Jerry McNerney

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by Mr. Cardoza. He and I are fortunate to represent San Joaquin County in California, which is home to many, many miles of levees and waterways. His amendment is especially important to our constituents. While the ``residual risk'' section of H.R. 1309 may be well intended, I believe it should be removed. We all believe that homeowners living in high-risk areas for flooding should have an insurance policy, but this language is overly broad and will hurt my constituents. I've consulted closely with flood control officials from my district who share this concern and have expressed strong support for this amendment. Our country is experiencing tough economic times, and we should take great care to protect homeowners from unnecessary burdens. Our homeowners are losing their homes; let's not give them an extra burden that will send many of them into the street. I am proud to rise in support of this amendment offered by my colleague, Mr. Cardoza, which will significantly improve the bill we are considering today.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Disabled American Veterans (DAV)--Department of California on the occasion of its 90th anniversary. Founded in 1921, the DAV--Department of California has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of service-connected disabled veterans and their families. Service officers from the DAV--Department of California offer critical support to our state's service-connected disabled veterans. The service officers--many of whom are disabled veterans themselves-- help veterans apply for disability compensation as well as the pension, health, and education benefits they've earned. They also volunteer their time at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and rehabilitation centers, and they help disabled veterans find jobs and secure scholarships to pay for college. In the area I represent, the Disabled American Veterans George E. Morey Chapter 59 hosts an annual Memorial Day ceremony in Lodi to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Another local chapter in my district, the Disabled American Veterans Al Jordan Chapter 15, provides food coupons to disabled veterans during the holiday season. This group also focuses on community outreach and awareness by holding an annual picnic in Stockton for disabled veterans and their families, an event which I have attended. The Disabled American Veterans--Department of California's work is just as important today as when the organization was first established 90 years ago. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Disabled American Veterans--Department of California on the occasion of its 90th anniversary for its exceptional service to our Nation's disabled veterans.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. McNERNEY. I am opposed.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer an important motion to recommit to H.R. 910. My motion is a straightforward amendment to guarantee that America's most vulnerable children and seniors, including children with asthma and lung diseases, can be protected from the Nation's biggest polluters. The Clean Air Act became law at a time when our cities were enveloped in smog. And since then, the act has stopped the most egregious polluters and improved public health. This motion is a substantial, important amendment, and if passed, the motion allows a vote to immediately proceed on final passage of H.R. 910. We can reduce air pollution in a way that will create jobs, strengthen our economy, bolster our national defense, and improve the health of our children. I am gravely concerned that H.R. 910 will threaten the health and safety of our most vulnerable Americans. There's a clear connection between air pollution and respiratory diseases, and the motion I'm offering makes sure that our children can lead healthy lives. Asthma is an especially serious threat to America's children. This problem is national in scope, but my home State is uniquely affected. I'm honored to represent part of California's San Joaquin Valley, but, unfortunately, the air quality is a persistent challenge in our communities. In fact, as many as one in five children in the valley have been diagnosed with asthma. My own son and daughter developed the condition when they moved to an area of California's Central Valley with hot temperatures and poor air quality. I know from personal experience how vitally important it is to make sure our kids have fresh, healthy air. I'm confident that every Member of this body shares my desire to reduce the incidence of asthma among America's children. Keeping our children healthy is not a partisan issue. Fighting for the health, happiness, and well-being of our children unites us as citizens, as parents, as friends, and as neighbors. But the statistics are sobering. According to the American Lung Association, asthma affects more than 7 million children, and more than 4 million of those children suffer from an asthma attack each year. Asthma kills 5,000 people each year in the United States and causes 14 million missed school days annually. Treating asthma costs our country more than $20 billion every year. In fact, every day in America, 40,000 people miss work or school due to asthma; 30,000 people have an asthma attack; and 11 die from asthma. These are real children, real people. That is why I am offering this simple, straightforward motion to recommit today. My proposal is a commonsense improvement that makes sure that our country preserves the ability to protect the air quality for our children and seniors. The text of the motion is very clear, and explicitly says that our goal is to protect children with asthma and lung disease from the effects of air pollution. I also want to make one other point clear. Just as I know that every Member of this body cares about the health and well-being of America's children, I also know that we care about our country's economic recovery. Many in this Chamber feel passionately that we should do everything that we can to make sure that small businesses and family farms can grow and prosper without facing unnecessary regulatory burdens. I am proud to represent a district with a rich agricultural history, and I want everyone to know that this motion protects family farmers and small businesses. This motion is explicitly limited in scope to large facilities that emit 70,000 tons or more of carbon annually. In closing, I ask my friends and colleagues in the majority to reflect on what this amendment says and what your vote will mean. The amendment simply says that ``nothing in the act shall limit the authority of the EPA to protect the health of vulnerable children and seniors from the effects of air pollution.'' What can be more simple than that? I ask my colleagues to do the right thing for our children and seniors and support this motion to recommit. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Chair, I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 910. Let's be crystal clear about two things. The bill we are considering today, which I will call the dirty air act, is an attack on science, and it's bad policy that will harm the American people. The world's scientific experts overwhelmingly agree that climate change is happening, it's primarily caused by human activities, and it has harmful consequences. However, despite our disagreements about the merits of H.R. 910, I am offering an amendment that I think we can all support. My amendment is pro-environment, pro-consumer, and pro-business to make sure that our country can continue to administer voluntary programs to reduce pollution, improve public health, and address climate change.

Mr. McNERNEY. I thank the gentleman. As currently written, H.R. 910 prohibits the EPA from taking action to control greenhouse gas emissions. However, the bill provides a few narrow exceptions, such as allowing for the continuation of statutorily authorized research, development, and demonstration programs meant to combat climate change. My amendment simply clarifies that voluntary programs to control climate change are also exempted from the bill's prohibitions and can continue to take place. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McNERNEY. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the importance of improving our Nation's schools. I recently visited the San Ramon Valley High School and heard from many students on this important issue. I told the students then and there that I would bring their message back to Washington, D.C., and share it in our Nation's Capital. Today's young people face an increasingly competitive world, and their education is the foundation of our country's economic success. The students at San Ramon Valley High School shared with me the importance of high quality education and teaching young people not only how to take a test, but also how to apply their skills in real life situations. The students also asked that when Congress makes decisions about the Federal budget, that funding for schools and education should be a top priority. After all, investing in the education of our young people is an investment in our future. I urge my colleagues to listen to the thoughts and ideas of the students at San Ramon Valley High School and the young people throughout our country.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the members of Soroptimist International of San Ramon Valley for their work to improve the lives of women in our community. This is the final week of the Women's History Month; and, as such, it is fitting that we recognize an organization that is helping the next generation of women to succeed and make history. The Soroptimists of San Ramon Valley recently held a conference for the 7th year in a row to help young women gain self-confidence and develop important life skills. The event included presentations from speakers and interactive workshops that promote leadership and help the participants to pursue their life's goals. The Soroptimists of San Ramon Valley, which is one of many chapters of the Soroptimists International throughout the world, also issue awards to girls who are involved in community service and provides grants to women so they can participate in job training and education programs. The Soroptimists of San Ramon Valley have made a difference for many in our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the members of this organization for their hard work to improve the lives of women.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. Thank you, Mr. Ranking Member. I'm proud to represent much of San Joaquin County, which is the jewel of California's Central Valley. Our valley is a great place to live and work; but, unfortunately, we've been hit very hard by the economic downturn. The valley has been ground zero for the foreclosure crisis. Over the past few years, thousands of families in San Joaquin County and throughout the valley have lost their homes. I hosted foreclosure workshops, and I met with hardworking people who were misled by lenders who were struggling to stay on top of their mortgages. I have seen grown men cry because they couldn't keep a roof over their children's heads. I have talked to veterans who served their country, only to return home to notices of default. And I have met seniors on the brink of homelessness. The administration's foreclosure prevention initiatives have fallen short in the valley. Simply put, the administration's programs haven't effectively served the people who are underwater on their mortgage, and the administration hasn't been tough enough on the big banks. I call on President Obama and his Cabinet to develop more effective efforts to stem the tide of foreclosures. But despite these shortcomings, the bill the House Republicans are offering today is absolutely the wrong approach. It is throwing the baby out with the bath water. Instead of canceling foreclosure relief programs at their beginning stages, we should be strengthening them so they are more effective. Mortgage counselors from my district advise and plead to improve our efforts to get tough on big banks and provide meaningful relief to families. Stabilizing the housing market is critical to economic recovery and creating jobs. For these reasons, I oppose H.R. 830.

Mr. McNERNEY

Mr. McNERNEY. We have a paid-for tax cut that's germane and included in the motion to recommit.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, everyone knows that times are tough and that individuals, families, and small businesses are having a difficult time making ends meet. That's why it's so important that we provide small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy, with the tools to succeed.

Mr. McNERNEY. I stand here to offer a better alternative. It's paid for. Instead of simply agreeing to the majority's bill, the motion to recommit would repeal the 1099 requirement and provide a new tax cut to the middle-class paid for by closing tax loopholes exploited by large oil companies. It's paid for and it's germane. Oil companies have earned record profits over the last few years, and it's just unacceptable for them to take advantage of the special loopholes when the middle class is struggling.

Mr. McNERNEY. Yes, the gentleman wishes to address the point of order.

Mr. McNERNEY. With rising prices of gasoline, and unemployment that remains far too high, helping small businesses is more important than ever.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. McNERNEY. While I strongly supported our efforts to reform the health care system, I also supported repealing the 1099 reporting requirement. This requirement will negatively affect small businesses' ability to operate smoothly and efficiently. There is a broad bipartisan consensus on this point, and I have received many emails, phone calls and letters from constituents in my district who oppose the 1099 reporting requirement. I support repealing the 1099 provision----

Mr. McNERNEY. We have a paid for tax cut that is in order.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, this directly addresses the tax provision in the Republican bill.

Mr. McNERNEY. This motion to recommit addresses the pay-for in the bill.

Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I am a former small business owner, and while I strongly supported our efforts to reform the health care----

Mr. McNERNEY. I am opposed in its current form.