Steve Stivers

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2513, although I do want to acknowledge that the sponsor has worked hard and in good faith to try to make the bill work, and I think the bill is well- intended. There are two primary reasons why I oppose the legislation: Number 1, it imposes an undue burden on small business, and; Number 2, it doesn't adequately protect personally identifiable information of millions of Americans from cyberattacks. First, it imposes a new burden on millions of small businesses, our constituents, who aren't aware we are having this debate today. In fact, most of them don't even know what FinCen is, but they will be forced to provide sensitive personal information to FinCen, an agency almost nobody knows, and failure to do so could lead to up to 3 years of imprisonment. I feel the bill was well-intended, though, because I know that shell companies are used by criminals to move illicit money through our financial system. But there is a better way to address the problem. In committee, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), my colleague, offered an amendment that would transfer the information collected under this bill from FinCen to the IRS as part of the annual tax filing process. That approach will impose less burden on our constituents, the small businesses that create jobs in this country. But a bigger obstacle would be here on the Hill, because it would result in shared jurisdiction with the Ways and Means Committee, so that ``good idea'' couldn't work because of jurisdictional lines. Second, my issue is this agency, FinCen, will be the repository of a lot of data from millions of Americans with personally identifiable information. It is Cybersecurity Awareness Month; yet, there is not enough adequate protections in this bill to ensure that private data is secure from cyberattacks. For these reasons, I can't vote for the bill, but I do want to congratulate the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), my colleague, and sponsor of this bill, for her hard work in trying to make the bill work. Finally, I want to thank and recognize my colleague, Representative Cleaver, whose bill, the COUNTER Act, H.R. 2514, was rolled into this bill. Representative Cleaver worked with Republicans and Democrats to ensure our anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act regime was reformed in a bipartisan way that makes our national security stronger. I want to thank him and congratulate him on that work. And if that bill was a standalone bill, I think it would pass this institution nearly unanimously, if not unanimously. Again, unfortunately, I have to oppose H.R. 2513.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate Mr. John T. Steinmetz as he receives the French Legion of Honor. Mr. Steinmetz, a native of Lancaster, Ohio, has continuously demonstrated his commitment to our nation's values and cemented his standing as a true American hero and a pillar of our community. Since Mr. Steinmetz began active duty service on February 4, 1944, he has been a part of our nation's proud tradition of military service. His dedication and commitment to protecting and serving our nation and our allies is unparalleled. Mr. John T. Steinmetz has made a significant impact in the lives of those around him. Although it is nearly impossible to quantify his impact, Americans have an excellent example of service, sacrifice, and patriotism. From his service on the USS SC-515, to his participation in the Southern France Landing in August of 1944 at Baie de Bougnon and his ascension to Seaman First Class, he, rightfully, earned the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. I can say, without a doubt, that truly all of Ohio, our nation, and our world is a better and freer place because of his service and leadership. I wish to congratulate Mr. John T. Steinmetz on this tremendous honor and convey my most sincere appreciation for his dedication to service.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the ranking member for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1595, the SAFE Banking Act. The bill provides a limited safe harbor for banks and credit unions to open and maintain accounts for marijuana-related businesses and other nonmarijuana-related businesses. I personally oppose recreational marijuana. But for me, this bill has nothing to do with the larger debate about marijuana and whether it is a good or bad thing. Instead, I am narrowly focused on the public safety aspects of this bill. The inconsistencies between State and Federal law have created a situation where a growing number of State- regulated businesses are operating on a cash-only basis. As a result, they sit on large pools of cash that make them a magnet for violent robberies. The transactions of cash-only businesses are not subjected to rigorous anti-money laundering or know your customer requirements that would be required for bank account holders. This makes it difficult for regulators and law enforcement to trace transactions or to freeze money. The SAFE Banking Act will make our communities safer by getting cash off the streets and into regulated financial institutions, so we can root out fraud and other illegal activity. The bill also extends the safe harbor to any proceeds indirectly received from these businesses such as a hardware store down the street or the landlord of these businesses. Importantly, the SAFE Banking Act does not change the legal status of marijuana. Additionally, H.R. 1595 also includes provisions that would prevent financial regulators from denying or discouraging access to the banking system for other legal businesses as happened in 2014 through 2016. This protection is a major protection for other legal businesses. I want to thank Mr. Perlmutter and Mr. Heck for their incredible advocacy on this. I want to thank Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry for their honest and hardworking efforts, even when they disagree. And I want to thank Senator Cory Gardner who has championed this bill in the Senate. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1595.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the American Association of Service Coordinators. Service coordinators work in all U.S. states and territories, but Ohio is where they look to for training, advocacy and support thanks to AASC. In 1999, Janice Monks founded the membership organization out of her home in Central Ohio, which was one of the first regions where service coordinators joined the staff of affordable housing properties with the help of federal grants. Over the past two decades, AASC has created a documentation system for service coordinators to more easily track and report resident outcomes and has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create a formal guidebook outlining industry standards and practices. This year, the organization hosted its largest annual National Service Coordinator Conference in Denver, Colorado and membership exceeded 3,300. AASC's purpose is to serve as a constant support for service coordinators who empower their residents to live well. Service coordinators serve as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of low- income seniors and families who need connected to vital supports that keep them living independently or help them move up and out of poverty. In the course of that work, service coordinators also play an integral role in realizing nationwide policy goals such as reducing healthcare costs, keeping older adults in their communities and increasing self- sufficiency. In honor of AASC's anniversary, service coordinators across the country are celebrating Service Coordinator Day today. My colleagues may be hearing from service coordinators who are recognizing the anniversary by sharing with Congressional offices the profound impact this profession has on our nation's most vulnerable. I wish to congratulate President Janice Monks and the American Association of Service Coordinators on this milestone anniversary and convey my most sincere appreciation for their dedication to service.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2852, the Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2019. As my friend from Guam just explained, unfortunately, there are two different standards between the regular government-sponsored enterprises that finance homes and the Federal Housing Administration, FHA. Today, FHA requires certified appraisers. This bill changes it to certified or licensed appraisers, just like the other government- sponsored enterprises, to allow the entire pool of appraisers in a given area to be allowed to be used to appraise homes. As my friend from Guam explained, there are appraiser shortages in many areas around the country, so this will, I think, be very helpful. This bill also requires a minimum amount of training that is required by The Appraisal Foundation or State licensing agencies in order to be an appraiser that can appraise on FHA transactions. These changes, I think, will help appraisers, and it will help make sure that there is a quality pool of appraisers regardless of whether somebody has a regular government-sponsored enterprise or an FHA loan. Mr. Speaker, we are excited to support this. This is bipartisan. I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by thanking the gentleman from California for a bipartisan bill. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin, Sean Duffy, from our side, the lead Republican on this bill. This is a bill that will get more appraisers in the pool to help people who want to buy homes that are financed by the FHA. Mr. Speaker, it is a win-win, and it is a bipartisan bill. We urge its support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3620, the Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2019. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that 15 percent of our population lives in rural areas, and in that area, rural renters generally have significantly lower incomes than rural homeowners. Nearly one-third of them live below the poverty level. In fact, the average annual income of tenants in USDA Section 515 financed properties is approximately $13,600, and the majority of those residents are either senior citizens or people with disabilities. Rural housing makes up about 28.4 percent of rural and small-town housing stock, a significant part of the rural housing market. It is clear that the challenges of rural America are multifaceted. This bill would help address some of those, and it would help make sure that outcomes currently experienced as a result of the interaction of RHS' owner assistance programs and the tenant rental assistance programs not working well together. The program is structured in a way that the departure of properties from the programs, when an owner's loans either mature or are prepaid, negatively impacts the availability of rental assistance for tenants. I think it is safe to say that the system currently does not make much sense, and there is a need for greater reform and consolidation. H.R. 3620 is a step in the right direction. I would like to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), my colleague, for his work on this very important and long-neglected issue of rural housing. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, again, I rise in support of H.R. 3620. I want to commend the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) for his incredible work on rural housing. As a congressman from a rural district, over 50 percent of my district is rural. This is going to help people all around the country. I thank Congressman Clay. We have a lot more work to do on rural housing, but this is a good start. Mr. Speaker, I would urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as my friend from Guam just explained, the Federal Reserve Bank has had a very long history--130 presidents of Regional Federal Reserve Banks--and it took from 1913 to 2013--100 years--for the first African American to become president of one of those regional banks. Additionally, only 8 of the 12 regional banks have ever had a woman president. These demographics are not reflective of the people the Federal Reserve serves. The National Football League had a similar track record when it came to head coaches in the past. In 2003, the league adopted the so-called Rooney Rule, which required every team with a head coaching vacancy to interview at least one or more diverse candidates. In 2009, the Rooney Rule had expanded to include general manager jobs, and in 2016, the requirement was updated to require every team to interview at least one woman during the hiring process for executive positions. When the Rooney Rule went into effect, there were only two head coaches of color in the National Football League. The following year there were three, and those numbers have continued to grow. Last season, there was a record eight coaches of color in the NFL, the highest number in league history. H.R. 281 does not create a quota or hiring mandate. It simply pledges opportunities for women and minorities, as the Rooney Rule did for coaches of color in the NFL and for women in the executive ranks of the NFL. At four hearings this year, the Committee on Financial Services heard from numerous witnesses that the effort to increase diversity throughout the financial services sector relies on expanding the pool of candidates to include more women and minorities. We heard from witnesses how diverse perspectives among the firm's leadership lead to better decisionmaking and better outcomes. H.R. 281 applies these principles to the Federal Reserve banking system. The bill directs the Federal Reserve Regional Banks to interview at least one individual reflective of gender and racial or ethnic diversity when appointing a Federal Reserve president. The Rooney Rule has been adopted across the private sector and is considered an industry best practice for firms trying to increase diversity in their senior leadership. We have an opportunity now to expand that concept to the Federal Reserve Bank. I am proud to have been a cosponsor of this bill with the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty), chairwoman, my friend and colleague. I thank her as the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion for bringing forward such a commonsense idea with a proven track record that is seen as the best practice across the industry. This legislation will diversify the applicant pool and increase opportunities for women and minority leaders at the Federal Reserve Bank. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gonzalez), who is the vice ranking member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion and who knows the Rooney Rule firsthand since he was a standout wide receiver for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 281 is just common sense. It is a best practice in the industry. It has shown that it will increase the diversity of the staff, and we hope that it will work for the Federal Reserve banks. The Federal Reserve banks' record on diversity needs to be improved. I believe this is a great first step. I congratulate my colleague Joyce Beatty from Ohio and my colleague Anthony Gonzalez from Ohio for their incredible efforts on this. I am happy to be a cosponsor and urge adoption. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 241, the Bank Service Company Examination Coordination Act of 2019. This bill amends the Bank Service Company Act to enhance State and Federal regulators' ability to coordinate examinations and share information with a bank's technology vendors and partners. State and Federal regulatory authorities are rightfully frustrated by the inability to share information as a result of constraints resulting from the Bank Service Company Act, specifically the duplicative examination processes that are in no way uniform or collaborative. Their inability to share exam information between Federal and State regulators creates vulnerabilities in the financial system. The commonsense changes contained in H.R. 241 reduce the regulatory burden for institutions that are already struggling to comply with the current regulatory regime. H.R. 241 also helps enhance the safety and soundness of our financial system by allowing regulators to coordinate their activities. Sharing exam results among agencies allows risks and weaknesses of individual institutions, as well as the overall financial system, to be revealed more effectively. It also allows Federal and State financial agencies to more effectively expend limited resources and avoid duplicative examinations, strengthen communications among regulators, and ensure the appropriate level of oversight for risk to the financial system is maintained. To put it in perspective, the Bank Service Company Act was enacted in 1962. That is 1 year before ZIP Codes were introduced and the first push-button telephone was made available to the American consumer. A lot has changed since 1962. The Bank Service Company Act fails to take into consideration the advancements in technology and the implications for nearly half a century of consumer data. The statute needs modernization. In 2017, the Financial Stability Oversight Council recommended congressional action to encourage better coordination between Federal and State regulators as it relates to overseeing financial institutions and periodically as it relates to their relationships with third-party and technology service providers. Two years later, legislation that would encourage coordination is still needed. I commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) for being the sponsor and champion of this issue over several years, as well as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), who has been a strong advocate for modernization. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 241, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams), who is a great entrepreneur, a great businessman, and a supporter of the free market system.

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 241 will help reduce duplicative examinations and better coordinate the exams that State and Federal agencies give to our financial system to better identify vulnerabilities of individual institutions in the overall system. It is a bipartisan act that will do great things for our financial services system. I would urge its adoption. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1690, the Carbon Monoxide ALERTS Act of 2019, by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia). Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas emitted from household items like stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, and portable generators that can cause sudden illness or death when it is inhaled. The Centers for Disease Control, CDC, reports that each year more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, and more than 4,000 people are hospitalized. The good news is that carbon monoxide poisoning is easily detectable and preventable through the installation of relatively inexpensive, battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors. But, unlike fire alarms, Federal law doesn't currently require federally assisted housing properties to have carbon monoxide detectors. H.R. 1690 would address that by requiring that properties in Section 8 public housing, Section 202 for elderly folks, and Section 811 for disabled people have at least one carbon monoxide detector per floor installed. This bill builds on the proactive work of HUD Secretary Ben Carson. In April, Secretary Carson issued a notice to all properties in the programs encouraging them to do just that and followed up with a release of $5 million in funding for the installation of these detectors in public housing. I commend Secretary Carson for taking that action and issuing that guidance. I also want to thank Representative Garcia for this legislation, and I want to thank Senator Scott for his work on similar legislation in the United States Senate. This is a bill that will save lives and will help make us all safer. Again, I want to commend Representative Garcia for his great work on this. I would urge its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, again, I rise in support of H.R. 1690, the CO ALERTS Act. I want to thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Garcia). I also want to recognize Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina, who was the Senate sponsor of the bill, and we want to help make this into law. I rise in support of this legislation and would urge all my colleagues to support this great legislation from Mr. Garcia and Senator Scott. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating my good friend and colleague, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, for advancing the Housing Financial Literacy Act, H.R. 2162. It is an effort she has championed for years. As co-chair of the Financial Literacy Caucus, I am proud to cosponsor this legislation with her. Mr. Speaker, for many folks across this country, owning a home is quintessential to the American Dream. While not everyone will always be able to afford a single-family home, we should work to encourage the American Dream of homeownership and make sure that we help people along the way. It is good for individuals, and it is good for communities. Not only does it help individuals build equity over time, but reducing the disparities in homeownership by race has the potential to reduce the racial wealth gap in this country. However, we must work to ensure consumers are informed and encourage responsible homeownership, and the Housing Financial Literacy Act does just that. By providing a discount of 25 basis points on the upfront FHA insurance premiums for borrowers who complete HUD-approved prepurchase financial counseling, what we are doing is making those homes more affordable; we are empowering those people with knowledge; and we are helping build the dream of homeownership. This financial counseling is so important for first-time buyers. It helps them understand the costs associated with homeownership, like taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. It also helps them factor in household budgeting and recognize high-risk financial products to make sure they can make informed decisions. For people across this country, including in my district, having a place to raise their family is the American Dream, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill to help make homeownership a reality for more people. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to acknowledge my colleague, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, for her incredible leadership on H.R. 2162, the Housing Financial Literacy Act. I encourage all of my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendments thereto, and concur with the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and it could be sent to the President for his signature today.

Mr. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. We have a crisis on our southern border, and H.R. 3401 with the Senate amendments gets resources to give humanitarian assistance to those seeking asylum. It also adds judges and judge teams to hear the claims of asylum. Many people have to wait up to 3 years to get their hearing. That is too long. I have twice in the last 2 weeks attempted to offer an amendment to add judge teams. Both times, the Rules Committee has failed to include it. My amendment this week would have included the amount that was in the Senate bill, but it is now in the bill because we have the Senate bill sitting at the Speaker's desk. I urge my colleagues to take up the bill with the Senate amendments that include judge teams. That is the only way to solve this real crisis: adjudicate the claims of these people who want asylum, reunite families, and stop people from being held in detention as long. Mr. Gonzalez from Texas and I have worked together on this. It is a bipartisan effort. This is a no-brainer. We need to add judges. The Senate bill does that. Madam Speaker, I hope we can take up the Senate bill and make it happen.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment that the Rules Committee did not make in order a bipartisan amendment from the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez) and I that would have added 100 immigration judge teams to address the backlog at the Executive Office of Immigration Review. With the record number of individuals and families seeking asylum, there is a backlog of approximately 730,000 people who are waiting on hearings. They are waiting, on average, almost 2 years. Justice delayed is justice denied. It costs all of us, and it has many social prices, including things like separation of families and children and people held in detention centers. We need to do more. I commend the Appropriations Committee for adding some additional funding in the base text, but these 100 judges would have made a big difference. There are only 450 judge teams, as we sit here today. As we think about immigration, it is a very thorny issue. It becomes shirts and skins pretty quickly. There are very few things, Madam Speaker, that we agree on. One of them that Republicans and Democrats agree on is providing more judge teams so that we can process these claims faster. I hope to work with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez). I know he is committed to it, and I am committed to it, as are the leaders of the Rules and Appropriations Committees, as we move through the process to enacting something that funds our government for this year. I hope that when we get to the final resolution, we will have more judge teams than are in the base text of this bill. I pledge to work with folks. This is a very important issue. It is one of the few issues that Republicans and Democrats agree on. It is one of the few issues that will make a big difference. I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts and the entire Rules Committee for making in order another amendment that will speed the hiring process for these judge teams that Mr. Gonzalez and I also offered. That is a start, but we need more resources. In closing, I commit to working with Republicans and Democrats to get a solution that funds more judges to clear this backlog.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District to honor and commemorate a husband, a father, a brother, a son, and a hero. United States Army Sergeant Joseph P. Collette, of Lancaster, gave his life in the service of our nation on March 22, 2019. At age 29, Sergeant Collette was fulfilling a goal he had held for over a decade: to deploy with the United States Army. As his wife, Caela, tells it, following the tragedy of September 11, her husband felt the call to serve. As his time with the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group was coming to an end, he desperately wanted to go on deployment. It is that level of bravery, selflessness, and commitment for which Sergeant Collette will be remembered by both his loved ones and community. He was a genuine, laid back, funny young man who was beloved by many. A man of many special talents, he loved sharing his passion for cooking for others and challenging his friends in paintball matches and Pokemon battles. He loved spending time outdoors including running, snowboarding, and four-wheeling. But his priority in life was spending time with his friends and family. Like a pebble dropped in a pond, the ripples created by Sergeant Collette's life and work are far-reaching. His legacy will live on in the memories of those who knew him and loved him: his wife, Caela; his children; Blair and Cody Collette; step-children Lena and Aria Scott; his parents, Theresa Mecionis and Joe and Cindy Collette; his siblings; Anthony, Camille, and Nicholas; and the rest of his extended family and loved ones. As a Brigadier General in the Ohio Army National Guard, I have had the distinct privilege to serve alongside outstanding men and women like Sergeant Collette. I can say with absolute certainty that Lancaster, Ohio is undeniably a better place because of Sergeant Collette, and our nation is a safer place because of his service. I am honored to celebrate his legacy, and I encourage my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join in extending deepest condolences to his family, and in honoring his supreme sacrifice.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding constituent of the 15th Congressional District, Mr. Bill Dunlap, as he retires from his role as deputy director of the Athens-Hocking-Vinton 317 Board. Madam Speaker, it is not news that we are facing a drug epidemic in this country. Families from Ohio to Oregon are torn apart by addiction, and we can't hope to overcome this crisis without outstanding individuals on the ground in each of those communities, without people who are compassionate and dedicated to their neighbors, without people like Bill Dunlap. I have had a chance to see Mr. Dunlap's work firsthand over the years. We have collaborated on drug task forces, and other community initiatives, and I can't say enough about his dedication and commitment to combating the drug crisis. I can say without a doubt, Athens, Hocking and Vinton Counties--and truly, all of southeastern Ohio--are better and healthier places as a result of his efforts. Madam Speaker, I am incredibly grateful for Bill's service and his leadership. I wish him the best in his next chapter.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 389, the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Act, and I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) as well as the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Budd) for their hard work on this important piece of bipartisan legislation. H.R. 389 would authorize the Treasury Department to offer rewards for information leading to the recovery of assets stolen through foreign government corruption. Mr. Speaker, in the past, the United States has focused on fighting such corruption with traditional tools such as sanctions, technical assistance, and oversight of international financial institutions, but the bill gives Treasury an additional tool to expose corrupt foreign officials. I, again, would like to thank my colleagues across the aisle, especially Chairwoman Waters, for her hard work on this bill and allowing us to work together in a bipartisan fashion to refine this legislation as it made its way to the floor. One piece of the bill that has gotten better that I still think could use an additional tweak is the bill does not allow anyone to receive a payment if they are part of the corrupt activity, but it does not require Treasury to fully investigate every potential claimant to make sure that they are not. So while that has gotten better--there is better language in the bill now--I think that, hopefully, this can continue to be perfected as we move forward. I support the bill, but I do think that provision could get better. The minority did make several proposals to strengthen the bill, which were accepted by the majority. I am grateful to the gentleman from Massachusetts for partnering with us, as well as the gentleman from North Carolina, and for their hard work on the bill. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to voting for H.R. 389. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time. (1715)

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 389 will give the Treasury an additional tool to fight corrupt foreign governments. There has been a lot of work done on this bill. It is a good bill. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. STIVERS

Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1060, the BUILD Act. This bipartisan legislation addresses an unintended consequence of the Know Before You Owe disclosure rule, better known as TRID. The BUILD Act is a straightforward solution, and it allows bona fide nonprofits making zero percent interest loans to use whichever Truth in Lending form they feel is better. They can use the Truth in Lending, Good Faith Estimate, and the HUD-1 form instead of the TRID forms, or they can choose the TRID forms. Currently, organizations making five or fewer mortgage loans are exempt from using the TRID forms. This extends that exemption to charities making zero percent interest loans, regardless of how many loans they make per year. The costs and complexities associated with TRID have left charities like Habitat for Humanity struggling to provide mortgages. These nonprofits have limited resources. In fact, many of their 1,200 community-based affiliates have little or no full-time staff. Despite their size, these organizations play a pivotal role in our communities. Today, the House will play a small part in helping them continue to serve our communities. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman). They have worked together diligently on this legislation for several years and should be commended for their efforts. I want to thank the chairwoman, Ms. Waters of California, for her efforts on this. Mr. Speaker, I urge this legislation to be supported, and I reserve the balance of my time.