Betty Sutton

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

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

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a deep sense of appreciation to pay tribute to former fire chief, Ed Hanzel, who passed away on December 31, 2007 while serving as a combat firefighter in Iraq. Ed, who devoted over 32 years of his life to his community as a firefighter, embarked on two separate tours in Iraq following his retirement in 2002. Retirement did not suit Ed, who felt he could make a positive contribution in Iraq while continuing to provide for his family. And although Denise, his wife of 36 years, worried for his safety, Ed was determined to protect our brave soldiers by utilizing his professional firefighting skills on military bases as a combat firefighter. One morning, at the onset of his second tour, Ed informed a coworker he wasn't feeling well and went to rest. Later that day, Ed Hanzel passed away. Ed was a strong man. He had beaten cancer a few years ago. His death in Iraq surprised his family and friends who knew him for his easygoing nature, his sense of humor, and his ability to light up a room with his bright eyes and genuine smile. After his passing, countless firefighters, emergency medical personnel and other safety forces from 11 neighboring departments joined together to honor Ed's memory. With fire truck ladders extended to form an arch, an American flag was flown at the peak, symbolizing Ed's devotion to his country. A medical helicopter flew low over the crowd, and a fire truck adorned with a black wreath sounded a traditional last call, concluding a ceremony to celebrate a former fire chief, a humble fire chief, who often appeared embarrassed when called ``Chief.'' The respect and admiration Ed earned as a firefighter, a paramedic and a SWAT medic could not have been more visible as his peers joined together around an empty pair of boots and a firefighter's helmet to honor their fallen colleague. We will always remember Ed for his ever-present smile, his commitment to his community, his sense of humor, and his dedication to his family. On behalf of the people of Ohio's 13th District, I want to express my deepest sympathies to his wife, Denise, and son, Brian. We have lost a great man, and they have lost a great husband and father who gave all in service to others and our country. We grieve Ed's passing, but we celebrate his life and service and we take solace in knowing we are better people for having known him.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Madam Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 1181, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas, the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee of Military Construction, Veterans Administration and Related Agencies, Mr. Edwards.

Ms. SUTTON. We have two speakers remaining.

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York, the chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, Mrs. Lowey.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Madam Speaker, there are no words to describe the pain we feel when a young life is lost. To know Josh Miller was to know a kindhearted and generous young man with limitless potential. Josh was a Baberton High School sophomore with a 4.0 grade point average, a linebacker who dreamed of playing football for Ohio State one day. But one day, without warning, these dreams were cut short. Josh had never shown any signs of heart trouble, but during the final game of the 2000 football season, he collapsed after leaving the field. By the time his heart was shocked with an automated external defibrillator, it was too late to save him. Josh suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, which, according to the American Heart Association, claims the lives of about 330,000 Americans every year. The vast majority of these individuals, like Josh, will not have displayed any signs of heart trouble beforehand; yet there is an easy-to-use, relatively inexpensive piece of medical equipment that can more than double the odds of survival for someone experiencing such a sudden cardiac arrest. An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is the single-most effective treatment for starting the heart after sudden cardiac arrest. And because chances of survival decrease up to 10 percent for every minute that passes, every second is critical. It is incredibly important that we take steps to educate the public about the life-and-death difference that using these devices would make. I would like to thank and to commend my colleague, Mr. Kuhl, for his efforts in promoting increased access to AEDs through the resolution passed this afternoon. Later this week, I will be introducing a piece of legislation that takes another step to increase the ability of AEDs in our communities. The Josh Miller HEARTS Act will establish a grant program that will help schools across the country purchase these lifesaving devices. Schools are central gathering places in our communities, and placing AEDs in our schools will not only save the lives of students enrolled there, potentially, but they will be available for teachers and staff, parents and volunteers, and the many other members of the community who pass through the halls every single day. This legislation will be modeled on a similar program recently completed in the State of Ohio. Dr. Terry Gordon, a cardiologist at Akron General Hospital, has dedicated his life to this campaign. And his tireless efforts in Ohio led to the adoption of a statewide initiative to put an AED into every school across the State. Already, this program has saved the lives of 12 children and adults as a direct result. I hope we in Congress can build on Dr. Gordon's good work and carry out this program at the national level. Losing a young life full of promise, like Josh's, can bring about a sense of helplessness. But today, we have an opportunity to act. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this effort to bring AEDs into every single school across this country.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, this bill has been a long time coming. As a freshman Member of this body, I am proud to rise in support of the rule and this energy legislation that will make significant strides in our effort to address global warming, save our families money on their energy bills and at the pump, and bolster our national security by mapping out a more energy-independent future for our country. This energy bill includes a long overdue increase in CAFE standards and improves vehicle efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, the first increase of this kind since 1975. This significant increase in vehicle emission standards will save American families between $700 and $1,000 per year at the pump, reduce oil consumption by 1.1 million gallons per day by 2020, which is one-half of what we currently import from the Persian Gulf. And these new standards will reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 28 million of today's average cars and trucks off the road. Science tells us that CAFE increases are possible and necessary, and we must implement them now. And while implementing necessary environmental protections, this legislation will preserve tens of thousands of American manufacturing jobs in places like Avon Lake, Ohio, where my constituents produce passenger vans. This bill will provide our auto manufacturers domestically with the tools and incentives they need to produce the vehicles of tomorrow here in the United States, keeping jobs at home, and allowing us to all move forward together. Keeping high-paying auto manufacturing jobs in this country will in turn help retain hundreds of thousands of related jobs in the electronics, steel, textiles, glass, plastics and rubber, and countless other sectors that produce auto parts, while also laying the groundwork for jobs in the future. The American people have spoken loud and clear that we cannot turn a blind eye to the crisis of global warming and astonishing gas prices squeezing the budgets for our working families. I urge support for the rule and the bill.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SUTTON. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Chairman, first of all I would like to commend the chairman of the Financial Services Committee for his extraordinary leadership and hard work on this legislation. I also want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Bachus, along with Mr. Frank for their extraordinary hard work. I also extend my thanks to Mr. Miller, the sponsor of this bill, as well. Today I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 3915 that I believe will take an important step in preventing avoidable foreclosures. The news stories we see every day remind us that this subprime mortgage crisis is not going away immediately. In fact, it is getting worse. RealtyTrac just released its third quarter foreclosure numbers, and the numbers are staggering. Foreclosure filings increased 30 percent nationally from the second quarter, which translates to one foreclosure filing for every 196 American households. Two of the largest metro areas in my district are among the 15 with the highest foreclosure rates nationally. Foreclosures in the Cleveland, Lorain, Elyria area are up 179 percent from last year. One in every 57 homes in that area is in foreclosure. In Akron, it is one of every 76. These are families in my district who are suffering. Many of the loans involved in the current subprime mortgage crisis are hybrid adjustable rate mortgages. Though these loans typically begin with a low fixed ``teaser'' rate, it resets after 2 or 3 years, often to as much as two or three times the original payment. According to a recently conducted survey, one in four homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages were not aware how soon their rates could spike, and three-quarters did not know how much their payments might increase. A homeowner who does not know what is coming may not be able to ask for help until it is too late. The amendment I am offering today would take a simple step to help ensure homeowners have the opportunity to pursue all of the options available to them before the foreclosure becomes inevitable. My amendment, which is based on a recommendation of the Ohio Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, will require lenders to send a notice to homeowners holding hybrid adjustable rate mortgages 6 months before their interest rates are due to reset. The notice will contain four key pieces of information: It will include the new interest rate and an explanation of how it will be determined; Second, it will require the lender to include a good-faith estimate of the monthly payment that will apply after the loan resets; Third, it contains a list of alternatives the consumer may pursue before the date of the adjustment or reset if they feel they will have difficulty in meeting the payment obligations; Finally, it will include the contact information of the local HUD- approved housing counseling agencies, as well as the State housing finance authority for the State in which the consumer resides. Enhanced disclosures will help prevent avoidable foreclosures and ensure our families are not caught by surprise and trapped in a position that may ultimately force them out of their homes. I believe this disclosure is a vital tool for our families, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment.

Ms. SUTTON. I would inquire how much time I have remaining.

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Chairman, requiring lenders and servicers to include their best estimate of the amount that will be incurred when the loan resets is a commonsense way to deal with providing these borrowers with information that is essential if they are in a position to avoid foreclosure, and all we are asking under this amendment is for a good- faith estimate based on accepted industry standards. The estimate need not be exact. A lender or servicer simply needs to make a good-faith effort to estimate the payment that will apply after reset. It is important to keep consumers informed about the date of reset, but if they are not sure what they will face when the loan resets, it will be much more difficult for them to prepare what is coming. This is a simple requirement to insure that not only will homeowners know when this will happen, but also what will happen. I appreciate greatly the remarks of the ranking member, Mr. Bachus, and of course the support of the chairman of the Financial Services Committee. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. I thank the gentleman for the time. All of us in this Chamber and in this Nation support our troops. They have fought bravely, with love of this great country uppermost in their hearts. They have done all that we have asked them to do. They have done their job well. And now in this Congress, Mr. Speaker, we must do ours. The President has indicated that he thinks this war will continue for another decade. But, Mr. Speaker, we must not concede to a 10-year war. Over 3,850 brave American lives have been lost; 163 Ohio soldiers have been killed; more than 28,000 of our Nation's finest have been wounded. The year 2007 has been the deadliest year for U.S. troops since this war began 4\1/2\ years ago.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, just over 11 months ago I arrived in these hallowed Halls as a Congresswoman representing the people of Ohio's 13th Congressional district. During my campaign, and now as a Member of Congress, I have spoken with workers and their families in Akron and Lorain and other communities throughout northeast Ohio. And let me tell you about these proud, hardworking people who I am so honored to represent. All they really want is a government that works with them, not against them. They want a good job that will allow them to care for their families, put food on the table, and help them send their children to college. And one of the many things that they understand very clearly is that our global trading system is broken, and our workers, and our businesses, our farmers, and our communities are being left at a devastating disadvantage. In Ohio, we have lost over 200,000 manufacturing jobs since 2001, and that means a lot of families are suffering. And last November, my constituents and the American people across this country, they cast their ballots seeking a new direction on trade. And that's why it is so important that this Congress understand the connection between what we do here today and the impact that will have not only on people's livelihoods, but on their beliefs and on their ideas about what we stand for. Mr. Speaker, people seldom look very hard for things they don't want to find. But Members of this esteemed body should not be so blinded by their yearning to support trade to not recognize the realities of its harmful effects on our families and communities. Mr. Speaker, it may be easy to say that our current trade policies are working when you've not talked to families in Akron, looked into the eyes of their children, or walked down the streets in Lorain. It may be easy to think that our broken system is benefiting our Nation's businesses when you ignore the voices of small businesses in Barberton and Elyria. And it may be easy to think we should continue down a crumbling path when you drown out the concerns of workers in Brunswick and Strongsville and Cuyahoga Falls. But I learned, as we all do when we're young, that if something is broken, you fix it. You really fix it. If something no longer works, develop a new product that fits your needs and allows you to move forward. That's what we need to do with our trade policies. But, unfortunately, that's not what is happening here. Mr. Speaker, the same promises that have been used over and over and over to justify passage of free trade agreement after free trade agreement are being heard here again tonight. Some are pleading that this is an historic breakthrough, and oh, how I wish that that were so. But it is not. And saying it is does not make it so. It's clear that our current trade policies are not working, despite the same past promises made. We see this in the reality of a nearly $1 trillion trade deficit, tainted imported food and products, currency manipulation, illegal subsidies, offshore jobs, and devastated families and communities. Mr. Speaker, we could develop a new model that addresses these issues and puts American workers and businesses in a position to compete on a level playing field and truly raises the standard of living for those in other nations, but, unfortunately, the Peru FTA fails to do this. It locks in problems with food safety, procurement, Social Security privatization, among others. And most importantly, we know very clearly it will not be enforced. Just look at one of the agreement's strongest supporters, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They were very encouraged that the labor provisions in the bill could not be read to ``require compliance.'' And today, in The Washington Post, we learned from the Columbia law professor, Mark Barenberg, that the Peru FTA actually imposes lighter sanctions for labor standard violations than current trade law requires. Now, proponents will say that's not true. But that's what Columbia Law Professor Mark Barenberg says. The Peru FTA actually imposes lighter sanctions for labor standard violations than current trade law requires. So, Mr. Speaker, what are we going to do today for my constituents and those who elected us to move in a new direction on trade? What will be the true legacy of this historic Congress? Will it be our legacy to pass more harmful trade policies and trade agreements like the one before us? Or will it be a different course, one of fairness, one of justice, one that will allow our workers and business a truly fair playing field? I urge a ``no'' vote on the agreement.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Madam Speaker, I support the TAA reauthorization and appreciate the important improvements this legislation makes in the program. But, unfortunately, there's a larger problem at work, and TAA only addresses the symptoms, not the cause. So-called free trade has been anything but free. Our current trade policies have been devastating for communities in northeast Ohio and across this Nation. One only has to look at our record trade deficit and this growing TAA program to see this reality. Madam Speaker, people across this country know that our trading system is broken. The fact is TAA became necessary because this country kept entering into unfair and harmful trade agreements that cost American workers their jobs and hurt businesses and communities. While reauthorizing and improving the TAA program is important, what our working families really need are trade policies that do not jeopardize American jobs in the first place. In just the last 7 years, we've lost more than 3 million manufacturing jobs in this country, and more than 200,000 in Ohio alone. Some estimates attribute more than 50,000 of Ohio's job losses directly to NAFTA. And we've seen the consequence of this job loss in the record numbers of families in foreclosure, and in families falling off of the health care rolls, and families sustaining benefits going out the window. These are families full of proud, hardworking Americans who have had their futures and opportunities undercut by our trade policies. It doesn't have to be that way. This country owes these workers the kind of assistance TAA aims to offer, because we must remember that very often it was our Nation's broken policies that set in motion the loss of their jobs. And because of this, it's this government's moral responsibility to try and help them land on their feet. But wouldn't it have been better if those jobs had never been lost? And wouldn't it be better, Madam Speaker, to fix our broken policies so that they no longer allow other countries to engage in unfair trade tactics that leave U.S. businesses at a disadvantage and U.S. workers out of jobs? This reauthorization bill recognizes the disastrous consequences that poorly conceived trade agreements such as NAFTA, CAFTA and the proposed Peru, Colombia, Panama and South Korean free trade agreements have had and will continue to have for our manufacturing and service industries. Make no mistake. Our policies must not just sound good on paper. They must work for our businesses, our workers, our farmers, and our communities. Indeed, they must work and be fair to this country. If this Congress does not act on this reality which is being felt in places like Lorain and Akron and in districts across this country, we'll need more and more TAA programs every year as more and more American workers are let down by a broken and mismanaged system. Madam Speaker, all the good intentions and helpful programs in TAA cannot disguise the fact that we're going about things backwards. We should start with American workers and communities, and end with multinational corporations, not the other way around. We must make sure that our trade policies do not leave our businesses and workers at an unfair disadvantage or provide incentives to move jobs offshore. Many displaced workers have been turned away from TAA in Ohio in the past, due to chronic underfunding and complex eligibility rules and requirements. And for others it's been very difficult finding new good- paying jobs to support their families. In Ohio, only 65 percent of workers laid off between 2003 and 2005 had found new jobs by 2006, and only two-thirds of those jobs were remotely of similar pay. And while the improved funding and expansions provided by this bill are welcome and certainly overdue, the most important message we should take away from this TAA reauthorization is the fact that it recognizes how much damage has been caused by our broken trade policies. We should reauthorize this program, and I certainly appreciate the improvements in the bill. But as I said earlier, TAA only addresses the symptoms, not the cause. We know what the problems are, and American workers and businesses are facing them every day. It is time for this Congress to step up and recognize the reality that millions of Americans are facing these issues due to our broken trade policies and finally take real and effective action.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to former Congressman Charles Vanik, who served his constituents with honor and integrity in this body for 26 years. On behalf of the people of Ohio's 13th District, I want to express my deepest sympathies to his wife of 62 years, Betty Best Vanik, their two children, John Vanik and Phyllis Vanik, his two grandchildren and the rest of the Vanik family. We have lost a man who dedicated his life to serving our great State and this great country. Prior to being elected to Congress in 1954, Congressman Vanik served on the Cleveland City Council, in the Ohio State Senate and as a Cleveland municipal judge. He also served in the Navy during World War II. In Congress, he earned a reputation as savvy legislator and a tireless advocate for the people of northeast Ohio. His 1974 amendment to the Trade Reform Bill is widely remembered for forcing the Soviet Union to allow fair treatment and increased emigration of Soviet Jews. This accomplishment had a significant impact on American-Soviet relations. And Congressman Vanik was ahead of his times on civil rights, sacrificing his own congressional seat in 1968 so that Louis Stokes could become Ohio's first African American Congressman. But Charles Vanik was so well-regarded in northeast Ohio that voters from the neighboring district would not stand for him leaving this House, and they chose to send him to Congress instead of the Representative who had served for nearly 30 years. Congressman Vanik returned to Congress and continued to work with Congressman Stokes and others to advocate for the people of Ohio. Although I did not have the privilege of serving in the House with Congressman Vanik, I am honored to follow in his footsteps as a public servant and a voice for the people of Ohio. It is truly an honor to stand on the Floor of the House of Representatives, where Charles Vanik stood for so many years fighting for northeast Ohio, to celebrate his life and his accomplishments. And it is wonderful to hear so many touching stories about the memories my colleagues have of him and the influence he had on this House and its Members. Although Congress, the United States, and the State of Ohio have lost a great statesman, he has been outlived by his legacy, and I am confident that we will continue to fondly recall Charles Vanik and the great work he did for years to come. Again, I want to express my condolences to the Vanik family.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, just briefly, I thank the gentleman for the time. As we began, the 2006 election was not simply a change of course, but a return to checks and balances. Members were elected, as my colleague over here says, to hear from their constituents. We were also elected to speak for our constituents, and we have to be their voice. That is what article I is all about. So I am glad that this is probably the beginning of many hours to come, where we are going to come to this House floor and we are going to talk about article I and reclaim that responsibility.

Ms. SUTTON. I thank the gentleman. What great points, and thank you for reading that because we can all use sort of that reminder that the Founding Fathers recognized the dangers of an imperial Presidency where edicts from the White House might carry more weight than laws passed in Congress or rulings handed down by the court. And that is what we are here to do, to get things back in balance. Unfortunately, as we have sort of expressed earlier, some of us, that the White House at present has routinely refused to provide information to the Congress. As the gentleman from Minnesota points out, that is not what was envisioned when our Founding Fathers put together the fantastic, amazing, living document that we are here today to reclaim. Earlier this month, I heard testimony from executive branch witnesses that they were refusing to answer questions before Congress on whether or not there is corruption in the Iraqi Government. We hear this right after we hear our distinguished colleague from New York talking so eloquently about what he saw and what he witnessed. And we hear about our responsibility to come forth with the knowledge that we gain when we go to Iraq and I, too, have visited Iraq. We hear witnesses come in, though, from the administration when you start to ask questions about corruption that may be going on in that country, where we have paid, those of us here, the American soldiers, the troops, the price that they have paid. You speak so eloquently of them, Congressman Hall, and their dedication and their heart. I have to tell you, they are breathtaking to watch in action. But we have to question if money is missing. We have to question when equipment is missing because the troops pay a price. The American people are paying a price for what we are doing in Iraq. At any rate, the reality of an administration that instead of providing information so that we can investigate, they stonewalled providing information and in that case and in so many other cases, and I am sure others are going to mention them, it is our responsibility to ask the questions, to get the information and make sure that we make policies that are worthy of those soldiers and are worthy of the American people. I am so proud to be here with you all tonight, the members of the freshman class as we begin this campaign to reclaim our responsibility. Before I yield back, I just want to mention one thing that was striking. The gentleman from Minnesota mentioned that the President has rights under article II. But I think that we would all be better served that rather than thinking of the President having rights, he should think of them as responsibilities, because they are not personal rights. It is a job description for him, too, in article II.

Ms. SUTTON. I thank the gentleman for his introduction here and I thank you for your leadership. The gentleman from Kentucky is taking us, hopefully, on what will be a bipartisan effort to restore the responsibilities of this Congress has under article I and just sort of bring that back to the forefront because checks and balances are very important in this government. I also want to commend the leadership of our president, Tim Walz, the gentleman from Minnesota, who is an outspoken advocate for the people that he represents, and, frankly, that's what article I is all about. As you point out, when we were elected to Congress, we were elected to represent the people of our districts. Not lobbyists on K Street and not operatives at the White House or even the President himself. Our responsibility and our loyalty are to the Americans, the people, first and foremost, who sent us here. That means we have to do the job that they asked us to do. And that job is important, and we know exactly what that job is because article I in some ways is a job description. As you point out, it's not about really just authority; it's about responsibilities. Nowhere in that job description in article I does it say we have to protect egos or political interests of the executive branch. Nowhere does it say that we have to do only things that the President tells us to do. And nowhere in that job description does it say that Congress answers to anyone but the American people. There has sort of been a slope here where past Congresses have ceded legislative power to the executive branch, and, frankly, I believe that when that happens, Congress is falling down on their job. I am really glad that we are here tonight to reinvigorate and rededicate ourselves to make sure that we are fulfilling our obligations and our function under article I because it is vitally important to so many issues, from the war in Iraq to all these judiciary issues.

Ms. SUTTON

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 765.

Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I only wish the same commitment and tenacity on behalf of veterans that is being expressed here today continues into the future, and I wish that it had been a little bit more at the surface in the past. As you know, Mr. Speaker, the Democrats, when they came into the majority in this House, passed the biggest increase for veterans health care in history. They passed in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill $6.7 billion above the fiscal year 2007 budget, which, by the way, was the largest single increase in the 77- year history of the VA, $3.8 billion above the President's request. So we are indeed on the same page in terms of protecting our Nation's veterans, and we are working diligently, not just with our words, but with our votes and with our actions to make sure that we live up to the promise that we make to our veterans. Returning to the legislation and the rule at hand, Mr. Speaker, the Celebrating America's Heritage Act would provide support for some of our Nation's cultural treasures and will expand support to additional heritage areas. I cannot overstate the importance of many of these areas, not only to the local communities and the regions in which they exist, but to preserving the history of the United States, that history that those veterans fought for, by the way, and these heritage areas stand out for national parks and they are overseen by a coalition of local leaders, community members and local organizations all with an interest in the preservation in their areas' traditions and culture and in the continued vitality of their communities. These heritage areas play a key role in spurring economic development, which serve as a bridge to the future for communities as well as a constant reminder of our past and the cumulative history that has led to where we are today. I know what the Ohio and Erie National Heritage Canalway means to northeast Ohio, and I know what increased Federal support will do to help it continue serving our community and our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule. The material referred to previously by Mr. Hastings of Washington is as follows: Amendment to H. Res. 765 Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 3. The House disagrees to the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 2642, making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes, and agrees to the conference requested by the Senate thereon. The Speaker shall appoint conferees immediately, but may declare a recess under clause 12(a) of rule I for the purpose of consulting the Minority Leader prior to such appointment. The motion to instruct conferees otherwise in order pending the appointment of conferees instead shall be in order only at a time designated by the Speaker in the legislative schedule within two additional legislative days after adoption of this resolution.