Doris Matsui

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz- Balart). All time yielded during consideration of this rule is for debate only. I yield myself such time as I may consume. General Leave

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chair, I would like to begin my remarks today by thanking Chairman Oberstar for his work on this critical issue. He has been a champion for our country's infrastructure. Whether it is wastewater, roads, bridges, dams, or levees, Chairman Oberstar has been the one to fight for the funding we need to keep our country running smoothly. When it is working properly, our wastewater system is not something that we think about very often. But the minute something goes wrong, wastewater instantly becomes the most important issue of all. In my hometown of Sacramento, the city has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade the combined sewer system in our central city. Using funding provided from the Federal Government, Sacramento has renovated older pumps, built treatment plants, and increased storage. The price of clean water and healthy ecosystems is high, Mr. Chair. But the benefits they provide to our society are even greater. And that is why I am so supportive of the legislation before us today. It authorizes $13.8 billion worth of wastewater infrastructure projects that will help keep my district's streets and waterways free of sewage and sludge. This funding will help make Sacramento even more livable than it already is. It will also create quality jobs in my district which are sorely needed. For too long, we have lived off the infrastructure built in decades past. Now it is our turn to invest in the future of our infrastructure, in the health of our communities, and in the quality of our water. I urge support for the rule and for the underlying bill.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, on February 19th, this nation will recognize the 67th Anniversary of the ``Day of Remembrance.'' This was the day in 1942 that President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of over 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry. The President's decision to intern Americans was an avoidable consequence of racial prejudice and wartime hysteria. The government at all levels was blinded by war, and made decisions that were contrary to our Constitution. The failure of each branch of government to uphold the rights of individuals must be taught so that future generations resist succumbing to the politics of fear. Because of one of the darkest periods of our Nation's history, we learned of the damage that can be done when we let the politics of fear cloud our judgment. Congress has not only recognized a Day of Remembrance, but it also supports and funds assembly center and internment site preservation as a physical reminder of past inequality. Today, we recognize the historical significance of the Merced Assembly Center, located in Merced, California, where 4,669 Japanese- Americans were detained prior to being transferred to internment sites. My dear friend and colleague, Congressman Mike Honda, was held at the Merced Assembly Center prior to being interned. It is important to preserve these sites to ensure that future generations can learn from past events in order to prevent anything like this from ever occurring again. The unveiling of the Merced Assembly Center on February 21, will allow the site to serve as a place for remembering the hardships endured by Japanese-Americans. As we look back on a time in our Nation's history, and how our country has responded since, we should have hope for the future. Around the world, human rights violations continue unabated. Yet, we can combat this by working with a single purpose towards a future wherein every person, regardless of race, gender, nationality or creed enjoys equal treatment in this world. And today, 67 years after the signing of Executive Order 9066, we must renew our commitment to bringing these rights to all people. Though the internment remains one of the darkest periods in our Nation's history, preservations like the Merced Assembly Center help to remind us of the distinctly American power of redemption. Our collective commitment to fairness and justice is the only way to prevent such a blatant form of injustice from ever becoming a reality again.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, it is clear that our economy is in peril. For months, the House of Representatives has been working to develop solutions to revive the job market, to keep people in their homes and to restore faith in the American economy. We have held substantive hearings and markups. We have debated the merits of different proposals. We have listened to nonpartisan expert testimony on what the Federal Government can do to save the jobs we have and to create millions more. I have listened to and have participated in this debate, and I have weighed the opinions of the experts, but when I consider the package before us today, I think mainly of the people in my district who are suffering. I think of families in my district who are living on food stamps. I think of seniors who can no longer afford to see a doctor when they're sick. I think of the new mother who has just been laid off and who is not sure if she can pay her mortgage next month. I think of Francisca Monterjano. Francisca lost most of her 401(k) when the stock market crashed last year. She lined up outside of Raley Field earlier this month, along with thousands of my constituents, eager for part-time work even though she is retired. Francisca and the rest of my constituents have spoken, Madam Speaker. They have told me clearly: We need this package. We need the unemployment benefits and the increased access to health care that it represents. We need the nearly 4 million jobs it will save or create. 7,800 of those jobs will be in my district alone, and many of these will be in the clean energy industry that will drive our future economy. We need the public transit and flood protection infrastructure that the bill will provide. We need the investment in primary and secondary education that will help train our children for work in the jobs of the future, and we need the tax relief that this bill contains. Today's package is a product of compromise and of negotiation. It is not perfect. Yet the state of our economy is too bleak not to act now. Millions of people across our country are suffering too much for this House to shy away from its responsibility to lead. Now is not the time for partisan bickering or for political gain. Now is the time for action, for leadership. So today, Madam Speaker, I choose to lead by casting my vote in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, it's a privilege to stand here today to honor a man who is so many things to this body: public servant, respected legislator, champion of the working family, colleague, counsel, and friend. Above all, John Dingell is a legend in the halls of the Capitol. He fought bravely in World War II and performed so admirably that he rose to the rank of second lieutenant. Yet, by the end of the war, John's service to this country was just beginning. He probably did not expect that he would serve in this body for more than half a century. Longevity is impressive, particularly in a hard-nose business like politics. But what makes John's tenure here so significant is not how long he's served, but what he has accomplished during his tenure. Thousands and thousands of children and families across this country have lived healthier lives because of laws written by John Dingell. Workers and consumers enjoy protections today that they never had before John came along. It's been an honor for me to serve with John as he burnishes his legacy on the Energy and Commerce Committee. He's achieved this feat while staying true to the values that drew him to public service: fairness, justice, hard work, and loyalty. And we cannot think about John without thinking about Debbie, the love of his life. Their partnership is an inspiration for all of us, and we honor them both. Congratulations, John, on this honor and achieving this milestone. We look forward to many, many more.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. I want to thank the gentlelady from New York for yielding me time, our leader on the Rules Committee. Madam Speaker, everyone here knows the dire state of our economy. I have talked with and listened to many of my constituents in Sacramento who are struggling to make ends meet. They are facing layoffs, furloughs, foreclosure, unpaid medical bills and a lack of support to help them in this crucial time. Last month, the Greater Sacramento unemployment rate rose six-tenths of a point to 8.7 percent, the highest monthly job loss since 1993. Approximately 4,700 jobs were cut in the region just that month. And also last month, the State of California suffered the third biggest monthly job loss since the end of World War II. That is why my colleagues and I have been working to develop this economic recovery package. This package includes historic investment in clean technology, transportation infrastructure, flood protection and our children's education. It also goes to great lengths to assist our States in these difficult times with unemployment, Medicaid and COPS funding. These investments will help important priorities in my city and region as well as across the State. Sacramento needs urgent funding to strengthen levees on the Sacramento and American Rivers, make renovations at Sacramento State University and our local schools, invest in Sacramento Regional Transit's light rail and bus, improve the terminal at Sacramento International and work to improve Sacramento Municipal Utility District's electric grid. We also have progress to be made on the downtown intermodal station and the accompanying relocation of the downtown rail lines. I am glad that all of these important projects will be eligible for funding under this package. Each project will improve our city and create jobs that will stimulate the economy. This legislation will go to great lengths to help Sacramento's 8.7 percent unemployment rate. I also understand that Sacramento will receive, actually California will receive about $4 billion in education funding, something our State desperately needs. Another key investment in this package is our Nation's broadband. It is unacceptable that our country has progressively fallen behind in broadband deployment. This new investment will ensure that every American can access information so they can achieve the American Dream. Of significant importance to Sacramento is flood protection. The constant threat of flooding makes it more urgent than ever that the Federal Government commit to flood protection infrastructure. I am encouraged that this bill includes $2 billion to fund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction account. This money will help restore levees in my district and other flood control infrastructure across the country. I know that there needs more to be done especially in the Natomas area of Sacramento. And I look forward to working with Chairman Obey and Chairman Visclosky to continue their commitment to the Corps and ensure that adequate resources are dedicated to flood protection and public safety. Madam Speaker, we need to address this economic crisis head-on. This package is a substantial step forward. As we have heard from experts on both sides of the aisle, on both sides of the political spectrum, this will not cure our economy's problems. But it will begin to ensure that hardworking Americans get back to work and back on track.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Castor).

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment, along with Representative Kathy Castor, to help homeowners across our country. Our amendment expresses the sense of the Congress that financial institutions who receive future TARP funds should not foreclose on any principal homeowner until the new loan modification program in the bill is implemented and deemed fully operational. Mr. Chairman, the foreclosure crisis is the root cause of our current economic crisis. Sadly, there is no end in sight. Right now, more than 8 million homeowners are expected to face foreclosure over the next 4 years. That is one in six mortgages in the United States. The rising unemployment will cause even more Americans to face foreclosure. California, and in particular my home district of Sacramento, has been greatly impacted by the foreclosure crisis. I've hosted foreclosure workshops. I've seen the hardships and looks of desperation on so many faces not knowing if they will lose their home. At one workshop, I was approached by a woman that had a loan through one of the financial institutions that had taken TARP funds. When we met, she had been talking to the bank's representatives for a few months to no avail. She was one step from losing her home. It took her dozens of phone calls and letters over many months for her and the bank to settle on a new loan. I worry that without a true moratorium on foreclosures, people like her will not be as lucky. Similar situations are occurring throughout the country. Congress must use all of our available resources to keep Americans in their homes. The bill we're considering today calls for the strongest foreclosure prevention program to date. It requires the Treasury and the FDIC to develop a comprehensive systemic loan modification program by April 1. However, that is more than 3 months away, and the plan is estimated to take an additional month or two to become operational. In the meantime, thousands of homeowners could be foreclosed upon. Our goal is to help Main Street. It would be devastating if homeowners were foreclosed on before they had an opportunity to qualify for the new loan modification program under this bill. That is why I have offered my amendment with Congresswoman Castor that calls on the mortgage industry to implement a temporary timeout on foreclosures. Our constituents and businesses need breathing room to find solutions to help Americans stay in their home. I've been calling for a moratorium on foreclosures over the last 8 months. Last May, I introduced the Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act that calls for a 9-month moratorium on foreclosures for responsible homeowners. Yesterday, I reintroduced the same bill, along with Senator Menendez in the Senate. I will continue to actively pursue a meaningful moratorium on foreclosures in the coming days and months. Until then, a timeout in foreclosures is a necessary stop-gap measure that will give Congress, regulators, and homeowners some breathing room while everyone works to craft a fair, sensible, and lasting solution to the foreclosure crisis. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this amendment. I reserve the remainder of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the chairman of the committee.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me this time. Madam Speaker, I want to commend Chairman Waxman, Chairman Dingell, and Chairman Pallone for their efforts in crafting this bill. Madam Speaker, these are uncertain times. Families are struggling to make ends meet. Medical bankruptcy is on the rise. While the future may be cloudy, our responsibility to our Nation's children is clear. We are charged with ensuring that every child in America has affordable health care. Democrats in Congress take this responsibility seriously, Madam Speaker. So does President-elect Obama. And so do I. We take it seriously because of stories like the one told to me by a constituent of mine named Suzy. When Suzy's nephew was 1 year old, his mother no longer qualified for Medicaid. As a result, her little boy could not see a doctor for 6 months. Imagine 6 of anxiety and worry around high fevers, coughs, unexplained rashes, wondering if there was a serious illness involved. But once he was enrolled in SCHIP, Suzy's nephew got the care that he needed. Suzy put it best herself when she said, ``Children should never suffer because their parent or guardian cannot afford medical insurance.'' That is why today's legislation is so critical, Madam Speaker. During one of the most uncertain periods in our country's history, it says to 11 million of America's children that health care for you is guaranteed. It expands coverage for pregnant women and reverses arbitrary rules that keep needy children from health care they deserve. The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act is a victory for millions of children and their families. It's also a victory for us as a Nation. For when more of our children grow up healthy, our country is strengthened and the American Dream is preserved. I urge each of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 15) authorizing and directing the Committee on the Judiciary to inquire whether the House should impeach G. Thomas Porteous, a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, as amended.

Ms. MATSUI. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of this resolution.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 15 provides for a continuation of the authority provided in H. Res. 1448, as adopted by the House in the 110th Congress. H. Res. 15 states that in continuance of H. Res. 1448, the House directs the Committee on the Judiciary to inquire whether the House should impeach G. Thomas Porteous, a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 15.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me this time. I rise today to offer, along with my National Service Caucus co- Chairs, of which the gentleman from Pennsylvania is one, a resolution highlighting the men and women who inspire and actively pursue a better country, those who serve the communities on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Since 1994, we have celebrated the King holiday by making it ``a day on,'' not ``a day off,'' observing every third Monday in January as a national day of service. Dr. King's legacy guides us to work for equality and social justice, towards common understanding and shared experiences. Serving one's neighbor, one's community and our country allow every individual in our Nation to walk down the road with Dr. King, looking forward, continually focused on reaching the promised land. This coming Monday, millions of Americans will participate in thousands of already-planned events across this country. Thousands more will come to our Nation's capital to see history in the making and answer our President-elect's call to service. As we embark on a new era of optimism and hope for a better tomorrow, we should start our journey by not only observing change, but by honoring the legacy of Dr. King and actively creating it. I commend and join with President-elect Obama and Vice President- elect Biden in calling for a new attitude toward service in our country. When we ask what we can do for our country, the call shouldn't be answered only one day a year. It is my hope that this year's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of National Service marks a starting point that will continue throughout the year and engage millions of Americans in a new commitment to service. This year's national day of service promises to be larger than ever before. Efforts by the many service organizations, as well as the Presidential Inaugural Committee and the corporation for National and Community Service, have organized like never before. Right here on Capitol Hill, as has been previously mentioned, the organization America's Promise, along with the Corporation for National and Community Service, are sponsoring a food drive to support local food banks. These groups have utilized technology and the Internet to make opportunities easy to find and easy to do. The fact that this year's King Day of Service is one day before the inauguration of President-elect Obama provides a unique opportunity to reach millions of Americans with a message to serve. I ask my colleagues to join with me in promoting service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and encouraging all of those constituents, both at home and those traveling to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration, to serve. Thank you once again.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Howard Weaver's 40 years of service and journalistic integrity in the newspaper business. Mr. Weaver is retiring from the McClatchy Company leaving a lasting legacy in Sacramento where his leadership and expertise will be deeply missed. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring one of our Nation's finest journalists. After earning his bachelor's degree in social and behavioral sciences from Johns Hopkins University and his masters in philosophy from Cambridge, Mr. Weaver has spent more then three decades in the newspaper industry. He began his career in 1972 as a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. In 1977 he founded the Alaska Advocate, a statewide weekly newspaper. After the closure of the Alaska Advocate in 1979, Mr. Weaver returned to the Daily News as an editorial writer. He was named managing editor in 1981 and assumed full editorial responsibility in May 1983. During his tenure at the Anchorage Daily News, the newspaper won numerous awards including being named one of the world's 25 best designed newspapers, best sports section, and best feature writing. Mr. Weaver twice led the Anchorage Daily News to win Pulitzer Prizes. He was one of three reporters whose coverage of the Alaska Teamsters Union during construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline, ``Empire: The Alaska Teamsters Story,'' won the Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for Public Service in 1976. In 1989 he again was awarded prize for his work as editor and a lead writer on the Daily News' ``A People in Peril,'' coverage of alcoholism and suicide among Alaska Natives and has served as a Pulitzer Prize juror at the invitation of the Pulitzer Board four times. Mr. Weaver is the past president of the Alaska Newspaper Association and the Upper Yukon River Press Club and was a Distinguished Lecturer in Journalism at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. In 1995 Mr. Weaver moved to Sacramento to assume the position of assistant to the president for new media strategies at McClatchy Newspapers and was named editor of the editorial pages for the Sacramento Bee in 1997. Most recently he served as vice president of news and is senior editorial executive for the McClatchy Company. In addition, his writings have been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Time Magazine. While at McClatchy Newspapers, which publishes 31 daily and more than 50 community newspapers and related Web sites, the editorial pages in the Sacramento Bee were named best in California by the California Newspaper Publishers Association and individual editorials won the Best of the West competition. Mr. Weaver was primarily responsible for the opinion content at the Sacramento Bee and for many years he chaired the editorial board meetings at which the paper's editorial positions were decided. His excellent writing and years of expertise has ensured that Sacramento's residents continue to receive up-to-date accurate information about pressing issues in our communities and across the Nation. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Howard Weaver's distinguished commitment to the newspaper industry and keeping Sacramento's residents informed. Mr. Weaver's outstanding leadership and dedication to journalism has allowed the McClatchy Company and the Sacramento Bee to embrace new venues of media and the Internet. As Mr. Weaver's wife, Barbara, colleagues, family, and friends gather to honor his career, I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing him continued good fortune in his future endeavors.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Greater Sacramento Urban League's 40 years of service to the people of Sacramento. The Greater Sacramento Urban League's employment assistance and educational programs have been extremely beneficial to our youth and our community as a whole. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring one of Sacramento's finest non-profit organizations as they celebrate their 40th anniversary. Founded in 1968 the Greater Sacramento Urban League is one of the 105 affiliates of the National Urban League which has locations in 36 States across our Nation. During this time the Greater Sacramento Urban League has continued to advocate to ensure that African-Americans, other minorities and the underserved become economically self-reliant and are ensured their civil rights. By cultivating relationships with communities, corporations and government agencies the Greater Sacramento Urban League has been able to provide training to thousands of youth and adults in Sacramento County. The Greater Sacramento Urban League has been able to assist numerous Sacramentans find employment through their One Stop Career Center which provides application and resume assistance, as well as access to online resources to find employment. They also offer other employment assistance services, such as posting job openings, developing interview skills, and effective cover letter and dress-for-success tips. In addition to employment assistance, the Greater Sacramento Urban League offers emergency assistance to low income Sacramento residents that need help paying the power, rent, or phone bills. They also offer free bus service to and from appointments and G.E.D. preparation classes. In recent months they have been helping families avert foreclosure by hosting foreclosure prevention workshops. In short, the Greater Sacramento Urban League is always there for those who need them. The Greater Sacramento Urban League offers may programs that benefit Sacramento's youth as well. They offer after school tutoring to assist students with their homework and improve their math and reading skills. Their Sacramento Urban Youth Empowerment Program provides at-risk youths with tutoring, mentoring, job readiness training, youth employment placement, and basic computer skills to better prepare them for higher education and employment opportunities. For all of their efforts, the Greater Sacramento Urban League was awarded the national 2005 EPIC Award for Exemplary Public Interest Contribution by the United States Department of Commerce. The Greater Sacramento Urban League has prospered for the last 16 years under the excellent leadership of James Shelby who was instrumental in raising the funds needed to build its current home. With the leadership of Mr. Shelby and chairwoman Susan Irwin, I am confident the Greater Sacramento Urban League will continue to provide invaluable programs for our community. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the Greater Sacramento Urban League's distinguished commitment to our community and Sacramento's residents. The Greater Sacramento Urban League's dedication to equality, civil rights and workforce development has helped thousands of Sacramentans when they most needed it. We all are thankful for their efforts. As the Greater Sacramento Urban League's employees and partners gather to celebrate 40 years of service to the Sacramento region, I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing them continued success in the future.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Heather Fargo's twenty years of service to the people of Sacramento as mayor, council member, and community activist. On November 20th, Mayor Fargo, family and friends will gather to recognize her outstanding work, and I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring one of Sacramento's finest leaders. Heather Fargo has always had a strong sense of public service. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Planning and Management from the University of California, Davis, and went on to complete the State and Local Government Executive Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Before becoming mayor, she had a distinguished career at the California Department of Parks and Recreation. For over twenty years, Mayor Fargo has been a strong advocate for the development of the City of Sacramento and its neighborhoods. Early in Mayor Fargo's career in public service, she served as a board member of the Environmental Council of Sacramento, and was one of the founding members of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes urban forestry and shows how trees can make our communities more livable by reducing energy use, cleaning the air, and enhancing social and economic value. As mayor, she has transformed Sacramento into a ``green'' city with national recognition for being an environmentally sustainable city. First elected to the Sacramento City Council in 1989, Mayor Fargo played an active role in developing Sacramento's Natomas area, and redeveloping our downtown into a place where people can live, work and play. Under her leadership, Sacramento has become a national model for smart growth and infill development. After being elected as mayor in 2000, Mayor Fargo proved her dedication to Sacramento's future by creating the Sacramento Youth Commission and sponsoring youth mentoring, after school, and truancy prevention programs. She has given children the opportunity to take part in local policy development and express their views to community leaders. Mentors have been recruited to lead high school teens and help prepare them for successful lives after they graduate. Mayor Fargo implemented several city policies and programs to bring Sacramento's neighborhoods together, and foster a greater sense of community among its residents. This included public participation on major planning projects, informational workshops on city initiatives and effective outreach on key issues including flood protection, emergency preparedness and housing crisis assistance. She also led the successful efforts to increase funding for levee improvements. Mayor Fargo has helped unify our region through her leadership on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. As chair of SACOG, Mayor Fargo built relationships with neighboring cities on issues of importance to our region, especially transportation and air quality issues. She also was a leader with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and currently is president of the League of California Cities. Madam Speaker, as Mayor Heather Fargo, her family and friends gather on this occasion, I am honored to pay tribute to one of Sacramento's most distinguished citizens and community leaders. Her successes have been many, and it is an honor for me to recognize her for her more than two decades of contributions to the people of Sacramento. I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing Mayor Heather Fargo continued success in her future.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding me time and I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. I listened to my constituents' concerns about this rescue plan and throughout this debate it has become clear that Congress must act to restore our credit markets. If we don't, we risk further putting jobs and the financial security of hardworking Americans at risk. Small businesses will have a difficult time making payroll to pay their employees. Hardworking Americans will see their savings and retirement funds diminish. Americans will have a difficult time buying a home, sending their children to college or just making ends meet. This plan is a revised plan. It's not the same three-page plan the Secretary of the Treasury brought to us. It is not simply a blank check to Wall Street. I am glad that this plan includes many safeguards that are important to my constituents: Independent oversight board to ensure transparency and accountability of taxpayer money. A plan to help foreclosures that are devastating our families, neighbors and communities. And we will also do more beyond this, too. Limits on excessive compensation for CEOs and executives. And allowing taxpayers to share in any profits resulting from the government's help. Madam Speaker, this is not a perfect plan and I know it's going to be a hard vote, but the risk of inaction is too great.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, on October 2, 2008, the California Reinvestment Coalition, an organization that works to bring financial and housing services to low-income communities, will be honoring four community heroes for their efforts in making homeownership and financial independence a reality for many of Sacramento's residents. These heroes are: Elaine Abelaye of Asian Resources Inc., Ken Cross of Sacramento Habitat for Humanity, Mike Himes of NeighborWorks Sacramento, and Ron Javor of the California Department of Housing and Community Development. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring these distinguished individuals. Elaine Abelaye has demonstrated true leadership and commitment to the social, community and economic development needs of low-income individuals and families in Sacramento. Her leadership has led to the development of the Dare to Dream Entrepreneurship Development and Financial Literacy Education programs for the local Hmong and Vietnamese communities. Elaine has shown true dedication to providing multiple services needed in the Sacramento area. She has truly empowered community members to become a vital part of our changing and diverse society. Ken Cross has substantially increased production of housing for very low-income households in Sacramento. Under Ken's leadership, Sacramento Habitat for Humanity runs the ReStore, a building material recycler that sells second-hand and donated building materials. He has also been a strong advocate in promoting the policies that produce affordable and inclusionary housing. Ken's personal approach makes him a great advocate for Sacramento's neediest families. Mike Himes has demonstrated his dedication to helping families achieve successful, long-term homeownership. When the foreclosure crisis began to pound on the door of the region, Mike and his colleagues at NeighborWorks Sacramento led the way to create and promote many different collaborative relationships to assist borrowers. Mike is a smart, patient and outstanding individual who deserves recognition for his many personal and professional contributions. His expertise, strong principles and commitment are shown each time he helps a family. Ron Javor has worked tirelessly for decades within state government and the community to improve access to safe, affordable and accessible housing for lower-income households. Ron has worked consistently to develop and improve state programs that serve the neediest Californians. As a community activist, he helped found the Sacramento Housing Alliance and serves on many local nonprofit boards. He has been a strong voice in local efforts to ensure that local governments meet their obligations to adequately serve the homeless and lower-income households. Madam Speaker, because of the efforts of the California Reinvestment Coalition and community leaders like Elaine Abelaye, Ken Cross, Mike Himes, and Ron Javor, low-income communities and communities of color have access to fair and equal housing, banking and other financial services. It is my sincere hope the coalition and the outstanding people noted today will continue to serve the people of Sacramento for many years to come, and mentor the next generation of community leaders.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my colleague and dear friend Representative Mike McNulty on his upcoming retirement, and compliment his two decades of honorable service in the House, and nearly 40 years serving in elected office. His absence from the House will be felt, and I wish him happiness and success for the future and the successes it is sure to bring. For 20 years Congressman McNulty has served his New York district with integrity and the utmost concern for his constituents and their communities. In his nearly 40 years serving those communities, Michael has always advocated for intelligent and just solutions to the issues that touch his constituent's lives. As a mayor and New York State Legislator, Congressman McNulty advocated for improvements in substance-abuse education and prevention and fought for his communities' infrastructure and economic improvements. As a member of the House he has continued this advocacy on not only local issues, but humanitarian as well. He has been a leader on issues of human rights, hunger, poverty, and international affairs. In 2006, Mike was re- elected with nearly 78 percent of the vote, a well-deserved affirmation by his constituents of a job and career well done. Congressman McNulty is a fairminded and level-headed individual who brought a wealth of experience and insight to his seat as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security. His character is one of deliberate and thoughtful decision making, based on insight and a true understanding of his district and our country. He is an ever dependable friend and a colleague I greatly respect. I had the opportunity to serve last year with Mike as a Helsinki Commissioner, and visited Kyiv, working to further address continued humanitarian issues there. His work, our discussions and the successes we walked away with were exemplary of his high level of understanding and his personal attention to the challenges that the people of the region continue to face. While I know that Congressman McNulty will be greatly missed by his colleagues here, I also know that his character and passion for a better world will only lend itself to continued service and continued good work. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in congratulating Congressman McNulty, and wishing him our best for his future.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Protection & Advocacy Inc. for their 30 years of advocacy in California on behalf of the disabled. Following the 1975 reports of abuse and neglect at a State institute called Willowbrook, Congress mandated and began to fund Protection and Advocacy systems across the Nation. In 1978, Protection & Advocacy Inc. was created as a nonprofit to advance human and legal rights of those with disabilities. The spirit and dedication of Protection & Advocacy Inc. still lives in their daily work. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring some of California's finest citizens. For the past 30 years, Protection & Advocacy Inc. has advocated for Californians with disabilities that had been traditionally underserved. Since their first office opened in 1978 in my hometown of Sacramento, Protection & Advocacy Inc. has grown into 26 satellite offices throughout California. With more than 200 staff members, Protection & Advocacy Inc. provides services and information at community events, trainings and conferences. In order to properly represent the diverse community they serve, the staff members speak 15 different languages and more than half of their staff lives with disabilities themselves. Today, Protection & Advocacy Inc. is the largest disability advocacy agency in the Nation. It will soon be renamed Disability Rights California in order to more accurately reflect their mission. As a response to congressional findings of abuse and neglect of individuals in residential care facilities, the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act was enacted in 1986. This allowed Protection & Advocacy Inc. the opportunity to provide legal representation to persons with psychiatric disabilities and conduct investigations of abuse and neglect. Protection & Advocacy Inc, strives to create an inclusive society. In 1993 they became a cross disability advocacy agency when Congress extended their role to protect and advocate for those who were not eligible for services under other programs. Their work now also focuses on improving daily life for people living with disabilities. This includes strengthening access to justice, correcting wrongs, enforcing rights, training individuals on self-advocacy and legal protections, public education, and building collaboration across advocacy groups. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the Protection & Advocacy Inc's distinguished commitment to the well-being of the disabled community. Over the last 30 years, they have expanded their mission with the changing times and have been true champions of those living with disabilities. As the Protection & Advocacy Inc.'s staff, supporters, and constituents gather together to celebrate the organization's 30th anniversary, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their outstanding work on behalf of Californians with disabilities.