Mark Schauer

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. No one knows more than me the misleading information and outright lies presented by the health insurance industry to confuse the American people. They have spent over $300,000 in slick TV ads in my district to do it. Here's why on Sunday we must pass health care reform. To do nothing, to fail, will guarantee double-digit health insurance premium increases for middle class families and small businesses. I'm on the side of the people, not the powerful insurance companies. In my district, this new law will enhance the insurance company coverage of over 400,000 people; extend coverage to over 30,000 uninsured people; improve Medicare for 109,000 beneficiaries, including closing the doughnut hole; give tax credits and assistance to up to 167,000 families and 12,000 small businesses to afford coverage. And get this, it will reduce the Federal budget deficit by $138 billion in the first 10 years and $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. It's time to put the American people first.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, health care is an issue of basic economics to middle class families, seniors and businesses. During the health care debate, my constituents have asked me to listen. I'm listening. The story I heard last week is from a college in my area. It employs 300 people. As in the case with many employers, the lion's share of their costs come from employee costs, 70 percent in this college's case. Their health insurance premiums this year went up 17 percent. Seventeen percent. What does that mean? It means job cuts or tuition increases, or both, both disastrous for middle class families in our economy. Seventeen percent premium increases. The Nation's five largest private health insurance companies' profits went up $12 billion last year while they dropped 2.7 million people from coverage. Our current health care system may work for the health insurance industry, but it is broken for middle class families and is hurting our economies. It must be fixed now.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to announce new legislation I'm introducing to help small businesses grow and make it easier for them to put people to work. New jobs mean less government spending on unemployment and health care. New employees spend much of what they earn, also boosting our local economies. In my bill, tax credits are targeted for small business job creation. While we're suffering from high national unemployment, States like Michigan are being hit especially hard. That is why my bill gives bigger tax credits to employers that create jobs in high unemployment States like Michigan. My bill goes to the heart of our economy, helping small businesses, the engine of job creation in America.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SCHAUER. I thank Mr. Hoekstra for his support, and I urge Members to support this amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHAUER. I yield 1 minute 20 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Peters).

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chair, how much time remains?

Mr. SCHAUER. Thank you, Mr. Hoekstra, and thank you for your leadership on the Intelligence Committee. Absolutely, my amendment deals directly with having the Director of National Intelligence describe failures and to share or to analyze intelligence or other information within or between elements of the United States Government. So I think it is clearly my intent that the dots be connected.

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As a member of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I believe it is critical for the Director of National Intelligence to submit to Congress a report on the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253. The failed Christmas day attack over Detroit reinforces the notion that the threat of al-Qaeda is real and that our intelligence community, whether under a Democratic or Republican administration, must improve the way it protects the United States against terrorist attacks. People in Michigan want answers. My amendment says, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to Congress a report on the attempt to detonate an explosive device aboard Northwest Airlines Flight No. 253 on December 25, 2009. This amendment will require the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress information about any failures to share or to analyze intelligence within or between elements of the Federal Government related to this failed terrorist attack. More importantly, the Director of National Intelligence also must submit a description of the measures that the intelligence community has taken or will take to prevent such failures from occurring again. This would include information on how the government intends to improve the interoperability of terrorist screening databases and to improve airline watch listing procedures. These tools are critical in preventing terrorists from getting an opportunity to kill innocent civilians. It is imperative that Congress be fully informed so that it may conduct rigorous oversight on this important national security concern. I appreciate President Obama's candor and openness when speaking to the American people about the improvements needed to our intelligence community, and I applaud the President for taking swift action in ordering a thorough review of the incident. President Obama has stated his willingness to work with Congress to solve this problem. This amendment will help ensure that Congress will be fully briefed on the results of that review. I urge the full support of this amendment. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes).

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. I rise to tell the story of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project that is set to create new high-tech manufacturing jobs in my hometown of Battle Creek. Last week, Toda America finalized a $35 million grant through the Department of Energy's Electric Drive Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative. Without the Recovery Act, this Japanese firm wouldn't be investing $70 million to build a new hybrid battery plant in my district. They wouldn't be hiring 50 to 60 new workers at an average weekly wage of $900, plus an additional 91 indirect jobs. In Michigan, with an unemployment rate of over 14 percent, we need every job we can get. 150 people will have jobs in my district because of Toda's innovation, the Recovery Act's commitment to battery development, and a never-give-up attitude. This is how we turn our economy around one job at a time.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of the Peters of Michigan amendment and the underlying legislation to reform our financial regulatory system. For many years, we were told that what is good for Wall Street is good for Main Street, that the benefits are somehow supposed to trickle down. But the only thing the people of Michigan have seen is their hopes and dreams trickle out of reach. Wall Street's collapse has left my State with a 15 percent unemployment rate. Last fall, Wall Street said they needed to borrow $700 billion from taxpayers to paper over their losses. Michiganders were forced to open up their wallets to support big Wall Street banks. Unfortunately, these big banks have decided to stop lending to Michigan homeowners and Michigan businesses. Employers can't get loans they need to bring people back to work. This week, the Treasury said that TARP has performed better than expected, but they still expect to lose taxpayer dollars. We still do not have a guarantee that the bailed-out financial industry will actually repay taxpayers for their loans. Mr. Peters has offered an excellent amendment to ensure American taxpayers will get their money back and that those that created this mess will pick up the tab. This amendment enables the FDIC to make additional assessments on the Nation's largest, most systemically risky financial institutions to pay back this TARP money. This amendment finally puts in place a plan for Wall Street to pay back its loan. This is common sense. Those institutions responsible for the collapse should at least be forced to repay their loans.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of RTD Manufacturing in Jackson, Michigan, and my constituents desperately in need of a job. Just 6 years ago, this family-owned auto supplier had 60 workers. Today, only 12 are left. To diversify their business, RTD teamed with several other firms, and just 6 weeks ago, we learned that RTD would be the principal manufacturer for a major Army contract. What great news--until I was contacted by RTD's president last week. Their long-time bank, Citizens Bank, denied RTD's loan to buy $85,000 worth of steel from another local company to produce components to protect our troops from improvised explosive devices, IEDs. So instead of hiring six workers to build supplies that our troops in the field need now, RTD is the latest victim of the credit crunch. Get this. Citizens Bank--the number one small business lender in Michigan that has received $300 million in Federal bailout funds-- denied this loan. I'm working overtime to ensure RTD doesn't lose this chance to create jobs and save soldiers' lives.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Speaker, because of rising medical costs, families in America are literally going broke. Yes, broke. The American Journal of Medicine reported that 62 percent of American bankruptcies are linked to medical bills. These medical bankruptcies have increased by 50 percent in just 6 years. The shocking fact is that 78 percent of these people actually had health insurance, but gaps and inadequacies in the current system left them unprotected when they were hit by devastating bills. Important insurance reforms in this bill will fix this, and as a result of this bill, 36,000 of my constituents will finally be able to afford quality health coverage and peace of mind for their families. Perhaps more than in any other State, people in Michigan know that the current system is broken. It's time for us to fix it. It's time for us to pass H.R. 3962.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of the Peters amendment. The Small Business Administration has played a key role in the current economic crisis by helping businesses and manufacturers maintain access to credit, but we must do more. Michigan's unemployment numbers are unacceptably high. Hillsdale County in my district has an unemployment rate in excess of 17 percent. Local companies tell me every day that they are ready to invest and hire more employees, but they are having trouble getting the credit they need to help put Michigan and America back to work. Earlier this year, we passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that created new programs for small businesses and manufacturers. These programs have helped. With just a $12,500 government-backed loan, Diane Brabon was able to create 10 new jobs at the Trusting Heart Home Health Services in Delta Township. Yet successful businesses are still starved for credit. With this amendment, the SBA will be able to guarantee loans that recognize the challenges small businesses are facing in high unemployment areas. I proudly support Mr. Peters' amendment and look forward to working to find new ways to encourage more lenders to participate in these important programs.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I am from the State of Michigan, where people are losing their health insurance every day. Businesses are struggling to pay for health insurance for their employees. I rise today to give voice to one of my constituents, Mike Gossett, who works for Apollo Express, a trucking company in Jackson, Michigan. He says he is a partner in this company of 70 full- and part-time employees. They have 42 employees on their health insurance program. Just this year, they received notice of a 15 percent increase in their health insurance rates for next year. He tells me this happens each and every year, and they are looking for answers. He fears that they will be forced to continue to decrease their coverage where they will just be able to offer catastrophic coverage for their employees. Our families and our businesses are paying more and more every year and getting less and less. He is calling upon us, Democrats and Republicans, to fix this problem. That's why I am here in Congress, and I hope we can work together to pass health care reform.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to Paul and Arlene Pryor, who celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary earlier this year. Through their devotion to one another, their commitment to their children and grandchildren, and their involvement in community life, Mr. and Mrs. Pryor have contributed a great deal to the State of Michigan and its future. Standing by each other, Mr. and Mrs. Pryor have demonstrated the power of love for seven decades. This momentous anniversary only epitomizes the devotion they have shared for so many years. Paul and Arlene Pryor are truly an inspiration to many. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating their joyous occasion.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chair, my amendment gives priority in awarding Federal grants to schools, States, and nonprofits to encourage dislocated workers to complete their degrees. In the last 2 years, 6.5 million Americans have lost their jobs, and many of them remain dislocated workers. These individuals are in need of retraining in a new field that will help them transition in the new economy. And nowhere is this more true than in my home State of Michigan. I want to tell you about Ray Roddy in Hillsdale, Michigan. His home county, by the way, has an unemployment rate of 20 percent. Mr. Roddy was laid off from his job making engine components and realized he would need further education to find another job. He enrolled at Jackson Community College and is working hard to become a nurse. Many like Ray need retraining to regain employment in a new field but are unable to find it. Now, within the Access and Completion Innovation Fund, my amendment will give priority to degree completion, something that matters to people like Ray Roddy. H.R. 3221 will make key investments in providing Americans with affordable and accessible education. My amendment will ensure that those who have been hurt the most in this tough economy, like Ray, aren't lost and are provided with opportunities for retraining to get back on their feet. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).

Mr. SCHAUER. I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for your quick leadership on such an important issue. When I ran for Congress--and I'm from Michigan--I pledged that I would fight every day for people in businesses in my community who are being hurt by a brutal economy. The Cash for Clunkers program has breathed life into a very difficult economy in communities all around my district. Here is why this is important: I've talked to car dealers in my district. They can't keep cars on the lots. They will be ordering new cars from manufacturers in my State and from around the country. Suppliers who supply parts for those cars will be manufacturing more of them. This is very, very critical, and it has been very effective in turning around our economy in just a matter of days. Mr. Chairman, thank you for giving us the opportunity to continue this program and to continue to turn our economy around.