CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E1745 HON
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September 24, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1745 HONORING SUE PALKA It is important to recognize ways in which September 30, at the peak of hurricane sea- average investors of all ages and income lev- son. Madam Speaker, distinguished col- HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN els can access the same benefits as large real leagues, I ask you today to join me in passing OF MARYLAND estate investors. I stand with my colleague in this bill. However, we must dedicate ourselves IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES commending the 50th anniversary of Real Es- to finding a permanent solution for those tate Investment Trusts, and 50 years of pro- Americans adversely affected by flooding. The Friday, September 24, 2010 viding a broad range of investors an oppor- people of my district need a long-term exten- Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, on tunity to achieve the investment goals of diver- sion of the flood insurance program—and they Monday, September 27, 2010, one of my con- sification, strong and reliable dividends, liquid- need to know that the flood insurance program stituents will be celebrating 25 years of out- ity, solid performance, and transparency. will always be there for them. While we are standing service to the Washington, DC met- f working to mitigate the damage caused by ropolitan region. floods, this program remains essential for NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE WTTG Fox 5 News weather forecaster Sue those tragic times when nature takes over. PROGRAM REEXTENSION ACT OF Palka has been bringing Washingtonians their With homes in my district and in every flood- 2010 weather reports for decades. For those of you prone part of the country in harm’s way, it is who have seen her, you know her for her irre- SPEECH OF simply too dangerous to risk disaster because pressible enthusiasm and good humor. I am we failed once again to extend the National proud that Sue, a resident of Gaithersburg, HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR. Flood Insurance Program. OF NEW JERSEY Maryland, is a constituent of mine. f Sue is a six-time Emmy award winner for IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES outstanding weather forecasting and has been Thursday, September 23, 2010 PERSONAL EXPLANATION with Fox 5 since 1985. In 1997, she was Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise to named Broadcaster of the Year by the Na- address the issue of flooding raised by the HON. XAVIER BECERRA tional Weather Association. She was featured National Flood Insurance Program Reexten- OF CALIFORNIA on the cover of Washingtonian Magazine in sion Act of 2010 before us today. Although it IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 2004, and on the cover of the Wash- is critical that we pass this legislation to en- Tuesday, June 29, 2010 ington Post TV Week in July 1997 with an ex- sure that flood insurance remains available to Mr. BECERRA. Madam Speaker, yesterday tensive article profiling her career. Sue re- those in flood prone areas, this reextension is I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall ceived the Distinguished Alumnae Award from not the ultimate solution. Congress has fol- votes 534, 535, and 536. If present, I would Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2005. lowed a dangerously inconsistent stopgap ap- have voted ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall votes 534, 535, Sue has an undying passion for weather proach of short-term fixes to the National and 536. forecasting. From taking on Hurricane Bertha Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, for almost f when it made landfall, to flying into the eye of 2 years now. category 4 Hurricane Edouard with the famed We need a permanent solution for the sake RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS Hurricane Hunters, to tornado chasing in of my constituents and all Americans in flood- OF DOMINIQUE NOTH, EDITOR, Texas and Oklahoma, Sue loves to be in the prone regions. Too frequently, the NFIP has MILWAUKEE LABOR PRESS middle of the action and to share its excite- been allowed to lapse. The House recently ment with her viewers. passed a bill which would address this issue HON. GWEN MOORE I am delighted to congratulate Sue Palka, by providing long-term authorization for the OF WISCONSIN her husband Joe and daughters Elizabeth and NFIP. This type of solution is necessary to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Nora, for her 25 years of dedicated service to provide certainty in real estate markets and Friday, September 24, 2010 our community and to all visitors to the Na- the greater economy, as thousands of poten- tion’s Capital. tial real estate transactions were stalled every Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speak- f day during the 53 days this year which the er, I rise to pay tribute to Dominique Paul Noth program lapsed. and the Milwaukee Labor Press. The Mil- IN SUPPORT OF H. RES. 1595, REC- These issues further damage our economy, waukee Labor Press provides news, features, OGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVER- as homeowners in the flood-prone areas of commentary, and information on important SARY OF REAL ESTATE INVEST- more than 20,000 communities across the issues and events. In late August, editor Dom MENT TRUSTS (REITs) U.S. could not obtain mortgages without the Noth and the Labor Press won the most mul- critical flood insurance made available through tiple awards in the history of the International HON. RON KIND NFIP. In these regions, homeowners face a Labor Communications Association. The Mil- OF WISCONSIN one in four chance that their property will suf- waukee Labor Press has continued its legacy IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES fer flood damage over the life of a 30-year of excellence by proving successful in the most intense and prestigious North American Friday, September 24, 2010 mortgage. My constituents and I are all too familiar contest for all labor publications. Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I rise today in with the issue of flooding. The Passaic River As the second largest home-delivered news- support of House Resolution 1595, which rec- basin in my district is a historically flood-prone paper in Wisconsin, the Labor Press consist- ognizes the 50th anniversary of Real Estate region, and the rapid growth of population and ently speaks honestly to its readers. The ILCA Investment Trusts, commonly known as industry in that region has made the threat of awarded the Labor Press First Place, General REITs. I am proud to cosponsor this resolution loss of property and life a serious problem. Excellence among all state and central council introduced by my colleague, Representative Since 1900, at least 26 lives have been lost in publications. ILCA praised the Labor Press for SANDER LEVIN from Michigan and I thank him floods and the total losses over that period are ‘‘Quirky and interesting writing, [. .] makes for introducing this resolution. over $4.5 billion. points without being preachy.’’ For 50 years, REITs have provided a way Just this March, the residents of the Eighth MilwaukeeLabor.org the website of the for average investors to invest in large-scale Congressional District of New Jersey along Labor Press’ publisher, Milwaukee Area Labor commercial properties in the same way they the Passaic basin suffered some of the most Council, received First Place General Excel- invest in other industries, through the pur- extensive flooding in the region to have oc- lence Internet. News, Take Action, events, and chase of equity. In addition, REITs offer inves- curred in the last quarter century. Approxi- original content by Dominique Noth are fea- tors distinct advantages such as portfolio di- mately 2,500 residents in the district were tured on the website. Dominique is an intrepid versification, reliable dividends, liquidity, and forced from their homes and the estimated seeker of newsworthy information, camera at solid long-term performance. damage to the public sector alone is over $10 the ready, quotes in context forming in his Fifty years after Congress created REITs, million dollars. These events resulted in a mind. average investors continue to benefit in the Federal Disaster Declaration issued by Presi- Last December’s examination of the health same ways as corporate stockowners, as dent Obama. All across this country, access to care debate in the article, ‘‘Heeding the REIT investors earn a pro-rata share of the flood insurance is an absolute necessity just Human Cost,’’ was honored with the First economic benefits that are derived from the as it is in the Passaic River basin. Place Saul Miller Award. Noth attributes this production of income through commercial real If Congress does not act now, the flood in- success to diverse opinions of union and com- estate ownership. surance program will expire once again on munity members in a no-holds-barred forum VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:41 Sep 25, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A24SE8.006 E24SEPT1 tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REMARKS E1746 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 24, 2010 on health legislation. Judges cited the story as HONORING CHIEF WARRANT OFFI- Annette Young was born on August 15, candid and heartfelt writing which ‘‘debunks CER THREE MATTHEW WAG- 1925 in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1944, she moved the opposition’s argument attacking the need STAFF to New York and married Winfield Young, the for health reform.’’ love of her life, on March 21, 1944. They were later blessed with a son, Steven. Annette took Third Place Award for Special Performance HON. JASON CHAFFETZ great pride in family and was a devoted wife (best editorial or column) went to the Labor OF UTAH and mother. Press for ‘‘City Should Sink Its Own Breed of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Annette had a love for God and sought his Water Pirates’’ which highlighted the privatiza- Friday, September 24, 2010 guidance throughout her life.