Jared Polis

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, a few times I have heard reference to a closed rule. And I want to be entirely clear that what we are proposing is, in fact, a structured rule on this bill. There were 34 amendments that were submitted. We are forwarding for the consideration by the full House 14. So I do believe that arguments against a closed rule on this particular bill are not founded. I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Sutton).

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution H. Res. 427 and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

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

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate one of the most fateful days in the history of the State of Colorado, the day the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant outside of Boulder nearly became America's own Chernobyl, some 30 years before that terrible accident in the Ukraine. On Mother's Day of that year, a fire broke out amid the glove boxes in Building 776, where plutonium spheres were being manufactured for use as cores for some of the most powerful weapons in human history. The fire quickly spread throughout the facility, as many of the fire alarms had been removed to make room for more production. It is estimated that between 0.14 and 0.9 grams of plutonium 239 and 240 were released before a heroic band of perhaps 40 firefighters were able to control and eventually douse the fire. Those firefighters faced the immense decision of whether to battle the blaze with water, which could have set off a chain reaction with the resulting explosion literally contaminating the entire Denver metropolitan area. Luckily for us all, they chose correctly. Still, plutonium was released into the environment from that accident, through the air vents in the roof of the building and via firefighters exiting it. Thousands of Coloradans were exposed, although how many we'll never know. The firefighters, of course, were exposed most severely, and everyone nearby faced greatly increased risks of serious disease. Indeed, many of those involved have since contracted and died from cancers and other conditions tied to radiation exposure. I bring up the 1969 accident not only because today, May 11, is its 40th anniversary. I bring it up because the Americans who worked at Rocky Flats and other nuclear facilities around the Nation deserve our thanks, and our support, now that the nuclear arms race is a matter for the history books. They faced enormous risks. They worked with materials that are among the most toxic known to mankind, with half- lives of hundreds of thousands of years, all so that under the prevailing ideology of the time we were able to live our lives safely. They are American heroes every bit as much as our wartime soldiers. In a sense, they were wartime soldiers: Soldiers of the nuclear cold war, and many gave their lives. Several weeks ago, I along with my Colorado colleagues, Representatives Perlmutter, DeGette, Salazar, and Coffman, and Senators Udall and Bennet, introduced H.R. 1828, the Charlie Wolf Nuclear Workers Compensation Act. The act would finally cut through the red tape that has prevented America's nuclear workers from gaining the compensation they were promised in exchange for their dangerous service. I urge my colleagues to take a moment to remember the risks and sacrifices made by heroic men and women in our nation's nuclear production facilities, which were located in virtually every State in the country, and to pass this historic piece of legislation.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. I rise in support of the rule, and ask my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the rule and the underlying bill. I'd like to thank my colleagues, Representative Miller, Representative Watt, and Representative Frank, for their instrumental role in bringing this package on mortgage lending reforms to the floor, as well as the committee staff that worked tirelessly on this bill. In Colorado and across the country, we have seen the house of cards built by Wall Street collapse onto Main Street. Hungry commodities traders needed a constant supply of raw materials--namely, new mortgages--to be cut up, bundled together, and shipped out to keep Wall Street executives flush in commissions. But these exotic loans turned into a very common problem for our communities, as risk was outsourced. ``Volume and profit at all cost'' became the paradigm, and production, regardless of quality, was rewarded handsomely. With the knowledge that someone else would be responsible, lenders abandoned prudent underwriting standards, knowing they could sell the loan to someone else before the ink even had a chance to try. We frequently hear about homeowners who bought more than they could afford, but predatory lenders set their sights on a wide range of prey, including low-income families, minorities, and the elderly. People who had considerable equity in their home were deceived into refinancing with an ``offer you can't refuse.'' As these poisonous loans reset, families lost a lifetime of equity to foreclosures. In Adams County, which I have the honor of representing, predatory lenders preyed on minorities and low-income families and turned once-thriving working class communities into a sea of foreclosure signs. Clearly, losing a home is a traumatic experience for a family, but foreclosure has a broader negative impact on the entire community. Foreclosures drive down the value of other properties, resulting in declining revenues for local governments. Municipalities are forced to provide fewer services and even take police off the streets or teachers out of the classroom. A mortgage is a private agreement between a borrower and a lender. However, the potential for disastrous and systemic impacts on communities when these deals go bad is, unfortunately, all too clear. Therefore, it is the obligation of Congress to ensure that these loans are made with the highest ethical standard. The Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act will give consumers the confidence to return to the marketplace and bring much needed stability to the lending industry. Madam Speaker, the majority of the lending industry has learned that being on the side of customers is best for the bottom line. Lenders who are doing the right thing by their customers need more than recognition; they need tools to do more. I would like to thank the committee and Chairman Frank for accepting my amendment that will allow lenders to give additional weight to their customers' mortgage payment history when refinancing loans. If a family is struggling due to reduced income, unexpected health care costs, or the rising cost of education for their children, the last thing they need is to add foreclosure to the list of their problems. Too often, hardworking American families who pay their mortgages are turned away because credit blemishes in other areas prevent them from refinancing their hybrid loan. My amendment would give banks the option of considering their payment history with their bank in establishing the terms for resetting a mortgage. Lenders know that preventing foreclosure is in their best interest. Allowing lenders to refinance hybrid loans would help families stay in their homes. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the bill and the rule.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. I want to share with my colleagues part of Mr. Kemp's life that they might not have been fully aware of. Jack Kemp loved Vail, Colorado, which I have the opportunity to represent, and also he loved to give back to Vail. He owned a home in the Cascade neighborhood of Vail for many years and served on the board of directors of the Vail Valley Foundation since 1995. Kemp pushed towards getting the foundation more involved with educational programs and youth. He was a leading proponent of the foundation's Success by 6 program, which helped hundreds of children in Eagle County under age 6. Jack Kemp was always an advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship, and he loved to spend time in Vail with his family, including his grandchildren, in both the summer and winter. One year, Kemp recited a speech by Abraham Lincoln at the annual Bravo! Fourth of July concert at Ford Amphitheater. And, most of all, Jack Kemp loved to ski. My story about Jack Kemp is, growing up, every year around the holiday season my family would spend a week or two--we, the kids, had off from school--in Vail, and, every year, Jack Kemp would have a session at the local Vail library for free, for anybody who wanted to come, a breakfast session right before skiing. And it took a lot to get out of bed, but, even at that age, I was really interested in what he had to say. He didn't have to do that. This is when he was a private citizen, living in Vail, skiing. Yet, every year, 7 to 9 in the morning, the last week of the year, he would take a morning and give back and make himself available to people in Vail to talk to him, to listen to them, to learn from him. I attended those breakfast sessions 5 or 6 years and was inspired by the example that Jack Kemp set, not only of public service but of making himself available and mentoring the next generation. After his days of political office, Kemp remained active as a political advocate and commentator and served on corporate and nonprofit organization boards. He also authored, coauthored, and edited several books. He was a benefactor of Pepperdine University's Jack F. Kemp School of Political Economy. Jack Kemp cared deeply about urban poverty issues. He championed enterprise zones, civil rights, and housing reform. Jack Kemp not only lived the American Dream, but he helped empower other people to live that dream as he did. The loss of Jack Kemp is a loss not only to his family and friends, but to our country and our world. I extend my sincere condolences to his family. We are all thankful for the life that Jack Kemp has lived.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 348) congratulating the University of North Carolina men's basketball team for winning the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship.

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 348 into the Record.

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), and I ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 353, a resolution to support the goals and ideals of Global Youth Service Days. Global Youth Service Days is an annual global event that highlights and celebrates the ongoing contributions of youth to their communities through volunteer service and service learning. Just last month, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which reauthorized programs that support national and community service, including the goal of tripling the number of youth volunteers in our communities. Service learning extends the classroom into the community. It provides young people with the opportunity to give back locally, as well as offer real-life applications to prepare them for their lives. Global Youth Service Days takes that one step further by promoting projects that encourage youth to work collaboratively across national boundaries to address global issues, to increase intercultural understanding and to promote the sense that they are global citizens. Global Youth Service Days is the largest service event in the world, and in 2009 it's being observed for the 21st consecutive year in the United States, as well as for the 10th year in more than 100 countries. Over the past 21 years, Global Youth Service Days has brought together more than 40 million people in thousands of communities worldwide. The benefits of service for young people are countless. High quality semester-long service learning, when used as a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with academic curriculum, increases students' cognitive engagement, motivation to learn, school attendance and academic achievement. Opportunities like Global Youth Service Day provide avenues for youth to apply their knowledge, idealism, energy, creativity and unique perspectives to improve local communities by addressing critical issues such as poverty, hunger, illiteracy, education, natural disasters, climate change and more. Past Global Youth Service Days have taken place in the United States as well as around the world. In Colorado's Second Congressional District that I have the honor to represent, the weekend before last I celebrated Global Youth Service Days with Project YES in Lafayette, which hosted one of 75 major worldwide events and joined over 600 volunteers, who helped out Boulder County organizations such as the Emergency Family Assistance Association, Kids' Park in Lafayette, Sister Carmen Community Center and several local schools. I was thrilled to see the motivation and excitement that these young people had for improving our communities. Young people and teachers in Tarija, Bolivia, addressed the public health issues surrounding unsanitary drinking water. Young people and teachers in Kuchinarai, Thailand, engaged 55 children who were orphaned by AIDS in a week-long summer camp focused on education, life skills, leadership, and self-esteem. Both young people and their communities benefit greatly from expanded opportunities for youth to engage in community service and service learning. Madam Speaker, this resolution serves to recognize and commend the significant contributions of the youth of the United States and to support the goals and ideals of Global Youth Service Days 2009 internationally. I would like to thank Representative DeLauro for introducing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and insert extraneous materials on H. Res. 353 into the Record.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 353) supporting the goals and ideals of Global Youth Service Days.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 338, which supports the goals and ideals of National Community College Month. This resolution recognizes community colleges all across the country for their enormous contribution to educational outcomes and to workforce development. Since the first community college, Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Illinois, was founded in 1901, community colleges have educated more than 100 million students in the United States. Community colleges provide a variety of roles for students. It is a place to receive an associates degree, to begin a bachelor's degree, or for workplace training. With more than 1,100 community colleges in the United States and over 11 million students currently enrolled in these schools, community colleges provide a high-quality education and resources to students coming from widely diverse backgrounds. Community colleges enroll a diverse student body. In 2000, the United States Department of Education reported that 31 percent of community college students were minorities, and 61 percent of community college students received Pell Grants and met the income thresholds to qualify. Community colleges offer a number of advantages for students. The schools maintain affordable tuition at a time of increasing tuition costs. And for a majority of Americans, community colleges are located conveniently close to their homes. The close proximity allows working students to take courses part-time while keeping their employment. One community college in my district, Colorado Mountain College, has five campuses spread across the mountain areas to help ensure that they have presence close to the places of work and where people live. More students are enrolled part-time in community colleges than full- time. Additionally, community colleges provide excellent job training to millions of Americans who have lost their jobs or who desire more lucrative opportunities. This is particularly critical in these tough economic times. It costs almost $2,500 per year to attend a community college, while it costs over $6,500 a year to attend a 4-year in-state college, on average. It is vital that community colleges remain affordable to the millions of students who attend every year. Furthermore, community colleges are at the forefront of innovation. With more than $100 billion included in the economic stimulus package for green job opportunities, community colleges are prepared to provide the type of training necessary to implement our new green investment and help make sure that the renewable energy sector is a strong growing sector with a workforce that is ready to take on the positions. This year, community colleges in our country will award more than 500,000 associate degrees and 270 associate certificates. Countless other students in community colleges will continue their education and transfer to 4-year colleges and universities. Community colleges help spur the economy and provide a skilled workforce to contribute more than $31 billion to the Nation's economy each year. In Colorado's Second Congressional District that I have the honor to represent, Front Range Community College and the Colorado Mountain College are effectively addressing the needs of both students and families and employers, and represent an essential component for ongoing economic development as well as our community pride. The American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of Community College Trustees, and community colleges across the country support this bill and this month. I urge my colleagues to support the bill as well and would like to thank Representative Latham for bringing this resolution forward, for community colleges are instrumental to our Nation's economy. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 338) supporting the goals and ideals of National Community College Month.

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 338 into the Record.

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 382) supporting the goals and ideals of National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 3 through May 9, 2009.

Mr. POLIS. We need to call upon all the innovation of the American people to help meet the learning needs of all children. Charter schools provide one important avenue to do that. And it is with great pride that I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting National Charter School Week.

Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 396 into the Record.

Mr. POLIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 396, which commends the students of the very first graduating class of the University of California, Merced. UC Merced represents the newest school in the flagship California university school system. University of California, Merced was authorized by the California legislature in 1988 to address the higher education needs of the State's fastest growing region, the San Joaquin Valley, a population of over 3.5 million people. It provides adequate capacity for the UC system as a whole and ensures the students from the San Joaquin Valley have expanded options for higher education. High school graduates from the Valley have historically enrolled in the UC system at about half the rate of graduates from other major parts of the State. The University of California, Merced opened September 5, 2005, as the 10th campus in the UC system. There are three schools, nearly 20 undergraduate majors, nine graduate programs, over 100 full-time faculty members, and dozens of lecturers now teaching hundreds of courses on campus. UC Merced is a thriving campus community of over 2,700 who actively participate in close to 100 clubs and assist the faculty in groundbreaking research opportunities. In addition to its education mission, UC Merced is an important strategic investment in California's future. The new campus serves as an engine of economic growth throughout the San Joaquin Valley where unemployment and poverty rates exceed California averages. The University also is helping first-generation college students receive a college education. Accessing a college education has never been more important in light of the current weak economy and job loss. The Class of 2009 is a class of true pioneers, creating a student government to shape campus policy, campus clubs to enhance social interaction, and cultivating a culture of social responsibility and civic engagement. These students demonstrated their passion and spirit in a letter-writing campaign to First Lady Michelle Obama. The First Lady acknowledged their zeal by agreeing to deliver the commencement speech this May to the Class of 2009. Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for the UC Merced resolution, and I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Cardoza, for bringing this resolution forward, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) for 5 minutes. (Mr. CARDOZA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, once again, I call upon my colleagues to support this resolution honoring UC Merced in supporting its students, faculty and the families served, and with that I would like to yield back the balance of my time.