Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2009 No. 34 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was THE JOURNAL WELCOMING REV. MICHAEL called to order by the Speaker pro tem- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ASKEW pore (Mr. SALAZAR). Chair has examined the Journal of the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without last day’s proceedings and announces objection, the gentleman from Florida f to the House his approval thereof. (Mr. BOYD) is recognized for 1 minute. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- There was no objection. DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER nal stands approved. Mr. BOYD. Mr. Speaker, I am ex- PRO TEMPORE tremely pleased to have had Rev. Mi- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- f chael Askew from Tallahassee, Florida, fore the House the following commu- as our guest chaplain today to lead us PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE nication from the Speaker: in prayer this morning. I appreciate his WASHINGTON, DC, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the insightful words and spiritual message. February 26, 2009. gentleman from California (Mr. HONDA) Rev. Askew joins us from the Trinity I hereby appoint the Honorable JOHN T. come forward and lead the House in the United Presbyterian Church of Talla- SALAZAR to act as Speaker pro tempore on Pledge of Allegiance. hassee, Florida, where he has led the this day. Mr. HONDA led the Pledge of Alle- congregation since September of 2008 NANCY PELOSI, giance as follows: Speaker of the House of Representatives. after arriving there from Milwaukee, I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Wisconsin. Rev. Askew has an impres- f United States of America, and to the Repub- sive 20-year career as an educator and lic for which it stands, one nation under God, careworker to at-risk youth. He is a indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. PRAYER man of God, a man of service, and a The Reverend Michael E. Askew, Sr., f spiritual leader and teacher in the Tal- Trinity United Presbyterian Church, lahassee community. Tallahassee, Florida, offered the fol- MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE I would like to commend Rev. Askew lowing prayer: A message from the Senate by Ms. for the positive impact he has made on Heavenly Creator, maker of days Curtis, one of its clerks, announced so many lives in my community and past, present and future, we humble that the Senate has agreed to a concur- others. We are grateful for his service, ourselves in the breaking of this new rent resolution of the following title in and I wish him the very best as he con- day, so that in all of our efforts and en- which the concurrence of the House is tinues to guide his congregation in the ergy, we give glory to You. requested: coming years. We pray for each Member in this S. Con. Res. 8. Concurrent resolution ex- f United States House of Representatives pressing support for Children’s Dental ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER and their staff. We ask that in the ac- Health Month and honoring the memory of PRO TEMPORE tions and deliberations of today, re- Deamonte Driver. sentment, strife, bitterness, and anger The message also announced that The SPEAKER pro tempore. The will not prevail. pursuant to section 8002 of title 26, Chair will entertain five further re- Rather, each Member is mindful to United States Code, the Chair, on be- quests for 1-minute speeches on each hear the voices and concerns of people half of the Committee on Finance, an- side of the aisle. they serve, of those serving in the mili- nounces the designation of the fol- f tary, of those living in small towns, on lowing Senators as members of the farms, in rural communities, and in Joint Committee on Taxation: EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMIC cities throughout the United States, so The Senator from Montana (Mr. BAU- DOWNTURN collectively and conscientiously we CUS). (Mr. HONDA asked and was given may find methods and solutions to help The Senator from West Virginia (Mr. permission to address the House for 1 even the least among us during these ROCKEFELLER). minute.) troubled times. The Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I would With great joy and gratitude, we CONRAD). like to give voice to several of my con- stand before You ready to serve. Lord, The Senator from Iowa (Mr. GRASS- stituents’ stories about how they are hear Your people as we pray. LEY). being impacted by the economic down- Amen. The Senator from Utah (Mr. HATCH). turn. b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H2837 . VerDate Nov 24 2008 01:45 Feb 27, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26FE7.000 H26FEPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with HOUSE H2838 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 26, 2009 One constituent, Robert, told me word and work towards comprehensive Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise about how he and his wife lost nearly immigration reform. today because 7 months from now the 60 percent of their retirement funds. f E-Verify program will expire. It is un- They have no pensions, no 401(k)s, and acceptable that Congress continues to BANK BAILOUT BLUNDER— no health care coverage. kick the can down the road on E- NORTHERN TRUST Another constituent told me how he Verify. Last Congress, I along with 406 lost his job 4 months ago and is now (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was other Members of Congress, voted to drowning in college loans and bills. given permission to address the House extend E-Verify for 4 years. It was a bi- These stories are all too common. for 1 minute.) partisan bill that had the over- Every one of us is feeling the effects Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the whelming support of Members, as well of the economic downturn. But I, along Chicago-based bank Northern Trust as the American public. Congress- with my colleagues in Congress, will took $1.6 billion in bailout money. But woman GIFFORDS and I have introduced advocate for you and your family’s last week the bank threw a high-dollar the same legislation this Congress, needs every day. party in Los Angeles. The celebration H.R. 662. included flying in guests and employ- f Let’s be clear: Reauthorization of E- ees to stay at the Ritz and the Beverly Verify is not immigration reform. The EARMARKS ARE ESSENTIALLY NO- Hills Wilshire. existing voluntary program is the only BID CONTRACTS The bank hosted a $6.3 million fancy way for employers to ensure that that (Mr. FLAKE asked and was given golf tournament. Northern Trust par- are complying with existing law, which permission to address the House for 1 tied all week by entertaining the rich requires them to hire a legal work- minute.) and famous. force. Extending the voluntary pro- Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday Nightly concerts were held that in- gram will also provide certainty to the we passed an omnibus spending bill cluded the groups Earth, Wind and 106,000 users of the system, including with more than 8,600 earmarks. Many Fire, Chicago, and even singer Sheryl the States of Arizona and Mississippi, of them are simply wasteful, including Crow. that E-Verify will continue to be avail- 1.8 million to combat swine odor in One night, the bank rented the entire able. Iowa. Maybe that could have been establishment of the House of Blues for So why do we find ourselves counting spent a little closer to home. $50,000 to enjoy the necessities of life. down to an expiration date? Because But a lot of these earmarks, a few When it was all over, the party ani- there are certain special interests that thousand of them, have the potential mals received Tiffany gift bags. A good may try to leverage E-Verify for a so- to be far more damaging to this insti- time was had by all. called comprehensive immigration re- tution because they are essentially no- Mr. Speaker, corporations can do form bill. bid contracts. In many cases, they’re what they want with their own money, We cannot allow the reauthorization no-bid contracts to those who turn out but when banks take taxpayer money, of E-Verify to be tied up in a battle to be campaign contributors to Mem- they are responsible to the taxpayers. over an amnesty bill. Let’s bring the bers who secured the no-bid contract. The bank says they didn’t ask for the bipartisan reauthorization of E-Verify We have to ask ourselves, is this money. Well, if that’s so, the bank through regular order and give the proper for the House to do? Should the should do the right thing. Northern American people, and the thousands of House of Representatives allow its Trust, give us back our $1.6 billion be- E-Verify users, the assurance that em- Members to award no-bid contracts to cause you can’t be trusted with our ployment verification will continue to their campaign contributors? It doesn’t money. be available. The bank blunder bailout loan has seem right, Mr. Speaker. We owe this f come due. institution far better than that, and we And that’s just the way it is.