Michael San Nicolas

Mr. SAN NICOLAS

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Clay and Mr. Stivers, for their partnership on this important bill, and my colleague, Mr. Hill, for his work with me today as we seek to improve access to affordable homeownership. This bill is an important step to better understand the barriers to obtaining traditional mortgage financing for small dollar mortgages and begin to reduce those barriers. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5003) to amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to provide enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Representative Dean for her leadership on H.R. 5003 and the relief that it will provide to our servicemembers. At a full Financial Services Committee hearing in September of last year, we heard testimony about the harmful impact of predatory debt collection practices, including negative impacts on the servicemembers protecting our country. We know this impact is significant, given that two out of every five servicemember complaints submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are about predatory debt collection practices. Some of the complaints include inappropriate threats of punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, threats to the rank and security clearance of the servicemember, and even reports of debt collectors inappropriately contacting the commanding officer of the debt holder. It is a disgrace that people serving in the military are being threatened and intimidated when they are serving our country. The impact of these abusive collection practices is severe, as servicemembers have reported increased stress and hardship as a result of predatory debt collectors. These unfair and unnecessary practices against people putting their lives on the line for this country must end, which is why the National Military Family Association; Veterans Education Success; and Retired Army Colonel Paul Kantwill, the former CFPB Assistant Director for Servicemember Affairs, all support the bill. Democrats and Republicans agree that Congress should put a halt to these abusive practices, and this bill does just that. Mr. Speaker, thanks to the work of my colleagues, Representative Dean, Chairwoman Waters, Ranking Member McHenry, and colleagues on both sides of the aisle from the Financial Services and the House Armed Services Committees, we were able to collaborate on the issues and pass this bill out of our committee with unanimous support in November of last year. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean), the sponsor of this important legislation.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank Representative Dean, Chairwoman Waters, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their good work and collaboration on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5932) to ensure greater transparency about the terms and conditions of financing provided by China to member states of the international financial institutions, as amended.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I very much support H.R. 5932, the Ensuring Chinese Debt Transparency Act of 2020, which seeks to reinforce U.S. policy at the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the regional development banks to press for disclosure of the amount and terms of China's bilateral lending operations abroad. According to the International Monetary Fund, opaque loans from China's many lending institutions, especially those associated with China's Belt and Road Initiative are not only putting many emerging market and developing countries at risk of debt distress, but also complicate the IMF's ability to monitor domestic, regional, and global financial risks associated with this debt. While the ability to accurately identify the amount and terms of Chinese lending in developing countries is essential to better debt risk management, surveillance work, and asset risk pricing, it is important to understand that greater transparency itself is only a starting point. In order to help low-income, emerging market, and fragile and conflict-affected states meet development goals while maintaining debt sustainability, the United States should be increasing its commitments to the multilateral development banks to offer these countries better options than China does, to provide additional financing on concessional terms of which China does very little. Let me add that one argument for China's ongoing borrowing from the World Bank is that it allows a broader public global good to be imported into the Chinese system, things like international environmental and societal standards, high standards of transparency and open procurement processes, strong governance programs, and respect for the importance of global economic cooperation. However, there is very little evidence that World Bank lending to China has had any such effect on Chinese behavior with respect to its own development financing abroad, and this is a serious problem. H.R. 5932 helps us to address this problem. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. The fact that China continues to borrow from the World Bank affords us an opportunity to expect much more from China in return, including an insistence on transparency in China's bilateral financing operations, greater adherence by China to anticorruption and export credit international standards, and finding coordinated and sustainable solutions to countries experiencing balance of payment difficulties. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which underscores that far greater transparency is the first essential step China must take if it is to be a responsible member of the global financial community. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4351) to require certain grantees under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to submit a plan to track discriminatory land use policies, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 4351, the Yes In My Backyard Act. This bill would encourage localities to responsibly reduce barriers to housing development by requiring Community Development Block Grant, CDBG, recipients to track and report on the implementation of certain land use policies that promote housing development. The United States is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the U.S. has a shortage of 7 million rental homes that are affordable and available to extremely low-income renters. The research organization Up for Growth estimates that, from 2000 to 2015, the country underproduced housing by 7.3 million units. This underproduction is, in many ways, driven by land use policies that create artificial barriers to much-needed housing. This bill will also help shine a light on potentially discriminatory land use policies that unnecessarily prevent affordable housing development in certain neighborhoods. It is clear, based on the broad base of industry and advocate support for this bill, as well as the bipartisan support, that there is substantial agreement on the need to facilitate more affordable housing production across the country as well as the need to responsibly reduce barriers to affordable housing production. H.R. 4351, the Yes In My Backyard Act, represents a step in the right direction as we seek to address the affordable housing challenges that our country faces. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Heck for introducing this timely legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Heck), the sponsor of this important legislation.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to thank Mr. Heck and Mr. Hollingsworth for their leadership on this important bipartisan bill, as well as Mr. Hill for managing this on the floor with me. This bill is a constructive next step to help reduce the barriers to producing affordable housing, and that is something that every American can get behind. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5671) to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the United States Merchant Mariners of World War II, in recognition of their dedicated and vital service during World War II.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 5671, the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi) for his work on this bill, which honors the courage and sacrifice of the civilian mariners of the Merchant Marine. In the early days of America's involvement in World War II, German U- boats sank numerous vessels during the Battle of the Atlantic. While many think of convoys being attacked as being close to Europe, the German Navy also took the war to the U.S. Eastern seaboard. In March 1942 alone, 27 ships from six Allied nations were sunk off U.S. shores. All told, 733 American cargo ships were lost during World War II. Despite this danger, some 215,000 civilian merchant marines served with courage to establish and maintain critical supply lines, ensuring that vital supplies, cargo, and personnel reached Allied forces in both Europe and Asia. Though they had no military standing or government benefits, these civilian mariners often faced German U-boat assaults. These brave mariners paid a heavy price in service to their country, suffering the highest casualty rate of any branch of U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. An estimated 9,300 mariners lost their lives, and another 12,000 were wounded to make sure our uniformed servicemembers could keep fighting. Unfortunately, their sacrifices are commonly underappreciated and often overlooked. They were not even considered veterans until Congress remedied that disservice in 1988, and many of our histories of World War II give them a passing mention or do not recognize their vital role in ensuring the success of the Allied forces. Now, on the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II, let us give these brave mariners the recognition they so richly deserve. I thank Mr. Garamendi for introducing this bill this Congress, and I urge Members to vote ``yes.'' Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi).

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I am pleased that this bipartisan bill honors those who answered this Nation's call to duty, regardless of the danger and without expectation of accolades. This bill incorporates relevant technical changes introduced by the Senate and includes the additional recognition of the students of the Merchant Marine Academy who lost their lives in service to their country. It is time that we give these courageous mariners the recognition they have more than earned. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Joyce Irene Martratt on her retirement. Born on August 28, 1939, Joyce is a World War II survivor of the Japanese occupation. After the war, she grew to be fearless and had a thirst for knowledge, immersing herself into every learning opportunity she could. Joyce started her career as an educator, teaching a first-grade special needs class at the old Barrigada Elementary School. She also taught 3rd and 6th grade levels. Years later, she obtained a temporary job at the Andersen Air Force Base at the Civilian Personnel Office as a clerk typist, and with her hard work and authenticity, she persistently thrived. Joyce gained a great deal of experience over the years as a civilian employee and worked within the SAC's 3960th Civil Engineering Squadron Material Control Section, Programs and Planning, Operations and Maintenance, and eventually moved to the 3960th Civil Engineering Squadron's Commander's office, to name a few. In 1974, both needing a secretary, the Commander, and Vice Commander determined to integrate the position and personally requested for Joyce to accept the offer. On July 18, 2005, she took her final transfer to the 36th Wing Commander, which is where the ``Ask Joyce'' column was developed. The column was placed in the Andersen Air Force Base paper, ``Pacific Edge'' and served as an informative outlet to learn about Guam's culture and society. Due to its immense popularity, the people of Guam still remember the details of her column to this day. Joyce served alongside notable leaders, and amongst the most skilled airmen and civil servants who recognized her as a distinguished woman of character who cared deeply for our island. I thank Joyce for her many years of service and wish her the best in a much-deserved retirement.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4302) to authorize public housing agencies to share certain data regarding homeless individuals and families for the provision of housing and services, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4302, the Homeless Assistance Act of 2019. This bill would allow public housing agencies to share data exclusively with local continuums of care to better coordinate housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. Homelessness has reached a crisis level in our country and continues to grow. According to HUD's newly released point-in-time count, over 568,000 people have experienced homelessness on any given night in 2019, representing a 3 percent increase from the previous year. California, for example, saw a 21 percent increase in homelessness and the city of Los Angeles saw a 13 percent increase. These homelessness issues, Madam Speaker, extend not just throughout our 50 United States but into our various territories as well. Given the growing crisis, we need every tool in the toolbox to help. Sharing data between local agencies to help coordinate housing placements and services is one of those tools. While local governments are working hard to help people experiencing homelessness, bureaucracy can get in the way. Individuals often have to resubmit the same information and paperwork to various local agencies when seeking assistance, which can delay or prevent them from getting the help they need. H.R. 4302, the Homeless Assistance Act, would help remove this barrier so that public housing authorities and continuums of care can share data and target appropriate interventions to improve the collaboration and coordination of housing and supportive services. This type of information sharing and coordination can ultimately help reduce the overall number of people experiencing homelessness. In fact, research from the Pew Institute demonstrated that data sharing among agencies reduced the number of veterans experiencing homelessness. This legislation also takes a special precaution to ensure the privacy of individuals whose information is being shared, especially victims of domestic violence. It is not made public. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Sherman, for introducing this critical legislation, which I know will be very helpful to local entities across the country that are doing everything they can to deal with the homelessness crisis. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on this important measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.