Mike Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Matthew McNenly of Lansing, Michigan on being awarded a Computational Science Graduate Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Energy. The Computational Science Graduate fellowship is a rigorous, highly competitive program that provides numerous benefits to the fellows in return for a complete casework in a scientific or engineering discipline, computer science, and applied mathematics. McNenly graduated from Howell High School in 1994 and is currently attending the University of Michigan pursuing his Ph.D. in Aerospace engineering. Therefore Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Matthew McNenly for being awarded a Computational Science Graduate Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Thomas Conrad for his dedicated service to the town of Middletown, Michigan. Thomas Conrad was born in Hoboken, New Jersey and served his nation in the United States Army during both war and peace time. While in the Army during World War II, he served in the 5th Army, 10th Division, and was awarded the Purple Heart medal. Soon after, he moved to Middletown, Michigan and quickly adopted it as his hometown. In Middletown, Thomas worked for the township Department of Public Works, the Housing Authority, served as a lecturer for the Knights of Columbus, and was a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2179. Thomas was an active member of his community but was probably most remembered for helping those in need. He was a strong advocate for senior citizens and worked hard to see that each senior had access to quality healthcare. He was active in the Irish Society and ran the 50/ 50 booth at the St. Mary's fair each year. In 1984, the Kiwanis Club of Middletown named Thomas Man of the Year, and last year he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his service during the war. Thomas Conrad away passed on February 23 of this year at the age of 75. He will always be remembered as a good hearted man who was always willing to lend a hand to those in need. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Thomas Conrad for his exemplary service to his community and his country.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Richard Husby of Lansing, Michigan for being selected as the recipient of the national American Water Works Association 2001 Exemplary Wellhead Protection Award. Mr. Husby has been the manager of West Side Water in Lansing, Michigan since July 1, 1979. West Side Water purchases treated water from Lansing's Board of Water and Light, and sells it to its customers, having to continuously comply with Environmental Protection Agency rules and regulations on drinking water standards. Mr. Husby is on the Board of Trustees of Mid-Michigan Water Supply which carries out the proper management and protection of ground water. He is also a member of the Capital Area Ground Water Alliance and is a board member of the Youth Education Committee that educates children about the importance of a clean environment and clean ground water. The American Water Works Association has awarded him with the 2001 Exemplary Wellhead Protection Award for his commitment to plugging abandoned wells and for educating the citizens of Mid-Michigan on how to detect abandoned wells and the dangers they present. Therefore Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Richard Husby for being awarded the American Water Works Association's 2001 Exemplary Wellhead Protection Award.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 2001 graduating class of Michigan State University. Due to their hard work and dedication, they are now prepared to make significant contributions to the State of Michigan and the United States of America. As graduates from the first land grant University in the United States, whatever endeavors the Michigan State class of 2001 may pursue, success is certain to follow. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Michigan State University Class of 2001. May this only be the beginning of the great accomplishments they will achieve in their lifetime.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, high arsenic levels are prevalent in the state of Michigan and in many areas throughout the nation. Science has confirmed that arsenic can be dangerous to humans. What sound science though has not yet determined is exactly what level of arsenic is harmful and what level is safe for human consumption. Once that determination is made, however, we ought to allow existing federal dollars to assist local communities in immediately bringing the presence of arsenic to scientifically-proven safe levels. The Safe Drinking Water and Arsenic Removal Act would allow local municipalities to access funding to clean up water systems with high arsenic levels which exceed the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) arsenic standard due out in February of 2002. When the EPA issues the new arsenic standard they will set a five year time frame for municipalities to comply. Because they are not in violation of any standard, communities would not be eligible for federal funding to clean up water systems that have been deemed dangerous by the scientists at the EPA for five years. This bill would allow municipalities to qualify for that funding immediately. For example, if the EPA adopts the new standard recommended by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) of 20 parts per billion arsenic maximum, 169,000 people in Michigan would be drinking water deemed by EPA scientists as dangerous to human health for as many as five years. Let's help ensure families living in areas with high arsenic levels do not have to worry about the safety of their drinking water. Finally, The Safe Drinking Water and Arsenic Removal Act requires no new funding sources, but makes monies available from two existing programs: the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Fund and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Program.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. I rise today to congratulate Edie Bluhm Goik on being named an Honorable Mention winner in the 2001 Reading Is Fundamental National Poster Contest. The creativity Edie has shown in this program is truly admirable. The self motivation she has demonstrated is certain to serve her into the future. I'm confident that this achievement will be only one of many during Edie's school years. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Edie Bluhm Goik on being named an Honorable Mention winner in the 2001 Reading Is Fundamental National Poster Contest and in wishing her future success.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Katie Benghauser on her 11 years of volunteer service to Mount Hope Elementary School in Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Speaker, we are quick sometimes to condemn the acts of aggression, and not so quick sometimes to celebrate the acts of kindness that happen in America. Katie Benghauser has shown this type of kindness by volunteering at Mount Hope Elementary School to make a difference in the lives of her children and the entire community. Katie has assisted in grant writing projects, event planning, and book fairs. There was no project too small for Katie to help with. This act of kindness must not go without recognition. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Katie Benghauser for reminding us that community service is an important part of American life.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act as it fulfills two key principles. First is the moral imperative to reduce the tax burden on all American taxpayers, who are being taxed at historic levels. I believe it is morally right to return some of that money back into the pockets and purses of Americans. Quite simply, I believe tax relief is about freedom. The more of your money are allowed to keep, the more freedom you have to save, spend or invest your money as you see fit. The second principle addressed by this legislation is economic growth. Central to America's economic growth and continued prosperity is education; but, too often students and families educational opportunities are limited by the cost or prospect of a crushing debt- load. The best answer to this dilemma is to encourage advanced family savings. I am pleased this conference agreement recognizes the need to provide federal tax incentives to help and encourage families to save for college. This legislation provides for tax-free treatment of distributions from state-sponsored prepaid tuition or college savings plans. This bill's language on tax-free distributions mirrors the primary provision in legislation I introduced earlier this year, the Securing Affordable collegiate and Vocational Education (SAVE) Act. The cost of attending college, whether at a public or private institution, continues to rise steadily. In order to send their children to college, American families increasingly rely upon debt to meet these rising college or vocational training costs. All 50 states have responded by establishing, within section 529 of the federal tax code, state qualified tuition programs that are free from state income taxes. As the author of Michigan's recently-enacted Michigan Education Savings Program I have witnessed first-hand the demand for such common- sense education savings plans. Although Michigan's program was only launched in November 2000, it has been a smashing success as more than 16,000 accounts have been opened with over $34 million in investments. The power of compounding makes these plans especially appealing to families who can save only in smaller increments. For example, in Michigan, families can put away as little as $10 a week over the first 18 years of a child's life and, based at a conservative earnings rate of 8 percent, have about $20,000 by the time he or she is ready for technical school. When it comes to saving for college and vocational training, we need to help our families turn from a borrowing class into a saving class. Today's legislation takes a large step in that direction by providing for tax-free treatment of distributions from State Qualified Tuition Programs, like the Michigan Education Savings. I salute Chairman Thomas for his hard work on this excellent legislation and thank him for including this education provision that will help millions of families nationwide. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of the staff of the Chelsea High School student paper, the ``Chelsea Bleu Print.'' This group of students competed in an American Scholastic Press Association competition and received the prestigious ``first place with special merit'' award for high school papers with a student body of 1,001 to 1,700. This award, granted to only one other high school paper in Michigan and only 85 nationwide, is based on several high profile criteria, including the newspaper's demonstration of community awareness, student interest, investigative reporting, design, layout, photography and overall style. The Chelsea Bleu Print staff earned a near perfect score of 945 of a possible 1,000. The students, with their advisor Mr. Phil Jones, invested their personal time and energy to create a truly high-quality school newspaper. Their commitment to serving as a mirror of their school and community, and at the same time as the conscience of their constituency, is to be admired. I urge my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the Chelsea Bleu Print Advisor Mr. Phil Jones, the Editor-in-Chief Erin Ryder, and the dedicated Bleu Print staff. We wish them well in their future endeavors.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of an amendment that would authorize the Secretary of Education to work with state administrators to promote and advocate the use and establishment of state-sponsored college savings plans during a student's elementary years. In recent years, most states have created either a prepaid tuition or college savings plan to help parents save for ever-increasing post- secondary education costs. The 1980s saw the first developments in state-created tuition plans as states attempted to meet the growing concerns about the affordability of college. In 1986, Michigan was the first state to establish a prepaid college tuition plan, and last year our state added a savings plan. Currently, all 50 states offer some form of Qualified State Tuition Programs within Section 529 of the tax code as Georgia and South Dakota became the last two states to establish plans earlier this year. As the author of Michigan's post-secondary education savings account plan while a member of the Michigan State Senate, I believe that education is central to our prosperity as a nation. However, too often the educational opportunities for our students and families are limited by tuition costs or the prospect of a crushing debt-load. The best answer to this dilemma is to encourage advance family savings--starting to save during a student's elementary years. Please allow me to briefly describe the benefits of saving under Michigan's recently-enacted Michigan Education Savings Program. Under this program, which was launched in November, 2000, any individual interested in investing for a college or a vocational education can open an account and contribute on behalf of any beneficiary for as little as $25 up-front. Furthermore, individuals can also contribute as little as $15 per savings account per pay period by using payroll deduction through participating employers. Michigan's program has been a great success in its first six months, as more than 16,000 accounts have been opened with over $34 million in investments. In fact, Money magazine recently named the Michigan Education Savings Program one of the best state-operated college savings programs in the country. The power of compounding makes these plans especially appealing to families who can save only in smaller increments. For example, families can put away as little as $10 a week over the first 18 years of child's life and, based at a conservative earnings rate of 8 percent, have about $20,000 by the time he or she is ready for college or technical school. Over a period of time, families can save enough to provide the kind of future we all want for our children without having to run up a huge debt to get an education. An example of the need to create a saving class was highlighted in a recent Washington Post column titled: ``Colleges Where the Middle Class Need Not Apply.'' The lead paragraph touched upon the fact ``. . . the poor and middle class at least try college for a year, although for many of them, even the modest cost of state schools quickly becomes burdensome.'' When it comes to saving for college and vocational training we need to help our families turn from a borrowing class into a saving class. To encourage such saving, all 50 states have established prepaid tuition or college savings plans and this amendment empowers the Secretary of Education to work with those states to advocate the benefits of these plans to elementary school parents and the importance of establishing an account as soon as possible. I believe we all can agree that the federal government should foster policies encouraging families to save for educational expenses instead of relying on debt or government aid programs. My amendment to H.R. 1 would authorize the Secretary of Education to work together with the 50 states that have Section 529 savings programs to advocate and promote the use of these valuable educational tools to encourage parents to enroll in their state's plan during their children's elementary years. Promoting the use of savings at the elementary level will allow the dynamic of time and interest produce significant savings that will help the families of today's kindergartners shoulder the financial burden of tomorrow's education costs. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment promoting the use of these valuable tools during the elementary years.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, late last year, I was getting ready to address a very dignified group of community leaders. As I was preparing my remarks, I asked my first-grade daughter what she thought I ought to tell these fairly important people. She thought about it for a minute. She looked up. She said, ``Dad, you can tell them that I got the best lower case A's in the entire first-grade class.'' I thought about that a minute, and I tell my colleagues what, Mr. Chairman, I told my very distinguished group that my daughter had the best lower case A's in the entire first-grade class. I want every daughter in America and every son in America in the first grade to be worried about those lower case A's. I want every parent to have to understand and have the ability to understand that, not only do we have to worry about their lower case A's, but we have got to worry about their future and what happens. In just a few short years, they will be ready to go to college or technical training school. What this amendment does is embrace the 50 States who have 529 prepaid tuition or college savings plans for parents. Costs are going up, and we are not a Nation that saves. We have about a 1 percent savings rate in America. There are five Federal programs to help people offset the costs of getting college education, of technical training that will cover not as many as it will not cover. There will be more families out there struggling to borrow money to get their kids to go to school than there will be receiving a grant or a scholarship or tuition from another source. What we are trying to do here, Mr. Chairman, is allow parents to get connected and understand the value of time and compounding with these State savings plans. In Michigan, I offered a bill last year that would allow State tax- free money in and tax-free money out to defray the costs of getting an education. The time and compounding value of that is immense. We need to get parents connected as soon as we can and take the middle class from the borrowing class to the saving class. This is an important element in offsetting those increasing costs, Mr. Chairman. I urge this body's support so that parents can go back to saving a little money and worrying about those lower case A's. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Ryan Miller of East Lansing, Michigan, for being named the top college hockey player in America in 2001. Ryan Miller, a Michigan State University sophomore, received the Hobey Baker Award, only the second time in history a goalie has earned this prestigious honor. Ryan's brilliant 2001 season included leading the nation in four key statistical categories, the most spectacular being 10 shutouts in 39 games, bringing him to an NCAA career record with 18 shutouts as goalie for the MSU Spartans. Ryan also was named CCHA Defensive Player of the Week five times during the regular season. Born and raised in East Lansing, the home of MSU, Ryan comes from a hockey family. His grandfather, father, uncle and five cousins all played hockey for the Spartans, and a cousin, Kip Miller, won the Hobey in 1990. In addition to his hockey legacy, Ryan also deserves recognition for his academic achievements both in high school and at MSU. I urge my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Mr. Ryan Miller for his achievements, in particular for receiving the Hobey Baker Award. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, in 1999, more than 2 million cubic yards of foreign municipal waste was imported to the State of Michigan, with the citizens of the state having no say in the process. The citizens of Michigan have made it clear: they want the power to regulate incoming foreign waste. Through their elected officials, Michigan citizens have attempted to gain some control of the importation of municipal waste to Michigan. Each time though, these legislative actions have been deemed unconstitutional in court, as states have not been granted the necessary authority by Congress. The Solid Waste International Transportation Act of 2001 is designed to give every state the authority to prohibit or limit the influx of foreign municipal waste through state legislative action. A Supreme Court decision in 1978, City of Philadelphia v. New Jersey, struck down a New Jersey statue which prohibited the importation of most out of state municipal waste, partially on the basis that the Federal Solid Waste Disposal Act, had no ``clear and manifest purpose of Congress to preempt the entire field of interstate waste, either by express statutory command, or by implicit legislative design.'' The Solid Waste International Transportation Act of 2001 would amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to provide that express statutory command. Northeast Bancorp v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 472 U.S. 159, 174 (1985) said ``When Congress so chooses, state actions which it plainly authorizes are invulnerable to constitutional attack under the Commerce Clause.'' The Solid Waste International Transportation Act of 2001 would be a plain authorization of the state's authority to prohibit or limit incoming foreign municipal waste. Every state in this nation should have the ability to regulate the influx of foreign municipal waste. If a state wants to prohibit the importation of foreign waste, they aught to have that power. If a state wants to import large amounts of foreign waste, they aught to have that power. Or if a state wants to restrict the importation of foreign municipal waste, they aught to have that power too. Through their elected representatives, let's give the citizens of their respective states a say in the importation of foreign municipal waste.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of three Lansing, Michigan, 2001 high school graduates who have played a major role in the selection and celebration of the nation's Capitol 2001 Holiday Tree, which will be provided by the state of Michigan this year. Mr. Gerritt Benjamin Meyers III, Ms. Chae Carlson, and Mr. Oliver Martin have worked with a group of underclassmen at Waverly High School in Lansing for the past five months to create and maintain the U.S. Holiday Tree 2001 web site. As the senior members of their ``Webmasters'' group, Mr. Meyers, Ms. Carlson and Mr. Martin provided leadership, working many volunteer hours with the team to produce an attractive, well-organized web site that is easy to navigate and filled with helpful information. Mr. Meyers designed the Michigan map with holiday tree that forms the artistic theme for the pages and each of these seniors has participated in developing graphics and page layouts and also in updating the pages as plans for the selection, cutting and transport of the tree continue. Their efforts leave a legacy for Michigan and the citizens of this nation who will enjoy not only the holiday tree but also the web site designed by Mr. Meyers, Ms. Carlson, Mr. Martin and their classmates and instructor/advisor Ms. Janice Kesel. I urge my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Mr. Gerritt Benjamin Meyers III, Ms. Chae Carlson and Mr. Oliver Martin for their mature, professional approach to chronicling the holiday tree and designing www.holidaytree2001.org

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Anita Covert on being named Michigan's Small Business Person of the Year by the United States Small Business Administration. In 1982 Anita Covert realized her dream of owning a small business by opening her first quilt shop in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, Today, Anita maintains four quilt shops located in east Lansing, Flint, Jackson and Owosso, Michigan with 60 total employees. Anita has always maintained a commitment to her staff, even helping employees achieve the American dream by starting their own small business. Anita Covert's business, Country Stitches, Ltd., is the third largest dealer of high-quality Viking Sewing Machines and has become the eighth largest Pfaff Sewing Machine dealer in the nation. Country Stitches has also been honored as one of the top ten quilt shops in the nation by Better Homes and Gardens. Since 1982, Anita Covert has served as a job provider and community leader. I commend her for her commitment to mid-Michigan and wish her continued success. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Anita Covert for being named Small Business Person of the Year by the United States Small Business Administration.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Mr. Richard Christmas of Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Christmas has been writing letters for over forty years to government officials in an attempt to set aside a day dedicated to space exploration. Over the years his letter writing campaign has payed great dividends. Ten Michigan cities, sixteen cities in other states, and a few states have dedicated a day, and sometimes a week for space exploration. Mr. Christmas has always had an interest in space ever since he was a young boy. However, due to a severe accident he was forced to put his space ambitions on hold. After his recovery he started to write letters to government officials. At first there were few replies but as the United States Space Program gained momentum so did his letter-writing campaign. He has received several letters from mayors and governors commending him on his continuous effort and dedication to space exploration. Today, Mr. Christmas wants more cities to become involved with making space exploration a national holiday. With the National Air and Space Museum's 25th anniversary around the corner, this would be a perfect time to promote Space Day across the country and I encourage my colleagues to support the efforts of my civic-minded constituent, Mr. Richard Christmas.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, recently, indicted financier Martin Frankel was extradited to the United States to face felony charges stemming from financial fraud. Originally a stockbroker, Frankel was permanently barred from the securities industry but migrated to the insurance industry. The Frankel case is illustrative of how bad actors can too easily cross state or industry lines in order to deceive financial regulators. The Financial Services Antifraud Network Act of 2001 is designed with the Frankel case in mind as it seeks to protect the taxpayers and policyholders who end up paying for these scams and to assist the regulators in preventing them. There are nearly 200 Federal and State financial regulators in the United States, each with their own separate filing systems and anti- fraud records. Over the past three decades, the agencies have attempted to computerize and coordinate their systems, first internally and then within each industry. For example, the securities regulators have established the Central Registration Depository run by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) to keep track of most securities brokers. The insurance regulators have been working through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to establish several databases on licensing, disciplinary actions, and consumer complaints of agents and companies. The banking regulators have been working through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to coordinate suspicious activity reports for all banks. Unfortunately, efforts to coordinate information across industry lines have proven much more difficult. Financial regulators have been developing individual agreements to allow the transfer of information on an ad hoc basis in specific cases. However, the sheer number of regulators, concerns about the confidentiality of shared information, and the technical difficulties with networking computer systems have prevented regulators from being able to share information on an automated basis. The need to coordinate regulatory anti-fraud efforts is particularly important in light of the recent integration of the financial services industries, such as the implementation of the Gramm-Leach=Bliley Act. On March 6, 2001, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit of the House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing featuring the regulators and the regulated entities. Following compelling testimony from all the witnesses, I remarked that it was a rare sight to see the regulators and the regulated actually agreeing on the concept of sharing information about fraudulent actors across financial sectors. Taking the suggestions of our witnesses, the Financial Services Antifraud Network Act was drafted. This pro-consumer legislation has five primary purposes. One, it safeguards the public from ongoing fraud. Two, the bill streamlines regulators' anti-fraud coordination efforts. Three, it reduces duplicative information requests by regulators. Four, the legislation assists regulators in detecting patterns of fraud. Five, new technology is utilized to modernize fraud fighting. The organization of the network is based around the creation of a computerized network linking existing anti-fraud databases of Federal and State financial regulators and law enforcement agencies. An Anti- Fraud Subcommittee (AFS) would be established within the President's Working Group on Financial Markets to administer the network. The regulators would be able to network anti-fraud information on entities and key professionals in the financial services industry; information would not be shared that is unrelated to financial or fraudulent activities, and shared information would only be available to financial regulators. Under the legislation, criminal conviction reviews currently required for licensing would be coordinated for greater efficiency, consumer protection, and cost savings. Most importantly, confidentiality and liability protection would be provided for all networked information to allow the regulators to share information without losing existing legal privileges. In addition to the primary purposes of the Financial Services Antifraud Network Act, the bill does not create any new federal bureaucracy, there are no new regulations, no new collection of information is authorized, and absolutely no information is shared on consumers. In closing, I would like to thank House Financial Services Chairman Mike Oxley and his hardworking committee staff for their guidance and assistance in crafting common-sense legislation that will ensure greater protection for consumers.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Stella Wingerter and her family on the 40th anniversary of the Bon Ton Shoppe Inc. Stella Wingerter founded the company in 1961 with the first store opening in Farmington, Michigan. That first store was only 1200 square feet. Now, however, Stella and her family own and operate four stores, all totaling more than 6,000 square feet, with locations in Farmington, Livonia, Milford and Brighton, Michigan. Forty years of enterprise in southeast Michigan is a strong testament of the Wingerter's dedication to their business, their employees and their community. Therefore, Mr. Speaker I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Stella Wingerter and her family on 40 years of success and wish them many more in the future.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with this body an uncommon act of my constituents, Dan and Lisa Kroll of Marion Township, Michigan. Kelly, Ray and Collin Shuler are neighbors of Dan Kroll. Collin, the Shuler's 2-year-old son, suffers from a serious brain injury which causes him to have partial blindness and stunted development. The Shulers have traveled throughout this Nation and to Canada in order to learn physical therapy procedures that they can perform themselves on their son. The family also pays upwards of $30,000 per year in out-of- pocket medical expenses for Collin. When Dan Kroll and his wife Lisa learned of their young neighbor's condition, they decided to help. By calling contacts on Dan's United Parcel Service route, Dan and his wife Lisa put together a fundraiser for Collin. Dan and Lisa Kroll hosted a major benefit dinner for Collin Shuler. The event was a tremendous success, gathering friends and neighbors, nearly 500 individuals who attended, and more than $20,000 was raised. Mr. Speaker, we are quick sometimes to condemn the acts of aggression, and not so quick sometimes to celebrate the acts of kindness that happen in America. Dan and Lisa Kroll have shown this kind of kindness by bringing the entire community of Howell, Michigan, together to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors. This act of kindness must not go without recognition. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Dan Kroll for being an inspiration to us all, and for reminding us that community service is an important part of American life.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support legislation that would abolish a Depression-era ban that prevents banks from offering interest on business checking accounts. Small businesses are hit particularly hard by the current prohibition, because they are typical unable to help larger depositors circumvent the prohibition. While larger businesses have the financial resources to use sweep arrangements, these products are not offered to small businesses because they cannot make the minimum investment necessary to participate in ``sweeps.'' As part of a small, family-owned home building business in Michigan, I know firsthand how slim the margins of operating a small business can be. This is why the Small Business Interest Checking Act is so important to our hometown retailers and businesses because it would give these smaller operations the opportunity to finally earn a much- needed market rate of return on their deposits. And any businessman or women in the country will tell you what a difference an extra percentage or two can make to their bottom line. As approved by the Committee on Financial Services, the Small Business Interest Checking Act contains language completely repealing the prohibition two years after enactment. The phase-in is included to assist institutions that currently offer sweep account arrangements, which are often based on multi-year contractual agreements. While I am personally of the preference that small business would benefit the most from legislation providing banks the voluntary option to pay interest on business checking accounts without a delay, I strongly support H.R. 974 and encourage my House colleagues do the same.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, every year more than 58,000 couples in Michigan's eighth district pay the federal government's penalty for saying ``I do.'' Until we remove this tax on marriage, families across Michigan and the country will continue to pay more in taxes than they should. The elimination of the marriage penalty will allow hardworking families to keep more of their own money to provide for their needs. The average penalty paid by Michigan families is $1,400 every year. This is real money that can make a real difference in the lives of working, two-income families. Let me share with you a few examples of what $1,400 means to families in Michigan. Seventeen hours of college credit at Lansing Community College; nearly 10 months of electrical utility bills; 100 packages of size 2 Huggies Diapers; 3 months of child care; a well-deserved family summer vacation. Today's vote reduces the burden on two-income families and is an important step toward our goal of removing all tax penalties on marriage and the family found in the federal tax code. I strongly support the efforts to remove this penalty and urge adoption of the Marriage Penalty and Tax Relief Act.

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan

Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2001 Bea Christy Award Nominees, who will be honored Friday, February 9, 2001 in Lansing, Michigan for their contributions to improve their communities and neighborhoods. Bea Christy was a dedicated member of the Eastside Neighborhood Organization for more than ten years until her death. She also worked with other organizations to make the neighborhood and community a better place to live. She was the kind of individual who volunteered to do the ``unglamourous'' tasks, who worked quietly and diligently behind the scenes, who never sought recognition for her efforts. First, she was a good neighbor in her immediate neighborhood, welcoming new people, planting flowers in the church yard across the street from her house, taking elderly folks to the doctor, and noticing where the sidewalk needed repairs. She also helped edit and deliver the Eastside Neighborhood Organization newspaper, made soup for the annual fund-raiser, and helped plant flowers in the bed on Michigan Avenue. Bea was also an active member of her church, volunteered with Radio Talking Book, as well as helped to initiate the Lansing area CROP Walk. She made these contributions in addition to being a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. It is quiet, committed, unsung people like Bea who make neighborhood organizations successful, and the community as a whole a better place to live. It is in this spirit that individuals are nominated for an annual award exemplifying the qualities of Bea Christy. The following six criteria must be considered when making a nomination for the Bea Christy Award: variety of activities in your neighborhood organization; unsung nature of contributions; overall good neighbor; reliability; willingness to take on tasks; and, other service to the community. Friday night, ten deserving individuals will be recognized as 2001 Bea Christy Award Nominees. I salute the following nominees for their outstanding service to their communities and neighborhoods: Dr. Calvin C. Anderson, Northwest Neighborhood Alliance; Chris Bobier, Potter/ Walsh Neighborhood Association; Linda Hartman, River Forest Neighborhood Association; Chad Hutchison, Downtown Neighborhood Association; Denise Kelley, Association for the Bingham Community; Rick Kibbey, Eastside Neighborhood Organization; Antonia Miernik, Genesee Neighborhood Association; Kathy Rogers, Old Forest Neighborhood Association; Leonard Earl Salisbury, Hosmer Neighborhood Organization; and Jane Sawyers, Neighbors United in Action.