologies. That is why I, along with Chairmen Rush and Dingell and Congresswoman Eshoo, introduced H.R. 5156 to boost the competitiveness of the U.S. clean energy industry. Specifically, the bill would require the Department of Commerce, in coordination with relevant agencies, to implement, develop and sustain a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy to provide U.S. clean tech firms with export assistance in finding and navigating foreign markets to sell their goods and services to new customers. The President has laid out a laudable goal to double U.S. exports over the next 5 years, and this legislation will ensure clean energy exports are at the forefront of our national export strategy. The bill will also help strengthen America's domestic clean tech manufacturing industry. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that this legislation is a part of the Make It in America manufacturing agenda to demonstrate this Congress' commitment to the U.S. domestic manufacturing industry, and I applaud the majority leader's leadership in this. This legislation encourages American clean energy manufacturers across the Nation to sell their American-made clean energy technologies here in America and around the world. This is also about jobs. The Department of Energy has found that the emerging U.S. clean energy sector could create more than 750,000 jobs over the next decade. The clean energy emerging economy is one that we cannot afford to let pass us by. Mr. Speaker, my home district of Sacramento is well positioned to be a national leader in manufacturing clean energy technologies, with more than 120 small and medium-sized clean energy companies in the region. Many of these companies are beginning to manufacture clean energy products or are seeking to expand their manufacturing operation and wanting to export through clean energy technologies to foreign markets. However, unlike big U.S. companies, small and medium-sized firms simply do not have the resources and expertise to find and navigate foreign markets and are seeking assistance. In fact, according to the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, more than 30 percent of nonexporting small and medium-sized companies would export if they had more access to market information, export opportunities, and the export process. Many of these companies have validated their clean energy technologies and are now looking to expand their businesses by exporting their goods and services to new foreign markets but actually lack the resources to do so. Mr. Speaker, let me briefly clarify that this bill provides a modest authorization to help American small businesses with the manufacturing and export assistance they are seeking. It is not an appropriations bill. As my colleagues on the other side are aware, authorization measures do not appropriate funds and they do not add a dime to our deficit. The measure would have to fit within our budget caps during the congressional appropriation process. The bill would not affect direct spending or revenues. Therefore, PAYGO procedures would not apply, and it does not violate PAYGO rules. Mr. Speaker, during the Energy and Commerce markup of this bill, we included several changes that my Republican colleagues recommended; most notably, working in a bipartisan manner, we expanded the definition of ``clean energy technology.'' We also include a transparency provision that requires the Commerce Department to report back to Congress within 180 days of enactment, a plan to assist small and medium-sized businesses, encourage job growth in the U.S. clean energy sector, and encourage greater domestic manufacturing of clean energy products. H.R. 5156 will also enhance our standing in the race to be the global leader in clean energy. The BP oil spill only underscores the need for leadership in the clean energy market, and this bill will send a strong message that America is serious about being the leader and producing and exporting these technologies. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which will support clean energy products being made in America and, in turn, will help families make it in America.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor COL Thomas C. Chapman upon his retirement from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. For the past three years I have had the pleasure of working with Colonel Chapman on a number of flood protection projects that are key to my hometown of Sacramento. I found Colonel Chapman to be a man of intelligence and integrity, a man who never forgot the public he served. As he retires, I would like to pause today and ask that my colleagues join with me in offering our thanks to a distinguished American. Beginning with his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1984, Colonel Chapman has led a distinguished and notable career in the Corps of Engineers. He has assisted with and led many projects which have helped to maintain the integrity and vitality of our nation's infrastructure and worked to improve the security of our military bases abroad. Colonel Chapman's career has taken him and his family from Fort Knox to South Korea, from Philadelphia to Afghanistan and a number of stops in between. Each stop has been characterized by success. At Camp Red Cloud in South Korea, he developed a new master plan for installations, which was later adopted as a model for all U.S. forces in Korea. As the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Engineer School, he oversaw the integration of the Engineer School into the Army's Maneuver Support Center. In Afghanistan, he served as the senior engineer at NATO Corps Headquarters, where he managed both the construction of all NATO facilities and oversaw NATO's Counter-IED training. Colonel Chapman aided Coalition Forces by developing a new engineer organizational structure and by developing NATO's first Counter-IED doctrine. In July of 2007, Colonel Chapman was installed as the Commander of the Corps of Engineers' Sacramento Division. Lying at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, the City of Sacramento and surrounding region faces the constant threat of flooding. Our levee and flood protection systems require continuous attention and the Corps of Engineers is actively involved with major upgrades currently being undertaken at Folsom Dam and along local rivers and streams. In particular, Colonel Chapman's leadership has helped keep the Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project, a collaborative effort with the Bureau of Reclamation, on schedule and on budget. When completed, this immense project will strengthen the dam and add a second spillway, which will allow more water to be released in anticipation of a storm, giving much of Sacramento over 200-year protection. Colonel Chapman has also worked diligently to advance the Natomas Levee Improvement Project, which will also give 200-year protection to the 75,000 people that call Natomas home. On these and other projects, Colonel Chapman has worked with local and state officials to ensure there is a strong partnership between all levels of government. Madam Speaker, I am truly honored to stand here today to congratulate COL Thomas Chapman, for his tireless work in Sacramento and throughout his 26-year career with the Army Corps of Engineers. As his colleagues, friends and family gather today, including his wife Deidre and their seven children, I once again ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Colonel Chapman. His work has kept American servicemen and women safe abroad and the public safe at home. I offer him my warmest thanks and wish him continued success in the next chapter of his life.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Social Security and to highlight its importance as we approach the 75th anniversary since its founding. Social Security is a pillar of a society based on the premise that if you work hard and play by the rules, you will have the stability and security of a minimum level of guaranteed income as you get older. And the reality is Social Security provides nearly all of the retirement income for six out of 10 seniors in this country. Mr. Speaker, for 75 years, Social Security has never been a day late or a dollar short. And as we approach this historic achievement, we must commit ourselves to strengthening Social Security, not privatizing it. We must continue to provide the foundation for Americans' retirement security for generations and generations to come.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1517 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. MATSUI. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1517 provides for consideration of H.R. 5114, the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act of 2010, under a structured rule. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The resolution provides 1 hour of debate on the bill. The resolution provides that a substitute amendment recommended by the Financial Services Committee shall be considered an original bill for purpose of amendment, and shall be considered as read. The resolution makes in order those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution. The resolution waives all points of order against such amendments except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The resolution provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions, provides the Chair may entertain a motion to rise only if offered by the chair of the House Financial Services Committee or his designee. Lastly, the resolution provides the Chair may not entertain a motion to strike the enacting words of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning in strong support of the rule, the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act, and in strong support of the underlying legislation. I would like to applaud the sponsor of H.R. 5114, Chairwoman Maxine Waters, for her leadership in bringing this important bill to the floor. And I commend Chairman Frank and Ranking Member Baucus for being open to a number of improvements to this bill from myself and fellow members. I am grateful for their long-standing advocacy of my legislation, H.R. 1525, which is incorporated into the underlying bill before us today. Both of them and their incredible staffs have been valuable in this process. Mr. Speaker, it is critical that our constituents have access to a stable flood insurance program. Toward that end, H.R. 5114, which I am pleased to cosponsor, would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program for 5 years, and implement necessary changes that are essential for its continuing viability. Floods have been, and continue to be, one of the most destructive and costly natural hazards to my hometown of Sacramento and to other communities throughout the country. The NFIP is a valuable tool in addressing the losses incurred due to these disasters, and mitigating against future disasters. The program ensures that families have access to affordable flood insurance, while making certain that their safety is protected. In fact, the NFIP is the primary source of reliable, affordable flood insurance in this country, providing 95 percent of the flood insurance policies nationwide. It covers 5.6 million households and insures $1.2 trillion of property. From the Sacramento region to the Louisiana bayous to the plains of the Midwest, communities are improving their flood protection infrastructure in order to keep residents safe and secure. However, as we work to provide certainty to our recovering housing market, these communities are seeking clarity to meet the changing dynamics of Federal standards. It is for these reasons that I am thrilled that this legislation contains a provision I authored that would provide technical changes to Federal flood zone designations. In my district, the deepest flood depths would be in a region called the Natomas Basin. Fortunately, we have a flood protection project underway to achieve a 200-year level of protection for its residents. By 2011, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency and the State of California will have spent upwards of $350 million repairing levees in the Natomas Basin. But over the last 5 years, the hundreds of millions devoted to levee improvements in Natomas have not been acknowledged by FEMA in the remapping process. Unfortunately, FEMA's current flood zone certification process does not always take local and State funding into account. A year ago, I introduced H.R. 1525, which would fix this problem, and it has been included in the bill we are considering today. In addition to making flood insurance available to millions of Americans, this bill also provides communities clarity in order for them to continue their ongoing efforts to improve flood defenses. It would update current law to take local, State, and Federal funding into account when determining flood zone designations. Such investments must be recognized by the Federal Government. Local communities, States, and the Federal Government must all be thoughtful and committed partners because protecting our constituents from the dangers potential floods pose requires a comprehensive approach. While I have always urged homeowners in floodplains to purchase flood insurance, I have serious concerns about families being forced to incur higher insurance rates during an economic recession. Increased rates on top of the annual flood protection assessments that many residents are paying each year compounds this problem, which is why I am grateful that H.R. 5114 includes another provision I strongly support that would reduce the shock of higher insurance rates by phasing them in over 5 years. It would apply retroactively to September 2008 to areas that have been already remapped. Most importantly for the thousands of homeowners across the country that have recently gone through the remapping process, H.R. 5114 would lower their flood insurance rates. Without this bill, many of our constituents would likely be forced to pay more than four times the preferred risk policy rate. Mr. Speaker, the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act was unanimously approved by the Financial Services Committee on April 27, 2010. It is budget neutral, and is supported by numerous organizations in the property insurance field. Congress has not reauthorized NFIP since 2004. It is time for us to do so and to make essential changes to the program to ensure its sustainability. As many of my colleagues can attest, providing for the security and safety of flood-prone regions like the one I represent needs to be at the top of our priority list. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be part of the solution and to help make sure residents of Sacramento and other flood-prone communities across the country can afford to purchase the flood insurance they need to protect their families, their businesses, and the livelihoods of our communities. I therefore urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Arcuri), my colleague on the Rules Committee.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to start by thanking the Members and the staff of the Financial Services Committee for their diligence in working with me on this important legislation. Tom Glassic of the Financial Services majority staff has been especially helpful. Mr. Speaker, as we are all aware, flooding is the most common natural disaster in this country. The National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP, is the primary source of reliable, affordable flood insurance in the United States today. The last reauthorization of NFIP occurred in 2004. Since 2008, it has operated under a series of short extensions, with the current law scheduled to expire at the end of September. To ensure that individuals nationwide have access to a stable and reasonable flood insurance program, we need to pass the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act. This legislation would reauthorize the NFIP and implement other critically important changes that would guarantee the program's sustainability. In particular, it would help the Sacramento region and other areas advance their ongoing efforts to improve their flood protection. Additionally, the bill would lower the burden of higher insurance rates in remapped communities by phasing them in over 5 years. According to the Congressional Budget Office, H.R. 5114 would have no impact on the budget over the next 10 years. In fact, the CBO has stated that the measure would increase revenues by $5 million over 2010-2015 and by $10 million over 2011-2020. It would address the NFIP's serious financial challenges by directing it back toward fiscal health and self-sustainability. This legislation, which was unanimously approved by the Financial Services Committee earlier this year, would provide certainty to our recovering housing market and ensure public safety. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5114 is an important bipartisan bill that would help protect our communities from catastrophic flooding. With that in mind, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, I will respond. One of the amendments was not germane. One amendment was made in order because it was germane.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. General Leave

Ms. MATSUI. May I say that, just to clarify, the amendment that Mr. Taylor was talking about was germane to that bill. It is not germane to this bill. So if I may continue, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5114 is an important bipartisan bill that would protect our communities from catastrophic flooding. With that in mind, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Ms. MATSUI. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Ms. MATSUI. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials into the Record.