Chellie Pingree

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to a member of the Committee on Rules, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 976 provides for the consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 3326, House Joint Resolution 64, H.R. 4314, and the Senate amendment to H.R. 2847. For the Senate amendment to H.R. 3326, the rule makes in order a motion to concur in the Senate amendment with the House amendment, provides 1 hour of debate controlled by the Committee on Appropriations, and waives all points of order against consideration of the motion except those arising under clause 10 of rule XI. The rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 64 under a closed rule. It provides for 1 hour of debate controlled by the Committee on Appropriations. It provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. It waives all points of order against consideration of the joint resolution except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI, and it waives all points of order against provisions in the joint resolution. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4314 under a closed rule. It provides for 1 hour of debate controlled by the Committee on Ways and Means. It provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. It waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI, and it waives all points of order against provisions in the bill. For the Senate amendment to H.R. 2847, the rule makes in order a motion to concur in the Senate amendment with the House amendment. It provides 1 hour of debate on the motion controlled by the Committee on Appropriations, and it waives all points of order against consideration of the motion except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that in the engrossment of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2847, the Clerk shall add the text of H.R. 2920 as passed by the House. The rule also provides that measures may be considered under suspension of the rules at any time during the remainder of the first session of the 111th Congress. The rule waives the requirement of a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee for the remainder of the first session of the 111th Congress. The rule provides that the Chair of the Committee on Appropriations may insert in the Congressional Record explanatory materials on the Senate amendments and the motions regarding H.R. 3326 and H.R. 2847. The rule provides that, on any legislative day before January 12, 2010, the Speaker may dispense with organizational or legislative business. The rule provides that, before January 12, 2010, the Chair may declare the House adjourned. The rule provides for pro forma sessions until the House adjourns sine die. And finally, the rule provides that, on any legislative day of the first session of the 111th Congress, the Speaker may declare the House adjourned. Madam Speaker, the rule before us today allows the House to consider the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2010, which is the last appropriations bill for this fiscal year. The conference agreement on H.R. 3326 provides over $363 billion towards protecting our troops abroad and taking better care of their families at home. To help protect our troops, this bill provides increased funding for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund and for the procurement of new Humvees and of new heavy and medium tactical vehicles. This is particularly important given the casualty rate and the difficulties our soldiers are experiencing in Afghanistan. H.R. 3326 increases pay for all servicemembers by 3.4 percent, and it fully funds the requested end strength levels for active reserve and selected reserve personnel. The bill provides over $29 billion for top- of-the-line medical care, including $120 million for traumatic brain injury and psychological health, and it increases funding for the wounded, the ill and injured warrior programs. The conference agreement also includes over $472 million for family advocacy programs, and it fully funds the family support and yellow ribbon programs. The bill also includes $20 million for the Army National Guard family assistance centers and reintegration programs; but this bill cannot provide for the common defense without a common effort. In my home State of Maine, there are men and women who work every day to help in this effort. The funding in this bill would have been wasted if it weren't for the efforts of the welders, designers, and metal workers of the Bath Ironworks; of the skilled factory workers and assembly men at Vintech in Biddeford, Maine; of the world-class machinists and engineers at Pratt and Whitney in North Berwick; or of the dedicated laborers and nuclear engineers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This is a clear example of why the bills before us today are so interconnected. Our economic security and our national security are inextricably linked, and our economic security is still in dire straits. Madam Speaker, if you were sitting at a boardroom table on Wall Street today, you might hear the employees with Goldman Sachs discussing their $1 billion in profits or bonuses or you might hear employees of Citibank discussing raises for their top executives. You might also hear that the stock market has gone up 60 percent since the spring. You might even hear terms like ``economic recovery'' or ``rebound.'' So, if you are sitting at that boardroom table on Wall Street, you might think that the economy has fully bounced back and that we are out of the woods. You may start to believe that there is nothing but smooth sailing ahead. Yet, if you were at a kitchen table on Main Street in my home State of Maine, you would hear a very different story. Rather than talk of large profits, you would hear families discussing a savings account that has all but disappeared. Instead of listening to talk of raises or bonuses, you would hear families debating cutbacks on food or cutbacks on health care. Instead of hearing phrases like ``economic recovery'' or ``rebound,'' you would hear terms like ``high unemployment'' and ``mounting debt.'' For the big banks on Wall Street, the economic recovery may be at hand, but for the millions of unemployed workers and for the thousands of small businesses that are struggling to get by, the economic recovery is still a long way off. In my State and all across the country, there are millions of Americans who want to get back to work, but they need us to lend the same helping hand that we gave to Wall Street in its time of need. Madam Speaker, the rule before us today allows for the consideration of the Jobs for Main Street Act, which will move us down that road. This legislation invests in our Nation's infrastructure, and it puts more Americans back to work by providing $48 billion to rebuild and repair our national transportation system. This investment provides a measurable return, not only by creating and preserving jobs but by literally building the foundation for a long-term economic recovery. This bill will also preserve the jobs of teachers, of police officers, and of firefighters. For those who have already lost their jobs, the Jobs Act extends unemployment benefits for 2 months, and it maintains the current COBRA subsidy. These programs--these investments, the economic lifelines--have a real impact. Just this week, I heard from a constituent of mine who said these words: Something needs to be done. There are less than 4 weeks left for my husband's unemployment. After that, we won't be able to pay the rent, and we will be out on the streets with a child under 2 years old. Every day, I wonder what is going to happen next, and I even have nightmares. You bail out these large banks which then only raise our interest rates and lower our credit lines--and for what? That doesn't help the little guy like us. Do something to help us. Madam Speaker, we have the opportunity and we have the obligation to take the bailout money that was used as a lifeline to Wall Street and to give that money back to the American people and to those who have been hit the hardest by these tough economic times. The COBRA subsidy we passed this spring began expiring a few weeks ago. If we don't act now, it will completely disappear by January 1. In my State, full payment for COBRA uses up nearly 90 percent of the average unemployment benefits. That means out-of-work Mainers end up with only about $150 a month left after paying the full cost of their health insurance. We need to act now, and we need to act fast to ensure that Main Street recovers. If we do not act, we will have only assured that Wall Street keeps their bonuses while American families lose their benefits. We will have only watched Wall Street get rid of their debt while watching small businesses take on more. Madam Speaker, we have already put more than enough into shoring up Wall Street. Now we need to focus on creating jobs for the average American that will rebuild our economy from the bottom up. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 976.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, Dr. Foxx. All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. General Leave

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, again I want to urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this motion to consider so that we can debate and pass this and the other important items covered by this rule. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as my colleagues know, we have been here before. This is the same point of order that has been raised against almost every appropriations measure during this Congress, and each time it is used to discuss something other than its intended purpose. I would want to respond to my good colleague from Arizona that I, too, share concerns about the earmarking process, and I encourage him to become a cosponsor on the fair elections bill. As we have in Maine, public financing takes away much of the scrutiny around the link between campaign contributions and earmarks. But once again, this particular debate is about delaying consideration of this bill and ultimately stopping it altogether. I hope my colleagues will again vote ``yes'' so we can consider this important legislation on its merits and not stop it on a procedural motion. This rule provides for enactment of legislation to fund our Nation's defense. The brave men and women who serve in the military, particularly those who are currently at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, deserve a swift enactment of this legislation. This legislation that we will take up later today will also divert TARP money to programs that create and save jobs across the country. We do this by investing $75 billion of TARP money into highways, transit, school renovation, hiring teachers, police, firefighters, supporting our small businesses, funding job training, and affordable housing. And for those hardest hit by the recession, this bill also provides emergency relief by extending programs like unemployment benefits, COBRA, FMAP, our health care funding for the State, and the child care tax credit. Those who oppose this measure can vote against it on final passage. We must consider this rule, and we must pass this critical legislation today. I have the right to close, but in the end I will urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and consider the rule. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, I claim time in opposition.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 976 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Thank you to my colleague from North Carolina for her thoughts. While we don't always agree, I appreciate her reminding us about the soldiers who have fallen, about their families, about her visit to Arlington Cemetery. I want to concur. I had the privilege of visiting the cemetery myself this week. Not only did I also grieve for those families who were there visiting the gravestones of their loved ones and their family members, and many who were just there to think about the people who they didn't even know who served for us. I was also tremendously proud to see the thousands of wreaths that decorated those graves that had been brought down from my home State, the State of Maine, in honor of our fallen soldiers. There were 16,000 that were brought to Arlington Cemetery, and there were many people who traveled with them to make sure that we show the proper respect for our military, for our soldiers, and for those who served their country in the past and virtually every day. I want to just say that we are here today in part to talk about making sure that there is adequate funding for our military. Yes, we all wish that our colleagues in the Senate had acted faster on this bill, that we weren't dealing with continuing resolutions, but this is the particular situation that we are in. It is very important that we finish our work before the end of the year, before the end of the holidays, that we recognize our soldiers, our current military, and many of the other needs in this bill, many of which will be discussed as soon as we finish the debate on this same-day rule. Madam Speaker, in closing, I just want to say that the rule before us this morning simply allows the consideration of these measures to move forward. We have heard a lot about the process this morning. I want to simply state for the record in the 109th Congress, before I was a Member of this body, the Republican majority reported out over 20 rules that allowed for same-day consideration. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this rule and for the underlying measures before us today. These programs are too important. Our constituents are in too much turmoil to slow this process down any further. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. No, I don't think, actually, they are all older. Anyway, I just want to say that, while this has been a very interesting history lesson and while I greatly appreciate my colleague from Colorado and his understanding of the financial services industry and of this world that we've been working so hard on to both regulate and to deal with, much of my colleague from California's remarks have been referring to President Kennedy and to President Reagan, which were very different eras. I just want to remind my colleagues on the floor that we are here at the end of the Bush administration. When President Obama came to office, yes, the Democrats had been here for 2 years before and there were things that we were unable to fix when we were simply in the majority. The fact is that President Obama and this particular Congress--and I came here as a freshman--inherited the worst recession since the Great Depression, two wars that weren't paid for, a broken health care system, and a 1950s energy policy. That is what we have had to deal with. As my colleagues know, this has not been an easy year. We are here over and over again, attempting to deal with this. I yield 1 minute to my colleague from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I am happy to engage in a colloquy with both of my colleagues here, but let me just make one point to my much more senior and well-informed Members.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. We will yield to everybody. I want to answer one thing. The two of you have been entered into a colloquy, a very interesting one, going back to Kennedy.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I am happy to yield back again to my wonderful colleague from Colorado.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Will the gentleman yield?

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I yield the gentleman another 1 minute.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, I do want to thank my colleague, the ranking member on the committee, both for his history lesson and also for extending holiday greetings to those across the country. I do appreciate that, as a new Member, I often learn bits of the past from the things that he discusses with us, and I want to join him in thanking our hardworking staff. He is absolutely right. We were here late into the evening, and we were here early in the morning. I know that my colleagues put in many hours and that our staffs work very hard, and I want them to know I appreciate greatly their hard work on our behalf and for dealing with many of the challenges we often have before us which make our procedural challenges even more difficult as we try to determine how to get so much work done that is before us and with so much more to do. That is why we are here today--to talk about this same-day rule, to talk about the work that is before us. I yield as much time as he is interested in consuming to my good colleague from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. My good friend from North Carolina has suggested that this isn't an emergency. I would say that I hear every day from constituents in my district who feel that we are in a time of emergency. In Maine, we have 20,000 unemployed workers who are facing the end of their unemployment benefits. A very critical thing that we are about to talk about today is the extension of unemployment benefits. Now, we are anxious for the economy to improve, but the fact is in my State unemployment benefits are the fourth largest payroll. That is a tragedy that we have to deal with. We have to make sure that those people, in the middle of a cold winter, don't go without their vital support and that our State doesn't go without a critical part of our economy. Many of those people can't even stand a delay because the fact is if they go for even a few days or weeks without their benefits, they've already hit the end of their credit card limits, they've already gone as far as they can possibly go. Many workers have talked to me about the fact that they are using their COBRA subsidy; they were laid off, and the fact is this extended that as well. As far as I'm concerned, there are many critical things in this bill. This is the time to get it passed. People say to me all the time, When are you going to get something done in Washington? As far as I'm concerned, this is something we have to get done, and we need to get back to work today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 973 waives clause 6(a) of rule XIII which requires a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee. This waiver applies to any resolutions reported on the legislative day of December 16, 2009. This will allow the House to consider today important legislation, including legislation to ensure the funding of our military in addition to measures to put people back to work. Madam Speaker, we must act quickly to deliver the bills before us today that will fund our military and get people back to work. Today the House will take up several measures that will fund our military and make critical investments in the Nation's infrastructure in order to put people back to work. We have the opportunity today to take the bailout money that was used as a lifeline to Wall Street and give that money back to the American people and those who have been hit hardest by these tough economic times. The legislation that we will take up later today will divert the TARP money to programs that will create and save jobs across the country. We do this by investing $75 billion of TARP money into highways, to transit, to school renovation, to hiring teachers, police and firefighters, to supporting small businesses, job training and affordable housing. For those hit hardest by the recession, this bill also provides emergency relief by extending programs like Unemployment Benefits, COBRA and FMAP, which is health care funding for our States, and the child care tax credit. These are measures that we must pass to build a foundation for long-term economic recovery. This is not an ordinary day; and given the importance of this legislation, I hope Members on both sides of the aisle will support this rule so that we can move quickly to enact these critically important measures. I wish, as so many of my colleagues wish, that we weren't faced with such difficult problems. I wish that when the Democrats took over the majority, we weren't saddled with two wars, a recession and a $1.3 trillion deficit. But wishing won't make these problems go away. There is real urgency in the actions before us today, and I truly hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in supporting this rule to allow us to move forward. Later in the day, we will debate the merits of all of this legislation and the grave implications of not passing these bills. But right now, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and allow us to move forward on the debate to complete the work that we were sent here to do. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 973.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, Dr. Foxx. All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. General Leave

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 973 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. I thank the gentleman from Colorado, my good colleague on the Rules Committee, both for yielding me the time and for all of his hard work on the Financial Services Committee, and to the Chair, Barney Frank, as well. I know these committee members have worked long and hard on this particular bill that is soon to be before us. For too long we have looked the other way as the big banks and the credit card companies ran roughshod over American consumers. By exploiting loopholes, they have acted recklessly and irresponsibly to line their pockets, leaving America's families and small businesses to pay the price. Effective Wall Street reform is vital to creating jobs and growing our economy. This bill puts in place commonsense rules to ensure that these same irresponsible actors that caused the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression are not allowed to jeopardize the recovery we have worked so hard to begin. This bill, Madam Speaker, H.R. 4173, holds the big banks and the credit card companies accountable. Today we can create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency to make sure that credit card companies stop misleading consumers with hidden fees buried in the small print or teaser rates that lure people in and let the banks make huge profits. Americans look to the FDA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to keep the food we eat, the medicine we take and the toys we buy for our children safe; now it's time to make sure that the financial products and services that we buy are secure, understandable, and transparent. With this bill, we can ensure that hardworking families in Maine and across the country are never again on the hook for risky and irresponsible schemes by putting an end to taxpayer bailouts and ``too big to fail'' firms that threaten to bring down our entire economy. We can inject transparency and accountability into a financial system that has far too long been allowed to operate behind closed doors, trading complex financial instruments in secret without the necessary regulation and enforcement. Madam Speaker, the big banks, irresponsible mortgage lenders, and predatory credit card companies have made a mess out of our economy, and they have expected the American taxpayer to clean up. We can't let that happen again. It is time to ensure that those who acted so irresponsibly are finally held accountable and made to play by rules that are fair. I realize this bill is not perfect. It could go further, and I think many rightfully agree we should go further. But this bill before us today is a critical first step in restoring confidence in our financial markets. We must act now to create jobs and grow the economy. This is the fair and commonsense regulation that the American public expects and deserves.

Ms. PINGREE of Maine

Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Madam Speaker, $2.5 billion--that's my State's share of the wars we've been fighting for the last 8 years, and now this country is being asked to spend another $30 billion a year to send more troops to Afghanistan. It's too much, Madam Speaker, for a war that just isn't working. At a time when we are struggling to put Americans back to work, we just can't afford to escalate a war that we need to be winding down. At a time when we have asked our men and women in uniform to return to combat again and again, we cannot afford to send them back one more time to fight to protect a government that is now considered the second most corrupt on Earth. At a time when we are working to bring affordable health care to every family in this country, we just can't afford to spend $1 million per soldier to occupy a country that doesn't want us there. Don't be mistaken, Madam Speaker. When we need to protect our vital national interests, there is no cost too great, and the greatest Armed Forces in the world will rise to meet any challenge. But this is not the time to pay that price. This is a time to end this war and bring the troops home.