Bart Stupak

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman and the coach for yielding me time. I rise today in opposition to the rule and the underlying bill. Madam Speaker, those of us who respect the right of life for the unborn know that when taxpayers fund abortion, more lives are lost to the tragedy of abortion. Out of our conviction for the unborn, 180 Members sent a letter to the Speaker, the chairwoman of the Rules Committee and the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, requesting that existing pro- life riders be included in any legislation reported out of the Appropriations Committee. These provisions include long-standing restrictions, some of which have been there for more than 30 years, on funding for abortion, on the conscience clause and policies respecting human life. These restrictions are important. They are a crucial part of Federal law. But they must be reapproved every year, as they have been by both Democratic and Republican leadership. We asked that those policies remain in legislation out of respect for all Americans who identify themselves as pro-life and out of respect for pro-life Members on both sides of the aisle. But anticipating the possibility that a pro-life appropriations policy will be deleted, a bipartisan group of Members asked for a reasonable accommodation by the Rules Committee. We asked that, at a minimum, the full House be given a reasonable opportunity to debate whether we should use taxpayers money to fund abortions. We asked to just allow us an up-and-down vote on this critical issue. When we saw that the ban on government-funded abortion in the District of Columbia was rendered meaningless, 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, 10 Members, a bipartisan group, went to the Rules Committee and asked for a simple change, an amendment to strike one word on page 143, line 8, the word Federal. Unfortunately our amendment was flatly denied. We are not even given a chance to debate whether we should use taxpayer money to fund abortion, a very basic issue and question facing this country. So, unfortunately, I'm going to urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and also to vote ``no'' on the underlying bill in its current form and in opposition to the rule, which muzzles the voices of pro- life Members.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, I could not be present for votes due to a family funeral back in Michigan. I rise today to enter into the Record how I would have voted had I been able to vote. House rollcall vote No. 424. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 425. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 426. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 427. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 428. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 429. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 430. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 431. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 432. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 433. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 434. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 435. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 436. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 437. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 438. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 439. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 440. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 441. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 442. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 443. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 444. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 445. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 446. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 447. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 448. I would have voted no. House rollcall vote No. 449. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 450. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 451. I would have voted yes. House rollcall vote No. 452. I would have voted yes.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise to support and discuss regulations I included in the American Clean Energy and Security Act to prevent excessive energy speculation, which has played a role in the run away energy prices we saw last year, and are seeing in the first half of 2009. In January, oil was trading at $35 per barrel. Today, it is trading near $70 per barrel. The price for oil has doubled in the midst of a global recession. Oil supplies are at a 20-year high, and demand is at a 10-year low, yet oil prices have skyrocketed since the beginning of the year. If this is based on supply and demand, what is happening to explain rising oil prices? If supply is up and demand is down during this global recession, why would oil continue to climb? The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Senate, as well as a number of respected oil market traders and analysts, have pointed to excessive speculation in the energy markets as the primary reason we see price spikes and volatility in the marketplace. In May, I introduced the Prevent Unfair Manipulation of Prices Act, or the PUMP Act of 2009. I worked with Energy and Commerce Chairman Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Markey to include the bulk of my bill into the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which is on the floor today. This legislation is not new; I have been introducing this bill in one form or another since April 2006. But new weaknesses in our regulatory structure, brought to light by the financial crisis and spikes in the price of oil last year, are addressed in the 2009 PUMP Act. The need for this legislation is two fold: 1. the dramatic rise in prices of oil and natural gas, and 2. the new carbon derivatives trading market created by the ACES bill. Some object to the inclusion of regulations on derivatives in this energy bill. I believe ACES proposed cap-and-trade program is fatally flawed without strong regulations to police this market from run-away price swings on carbon. Addressing excessive energy speculation should be a key part of any new energy policy pursued, because a dramatic spike in oil prices or carbon prices, would further devastate our already weakened economy. According to NYMEX officials, less than \1/10\ of one percent of futures trades in crude oil ever result in physical delivery. Most futures traders are not interested in delivery of a product, they are interested in profit. When speculators increase their investments, physical hedgers--businesses like airlines, trucking companies, and other industries that actually use the energy being traded--represent a smaller and smaller portion of the market. They are being squeezed out! As a growing majority of the market is controlled by speculators, crude oil is morphed from a commodity into a financial asset, traded for its financial value instead of its energy value! As a result, this excessive speculation by index speculators is a significant factor in the price Americans are paying for gasoline, diesel and home heating oil, and has similar affects on agricultural prices. For too long, through loopholes, exemptions, and poor enforcement by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, energy speculators have been able to avoid position limits. As a result, excessive speculation has exploded. My legislation in the 2009 PUMP Act and in ACES is comprehensive, and changes the regulations for the energy markets in fundamental ways. It makes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulate all over-the- counter trades that are currently not regulated; it regulates foreign boards of trades' energy transactions that trade for delivery in the United States or on a computer located in the United States. These boards are subject to the same regulations as current markets, including large trader reporting, recordkeeping, and prohibitions against fraud and market manipulation. My bill closes the swaps loophole; no longer allowing energy transactions to be excluded from the requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act. This would require the CFTC to provide greater oversight over these swap transactions. It bans naked credit default swaps. Naked credit default swaps, or one where the holder has no risk obligation on the swap, which creates a moral hazard by incentivizing economic loss. It sets aggregate position limits for energy speculators across all markets; it includes a CFTC Inspector General provision that makes that office independent and accountable. It also requires all trades be cleared through a designated clearing organization, eliminating the unregulated ``dark markets.'' My bill allows the CFTC to collect fees and create an independent funding stream for oversight and enforcement of commodity markets. Finally, it includes carbon derivatives as a regulated energy commodities under the authority of the CFTC. This incorporates all greenhouse gas emissions, offsets, and financial products derived from carbon credits. As the House works on the ACES bill, it is important that carbon trading not lead to a speculative bubble like we saw in the 2008 oil markets. Congress needs to pass legislation to set strong position limits, and ensure that excessive speculation does not allow speculators to detach carbon or energy prices from supply and demand fundamentals. I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues in passing legislation for the President to sign that sets strong position limits and improves CFTC enforcement to end this excessive speculation and provide relief to American consumers.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, as one of the authors of H.R. 2751, I urge support of the Cash for Clunkers program that will provide cash vouchers of up to $4,500 at auto dealerships for consumers who trade in aging, less fuel-efficient automobiles and replace them with modern fuel-efficient models. The Cash for Clunkers program accomplishes a dual task of reducing emissions and stimulating sales in the auto industry. I applaud Congresswoman Sutton for her leadership on this important issue. And I appreciate the support of Chairman Waxman, Chairman Emeritus Dingell, Chairman Markey, Chairman Inslee, and Majority Leader Hoyer in helping to bring this agreement to the House floor. The Cash for Clunkers program provides an incentive for Americans to do their part to reduce emissions without imposing new regulations on industry or consumers. This bill results in cleaner cars on the road and an increase in sales for the struggling auto industry. The value of the voucher and the criteria used to determine eligibility vary based on the type of car you are trading in and the type of car you are buying. The agreement we have reached on Cash for Clunkers ensures that a variety of needs of consumers are covered under the program. The Cash for Clunkers program encourages consumers to buy 1 million new cars and trucks. This program bolsters the automotive industry at its weakest point in years while revitalizing manufacturing and jump- starting our economy.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the author of H.R. 1280. I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Interior Committee, Mrs. Christensen and Mr. Lamborn, and the committee staff for their assistance in moving forward with this legislation. H.R. 1280 is a straightforward bill that would allow the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society to implement the new Human Use/Natural Resource Management Plan for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Chippewa County, Michigan. We have passed identical legislation on suspension out of the House of Representatives in the 109th and 110th sessions of Congress before, but it was not considered by the Senate. I am hopeful, with the House acting early this year in this legislative session, that the legislation we pass today will allow the Senate ample time to consider and approve this legislation. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. Since 1992, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has operated the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum to educate the public about shipwrecks in the region. The museum provides exhibits on several shipwrecks in the area, including an in-depth exhibit on the Edmund Fitzgerald, which was lost with her entire crew of 29 men near Whitefish Point, Michigan, on November 10, 1975. Among the items on display is the 200-pound bronze bell recovered from the wreckage in 1995, as a memorial to her lost crew. In 2002, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Michigan Audubon Society, and the local community finalized a new management plan to improve the experience at the museum. The new management plan, which was signed and agreed upon by the interested parties, will allow the historical society to expand the museum's exhibits while addressing concerns about parking and access to surrounding wildlife areas. However, because the original land patent references the previous management plan, legislation to amend the patent is necessary before the new management plan can be implemented. H.R. 1280 amends the land grant patent to allow the new management plan to be implemented. Congressman Camp of Michigan has joined me in cosponsoring this legislation, and I thank him for his support. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has continuously improved the experience at the museum since it was established in 1992. With the approval of H.R. 1280, Congress will allow the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum to further develop this cultural and historical resource. I encourage my colleagues to support this simple legislation which would improve the opportunities available to visitors of Chippewa County, Michigan, and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I stand today in support of House Resolution 426, a resolution offered by our friend, Mr. McNerney from California. This resolution is to recognize Police Week and all the law enforcement officers across the country that keep us and our communities safe. As a former city police officer and as a Michigan State police trooper, law enforcement has always been a legislative priority for me. When I was elected to Congress 17 years ago, I was surprised to learn that there was no formal organization within Congress to advocate on behalf of law enforcement. So I founded the Law Enforcement Caucus with the help of then-Democratic caucus chairman Steny Hoyer. Today, the Law Enforcement Caucus has 110 members and we hold regular briefings throughout the year. I'm proud to be cochair of the caucus, along with my friend Dave Reichert, the gentleman from the State of Washington. As you know, this is a time of great change for the law enforcement community. During an economic downturn, there's an increase in crime and in the drug trade. Many in Washington have paid a lot of attention to the integral role that law enforcement plays in protecting our country. But the Federal Government has to do more than talk about the problem. We must also provide resources, training, and equipment to ensure that it is there for local law enforcement. We made a strong commitment to this goal by providing $3 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for law enforcement programs. This effort must continue as we consider fiscal year 2010 appropriation bills. After all, our law enforcement officers are on the front lines every day, keeping us and our communities safe. I urge my colleagues to not only support this resolution honoring Police Week, but support law enforcement programs by fully funding the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, the Community Oriented Policing Services grants, and many Federal programs that have gone underfunded when the need is ever growing.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Chair, I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act. In this economic crisis, far too many families have been forced to rely on short-term, high-interest credit card debt to pay for food, housing and other basic necessities. In Northern Michigan, unemployment is at record highs. This has led many families to fall behind on their payments and fall victim to predatory practices of many credit card companies. This legislation includes several provisions that would protect consumers from these abusive practices. The bill would protect cardholders from arbitrary interest rate increases, ban collection of interest on amounts already paid, and would also set specific definitions for ``prime rate,'' ``fixed rate'' and other terms to prevent deceptive use of these terms. For too long, the credit card industry has preyed upon consumers through omission of honest billing practices, and through loopholes in credit regulation. I, alongside my colleagues Mr. Price, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Moran among others, have offered an amendment that requires credit card companies to honestly report a customer's balance on their monthly credit card statement. This includes reporting the monthly payment amount and total cost to the consumer for them to eliminate their outstanding balance in 12, 24 and 36 months. I urge my colleagues to support our amendment and to support the underlying bill.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Costa, for introducing this resolution. As a former Escanaba City police officer, a Michigan State police trooper and as an attorney, I saw every day the effect of crime on our citizens. Crime leaves its victims feeling unsafe in their own communities and vulnerable to the often complicated judicial system. As the cochairman of the Law Enforcement Caucus, I know that when a crime is committed, our law enforcement agencies work hard so the criminal is brought to justice. But there is another part to the equation. The victim of crime must be provided with assistance and support to recover from this often traumatic experience. Our law enforcement agencies work with the court system to ensure that victims of crime are treated fairly and with respect to one's dignity and privacy. We must step up to the plate and show our strong commitment to the criminal justice system by ensuring that victims of crimes feel safe in their own communities. The creation of the National Crime Victims' Crime Week is a good first step to increase public awareness of the rights and needs of victims of crime. Congress should go even further by ensuring the legal protections are in place to protect victims of crime. During the National Law Enforcement Week in May, I will introduce an amendment to the United States Constitution to protect the rights of all victims. I hope you will join me in ensuring our Constitution explicitly supports the rights of victims of crime. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of House Resolution 109 to create the National Crime Victims' Rights Week of 2009 and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Weiner for his outstanding work on this bill. In 1994, the COPS program changed the way we fight crime in this country, by giving local jurisdictions the support needed to put more than 100,000 new officers on the street. The results were clear: a nationwide drop in crime, and safer streets in our rural and urban areas alike. The COPS program is needed now more than ever. States, counties, and cities struggling to balance their budgets have made cuts to law enforcement programs even as the threat of terrorism has put new burdens on our first responders, and recent news reports show violent crime in our cities is again on the rise. This bill will help us face those problems, by putting thousands more officers where they can do the most good: on the streets of our communities. I am a Co-Chairman of the Law Enforcement Caucus, which was founded to advocate for the law enforcement community, ensure our law enforcement officers are provided the resources they need and build on key programs--such as COPS--to keep our communities safe. The COPS program is a proven concept that has the full support of the law enforcement community, and this bill will improve the program by expanding the utility of grants and increasing its authorization amount level by nearly $800 million. I thank the Chairman and the Committee for their work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today on a motion offered pursuant to this order, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in House Concurrent Resolution 93, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding to me. I rise in support of this resolution and to pay tribute to the four Oakland Police Department officers who were fatally shot in the line of duty on March 21. Sergeants Mark Dunakin, Ervin Romans, Daniel Sakai, and motorcycle officer John Hege were brutally murdered on a Saturday afternoon during the course of what began as a routine traffic stop and resulted in a massive manhunt. The shootings were the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since 9/11 and the deadliest in California in 40 years. Although these tragic events occurred more than 2,000 miles from my district, the people of northern Michigan join Oakland, California, and the Nation in paying tribute to these true heroes. Sergeant Ervin Romans, who died of gunshot wounds in the second of the two shooting incidents on that day, was the son of Chester and Sueko Romans of Ironwood Township in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Family and friends in Ironwood and across the Upper Peninsula have, in recent days, shared fond memories of Sergeant Romans. Although he was living and working in California as a SWAT team leader for the Oakland Police Department, Sergeant Romans grew up in Ironwood, where he graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1983 before leaving to become a decorated Marine. After his service to our Nation in the Marine Corps and as an Oakland Housing Authority police officer, Romans dreamed of joining the Oakland Police Department. That dream came true in 1996. In 1999, Romans received the department's highest honor, the Medal of Valor, for helping save residents in a West Oakland fire. He was promoted to sergeant in 2005 and worked narcotics cases and on the crime-reduction team, which was worked to combat street-level narcotics problems and associated violence. Ervin Romans was also a firing range master sergeant. Sergeant Romans was one of the SWAT steam members who on March 21 stormed the apartment where parolee and suspect Lovelle Mixon was hiding in a closet. Sergeant Romans was shot inside the apartment and died of gunshot wounds later that day. Ervin, or Erv to his family and friends, was a son, husband and father of three. He lived in Danville, California, with his wife, Laura, and three children, Kristina, Justin and Kayla. Childhood friends and family remaining in the Ironwood area will pay tribute to Sergeant Romans at a funeral service in Ironwood on April 4. As a former Escanaba City Police Officer and Michigan State Police Trooper, the loss of a law enforcement officer is especially painful. When I came to Congress, I founded the Law Enforcement Caucus, which exists to advocate for police officers and their families all across our country. This shooting reminds us how men and women in law enforcement face unknown dangers every day to keep us safe and our families safer. Like so many law enforcement officers across our country, Sergeants Romans, Dunakin, Sakai, and Officer Hege dedicated their lives to our safety. Madam Speaker, I join Congresswoman Lee and all of my colleagues in honoring these men for their service and sacrifice, and in offering the condolences of the U.S. House of Representatives to their families and friends. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, this legislation does one simple thing, Mr. Speaker--it requires health insurance companies to be upfront and honest with their policy holders when they place limitations and restrictions on benefits prior to selling them an insurance policy. Currently, the way insurance regulations are set, many Americans are unaware that their health insurance may not cover injuries resulting from certain recreational activities because their policy is unclear or very broad. This lack of clarity has created a confusing situation for individuals that may ride motorcycles, horses, snowmobiles, or participate in other recreational activities. While millions of Americans enjoy these activities safely every year, when an individual is injured, they often find that their insurance will not cover their medical expenses. H.R. 1253 would require that any limitations and restrictions on insurance benefits be explicit and clear. Insurance companies would be required to make available to participants and beneficiaries in an easily understandable manner a description of the limitations and restrictions included in the policy. By passing this straightforward legislation, we will protect our constituents that ride motorcycles, horses, snowmobiles, or participate in other recreational activities from being caught by surprise when they thought that their policy covered any possible injuries from their accident. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation. I want to thank Congressman Burgess for his work on this legislation as well as Chairman Waxman, Dingell and Barton.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise this morning to bring attention to Cover the Uninsured Week and to encourage the Congress to enact comprehensive health care reform this year. Our Nation's health care system--which leaves more than 45 million Americans uninsured and millions more underinsured--is badly in need of reform. Practically $56 billion in uncompensated care for the uninsured is absorbed annually by the health system, driving up the cost of insurance for everyone. Health care costs are consuming more of individuals', families', and businesses' budgets every year and represent the fastest growing piece of the Federal budget. The economic crisis is also shedding further light on a system that is inefficient, unaffordable and out of reach for too many Americans. Americans cannot simply wait any longer to ensure greater access to quality affordable health care. I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together to enact comprehensive health care reform this year. So during this week, Uninsured Week, when Congress recognizes the plight of those Americans without health insurance, let us strive to provide all Americans with comprehensive, affordable health care now.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the Escanaba Daily Press on its 100th anniversary. The Daily Press has survived the ups and downs the newspaper industry has faced over the past century and watched several local competitors fold, yet remained as a strong and independent voice for the Escanaba, Delta County and Schoolcraft County communities. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in honoring the Escanaba Daily Press and the men and women, past and present, who work so hard every day to bring the community its news on this historic milestone. In 1909 the Escanaba Morning Press was founded by John Norton and Herbet Little. After only a few months of operation, Little left and Norton took over sole management of the paper. The first edition of the Morning Press was published on March 19, 1909 at 1119 Ludington Street. Within two years the paper was moved to its present building at 600 Ludington Street where it has operated ever since. In 1922 the Escanaba Morning Press changed its name to the Escanaba Daily Press and became an afternoon paper on September 29, 1947. In 1954 the paper was sold to Frank Russell of Marquette, Michigan and George Osborn of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. In 1966 it was purchased by the Panax Corporation, which sold the Daily Press to Thomson Newspapers in 1980. Since 1998 the Escanaba Daily Press has been under the ownership of Ogden Newspapers. Despite changes in ownership over the years, the Daily Press has remained an independent voice for the people of Escanaba and all of Delta and Schoolcraft Counties. As community newspapers across the country have confronted consolidation, closure and downsizing, the Daily Press keeps going strong because of this independent voice and the trust of their readers. In the late 1970s it was the reporting of the Daily Press in a series on insurance scams that was the driving force in updating state insurance laws. In 1988 the Daily Press won the Associated Press sweepstakes award for doing the best work of any paper of its size in Michigan for a series on the shotgun slaying of four family members and the subsequent week-long search in local woods by the FBI for the suspect and his kidnapped ex-wife. The Daily Press has won countless awards over the years for editorial writing. In one contest, Michigan Press Association judges said they were ``well written editorials that take a clear position even when those positions might be unpopular.'' In another instance, the MPA wrote that the ``Daily Press takes seriously its role as a government watchdog.'' In an AP annual news writing contest, judges commented, ``Every editorial submitted dealt with local issues, with two taking aim at city government. These are issues that newspaper editorial pages are supposed to address. Good job.'' Madam Speaker, newspapers like the Escanaba Daily Press are a vital part of our communities. Their reporting is a valuable resource in tracking the history of our communities, reflecting and reporting on our daily lives. The Daily Press has served the Escanaba community and all of Delta and Schoolcraft Counties well over the past century. I ask that you, Madam Speaker, and the entire U.S. House of Representatives, join me in congratulating the Escanaba Daily Press and its past and present staff on 100 years of operation.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for yielding, as I rise in support of H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009. I wish to personally thank Chairman Oberstar for his work and for including a provision I requested, which will improve water quality in the Great Lakes. Water pollution in the Great Lakes comes from both Canadian and U.S. sources. In my district, residents of Sugar Island, located within the St. Mary's River Area of Concern, have to deal with water contaminated with E. coli, coliform, and other bacteria along their shoreline. The problem is neither they, nor Federal or State regulators, have a clear understanding of how much the pollution is American in origin, how much is Canadian, resulting in a great deal of finger-pointing over responsibility for cleanup. My provision within the manager's amendment would require the EPA to conduct a study, in consultation with the Department of State and the Canadian government, on all pollution discharges from wastewater treatment facilities into the Great Lakes. When the study is complete, the EPA is to provide recommendations on how to improve information- sharing and coordination between the two countries to protect the water quality of the Great Lakes. It is my hope that, with the conclusion of the study, our two countries can coordinate to meet our mutual goal of protecting Great Lakes water quality. Again, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for addressing our concerns. This legislation will play an important role in helping communities upgrade and repair their aging water infrastructure, which will ensure the health of the Great Lakes, a source of drinking water for 45 million people. I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I have held nine hearings to examine the safety and security of our Nation's food supply over the past 2 years. A recent peanut butter salmonella outbreak is just the latest in a string of food-borne illnesses that affects 76 million Americans every year. For this reason, I joined with my colleagues, Chairmen Dingell and Pallone, to introduce H.R. 759, the Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2009. H.R. 759 would give the FDA not only the financial resources, but also the regulatory tools to ensure the safety of food we eat and the drugs we take. If this legislation would have been in place, the FDA would have had the authority, as well as the resources, to prevent the current salmonella outbreak from occurring, tools such as resources for increased inspections, access to inspection records, mandatory recall authority and strong penalties that will require testing facilities to send their results to the FDA. Congress faces an ambitious agenda in the coming months, but more than 600 illnesses and nine deaths linked to the current salmonella outbreak underscore the importance of wasting no time in enacting this legislation.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr Speaker, I am troubled by the manner in which this bill, S. 22, the Omnibus Public Lands Act, was brought to the House floor with no opportunity to amend and little input from members of this chamber. We are all aware of the challenges in moving legislation, particularly this legislation, through the Senate. But that does not mean we should defer to the judgment of 99 Senators and let the voices of the 435 members of the House and their constituents go unheard. There are a lot of good things in this bill. For example, I am pleased S. 22 includes stand alone legislation I have introduced, H.R. 488, to decrease the matching funds requirement and authorize additional appropriations for Keweenaw National Historical Park in Michigan. Another provision in the bill would support the North Country National Scenic Trail, which snakes more than a thousand miles across my state. Despite the inclusion of these provisions, this could be a stronger bill with input from the House. There is no better example of this than the one amendment that was allowed, that offered by Mr. Altmire. His amendment protects access to public lands for recreational activities otherwise allowed by law or regulation, including hunting, fishing and trapping and clarifies states' authority to manage fish and wildlife populations. I have drafted an amendment, which due to the way this bill was brought to the floor I was unable to offer, to strip a provision designating 11,739 acres at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as the Beaver Basin Wilderness Area. The proposed wilderness designation is located entirely in my congressional district and lacks the support of the local city and county governments. This issue deserved debate and consideration by the House before pushing through this public lands bill. Quickly adding S. 22 to the suspension calendar and effectively blocking input and changes is not appropriate regular order. Ultimately, the good things in this bill outweigh my frustrations over the process so I will support final passage. But I urge you, Mr. Speaker, to restore regular order to the House floor.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I must stand in opposition to allowing immigration extensions or reforms without addressing a temporary extension of the H-2B returning worker program. The H-2B visa program was created to provide access to nonimmigrant, temporary workers for seasonal and peak load needs when no American workers can be found. Foreign workers offer small and seasonal businesses short-term help, and they return to their home countries at the end of the season. H-2B visas are capped at 66,000 visas per year. Even with 66,000 visas per year, it does not meet the labor needs of seasonal businesses. To help fill these needs, Congress established the H-2B returning worker program in 2005. This program exempts returning workers who have received an H-2B visa in one of three previous fiscal years from counting against the 66,000 cap. However, this exemption expired on September 30, 2007. In the 110th Congress, this exemption had the support of 158 bipartisan Members of Congress--88 Democrats and 70 Republicans. In the 111th Congress, the bill has just been introduced, and we already have the support of 32 Democrats and 23 Republicans. As of January 7, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had already received enough visa petitions to exceed the cap for H-2B visas for the second half of this fiscal year. This demand highlights the immediate need for Congress to extend the H-2B visa returning worker program to help small and seasonal businesses fill their seasonal labor needs and to keep full-time Americans and businesses working. These returning workers have provided relief to small businesses throughout the Nation, covering a broad spectrum of industries like landscapers, tourism, restaurants, hotels, and seafood processors. H-2B workers offer short-term help. They cannot and do not stay in the United States. More importantly, the H-2B program contains strong provisions to ensure American workers have the first chance to work. Without an extension of the returning worker program, small and seasonal businesses will face significant labor shortages this year as they did last year. We have constantly been told we cannot bring this bill to the floor until we address comprehensive immigration. Then why are we bringing up the J-1 program when we're letting H-2B expire? Therefore, regrettably, I must oppose H.R. 1127.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank him for his friendship. As you know, I have been to Pittsburgh. We went to the new stadium in Pittsburgh when the Steelers played. When they opened up the new stadium, we were there. I congratulate the Pittsburgh Steelers on their sixth Super Bowl ring and their championship this year. But the last part of your resolution, and every football fan knows, that the standard for the entire NFL for championships is the Green Bay Packers with 13, with 13. So I would ask the gentleman, you don't want to lower the standard, obviously, that we should recognize the fact that the standard for championships, as your resolution says, in the entire NFL belongs to the Green Bay Packers, and not to my other nice team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. So I just want to make note of it that I think all of us being football fans recognize the fact that the standard for NFL championships is with the Green Bay Packers.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, 5 minutes is not nearly enough time to do justice to Congressman John Dingell's record-breaking 53 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, but I wish to highlight the profound impact his work has had on the lives of Americans. It is not the length of time you serve here but rather what you do with that time that counts. Today we are honoring not only John Dingell's record tenure but also his many successes over the past 53 years that have improved the lives of all Americans and made our country a better place. Whether it was passage of landmark environmental laws, implementation of Medicare or passage of the Civil Rights Act, the history that dominates the past half century was being shaped by John Dingell. From his first days in the House, Mr. Dingell has carried on his father's fight to provide health care for every American. He has proposed a national health insurance bill in every Congress since 1957. In April of 1965, Mr. Dingell was presiding over the U.S. House of Representatives for the historic vote to create the Medicare program. Those who have had the pleasure of visiting Mr. Dingell's office know that the gavel he used on that occasion sits on his desk. Congressman Dingell was there to see history in the making as President Johnson signed the Medicare bill into law at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. More than 40 years after that historic day, Chairman Dingell was instrumental in expanding and improving Medicare, to make it a widely successful effort at improving health care for our Nation's elderly and preventing them from falling into poverty. In 1993, Mr. Dingell took the lead in the House in working with the Clinton administration to push for universal health insurance coverage for all Americans. Although Mr. Dingell points to that effort as one of his ``biggest disappointments,'' it was that debate that kept the issue of universal coverage alive for the past 16 years. We are now poised with John Dingell once again serving as the lead House negotiator to work with President Obama to make health insurance for all Americans a reality in this Congress. Mr. Dingell and I share a passion for oversight. When I first came to Congress, and particularly once I became a member of the Commerce Committee, Mr. Dingell provided valuable mentorship that has enabled me to continue his tradition of aggressive oversight through the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. Mr. Dingell not only understands the role of Congress to oversee the executive branch, he, perhaps more than anyone else before him, used this authority to uncover abuses of power including corruption, waste and fraud that jeopardized not only taxpayer dollars but also the health and safety of the American people. John Dingell has proven that investigations can accomplish as much as legislation. As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Mr. Dingell used broad jurisdiction over the committee to effect changes on issues such as defense contracting, insider trading, Superfund cleanup, medical device safety, unfair foreign trade practices, food and drug safety, blood banks and pipeline safety. In an age when State legislatures are quick to enact term limits, John Dingell is a shining example of how valuable tenure can be. The perspective and knowledge he brings to the table after 53 years of service is a critical part of the legislative process that allows us to avoid repeating past mistakes and continue to push for longstanding goals such as universal health care. Whether it is battling in committee or on the floor, teaming up in an investigation or relaxing with John and Debbie Dingell on Mackinac Island, I have valued Mr. Dingell as a colleague, mentor and friend. Our country is a better place, and Congress is a stronger institution because of the contributions of John Dingell.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time on this important issue. In the last 2 years, we've held over six hearings on this transition to digital television and highlighted the problems that we find across America with this transmission date and the set date of February 17 and the need to extend the time. We need to extend the time because, in all honesty, the Department of Commerce has made many mistakes in this program, and to ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to make the transition and to get their converter boxes, we have to make this delay. The other side has argued that converter boxes are readily available. Time and time again in my district in rural northern Michigan, we've gone to the stores. There are no converter boxes available. Our coupons are only good for 90 days, and then they expire, and we have got to start the process all over again. Even though we repeatedly warned the Department of Commerce this would happen, they did nothing until Christmas Eve when they notified us that they've run out of money, there's no more converter boxes, and this is a disaster waiting to happen. So I'm very pleased that the Obama administration has stepped forward, and this situation has now required that we delay the transition to allow this new administration the opportunity to properly prepare the Nation for DTV transition. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have stated that a delay would jeopardize public safety. This is simply not true. As a former Michigan State police trooper and as a Member who's focused on strengthening our Nation's public safety and as a founder of the Law Enforcement Caucus way back in 1994, I've got to tell you the rhetoric about jeopardizing public safety is misplaced. And also as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I've worked with my colleagues, public safety, and the FCC to promote the construction of a national, interoperable, wireless broadband network for law enforcement. Congress must act quickly to modernize our public safety infrastructure, and we can do that. Basics such as access to television, before this transition and after the transition, we need access to the emergency alert system, as well as news information for local communities. This is access that's a critical component of public safety. As a result of this legislation and our bill here today, a number of public safety groups support the delay of the DTV transition and have repeatedly said it would not jeopardize public safety. This legislation still preserves the right to make the switch, soon as you're ready, to make a switch from analog to the digital spectrum before the new transition date of June 12. Public safety officials recognize that a one-time delay is necessary, and in a letter to us from public safety officials it says, ``Specifically, the bill makes it clear that a public safety agency can use its existing license in the 700-megahertz band to commence operations after a broadcaster has voluntarily ceased operations on a channel before June 12. All 50 States and some local governments have FCC licenses for the 700-megahertz spectrum.'' It will not delay public safety. It will not jeopardize public safety. Vote ``yes'' on the legislation.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With unemployment at its highest level in nearly 30 years, millions of American are struggling to pay for basic necessities as food, housing and health care, it is clear Congress must act. In my district, our manufacturers have been hit hard by the crisis in the auto industry; our tourism economy has taken a beating as fewer Americans can afford to take a vacation; mining and forestry are suffering as the demand and price for raw materials has plummeted. Unemployment ranges from the national average of 7.2 percent in Menominee County to 19 percent in Mackinac County. The Congress must act. This legislation is not perfect; it is not everything I would put into an economic recovery legislation. Still, the Congress must act and act without delay! My staff and I have been contacted by dozens of local officials from across Northern Michigan who have identified more than $360 million in road, bridge, water infrastructure and construction projects that could help jump start their local economies. I expect only a portion of these projects may be funded--but Congress must act. While I have reservations about this legislation, Congress must act to invest in the Americans who need a helping hand, not a hand out. Michigan's unemployment rate is at 10.6 percent. We must act to extend unemployment benefits to help 3.5 million Americans who have exhausted their benefits. We must act to increase food stamps to help 31 million Americans, half of whom are children. We must act to protect health insurance coverage for Americans who have lost their jobs and are one illness or sickness away from bankruptcy. Mr. Chair, this bill is not perfect. But the needs of the millions of Americans struggling through this deep recession demands the U.S. Congress to act. We must act. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 39, honoring Catholic Schools Week. Since the beginning of our Nation's history, Catholic schools have played an important role in American education. Catholic schools have an excellent reputation for providing a strong academic and moral education, as well as teaching social responsibility. The Catholic schools in my district work hard to create an environment where academic excellence and value-driven pride can be fostered and embraced. My wife Laurie and I and our two sons, Ken and B.J., attended Catholic schools in northern Michigan, and realize the benefits of the Catholic education system. This week, let us pause, reflect and congratulate the administrators, faculty, staff, students, and parents as we celebrate the dedicated tradition of promoting education through our Catholic faith. The long rich history of Catholic education would not be possible without the financial commitment of those who make up our local parishes and dioceses across our Nation. H. Res. 39 acknowledges the hard work and dedication that Catholic schools have contributed to building our local communities and our Nation. I am proud to cosponsor House Resolution 39, and support the many Catholic schools in my district and across our Nation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I rise today in support of the rule on H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, the CHIP program. The CHIP program was enacted under President Clinton with bipartisan support to help reduce the number of low-income uninsured children by expanding eligibility levels and simplifying the application process. In 2006, CHIP provided insurance to 6.7 million children. In Michigan, roughly 31,000 children are enrolled in MIChild, making Michigan one of the States with the fewest number of uninsured children in the country. Eighty-six percent of the children enrolled in MIChild are from working families that are unable to afford private health insurance for their children. Meanwhile, health care through the CHIP program is cost-effective. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it costs a mere $3.34 a day or $100 a month to cover a child under the CHIP program. Furthermore, CHIP is vitally important to children living in our country's rural regions. Of the 50 counties with the highest rates of uninsured children, 44 are rural counties, with many located in the most remote parts of our country. Today's legislation would reauthorize and approve the CHIP program to protect and continue coverage for 6.7 million children, plus an additional 4 million children that are eligible but are currently uninsured. During these difficult economic times, this legislation does not raise income levels for families whose children would be eligible for health care coverage. It is time to cover and support all of our Nation's children. Again, I support this legislation and urge all my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation.

Mr. STUPAK

Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7321, the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act, which would provide $15 billion in bridge loans for the Big 3 domestic automakers, to help them weather the current credit crunch and financial crisis. These loans are critical for the survival of our domestic automakers, our manufacturing sector, and the American middle class. One in ten American jobs are linked to the auto industry. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors support about 5 million American jobs. More than 1 million American workers and retirees are directly employed or supported by the major automakers. Two million Americans receive health care benefits through the auto industry. An estimated 3 million jobs would be lost in the first year if the American automakers collapsed-- nearly three times the jobs lost nationwide this year. The Ann Arbor-based Center for Automotive Research estimates that the collapse of the domestic auto industry would mean an estimated 2.5 million jobs lost over the next year, costing Federal, State, and local governments a total of $50 billion next year and $108 billion over the next 3 years. In my district, the dramatic drop in demand for new cars and trucks is already taking a toll on parts suppliers and our domestic steel industry. At Cliffs Natural Resources' Tilden and Empire mines in Marquette County, reduced demand for iron ore to produce steel for the automakers has led to the layoff of 350 workers. The closure of the Dura Automotive Systems plant in Antrim County caused 300 jobs to be lost. Lexamar in Boyne City had to layoff 90 workers, Northern Tool in Mio laid off 68 workers, H&H Tube in Cheboygan closed causing 60 jobs to be lost, and layoffs at more than a dozen other suppliers to the automakers across northern Michigan are the result of the current economic crisis. What we are debating today is not new. In 1979, the Federal Government provided Chrysler a $1.5 billion loan. Chrysler paid back the full amount with interest in 4 years, and operated successfully for 2 decades because of this assistance. Why are some of my colleagues so willing to spend more than $700 billion to help Wall Street, but so hesitant to assist an industry that creates so many middle-class jobs? According to data analyzed by ABC News, in 2007, Wall Street's five biggest firms--Bear Stearns, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley--paid a record $39 billion in bonuses to themselves. Those 2007 bonuses were paid, even though the shareholders in those firms last year collectively lost about $74 billion in stock declines-- their worst year since 2002. If split equally among the approximately 186,000 employees at the former Big Five Houses, that bonus money means an average of $201,500 per employee--almost six times the $34,076 median household income in my district last year. Instead of preserving $200,000 bonuses, Congress should be preserving American middle class jobs. In addition, the legislation we are considering today has greater oversight and stronger taxpayer protections than the Wall Street bailout. There were four main principles that should have applied to the Wall Street bailout: transparency and accountability; no windfalls or golden parachutes for executives; strong oversight by Congress; and effective taxpayer protections. The Wall Street bailout final bill did not contain these safeguards. The auto loan legislation Congress is considering today provides greater transparency, stronger restrictions on executive compensation, tough oversight provisions, and more taxpayer protections. This legislation requires a commitment on the part of auto executives, employees, labor unions, dealers, suppliers, creditors and shareholders to participate in the restructuring efforts that will ensure the long-term viability of an industry that helped create this Nation's middle class. The jobs of millions of middle-class Americans and the pensions and benefits of millions more depend on a vibrant domestic auto industry. The automakers are not asking for a handout. They are asking for a loan, which in the current credit crisis only the Federal Government can provide. This legislation includes strong protections for the taxpayers and I have every confidence the loans will be paid back with interest and the result will be a stronger auto industry and a stronger American economy. As the automakers implement restructuring plans and the economy improves, these loans will have laid the groundwork for the recall of laid-off workers and the creation of new jobs. Doing nothing is not an option. Inaction by Congress would cost the American taxpayers more than this legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important loan assistance for the automakers, to preserve middle-class jobs and improve our economy while protecting taxpayers!