Chris Van Hollen

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4314, which will increase the statutory debt limit by an amount sufficient to cover obligations through February 11, 2010. As we take concrete steps to bolster our economic recovery while getting the nation's fiscal house in order, this measure will ensure the uninterrupted operation of government into the first part of next year. Insodoing, it affirms the full faith and credit of the United States, supports job creation and economic growth, and gives the House and Senate additional time to reach agreement on appropriate budget targets for the out years. Importantly, this temporary legislation is also offered alongside the House's twice-expressed commitment to statutory PAYGO legislation, whose use has been demonstrated to bring our budgets back into balance over time. Accordingly, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. This measure represents Congress's commitment to the millions of dedicated men and women, in and out of uniform, throughout the Department of Defense, who work to address the national security challenges of the country. This bill also expresses our commitment to their families, whose service to the country is recognized and greatly appreciated. In total, the act appropriates $636.3 billion for DoD programs, operations and troop support. This represents a 2 percent increase of current funding levels, and while not including funding for the President's proposed troop increase in Afghanistan, includes $128.2 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill contains funds to meet the logistical needs of our military including new and updated equipment, combat vehicles and battle gear. The measure also includes funding for military pay raises, military health care benefits and quality of life improvements for the troops and their families. Since first clearing this chamber in July, there have been important add-ons made to the bill. These add-ons include a number of non-defense provisions--such as an extension of certain emergency unemployment insurance benefits; an extension of a 65 percent premium subsidy for COBRA health insurance, allowing recipients to obtain the subsidized insurance coverage for six additional months; a delay, until February, of a scheduled 21 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors; funding for nutrition assistance; and $400 million for state administrative expenses. Additionally, I am especially pleased that today's DoD Appropriations bill includes an unprecedented fund of $300 million set aside for the purpose of mitigating BRAC-related transportation and community impacts at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Fort Belvoir. Congress is committed to building world class facilities for our wounded warriors in the national capital region, and these funds are an integral part of that effort. I want to thank Congressman Moran, Chairman Murtha, and Chairman Obey, as well as Senator Mikulski and Senator Cardin, for their partnership on this initiative. I look forward to working. with our Senate colleagues, the Department of Defense, and other stakeholders to make these funds available for their intended purpose at the soonest possible date. Madam Speaker, as the country prepares to ask even more of our service members, it is our responsibility to do all we can to honor our commitments to them and their families-- While we can never fully repay the debt we owe them, we can work to ensure that they have the resources they need to do their jobs abroad and the resources they need to meet their obligations here at home. I encourage my colleagues join me in support of the bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 and the comprehensive approach it takes to reining in systemic risk, curbing excessive speculation and restoring transparency, accountability and oversight to our financial system. In the wake of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, the Democratic majority has launched a series of deliberate and wide- ranging initiatives to stem that crisis--and those initiatives are clearly working. Our economy is no longer in free fall. Markets are sharply up. Foreclosures are starting to come down. The vicious spiral of job destruction we inherited from the past Administration is now slowing. We know we are headed in the right direction--but we also know there is more work to do. We will not stop until our economy has fully recovered, there is a good-paying job for every American who wants one, and we have launched a new era of broadly shared American prosperity. This legislation represents the next step on our nation's road back to recovery. To make sure we never have another AIG, this bill establishes a Financial Stability Council charged with the exclusive mission of identifying and regulating systemic risk. In the future, a Systemic Dissolution Fund will be able to safely wind down failing firms so that taxpayers aren't left holding the bag. To protect consumers, today's legislation creates a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency to police our markets for abusive financial products and services. We are bringing transparency and oversight to our derivatives markets. Investors will get a better shake, credit rating agencies will face reforms and shareholders will get a ``say on pay.'' I want to commend Chairman Frank, Chairman Peterson and their staffs for their hard work on this legislation. I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 and urge its swift consideration by our colleagues in the Senate. This legislation includes final conference reports for the FY 2010 Transportation-HUD, Commerce-Justice-Science, Financial Services, Labor-HHS-Education, Military Construction-VA and State-Foreign Operations bills. Its total funding of $446.8 billion makes priority investments in infrastructure, health care, and education, while supporting our veterans, funding the upcoming census and honestly accounting for war costs previously left to supplementals. Remaining items in the bill are limited to a 1% funding increase. The $50 billion in infrastructure spending in this bill--including $150 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority-- will enable us to modernize our aging infrastructure, ease congestion, facilitate commerce and create good-paying, homegrown American jobs. To further bolster our economic recovery, HR 3288 provides $824 million to the Small Business Administration for its work helping our job- generating small businesses succeed. This investment will help facilitate an additional $28 billion in new lending to small businesses. I am delighted that the National Institutes of Health is funded at $31 billion so that it can continue driving scientific innovation and health system reform. Finally, I am especially pleased that the Financial Services division of this consolidated legislation sets up a fair and reasonable process by which profitable auto dealers can have an opportunity to get back into business so that they and their employees can play their part in supporting our ongoing economic recovery. In that regard, I ask that the full text of the attached statement be entered into the legislative Record. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation that language has been included in the Financial Services Appropriations Conference Report that will give automobile dealers around the nation a fair and reasonable shot at getting back into business. For the past several months, I have been pleased to join with Majority Leader Hoyer, Congressmen Kratovil and Maffei, and others to ensure that profitable car dealers have every opportunity to contribute to our economic recovery and put their employees back to work. Profitable and viable dealers should have never been terminated in the first place, and I was proud to join the fight to have these short- sighted decisions reversed. Automobile manufacturers won't be able to get back on their feet without a strong dealer network, and Congress is committed to ensuring that such a network exists. I salute the tenacity and determination of these small business owners, many of whom have been selling cars and supporting the American auto industry for decades. Under the provision we are approving today, these terminated dealers will have an opportunity, once again, to do what they do best-- sell and service cars. And that is good for our economy, for job creation and for the American car industry. It would have been my preference that we would not need to legislate on this matter. We convened talks with the auto dealer groups and the manufacturers and while both sides offered significant concessions, efforts to achieve a non-legislative solution failed when auto manufacturers offered plans that fell short of what was needed to add dealers to their dealer networks and put their employees back to work. As 2009 comes to a close, the federal government still maintains a substantial financial stake in Chrysler and General Motors and therefore in the United States automobile industry. Clearly, it is in the national interest to have the domestic automobile industry regain profitability and maintain sufficient dealerships to meet consumer demand. Section 747 of the Financial Services Appropriations division of this bill recognizes the valuable role that dealers play in the auto industry and our local economies. Automobile dealers are essential to the success of automobile manufacturers because at no material cost to the manufacturers, they facilitate distribution, sales, and servicing of hundreds of millions of vehicles annually. This legislation is premised on the notion that it is in the best interest of automobile manufacturers, the automotive industry, dealers and the public to have an extensive and competitive automobile distribution network throughout the country, including in urban, suburban and rural areas. Section 747 mandates that manufacturers promptly provide covered auto dealers in writing the specific criteria and supporting data relied upon by a manufacturer in its decision to end or wind down the dealership relationship. In the spirit of cooperation and to ensure an efficient process as this legislation is implemented, we expect that the manufacturers will provide the information in a format that is user friendly, clearly identifies facts, readily accessible, and understandable by the dealer and that the data may be transmitted either by mail or electronically. We intend that this process provide transparency and avoid the excessive costs and delays of litigation and discovery disputes. The manufacturers should provide their respective covered dealers with each and every detail and criterion related to the evaluations of the dealership and the decisions to terminate, not assign, not renew or discontinue. It is anticipated that the manufacturers will be cooperative and forthcoming and that all relevant information will be provided promptly. It further provides such dealers with the opportunity to participate in a neutral arbitration process designed for the dealer to make the case for being added to the manufacturer's dealer network. Congress has included specific timeliness for this process and we expect both parties to the arbitration to act in good faith and expeditiously so that added dealers can return to full-fledged operations quickly. Section 747 expressly permits the manufacturer and dealer to present any kind of relevant information during the arbitration and provides that the arbitrator shall decide whether the dealer should be added to the manufacturer's dealer network based on a balancing of the interests of the dealer, the manufacturer, and the general public. The public interest includes reasonably convenient access for consumers to a dealer who can service their vehicles, which is of particular concern in rural areas where many dealers were terminated in 2009. It has been well-reported that more and more individuals have to drive substantial distances to obtain service from an authorized dealer of a specific brand because of a dealer termination. Congress has provided seven enumerated factors for the arbitrator to consider, but this list is not exhaustive because the legislation provides that the parties can introduce ``any relevant information.'' For example, we expect that arbitrators should consider relevant State laws, which provide a context for analyzing franchise agreements and the obligations of dealers and manufacturers. A couple of these enumerated criteria merit additional explanation. For example, Congress has directed that the demographic and geographic characteristics of the market are taken into account. This reflects our intention that the arbitrator should pay special attention to the concerns expressed by some terminated dealers that there are factors in their market areas or States that affect their performance and render some measurements, such as State averages, less than accurate in portraying the true picture of a dealer's operations. Another one of the factors involves the dealer's performance under the franchise agreement terminated in 2009. In considering this factor and related factors, it is important for arbitrators to recognize that state law is part and parcel of and modifies auto dealer franchise agreements. To look only at a franchise agreement, in other words, misses an important contextual element. Accordingly, it is anticipated that the arbitrators will consider State law elements of good faith and fair dealing in this process and that, for example, the franchise agreement's performance standards and a dealer's performance under the original agreement will be evaluated in accordance with State law. Another factor is the historic profitability of the dealership. During the legislative process, Congress learned that some dealers, for tax planning reasons or other reasons use a variety of legitimate, widely recognized accounting conventions, such as LIFO, that could, depending on the date a snapshot is taken, affect materially whether the dealership appears profitable. It is important that arbitrators recognize such accounting conventions when considering the profitability of a dealership so a fair and accurate picture is obtained. With respect to being added back to a dealer network, it is the intent of Congress that notwithstanding the preference of a manufacturer to have several brands in the same dealership, in the case of a dealer seeking to be added to a dealer network but with fewer than all of the preferred brands, the dealer nonetheless will be eligible to be added. It is worth noting that pursuant to subsection (f), manufacturers and dealers may, of their own volition, decide to enter into legally binding agreements with one another instead of going through the arbitration process. It is the intent of Congress that for this subsection to apply, the legally binding agreements shall be consensual, non-coercive resolutions of the issue between the dealer and the manufacturer entered into or ratified after the date of enactment. Coercive agreements should not be upheld. In conclusion, I want to recognize the tireless efforts of dealers from around the Nation who worked to develop and implement a truly historic grassroots effort over the past seven months. Groups such as the Committee to Restore Dealer Rights, the Automobile Trade Association Executives, National Automobile Dealers Association and the National Association of Minority Auto Dealers, were instrumental in bringing about the legislation we are approving today.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Stupak. I am pleased to join with him and Ms. DeLauro and Mr. Larson in offering this amendment. I think we should make one thing clear: We all know that, when used properly within an appropriate regulatory framework, derivatives can be valuable tools for hedging commercial risk and provide important consumer benefits. That being said, we have learned all too painfully over the last year that derivatives used improperly and outside of an appropriate regulatory framework can become what Warren Buffett has described as ``financial weapons of mass destruction.'' When that speculation is permitted to spin out of control on unregulated dark markets, it can create a magnitude of systemic risk sufficient to threaten the entire economy. That's what we saw with AIG and others. This amendment that we are offering today will provide important additional oversight to that market by giving regulators the explicit authority to ban abusive swaps, prevent abuse of the end user exemption, and ensure that victims of illegal transactions cannot be held liable for payment to their predatory counterparties in a court of law. I urge adoption of the amendment and thank Chairmen Frank and Peterson for their support of this amendment.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Chair, I'm very pleased to join with my colleague, Mr. Stupak, in offering this amendment. I want to commend Chairman Frank and Chairman Peterson for bringing a strong bill to the floor. It's time to finally hold Wall Street and the big banks accountable and never allow them again to hold the American economy hostage and leave the American taxpayer holding the bag. We cannot ask the taxpayers to pay for bad bets made by Wall Street bankers. This amendment strengthens what is already a good bill. And as my colleague, Mr. Stupak, has said, what it calls for is simply greater transparency in transactions. Transparency in the over-the-counter derivatives market will shift the information advantage to a small group of Wall Street bankers to businesses, municipalities, nonprofit organizations and to the taxpayer. Why are we afraid of a little sunshine? That is what this amendment is about. I want to read to the Members a letter that we received, Mr. Stupak and I, from Gary Gensler, the chairman of the CFTC, and it was addressed to us. It says, ``Your amendment accomplishes the critical goal of promoting transparency without imposing any additional costs on business as it does not require these end-user trades to be cleared by central counterparties.'' I want to emphasize that point because there are certain trades obviously in this legislation that do need to be cleared through central counterparties and clearinghouses. But this is for the remainder. We are saying what is left over should at least be transparent. We should know about it. The taxpayer should know about it. People who want to look at the market and make decisions should know about it. He goes on to say, ``Your amendment separates mandatory trading on transparent trading venues from a central clearing requirement that would require businesses to post margin. The two should not be confused.'' This does not require anyone to put up a margin. We're saying these transactions have to be transparent. Finally, he makes the point that ``transparency can be required while leaving the clearing decision up to the parties involved in particular transactions.'' Let's vote for transparency. Let's vote for sunshine. Let's vote for this amendment.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Tax Extenders Act of 2009. This legislation will provide businesses and individuals with $31 billion in tax relief over the next year to continue creating jobs and strengthening our economy. It is on time, fully paid for and deserves this chamber's support. The R&D Tax Credit extension in this bill will enhance the competitiveness of nearly 11,000 corporations driving innovation in the global marketplace. The above-the-line deductions for school supplies and qualified tuition expenses will continue to support our teachers and students' education. The IRA Charitable Rollover and Conservation Easement provisions maintain important incentives for critical work in our non-profit sector. And the clean energy credits move us towards the energy independence, reliability and efficiency we know we must embrace in the 21st century. This is an important bill, strongly supported by the Obama Administration. For that reason, I urge our colleagues in the Senate to act expeditiously on H.R. 4213 so that the President can sign extenders legislation into law this year. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable American. Mr. James Harden ``Pat'' Daugherty, a long-time resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II when he was 19 years old. He was assigned to the U.S. Army's 92nd Infantry Division, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, which was the only division-strength unit comprised of African Americans to fight in the European Theater. The division fought German and Italian troops in northern Italy, suffering thousands of injuries and deaths. Mr. Daugherty watched some of his best friends die right before his eyes. He was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement and the Combat Infantryman Badge for outstanding performance of duty in action. The Buffalo Soldiers were great American heroes who waged a fight for freedom abroad even as they were denied freedom at home. After the war, they returned home to face racism, segregation, job discrimination and wide-ranging injustices. At age 23, upon returning from war, Mr. Daugherty felt compelled to document his wartime experiences as an African American. Earlier this year, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of D-day and the election of the first African American President, Mr. Daugherty published his firsthand account as a Buffalo Soldier in his memoir, Buffalo Saga. Following the war, Mr. Daugherty resumed his studies with the aid of the GI Bill and received his bachelor of science from Howard University and his master of public health from Columbia University. Mr. Daugherty was an educator in the District of Columbia public schools, where he organized an after-school tutoring program and taught students in math and reading. In 1964, he was the first African American to serve as Health Educator for the District of Columbia Health Department. He was the first African American to be elected to the Montgomery County, Maryland Board of Education and served for many years on the Board of Visitors for the Maryland School for the Deaf. From 1966 to 1994, Mr. Daugherty worked for the U.S. Public Health Service in a variety of positions. He was committed to improving the Nation's health care, particularly the underserved--rural and urban poor and minorities, coal miners, migrant workers, and incarcerated individuals. For his dedicated and tireless efforts, he received numerous awards and recognition, including the U.S. Public Health Service's ``Administrator's Award for Excellence.'' The Mississippi Medical and Surgical Association honored Mr. Daugherty for his ``dogged determination and work with divergent groups in a leading role to establish many community health centers throughout Mississippi and the South in the 1960s and 1970s--a time when racial injustice was one of the main barriers that separated black Americans from adequate health care.'' In 1975, Mr. Daugherty was one of five co-founders of ``Blacks in Government'' and served as the first chairman of the national organization. This organization was formed to address the needs of African Americans in public service with the goal of promoting excellence in public service, equity in all aspects of American life and opportunity for all Americans. Montgomery County, Maryland, declared July 28, 2009, ``James Harden Daugherty Buffalo Soldier Day.'' Mr. Daugherty also was recognized for his contributions by Maryland's Governor and was recently interviewed by Smithsonian Magazine and National Public Radio. Mr. Daugherty is a man of courage and integrity who has been a role model through his inspirational life of service to our Nation, especially to the underserved and needy. Mr. Daugherty's desire to share his story in his memoir allows all of us to benefit from his experiences. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. James Harden ``Pat'' Daugherty for his life of achievement and service.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009. If enacted into law, this legislation would permanently extend the estate tax at its current 2009 top rate of 45 percent and exemption level of $3.5 million, $7 million for joint filers. In so doing, H.R. 4154 will provide needed certainty for families engaged in estate planning while significantly reducing the total number of estates subject to the estate tax relative to current law. This measure is consistent with both President Obama's FY 2010 Budget, as well as Congress's FY 2010 Budget Resolution--and importantly, today's rule incorporates statutory PAYGO into the underlying initiative, which will go a long way towards restoring our Nation's long-term fiscal discipline. I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of Arthur Golden of Longboat Key, Florida, whose family members are my constituents. Mr. Golden was born in October 1923, and is the second child of Russian Jewish immigrants. His parents taught him to value freedom and emphasized the important role each individual has in ensuring freedom and equality for all. After graduating from City College of New York, Mr. Golden married and enlisted in the Army. During World War II, he fought on the front lines in France and stood stoically in the streets of Marseilles as the American soldiers were honored on VE Day. When he returned from war, Mr. Golden entered the workforce as an accountant to take care of his extended family and shortly thereafter began his lifelong career and dedication to civil liberties. He volunteered his time with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mr. Golden and his wife were actively involved in the fight for equal opportunity housing projects and exposing landlords who refused to rent to African Americans and minorities. They were honored to have Dr. King visit their home and become friends with the family. When Dr. King was murdered, Mr. Golden immediately flew to Atlanta to be with Mrs. King and to assist with her financial matters. After Mr. Golden retired, he and his wife moved to Florida and continued their commitment to the civil rights struggle, discovering injustices in the Jamie Poe Housing Project in Sarasota. They formed a committee and fought for the residents to keep their homes. Mr. Golden's children are extremely proud of him and remember being taken to countless civil rights meetings, demonstrations, marches, protests, and community events. His family was touched when upon Barack Obama's election, tears flowed from a man who rarely shows emotion. Mr. Golden, an eighty-six-year-old World War II veteran and lifelong civil rights fighter, has been an inspiration to his family, his community, and his Nation. His lifelong dedication to standing up for others in need and fighting for civil liberties is a legacy that is being carried on today by his children, grandchildren, and countless others influenced by his example. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the lifetime achievements of Arthur Golden and the contributions he has made to our Nation and our community.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act. The economic downturn is adversely affecting the budgets of local governments and threatening a range of emergency services that communities count on. As declining state revenues force governors and city managers to make difficult choices, the budgets for programs that assist firefighters, first responders, and local communities nationwide with the equipment, training, and personnel have all been reduced. To help ease some of the burden, the Recovery Act and the FY09 Supplemental Appropriations Act included provisions designed to enhance the existing resources of the SAFER and AFG programs by waiving the matching requirements and restrictions for fiscal years 2009 and 2010. But, the Assistance to Firefighter Grant and the SAFER grants programs will expire in FY 2009 and FY 2010. We gather here today to reauthorize these programs until 2014. Today, not only must fire departments fight fires, they must also handle emergency medical services, and serve as first responders in the case of terrorist attacks or natural disasters. As the array of tasks falling to local fire departments has grown, SAFER and AFG grants have helped local communities keep pace. In addition to reauthorizing these two vital programs, H.R. 3791 permits the use of grant funds for volunteer and non-fire service emergency medical services organizations, increases funding for fire prevention and firefighter safety programs, and covers matching and maintenance requirements for fire departments facing economic hardship. Mr. Chair, these programs are vital to the safety and welfare of the American people. They need to be reauthorized. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 3791.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. The bill before us today would accomplish two very important things-- provide a long-term fix to the Medicare physician reimbursement problem and implement statutory pay-as-you-go, PAYGO, rules will promote long- term fiscal responsibility for our nation. Permanent reform of the flawed Medicare physician payment formulas is necessary to ensure that beneficiaries can see their doctor of choice and protect access to care. Consistent with the House Budget Resolution and President Obama's recommendation, this bill uses realistic and responsible assumptions about future Medicare spending on physician services. The choice is clear: We need to fix this problem honestly today and not continue to kick the can down the down the road. As we put Medicare physician payments on a sustainable path, so must we tend to the fiscal health of our Nation. The day President Obama was sworn into office, he inherited huge deficits and exploding debt in this country. The previous administration wanted to put everything on our national credit card and ask future generations to pay for it. It is the legacy of this irresponsible spending that has left us with today's historic Federal debt. Fortunately, there is a time-tested solution for bringing our budget back into balance: PAYGO budget rules. We have had the benefit of PAYGO in the past. For example, when the PAGYO rule was in place in the 1990s, our Federal budget went from record deficits to record surplus. In fact, when President Clinton left office, CBO projected that America would have an $800 billion surplus this year. However, when Congress abandoned PAYGO in 2002, the Federal debt exploded. Today, we are saddled with a $1.4 trillion deficit. Digging out of this economic ditch will take time, but it is important that we put our economy on a long-term, sustainable path. PAYGO will do that by requiring policies that result in revenue reduction or increased mandatory spending be offset over the next 5 and 10 years. It will force Congress to evaluate the tradeoffs inherent in its financial decisions and make hard choices, just like any family in America. Mr. Speaker, with this legislation, we will be putting our country on a path of fiscal responsibility. Let's tell our children and grandchildren that we're going to take some responsibility. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, we are taking a historic and very important step today to lower health care costs for American families and small businesses, and fix a broken health care system. In considering the Affordable Health Care for America Act, this has been one of the most open and transparent debates in Congress. There have been countless hours of hearings and mark-ups and more than 3,000 public health care events around the country. The Affordable Health Care for America Act contains significant protections that will provide health care consumers greater stability, lower costs, and improved quality--while all at the same time paying down the deficit. According to independent analysis conducted by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill reduces the deficit by $109 billion over the first 10 years. And it will continue to reduce the deficit over the second 10 years. This legislation will help the middle class by providing stable, affordable health insurance that people can count on. It will rein in health care costs for families, businesses and the government. It will ensure that if you lose your job, you won't lose your access to health care. No one should have to worry about whether they can see a doctor when they're sick because they don't have health insurance. I have heard from countless constituents who have been victims of discrimination by insurance companies, like the family who recently shared their experience with me about their inability to obtain health insurance coverage. The father started his own company and applied for health insurance for his family, but three out of the four family members could not be fully covered due to pre-existing conditions. It turns out that he was rejected for coverage because he had two chest colds in the last 6 years and scar tissue in his lungs. For his daughter, the insurance company would only issue a policy that precludes coverage for any injury to any part of her back at any time in the future because of a previous injury of her back. And the same company refused to cover any injury to his son's knee at any time in the future from any cause due to a previous injury. It is unconscionable that the insurance company's policies precluded everyone in his family from being fully covered. There are a number of provisions that would help this family, my constituents, and millions of Americans. Among them, the bill would end the practice of discriminating against those with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, a heart condition, or previous injuries. It would prohibit insurance companies from dropping health care coverage because you became sick. The bill eliminates co-pays for preventive and wellness care, and it places annual caps on what Americans pay out-of-pocket for health care services. And there would be no yearly or lifetime cost caps on what insurance companies cover. A critical piece of this legislation is the creation of a new Health Insurance Exchange that will allow individuals and small business to comparison shop for affordable and quality health insurance coverage. The Exchange will help reduce the growth in health care spending by encouraging competition on price, quality, and transparency among a number of private health insurance companies and a public health insurance option. The public option will add choice to the health insurance market and participation is completely voluntary. That is why Consumers Union and Consumer Reports endorsed this bill. With this health care reform bill, Americans will have the freedom to keep their doctor or select another one. The choice is theirs. It preserves and strengthens the doctor-patient relationship. That's why the doctors of America under the umbrella of the American Medical Association have endorsed this bill. The legislation takes steps to preserve and strengthen Medicare for today's seniors and future generations of retirees. For over 40 years, Medicare has been a stable, reliable program for senior citizens and people with disabilities. It provides health care coverage to approximately 45 million Americans. This bill will ensure that seniors can see their doctor of choice or find a doctor by improving Medicare reimbursement to doctors. It lowers drug costs for seniors by closing the Medicare Part D ``doughnut hole'' and allowing the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices. And it takes steps to reduce waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiency in the Medicare program. For all these reasons, AARP has endorsed this bill. Thousands of small businesses in America will benefit from this bill because it will provide them greater affordability. Small businesses will gain access to the new Health Insurance Exchange that will allow them to obtain rates normally enjoyed by larger employers, lower administrative costs, greater transparency, and greater choice of plans for their employees. They will benefit from increased competition for better prices as well as tax credits for those who choose to provide health insurance for their employees. I am pleased that this bill contains several provisions I helped author. The first, the Assessment of Medicare Cost-Intensive Diseases and Conditions, directs the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct an assessment of the diseases and conditions that are the most cost-intensive for the Medicare program. Part of our effort to reform the health care system is to develop cures and treatments for those conditions and diseases that have a high cost, and this will go a long way in that endeavor. The second, which I worked on with Representative Kathy Dahlkemper and others, requires health insurance plans to allow young people through age 26 to remain on their parents' insurance policy, at the parent's choice. Young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 are one of the largest segments of the American population without health insurance, comprising 29 percent of the total number of uninsured Americans. I am also pleased that we were able to include a provision that ends the special advantages for health insurance companies. For far too long, the health insurance industry has been exempt from the antitrust laws that govern most other businesses. They have abused that benefit. I believe it is long past time to repeal this exemption. By ending this antitrust exemption, we are increasing competition and preventing unfair business practices that allow health insurers to drive up the cost of health care. Lastly, I worked with Representatives Himes, Bean, and others to include in the bill a provision that would allow the creation of state health insurance compacts. This would permit states to enter into agreements to allow for the sale of health insurance across state lines. The creation of state health insurance compacts is another element of the health reform bill that will allow consumers to shop for insurance across state lines, promote choice and competition, and ensure strong consumer protections. On the question of whether any of the insurance plans offered in the Health Insurance Exchange could cover an abortion, I support the provisions in the Rule that created a mechanism for ensuring that no public subsidies would go to pay for abortions. The non-partisan Congressional Research Service analyzed that provision and found that it prevented taxpayer dollars from going to pay for any coverage of abortions. The amendment offered by Representative Stupak goes much further. It would effectively prevent Americans from using their own money to purchase an insurance plan in the Health Insurance Exchange that includes coverage of abortions. That would be a dramatic break with the current practice where most insurance plans provide for such coverage for individuals who choose such plans. Because the Stupak amendment would effectively prohibit individuals from using their own money to purchase such plans in the Exchange, I oppose it. Mr. Speaker, today we stand at a historic crossroads. We can choose the road that dead-ends in the status quo--where the health insurance industry continues to call the shots and ration our health care--or we can pass this legislation and take the path that leads to a future where every American has access to affordable, quality health care. Now I understand why the health industry is opposed. But our job is not to protect the profits of the insurance companies. Let's not protect special interests and the status quo. Let's move America forward. Let's vote yes for America.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, today our Nation stands at an historic crossroads. We can choose the road that dead-ends in the status quo where the health industry will continue to call the shots and ration our health care or we can pass this bill and take the path that will provide every American citizen access to quality, affordable health care. What we do in this bill is preserve what is best and fix what is broken. We currently face unsustainable skyrocketing health care costs that are breaking our family's budget, forcing businesses to drop health insurance, and will eventually bankrupt our Nation. We saw health insurance premiums more than double between 2000 and 2008; and during that period of time, health insurance profits soared by 500 percent. How did they do it? Essentially by saying ``no'' to people who had preexisting conditions and using the fine print in insurance policies to deny people promised benefits when they needed help the most. This bill will end those abuses. It ends the antitrust exemption that shielded the health insurance industry from price-fixing. It establishes a health insurance exchange like a shopping supermarket for health policies that provides more choice, including a public option. Mr. Speaker, that's why the Consumers Union and Consumer Reports support this legislation. That's why the AARP, the largest organization protecting the rights of seniors, has endorsed this. And that's why the doctors of America have endorsed this. I understand why the insurance industry opposes this bill, but our job is not to protect the special interests of the insurance industry; our job is to do what's right by the American people. Let's move this country forward. Let's vote ``yes'' for America.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits, extend and expand the homebuyer tax credit, and provide needed liquidity to businesses struggling to stay afloat in this difficult economy. Millions of Americans remain unemployed through no fault of their own and are struggling to make ends meet. If Congress and the President had not taken action with the Recovery Act, millions more would be unemployed. We now know that the Recovery Act has saved or created at least 640,000 jobs across the country and 6,700 jobs in Maryland. We are seeing signs of economic recovery and progress. The housing and stock markets are rebounding and the gross domestic product increased for the first time last month. To help sustain the rebound in the housing market, I am pleased that the bill will extend the first- time homebuyer tax credit as well as expand the credit to those homeowners who have been in their current residence for at least the last five years. Additionally, this legislation will provide needed liquidity to cash-strapped businesses by giving companies a one-time opportunity to carry back their operating losses for five years in order to further support our economic recovery. Mr. Speaker, much work remains to be done. Protecting the middle class, rebuilding our economy, and providing job growth remains our top priority. I urge my colleagues to support this much-needed legislation.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, last Spring, I stood before this body to speak in support of the Credit Card Act of 2009. The bill outlawed predatory and exploitative behavior such as targeting college students regardless of their ability to make payments, shifting due dates so as to trigger penalties and other deceptive practices. I was proud to be a cosponsor of the bill. Even then, however, I argued that the bill should take effect immediately. Today, I rise in support of H.R. 3639, the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act which moves up the Credit Card Act's implementation date. Accelerating the implementation of this bill is necessary because too many card issuers are taking advantage of the act's February implementation date and increasing fees and the interest rates of their customers. As the Credit Card Act of 2009 was taking shape, many banks expressed concern that, without time to make the logistical and accounting adjustments necessary to accommodate such a dramatic policy shift, consumers would end up shouldering an increased financial burden in the form of higher fees and diminished access to credit. In light of this concern, we established February 2010 as the date the bill would go into effect. But, to our disappointment, many banks used the time between the President's signing the bill in May and its scheduled implantation in February to increase the exploitative practices the bill was intended to prevent. According to a recently released report by the Pew Charitable Trust, in which they studied credit card activity in the wake of the Credit Card Act, not only have many credit cards companies continued to use practices deemed ``unfair and deceptive'' under Federal Reserve guidelines, in some cases these practices increased. I have personally received reports from my constituents that, despite having solid credit histories and long relationships with their card issuers, they were contacted by banks after the Act passed and approached with the Hobbesian choice of accepting either a reduced credit line or an increase in front end interest rates. When they called the companies to complain, they were told that there was nothing they could do and that they should call their Member of Congress. Well, they did call their Members of Congress and this is our response. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3639.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this FY 10 Interior-Environment Conference Report and the key investments it makes to clean up our water, improve our national parks, combat climate change and promote the arts. In order to remedy the previous administration's underinvestment in our Nation's water infrastructure, this legislation provides $2.1 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $1.38 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. These investments will go a long way toward modernizing our aging wastewater systems and delivering safe drinking water to all of our citizens. Additionally, I am pleased that today's conference report contains $2.7 billion for our national parks. In addition to sustaining ongoing park operations, this funding will help the National Park Service continue to upgrade our parks ahead of the Service's 2016 centennial celebration. As Congress works to finalize comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation, this bill invests $385 million in climate change research and abatement, including $17 million to continue development of a Greenhouse Gas Registry and $51 million for EPA's Energy Star program. Finally, this FY 10 Interior-Environment Conference report includes $167.5 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and $167.5 million for the National Endowment of the Humanities to foster excellence and greater access to our Nation's cultural heritage. Madam Speaker, in addition to these national priorities, I am particularly gratified that this legislation includes $50 million in core funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay program, and $750,000 for the city of Rockville to rehabilitate its sanitary sewer system. This is important, fiscally responsible legislation, and I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. They represent almost 8 out of every 10 new jobs created in the country and are a key element of the Nation's efforts to achieve a successful and complete economic recovery. Last week I joined President Obama, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Small Business Administrator Karen Mills, Members of the Maryland Delegation, Governor Martin O'Malley, County Executive Jack Johnson, and Hyattsville Mayor William Gardner at Metropolitan Archives in Largo, MD to discuss the work Congress and the Obama administration are doing to create jobs and expand credit access to Maryland small businesses. The bill we consider today, H.R. 3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009, is a significant part of our efforts. H.R. 3854 reauthorizes and increases the resources of successful programs such as the SBA 7(a), Business Stabilization Loans and the SBA Microloan programs. The Small Business Administration 7(a) program guarantees long-term loans for business startups and expansions. The bill authorizes funds to guarantee $20 billion in 7(a) loans in 2010 and 2011. The bill extends until 2011 Business Stabilization Loans which provide $50,000 each for qualifying small businesses to make payments on existing loans. The bill also helps provide small businesses with short-term, working capital through the SBA Microloan program. Under the program, small businesses and not-for-profit child care centers can qualify for loans up to $35,000 to use for equipment, supplies, inventory and other business necessities. The bill renews and expands the resources of the public/private partnership programs that serve small businesses such as community development programs, the Small Business Investment Company and the New Markets Venture Capital Program. The SBA works with certified development companies to contribute to the economic development of communities. These public/private partnerships provide community small businesses with long-term loans to expand and modernize with the purpose of creating local jobs. This bill authorizes the SBA to guarantee no less than $9 billion of these community directed loans in 2010 and 2011. The bill also continues Congress' commitment to the Small Business Investment Company by authorizing the SBA to guarantee $5 billion in loans in 2010 and $5.5 billion in 2011 for the program. The Small Business Investment Company licenses private investment firms to borrow Treasury money and make loans to small businesses. The loans are made with the long-term growth in mind since such investments can take years before becoming profitable. Since its creation in 1958, the Small Business Investment Company has provided nearly 100,000 small businesses with the capital they need to develop and grow. The bill also reauthorizes the New Markets Venture Capital Program to promote economic development and job creation in low-income areas with $100 million in loans and loan guarantees for qualifying venture capital companies engaged in small business and job creation and economic development. The latest reports and statistics catalogue the continued difficulty small businesses are experiencing as they attempt to access credit. The Nation's rising unemployment statistics emphasize the urgency of the problem. The resources provided by this bill should help American small businesses cope as the country struggles to right itself in the aftermath of the greatest economic downturn the world has ever known. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, together with my colleague Walter Jones, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 832) to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of S. 832, a bill to grant a federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America. My colleague Walter Jones and I joined with 140 cosponsors to introduce the House companion, H.R. 2017. S. 832 recognizes the dedication, service and accomplishments of military officers and their families, and the enduring contribution of MOAA to the military and veterans' communities, and the nation. I want to thank Senators Bill Nelson and Bob Corker for their hard work in helping successfully report the Senate bill. MOAA has been seeking a federal charter for 15 years. Despite bipartisan and bicameral support, the bill had never previously received a floor vote in either chamber. MOAA serves a membership of 370,000 active, reserve and retired officers and their spouses in every branch of the military. The variety of services MOAA provides includes: The MOAA Scholarship Fund, which provides interest-free loans and grants to students of military families; Supplemental health insurance; and Personalized career transition assistance services for members and spouses; The Military Officers Association has had a distinguished record of protecting and improving earned compensation and benefits for the entire military and veterans' community. Thanks to the support of Members of this Body and our colleagues in the Senate, MOAA has led efforts that resulted in enactment of major legislative accomplishments including: TRICARE for Life, landmark legislation that provides lifetime government-sponsored health coverage for military retirees and their family members; The Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides cost-free education at any public college or university in the country for the current generation of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans; Elimination of a dollar-for-dollar offset to military retired pay for retirees with VA service-connected disabilities of 50% to 100%; Access to continuous TRICARE health coverage for currently serving National Guard and Reserve families and for reservists who qualify for reserve retirement but are not yet in receipt of reserve retired pay at age 60; Elimination of financial penalties for retired regular officers who pursue second careers in the Federal civil service; and Upgrades in compensation and transition services for severely wounded warriors, their families and the survivors of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation. MOAA serves a vital role in helping inform and shape public policy on national defense matters and by ensuring that the needs of the entire active duty, National Guard and Reserves, military retirees, survivors, veterans and their family members are given voice in the public forum. I want to also congratulate MOAA for being recognized by ``The Hill'' newspaper for the third year in a row as the top advocacy organization representing veterans. MOAA has long tradition of servant-leadership to the entire military and veterans community. The Association provides a variety of services not only to its members but to military men and women of all ranks and to veterans. I am pleased to recommend a Federal Charter be granted to the Military Officers Association of America and ask for unanimous consent that S. 832 be passed. The bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 838, a bill to welcome His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, to the United States and to Washington, DC. As the spiritual leader of nearly 300,000,000 Orthodox Christians around the world and millions of Orthodox Christians in the United States, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is recognized here and abroad for his leadership in the quest for world peace, for his work to promote responsible stewardship of the environment and for his global efforts to spread religious tolerance. In addition to receiving the 1997 Congressional Gold Medal and the Sophie Prize of Norway for managing to raise the environmental awareness of 300 million members of the Orthodox Churches, His Holiness was recognized in 2008 by Time Magazine as one of the world's most influential people. Time Magazine said His Holiness was recognized for his successful efforts to ``stake out a clear moral and spiritual vision that is dominated by his concern for the environment.'' I am proud to stand in recognition of the pioneering efforts of His Holiness in linking faith to the environment, for his tireless efforts to promote justice and human rights and for his global spiritual leadership. I welcome His Holiness to the United States and urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the Solar Technology Roadmap Act of 2009, and I commend my colleague Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords for bringing it to the floor today. The Solar Technology Roadmap Act of 2009 will focus and accelerate the Department of Energy's ongoing solar technology research, development and demonstration activities by creating a Solar Technology Roadmap patterned after the highly successful National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors to guide the Nation's near-term, mid-term and long-range solar technology policy goals. The Solar Technology Roadmap will be developed by a Solar Technology Roadmap Committee appointed by the Secretary of Energy and comprised of at least 11 members, one third of whom will come from the solar industry. This bipartisan and forward-looking legislation has been endorsed by the Solar Energy Industries Association, the National Association of Manufacturers, IBM, Intel, and National Semiconductor and will optimize the role that solar technology will play in America's clean energy future. I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act. This bill promotes the transportation safety, natural resources, and national security objectives of the country. The bill authorizes $10 billion for domestic and international Coast Guard operations and maintenance, search and rescue, workforce development and port, waterways and coastal safety programs. The bill will also help save money for U.S. taxpayers by requiring the Coast Guard to establish for the first time an acquisition policy based on a statement of need, an analysis of alternatives and an estimation of life-cycle costs. The U.S. Coast Guard plays a vital role in the national security infrastructure of the country. In times of war, it falls under the command of the Navy. Among its current international missions are counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. Because it is a major element of our national security efforts, it is key that Congress act on its reauthorization. Congress has not reauthorized the U.S. Coast Guard since 2006. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of the 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act. And I encourage my Senate colleagues to do the same.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation reauthorizing the Ryan White CARE Act. I want to commend Chairmen Waxman and Pallone as well as Ranking Members Barton and Deal for working in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion in bringing this bill before the House today. For over two decades, the Ryan White program has been serving people living with HIV and AIDS. It provides medical care, treatment and support services to more than half a million people each year. As a result of this vital and important program, we have some of the best HIV and AIDS treatment programs in the world. Without this critical safety net, several of our nation's most vulnerable populations would not have access or receive the care and treatment they desperately need. Maryland is one of the States hardest hit by the HIV epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has the fifth highest estimated rate of living AIDS cases per 100,000 people. Approximately 28,000 Marylanders live with HIV. I am pleased that the legislation continues the current extended exemption policy for 2 years for those States with maturing names-based HIV case data, such as Maryland, that recently made the transition from the code-based system in determining how much Ryan White funding States receive. Unfortunately, the Ryan White program was scheduled to sunset on September 30. It is now operating under a short-term extension. It is critical that Congress reauthorizes the Ryan White program so that we can continue to provide necessary and lifesaving services to those affected with HIV and AIDS. I urge my colleagues to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, on October 15, 2009, I was unable to cast votes due to attending an event on expanding small business opportunities with President Obama on October 21, 2009, in Hyattsville, Maryland. I was not present for rollcall votes 793, 794, 795, 796 and 797. Had I been present, my votes would have been as follows: ``yea'' on S. 1793, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Act; ``yea'' on H. Res. 811, expressing support for the designation of October 2009 as National Principals Month; ``yea'' on H. Res. 837, recognizing Kentucky Wesleyan College for over 150 years of service as an institution of higher education; ``yea'' on H. Res. 660, recognizing the distinguished history of the Laurinburg Normal Industrial Institute; and ``yea'' on S. Con. Res. 43, authorizing the use of the Capitol rotunda for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to former Senator Edward Burke.