Doris Matsui

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I just want to say before I yield to my next speaker that this bill has been strongly endorsed by a broad range of business, labor, environmental and consumer groups. In fact, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the National Association of Home Builders have formally endorsed this bill. The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, on behalf of its 6,000-member companies nationwide, also recently endorsed this bill. This bill is a perfect example of industry, consumer, labor, and environmental groups all working together to move our Nation toward a more energy-efficient economy. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Ms. MATSUI. I yield the gentlewoman 1 additional minute.

Ms. MATSUI. I yield the gentlelady 1 additional minute.

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy).

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, who passed away on April 20, 2010. Dr. Height was a noble woman who devoted her life to the service of others and for the advancement of civil liberty and freedom for all. After earning her bachelors and masters degrees from New York University, Dr. Height started her career as a caseworker for the New York City Welfare Department. Possessing an audacious and strong spirit, Dr. Height helped fuel the civil rights movement as an activist with the National Council of Negro Women. She made it her life's work to fight for civil equality for African-Americans and women of all colors. Dr. Height worked vigorously for the NCNW for more than 60 years. During her tenure, she served as the chair and president emerita of the NCNW, and worked alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Congressman John Lewis and A. Philip Randolph. Dr. Height was among the few fortunate people to have stood on the platform when Dr. King delivered his ``I Have a Dream'' speech in 1963. While helping to lead the NCNW in the 1960s, Dr. Height organized the famous ``Wednesdays in Mississippi'' group, which brought women of all faiths and colors together in Mississippi to break racial, class, and regional barriers. Because of her leadership and ability to bring people together, she was often sought by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for counsel. Additionally, she encouraged President Dwight Eisenhower to desegregate schools, and urged President Lyndon Johnson to appoint African-American women to positions in government. Dr. Height has received numerous awards and commendations for her work, including the Congressional Gold Medal, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Spingarn Medal from the NAACP, and in 1993, was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize and honor the life of one of our Nation's greatest civil rights leaders. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Dorothy Irene Height for her life-long service to the principles of freedom, justice, and equality for all.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the 62nd anniversary of one of our country's most steadfast and supportive allies: Israel. Since Israel's declaration of independence in 1948, Jews from all over the world have moved there to put down roots, flourish, and participate in a Jewish state and society. Israel has grown from a country that provided a refuge for Jews who survived unprecedented horrors and anti-Semitic persecution to a nation with a strong and enduring tradition of democracy and liberal governance. Israel was born out of war and conflict, and has weathered constant threats from beyond its borders since its creation. The history of Israel is one of a nation small in size but large in its dedication to the enduring principles of democratic governance, liberal democracy, and national unity. It is a testament to the character and inner strength of the Israeli people that their country continues to develop and flourish even as it is surrounded by so many who unjustly wish to see it dissolved and destroyed. The nation of Israel is a friend of the poor and dispossessed around the world. It has sent humanitarian aid and emergency medical supplies to war zones in Rwanda; disaster areas in Turkey, the Indian Ocean, and along the Gulf Coast; and to fire-scorched areas in Greece. Most recently, Israel supplied much-needed support and relief to the people of Haiti, including deploying the Israel Defense Forces on aid missions and contributing millions of dollars to help the Haitian people rebuild their country. It is clear that Israel's national mission is a higher calling than mere survival or self-perpetuation. It is an example to the world of the power of a determined national spirit, a citizenry dedicated to justice, and a set of founding principles that cannot be corrupted. From the moment the United States recognized the State of Israel 11 minutes after its creation in 1948, Israel has proven to be a loyal partner with which the United States enjoys a mutually beneficial alliance. The advances made by our two countries in educational, scientific, and technological fields help to make the world a better place, and augment our intelligence and security partnerships in a crucial region of the world. I join with many of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in highlighting my admiration for what the nation of Israel has accomplished in the last sixty-two years. It is my hope that the people of Israel use this anniversary as an opportunity to set a path forward that will help bring peace and prosperity to themselves and to their region for the next several years.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th annual Earth Day. Each year Earth Day offers us an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made toward protecting our environment and the work that we still need to do. Now more than ever, we have an historic opportunity to take action to limit the harmful effects of climate change and create the clean energy economy of the future. And there is no reason why America shouldn't be at the forefront of this new economy--and my hometown of Sacramento is helping to lead that effort. To date, our area has among the highest federal funding levels through the Recovery Act and other grants to support investments in clean-tech and energy efficiency projects, including SmartGrid. Madam Speaker, Sacramento's efforts are helping to lay the groundwork for renewed economic prosperity for our country, create good jobs, and will provide enormous benefits to our environment at the same time.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bruce Starkweather as he retires as Chairman of Lionakis. For twenty-five years Bruce has served the Sacramento community as a leading architect and civic leader. As his friends, family and colleagues gather together to pay tribute to his hard work and dedication, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly inspirational individual. In 1972, Bruce graduated from the University of Oregon, School of Architecture. After graduation, he practiced architecture for five years in Oregon before moving to California. He ran his own firm for eight years in Auburn, and then accepted a position on March 15, 1985 with the prestigious Sacramento-based structural and design firm Lionakis, Liske, Engberg and Beaumont, now known as Lionakis. Bruce's contributions to the Sacramento community have not gone unnoticed. He has received several awards and certificates over the past twenty-five years for his exceptional achievements. Some of those awards include: Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Sacramento in recognition of his exceptional performance in the City of Sacramento's General Plan Advisory Committee; the Sacramento Old City Association Architectural Achievement Awards for his contributions to the Sacramento River Water Intake Structure; the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Presidential Citation in recognition of his efforts to bring together the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central Valley Chapter and the City of Sacramento and many more. His impact on Sacramento can been seen in many local buildings including the Sacramento River Water Intake Structure, the Lionakis Office, Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building, Foothill Oaks Elementary School, Lucy & Company Office Building and many, many others. Bruce has a true civic mind and has been a leader who I am honored to call my friend. His involvement in the Sacramento community is never- ending outside of the office. He has served as the Board of Directors of Valley Vision and the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, Principal-in-Charge of the Sacramento Water Intake Structure, as well as Vice Chair of the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) and the Development Oversight Commission with the City of Sacramento. Madam Speaker, as Bruce Starkweather, his wife DonnaLee and children Fred, Jennifer, Stephen, and Ryan, along with his many friends and colleagues gather to celebrate his retirement, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting a truly remarkable individual.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and underlying legislation. The health care package that we passed on Sunday and have the opportunity to finalize today represents years and sometimes decades of work put in by many of my colleagues here in the House, and it also represents the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans who live one accident away from bankruptcy, one paycheck short of making ends meet. I've heard from many of the families and seniors who live in my district who've been terrified as they see their insurance rates go up, and fearful of losing their insurance and high quality of care. But in between the time this House passed one of the most important legislative initiatives in our lifetime and today, I have started to hear from many Sacramentans with a simple message: Thank you. Thank you to this Congress for having the courage to stand up for what's right. Thank you to the Speaker for her leadership in delivering this bill to the American public. And I would like to say thank you back to the millions of Americans who voiced their strong support of the health care bill. You may not have always been the loudest voice in the room, but that doesn't mean we don't hear you. Thank you to my colleagues for standing up for the American people in the many hearings, markups, town halls, and floor debates we've had on this issue. I look forward to standing with you today as we pass these improvements on the historic legislation passed on Sunday. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation as we stand together and ensure the quality health care Americans deserve at a cost they can afford.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. I would like to thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding me time and for her courageous leadership of the Rules Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. I wasn't here 10, 20, or 30 years ago while the debates about health care ebbed and flowed, but I am here today. And as an old friend said to me today, there are not too many times in politics that you get to do something monumental, and this is the day. We have the opportunity today to vote for a health insurance reform bill to improve the quality of life for millions of American families. It will also control costs, improve Medicare, and reduce the deficit. If we do nothing, the health care system will continue to work better for the insurance companies than it does for the American people. Our plan gives people in my hometown of Sacramento more consumer protection and puts medical decisions back in the hands of patients and their doctors. Insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage based on preexisting conditions or from rescinding policies from people once they're sick. I've heard so many personal stories from my constituents who are struggling to make ends meet and who are burdened by the current insurance market. Tim Sullivan called my office 2 days ago. Tim is a small business person who lives day to day in fear of losing his insurance because, as someone who has glaucoma, his rates are going up and up every single year. Tim called me to ask why the current system discouraged entrepreneurs, average Americans with a brilliant idea who can't go out on their own because they can't afford their own insurance. For millions of Americans like Tim, we have created insurance exchanges that will help him get the same buying power as big business or a Member of Congress. Elizabeth Bell recently graduated from college and does not yet have a full-time job with benefits. She reached the age where she was dropped from her parents' plan and now has to pay expensive monthly premiums. Elizabeth wrote to ask, What would I do if I didn't have insurance? For Elizabeth and millions of Americans like her, our health care bill allows young adults to stay on their parents' plans through their 26th birthday. The current system is not working for Tim or Elizabeth or millions more Americans in districts throughout our country. And if it is not working for them, Mr. Speaker, it is not working for me. And that is why I'll be proud to cast my vote for the bill before us today.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the significant benefits our health care bill will have on American women. Simply put, the health care bill will provide more security, higher quality care, and is a better deal for America's daughters, mothers, and grandmothers. In the current health care system, women often face higher health care costs than men and multiple other barriers to obtain health insurance. Fewer women are eligible for employer-based coverage, and comprehensive coverage in the individual health care market is often unavailable, prohibitively expensive, or excludes key services that women need. As a result, many women are either uninsured or underinsured and simply cannot afford their health care costs. This affects individual women, their families, and their businesses. For all these reasons, it is imperative that we pass health insurance reform legislation and provide all Americans with the quality health care they deserve at a cost they can afford. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to joining my colleagues in doing so this week.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise in tribute to Bill Powers as he is honored with the prestigious Carino Award from the California Alliance for Retired Americans. A tireless advocate for seniors', renters', workers' rights and health care for all, Bill is more than deserving of this acknowledgment. On behalf of the people of Sacramento and the Fifth Congressional District of California, I ask that all my colleagues join me in honoring his service and many remarkable accomplishments. For over forty years, Bill Powers has advocated for the protection of the rights and lives of those whom policymakers far too often tend to forget. As a founding member of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) and as their lead volunteer lobbyist, Bill has helped CARA grow into a strong organization that ensures seniors and health care issues are at the forefront of policymakers' minds. As the lead volunteer advocate in Sacramento, Bill has trained and mentored dozens of CARA members who have followed him into advocacy. The Carino Award was created to honor individuals and organizations who have demonstrated their commitment to improving the quality of life for seniors and their families. Bill is most deserving of this honor as he has continuously gone the extra mile to improve the quality of life for seniors, families and working people. After retiring from the Western Center on Law and Poverty, Bill began volunteering with the Gray Panthers, Older Women's League, AARP, and the Congress of California Seniors before becoming a founding board member with CARA. Prior to his work with seniors' organizations, Bill had a passion for affordable housing. Before he moved to Washington, DC, Bill helped to build the first affordable housing development in Germantown, Philadelphia. While working in our nation's capital, he advocated for increased affordable housing at a national level by working for the National Housing Law Center and the Housing Assistance Council. Today, he continues his advocacy with the California Coalition for Rural Housing. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the numerous contributions made by Bill Powers during his lifetime of service to the people of our nation. Throughout his career he has worked to further causes he believes in and has touched many people's lives. As he enters the next phase in his life, and his wife Gloria; three children Anne, Susan and Steve; and six grandchildren, gather to celebrate his inspiring commitment to justice and fairness, I ask all my colleagues to join me in thanking my friend, Bill Powers, for his public service, and to wish him success in his future endeavors.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Thank you very much, dear colleague, and I really appreciate being the cochair with you. We certainly have the passion for our senior citizens, and I believe that most of America understands that, too. But I rise today to recognize significant benefits that the emerging health care bill will have on American seniors. Simply put, the health care bill will put forth, provides a better deal for America's seniors than our current system. Our health care plan takes great strides towards improving the quality of care our seniors receive. For starters, our bill eliminates copayments and deductibles for preventative services under the Medicare program. This is crucially important because we know that many seniors are not getting the preventative care they need and are often foregoing tests because they're too worried about the costs. The sad fact is one out of every five women over the age of 50 has not had a mammogram in 2 years. Also, more than a third of adults over the age of 50 have never had a colonoscopy. Without our bill's investments in primary care and its improved access to preventive care under Medicare, beneficiaries will continue to lose access. We are going to reverse this trend with the bill we pass this week. Madam Speaker, we all know that preventative care is good for the health of individual patients and it's good for the overall health of our system, but without doctors to treat Medicare beneficiaries, the entire system structure, the systemic structure just collapses. That is why our legislation creates a more immediate pathway for more primary care doctors, the doctors that stay with you for a lifetime and know your medical history. Primary care doctors are the backbone of Medicare and of our system in general, and our bill gives medical students incentives to go into primary care. These include grants for primary care training as well as incentives under Medicare for primary care doctors to practice in areas that currently have a shortage. Right now, we know that we need many more primary care doctors in this country. The shortage is exacerbated by the high cost of education, which pushes more and more medical students into specialty fields and strains Medicare. Today, about 12 million Americans lack access to primary care doctors in their community, but by providing immediate support for primary care physicians, we can help minimize these shortages and restore the promise of Medicare. Our bill also emphasizes coordinated care so that people can avoid unnecessary tests. It provides incentives for doctors to work together to provide seniors with high quality care that every American needs and deserves. This bill is about strengthening Medicare for America's seniors and restoring the confidence that we have in our health care system. We know that we have the best doctors and hospitals in the world. In my hometown of Sacramento, we have models of care coordination and chronic disease management that are the envy of other cities across this country. But when seniors, especially in Sacramento, are splitting pills because they can't afford to refill their prescriptions and skipping meals to make ends meet, this system is not working. And one of the surest ways to help us get back on track is to close the doughnut hole that affects millions of seniors every single day. Between 2009 and 2010, monthly prices in the doughnut hole increased by 5 percent or more for half of the 10 most popular brand-name drugs. This means that brand-name drugs in the doughnut hole became more expensive relative to the medical care of other goods. And this is not just a recent phenomenon. Between 2006 and 2010, prices for popular brand-name drugs in the doughnut hole went up more than 20 percent. This means that America's seniors are being forced to spend a greater percentage of their fixed, disposable income on brand-name drugs. This is why it is so important for us to pass the health insurance reform bill, which will start closing the doughnut hole this year and completely close it within 10 years Madam Speaker, American seniors deserve more than the status quo. Our plan for health care reform will extend the solvency of Medicare, lower seniors' costs for prescription drugs by beginning to close the doughnut hole, improve the quality of seniors' care with better coordination among doctors, cover the cost of preventive care for Medicare patients, and expand home- and community-based services to keep people in their homes. America's seniors deserve the best possible health care we can provide. And that's what our health care plan will do, ensure access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Madam Speaker, I thank my wonderful colleague, and I yield back time to her.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Reclaiming my time, Madam Speaker, I want to say that the motion to concur with the amendment that is made in order under this rule is a very simple one that will bring the bill into compliance with statutory pay-as-you-go rules. It changes very little, as Mr. Oberstar says, with the underlying bill which was intended to create jobs and spur hiring by America's small businesses. Delaying this package of job-creation measures today would delay our ability to get Americans back to work. Time is not on our side, which is why we have to act quickly here today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).

Ms. MATSUI. I reserve my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, before I yield to my next speaker, I just want to point out my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are quite concerned that we are using same-day authority before the end of a session. In the 109th Congress, when the Republicans were in the majority, the Rules Committee reported two same-day rules in March and early April. These were hardly end-of-the-session times, Madam Speaker, and they had nothing to do with reviving our economy. These particular same-day rules were about the Federal Government interfering in a case of Terri Schiavo. Now, without reopening that divisive debate, I just want to say that the issues we are dealing with today under this same- day rule are important to the lives of millions of Americans. With that, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, calling up and passing rules using same-day authority is a legitimate legislative tool, with precedent. In the 109th Congress, when the Republicans had the majority, when they passed the fiscal year 2006 budget resolution, same-day authority was used to bring it before the House. During debate on that rule, the then chairman of the Rules Committee called it ``a very fair rule.'' That was followed by Mr. Dreier's assertion that ``Members have had a great deal of time over the past several weeks and months to focus on this issue. Let us continue what we have done throughout this great 109th Congress--get the work of the American people done.'' Madam Speaker, getting the work of the American people done is exactly what we aim to do today by passing the jobs bill under an expedited procedure. Creating jobs must be our top priority, until we get our economy completely back on track and put more Americans back to work. The legislation we are considering today had bipartisan support in the Senate, with 13 Senate Republicans voting for this much-needed jobs package. That bill was not even paid for. Well, the House version is and has full PAYGO language included. The jobs package includes key provisions to spur job creation and investment in our workforce. It includes a new jobs payroll extension, offering employers exemption from paying Social Security payroll taxes for hiring new workers who were previously unemployed. This specific provision is estimated to create an additional 250,000 jobs alone. The bill also provides relief to small businesses by allowing them to write off more of the costs of their 2010 expenditures. The package extends the Highway Trust Fund for 15 months for existing highway programs to allow for billions to be invested in infrastructure projects and make a real difference in communities across our country. The bill also expands the Build America bonds to allow States and local governments to borrow at lower costs to finance infrastructure projects and put more Americans to work. Together with the ongoing investment by the Recovery Act, this jobs package will further incentivize and spur job creation and economic growth in this country. This Congress must continue to invest wisely in proposals that will train our workers, create new, good-paying jobs, grow our economy, and rebuild the middle class. Madam Speaker, we must lead by example and demonstrate our continued commitment to help our middle class families, our seniors, and the economy move forward. 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.

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1137 provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2847, the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act. The rule makes in order a motion offered by the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, or his designee, that the House concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment with the amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the motion, except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides the Senate amendment and the motion shall be considered as read. The rule provides 1 hour of debate on the motion equally divided and controlled by the Chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. Madam Speaker, in today's economy, many families are struggling to make ends meet. As we know, the economic recession began in 2008 as a direct result of reckless and irresponsible financial decisions. We are still dealing with the wreckage today. Over the last few years, I have heard countless stories of people struggling to put food on the table, pay their mortgages, and provide for their children, and millions of America's seniors are making decisions every day to skip meals or cut their pills in half just to survive. California and, in particular, my constituents in Sacramento, have been greatly impacted by this economic crisis. Many of my constituents were and continue to be victims of predatory home loan lending, unfair credit card practices, payday loans, and other forms of unscrupulous business practices. They turned to Congress for help, and we responded with the CARD Act. And the ink was hardly dry on that legislation before credit card companies tried to find loopholes to arbitrarily raise credit card interest rates and fees on consumers. This Congress also passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which will bring much-needed oversight and accountability to Wall Street. This bill also creates a new consumer financial protection agency to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive financial practices. Meanwhile, small businesses are seeking assistance to help make payroll, retain their employees, and pay for the skyrocketing costs of health insurance. These are the reasons why it is time to once again put the American people first and provide them with the support they need from their Representatives in Congress. We need to pass the jobs bill before us today as a significant step towards helping hardworking Americans get back to work. The American people are hurting, and the top priority of this administration and this Congress must be jobs, jobs, jobs. In December, the House passed a jobs package, the Jobs for Main Street Act that would make $156 billion in targeted investments in our economy. The projects supported by this bill will improve our highways and transit infrastructure, renovate schools, and help small businesses rebuild, support job training initiatives, and affordable housing programs. While the jobs package we are considering today is not as broad as the version passed by this House, it is an important step in the right direction and one we cannot afford not to enact. Today's bill is one that I hope will be the first of a series of job creation proposals that we will consider in the coming weeks and months because the reality is that the unemployment rate in this country is at an unacceptable level of 9.7 percent, and this bill will help incentivize employers to start hiring immediately. Already the Recovery Act, put forth by congressional Democrats, has saved or created more than 2 million jobs. That is according to CBO. The Recovery Act has clearly helped us rebound from this recession and saved us from the brink of another Great Depression. The Recovery Act has greatly benefited my district and the entire Sacramento region, providing almost $700 million for dozens of projects. Such projects include $21 million for improving and enhancing Sacramento's levees from flood protection, public transportation facilities, developing clean energy technology, and hiring 30 new officers at the Sacramento Police Department. It is also helping struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure, investing in new community health facilities, and the list does go on and on and on. My constituents can see where and how every dollar is being spent in our district by visiting my Web site. One of the most important results of the Recovery Act is that it helps school districts minimize budget cuts. However, as the economy declines, school districts are now considering shorter school years, larger class sizes, and looking to lay off teachers. We cannot let this happen. So our path towards economic recovery must continue to invest in our Nation's workforce to spur additional job creation, innovation and long-term economic growth. And by supporting the rule and the underlying bill, we will do just that. I have heard from small business owners who are eager to be connected to business counseling and resources, to learn more about financing opportunities, SBA loan products, and government contracting opportunities. There is a great demand for immediate and real assistance for our small businesses to get back on their feet and for workers to get back into the labor market. Over the last few months, I have held two small business workshops to help existing small business owners understand the recovery legislation, obtain financing, and find new opportunities for government programs. And I have seen firsthand how eager people are to start working again or get retrained in new fields and to take an active part in our country's economic recovery. The proposal before us today offers a key strategic tax incentive for employers to hire new workers. The proposal would exempt employers from paying Social Security taxes through the end of this year for hiring new workers who have been out of work for at least 60 days. If the newly hired workers remain on the payroll for at least a year, the bill provides an additional $1,000 income tax credit to employers. This new hiring tax credit could spur as many as 250,000 jobs, according to leading economists. To help small businesses, the proposal offers an immediate writeoff, up to $250,000 for equipment purchased this year. To invest in additional transportation infrastructure, the proposal extends the Highway Trust Fund, otherwise known as SAFETEA-LU, for 15 months to pay for transportation projects ready to break ground. Using the rule of thumb in highway contracting where every $1 billion in transportation spending creates about 35,000 jobs, this $77 billion investment means that more than 2 million jobs will be retained or created, including high-quality jobs in the construction and building trades. Finally, the bill expands the Build America Bonds Program to allow investors to claim Federal subsidies up to 45 percent of the borrowing cost for bonds issued for public works projects. There is no doubt that this package will incentivize and spur much- needed job creation and economic growth in our neighborhoods and communities. And to my colleagues, concerned, as I am, that this bill does not go far enough to create jobs, I want to be clear that this is the first in a series of steps we will be taking to continue to get the economy back on track. Together with the continued economic assistance of the Recovery Act, we are laying the groundwork for continued job creation and future economic growth to lead us to our prosperity. It is my hope that this Congress continues to find new ways to get Americans back to work, stabilize our economy, and help rebuild our middle class. This is not the end of our work, but it is a critical step forward for the American people. I, therefore, urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. I would like to say this job creation package has been discussed in the headlines and the Halls of Congress for weeks now. In addition, the pay-fors that are proposed here have been debated numerous times in the House previously. There are no surprises here.

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I just want to say that I just received this amendment as well this morning. It is fairly short, 15 pages, double-spaced. I read it, and it took less than 10 minutes for me to see that the amendment was fully paid for.

Ms. MATSUI. I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 1137.

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1137 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.