September 23, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8703 The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the right to develop an family self-sufficiency The Chair recognizes the gentle- opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being program for its residents, it shall be entitled woman from Wisconsin. to funding to cover the costs of up to one in the affirmative, the ayes have it. GENERAL LEAVE Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I object family self-sufficiency coordinator, based on the size specified in its action plan for such Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speak- to the vote on the ground that a program. er, I ask unanimous consent that all quorum is not present and make the ‘‘(v) STATE AND REGIONAL AGENCIES.—For Members have 5 legislative days in point of order that a quorum is not purposes of calculating the family self-suffi- which to revise and extend their re- present. ciency portion of the administrative fee marks and to include extraneous mate- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- under this subparagraph, each administra- rials on H.R. 3018. ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the tively distinct part of a State or regional The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Chair’s prior announcement, further public housing agency shall be treated as a objection to the request of the gentle- proceedings on this motion will be separate agency. ‘‘(vi) DETERMINATION OF NUMBER OF COORDI- woman from Wisconsin? postponed. NATORS.—In determining whether a public There was no objection. The point of no quorum is considered housing agency meets a specific threshold Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speak- withdrawn. for funding pursuant to this paragraph, the er, I yield myself such time as I may f number of participants being served by the consume. agency in its family self-sufficiency program FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY ACT I enthusiastically endorse for favor- shall be considered to be the average number able consideration this bill authored by OF 2007 of families enrolled in such agency’s pro- Mrs. JUDY BIGGERT. This, Mr. Speaker, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speak- gram during the course of the most recent fiscal year for which the Department of is much needed legislation to enhance er, I move to suspend the rules and and to improve a program that assists pass the bill (H.R. 3018) to provide for Housing and Urban Development has data. ‘‘(C) PRORATION.—If insufficient funds are families who hold a section 8 housing payment of an administrative fee to available in any fiscal year to fund all of the voucher with the goal of leading to eco- public housing agencies to cover the coordinators authorized under this section, nomic independence. costs of administering family self-suffi- the first priority shall be given to funding Under the Family Self-Sufficiency ciency programs in connection with one coordinator at each agency with an ex- Program, public housing agencies work the housing choice voucher program of isting family self-sufficiency program. The with welfare agencies, schools and the Department of Housing and Urban remaining funds shall be prorated based on the number of remaining coordinators to businesses to develop a program that Development. gives participating Family Self-Suffi- The Clerk read the title of the bill. which each agency is entitled under this sub- paragraph. ciency families the skills and experi- The text of the bill is as follows: ‘‘(D) RECAPTURE.—Any fees allocated under ences necessary for them to obtain em- H.R. 3018 this subparagraph by the Secretary in a fis- ployment that pays a living wage. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- cal year that have not been spent by the end Now, this is not an expensive pro- resentatives of the United States of America in of the subsequent fiscal year shall be recap- gram. In my State of Wisconsin, for ex- Congress assembled, tured by the Secretary and shall be available ample, eight public housing authorities SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. for providing additional fees pursuant to sub- have successfully competed for Family paragraph (B)(ii). This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Family Self- Self-Sufficiency Programs with awards Sufficiency Act of 2007’’. ‘‘(E) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—Within six months after the date of the enactment of ranging from $34,000 up to only $47,000. SEC. 2. ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM this paragraph, the Secretary shall publish a b 2215 COSTS. proposed rule specifying the performance Subsection (h) of section 23 of the United standards applicable to funding under But while it is expensive, it’s inex- States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (B). pensive. It is very successful. 1437u(h)) is amended by striking paragraph Such standards shall include requirements While my home public housing au- (1) and inserting the following new para- applicable to the leveraging of in-kind serv- thorities in Milwaukee do not antici- graph: ices and other resources to support the goals pate the section 8 family self-suffi- ‘‘(1) SECTION 8 FEES.— of the family self-sufficiency program. ciency programs, they do have a public ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall es- ‘‘(F) DATA COLLECTION.—Public housing housing family self-sufficiency pro- tablish a fee under section 8(q) for the costs agencies receiving funding under this para- graph shall collect and report to the Sec- gram in its second year, which is very incurred in administering the self-suffi- similar to the section 8 self-sufficiency ciency program under this section to assist retary, in such manner as the Secretary families receiving voucher assistance shall require, information on the perform- program. through section 8(o). ance of their family self-sufficiency pro- They have linked in really creative ‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY FOR FEE.—The fee shall grams. way to a ‘‘Make Your Money Talk’’ provide funding for family self-sufficiency ‘‘(G) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall program. It’s a wealth-building pro- coordinators as follows: conduct a formal and scientific evaluation of gram that is partnered with the Wis- ‘‘(i) BASE FEE.—A public housing agency the effectiveness of well-run family self-suf- consin Women’s Business Initiative serving 25 or more participants in the family ficiency programs, using random assignment of participants to the extent practicable. Not Corporation, and they have 39 families self-sufficiency program under this section enrolled. shall receive a fee equal to the costs of em- later than the expiration of the 4-year period ploying one full-time family self-sufficiency beginning upon the enactment of this para- Based on prior outcomes, partici- coordinator. An agency serving fewer than 25 graph, the Secretary shall submit an interim pants have used their savings gen- such participants shall receive a prorated evaluation report to the Congress. Not later erated from family self-sufficiency to fee. than the expiration of the 8-year period be- start a business or purchase a home. ‘‘(ii) ADDITIONAL FEE.—An agency that ginning upon such enactment, the Secretary One resident in particular, a resident of meets minimum performance standards shall shall submit a final evaluation report to the the Westlawn housing development, receive an additional fee sufficient to cover Congress. There is authorized to be appro- priated $10,000,000 to carry out the evalua- has started her own cleaning business the costs of employing a second family self- that has become quite successful. sufficiency coordinator if the agency has 75 tion under this subparagraph. or more participating families, and a third ‘‘(H) INCENTIVES FOR INNOVATION AND HIGH Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of such coordinator if it has 125 or more partici- PERFORMANCE.—The Secretary may reserve my time. pating families. up to 10 percent of the amounts made avail- Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the ‘‘(iii) PREVIOUSLY FUNDED AGENCIES.—An able for administrative fees under this para- gentlelady for her comments, and I agency that received funding from the De- graph to provide support to or reward family would yield myself time as I may con- partment of Housing and Urban Development self-sufficiency programs that are particu- sume. for more than three such coordinators in any larly innovative or highly successful in Mr. Speaker, as the author of H.R. achieving the goals of the program.’’. of fiscal years 1998 through 2007 shall receive 3018, the Family Self-Sufficiency Act, I funding for the highest number of coordina- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- strongly encourage my colleagues to tors funded in a single fiscal year during that period, provided they meet applicable ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from support this important legislation. size and performance standards. Wisconsin (Ms. MOORE) and the gentle- First, let me thank Congresswoman ‘‘(iv) INITIAL YEAR.—For the first year in woman from Illinois (Mrs. BIGGERT) WATERS for working with me to include which a public housing agency exercises its will each control 20 minutes. the language of this bill in the section

VerDate Aug 31 2005 06:23 Sep 24, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00123 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K23SE7.204 H23SEPT1 wwoods2 on PROD1PC60 with HOUSE H8704 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 23, 2008 8 reform bill, H.R. 1851, the Section 8 cessfully make ends meet, raise chil- consume to the gentlelady from Texas Voucher Reform Bill Act of 2007, which dren, get an education, secure a job and (Ms. GRANGER). the House passed on July 12 of last year achieve the dream of homeownership. Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I was by a vote of 333–83. What better way to help more of our unable to get here in time to speak Not to anyone’s great surprise, the neighbors in need than to support this about an issue I feel very strongly Senate has yet to take up this larger bill today. It’s a simple, bipartisan step about. I speak about the need to honor section 8 reform package. My hope is that we can now take to ensure that a the Code Talkers. It was brought to my that the House will pass this bill today, brief period of economic hardship attention by my friend and con- and the Senate will, at a minimum, doesn’t turn into a lifetime of poverty stituent, Mr. Ben Tahmahkera, of Fort move this smaller but very important and dependence for many of our Na- Worth, Texas. He is a proud Comanche noncontroversial bill. tion’s most vulnerable families. himself and passionately articulated The bill will strengthen the Family It does so by addressing the lack of the important role of the Code Talkers Self-Sufficiency Program, or FSS, and consistent Federal funding for admin- contributed to our Nation during World help more disadvantaged families gain istering FSS services. The bill estab- War II. independence from government assist- lishes a minimum ratio of program co- Mr. Tahmahkera came to me and ance. The FSS is offered in connection ordinators to participants, with fund- pointed out that in July, 2001, Presi- with the Department of Housing and ing for one coordinator per housing au- dent Bush honored the Navajo Code Urban Development, section 8 Housing thority, serving an annual average of Talkers for their contribution to the Choice Voucher Program. It provides 25 or more families enrolled in FSS, United States Armed Forces as radio homeownership counseling, job train- two coordinators for 75 or more fami- operators in World War II. Mr. ing, child care, education and other lies, and three coordinators for 125 or Tahmahkera was very pleased to hear services to help individuals obtain more families. about the Navajo recognition, but he work. It also requires HUD to establish and wanted to make sure the sacrifices of Let me take just a minute to give implement performance measures, col- the Comanche Code Talkers and other you just one example of a Family Self- lect data on FSS programs, evaluate Code Talkers were not forgotten either. Sufficiency Program success story their effectiveness, and report to Con- Mr. Tahmahkera suggested that I from my congressional district. An- gress on its findings. Finally, the bill learn more about Charles Chibitty, who gela, a single mother of two from provides some funding flexibility to re- at the time was the only surviving Co- Willowbrook, Illinois, served 6 years in ward innovative and successful FSS manche Code Talker. the Navy. When she finished her serv- programs. In January of 1941, Charles Chibitty ice, she got a part-time job and, thanks These are good, flexible programs enlisted in the United States Army and to the GI Bill, enrolled as a full-time that help put disadvantaged families was assigned the Army’s 4th Signal student. Yet she still struggled to on the path to independence. Public Company. Chibitty himself probably make ends meet. housing can be an important safety saved thousands of lives during the In stepped the wonderful team at the net, but it is not a permanent solution. Normandy invasion alone, and he re- DuPage Housing Authority. Through Let’s give these individuals all the sup- members, years after the battle, that their Family Self-Sufficiency Program, port we can to help them stand on he could clearly remember the mes- they helped Angela with the rent for a their own two feet. sages he received and set out on D-day. dozen months, moving her and her two Before I conclude, I would like to On that day, he identified where our children from tenant-based rental as- thank John Day, president of the troops were, protected them from being sistance to the Housing Choice Vouch- DuPage Housing Authority; Jeffrey fired on by our own troops and, in gen- er Program. During this time Angela Lubell, executive director of the Center eral, completely confused the Germans. was able to complete college and ob- for Housing Policy; and the folks at the Chibitty specifically remembers saying tain a degree with a double degree in American Association of Service Coor- in code to our men, ‘‘Okay, we know human resources management and psy- dinators, the National Housing Con- where you are. Just keep on doing what chology. ference, the New America Foundation, you are doing.’’ The FSS program then connected An- and the Corporation for Enterprise De- The code that Chibitty used was gela to a resume-writing class offered velopment, for making this bill a re- never broken. by the Illinois Employment Training ality. For a long time, Germans believed it Center. Within just 1 week of posting I would, of course, like to thank An- was just gibberish, and eventually the her new, polished resume, Angela se- gela for her courage and willingness to Germans sent spies to training grounds cured three interviews and a new part- let me share her success story with all in Ft. Gordon and reservations in Okla- time job. of you today. homa to try and crack the code. None This March, Angela secured full-time I would also like to thank the of the spy missions were successful. employment as a human resource as- gentlelady from Wisconsin for man- After hearing the compelling story of sistant at the Edward Hines VA Hos- aging this bill and all the hard work the Comanche Code Talkers from Mr. pital. Angela now earns twice the hour- that she puts into the Financial Serv- Tahmahkera, I introduced a bill to ly wage she did when she started work- ices Committee. award the Comanche Code Talkers the ing with the FSS program. But the With that, I urge my colleagues to Congressional Gold Medal in December story doesn’t end there. support the bill. 2001 during the 107th Congress. FSS also connected Angela with a fi- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of I have worked to get these men an nancial planner who helped empower my time. honor that is long overdue for the past Angela with a little financial literacy Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speak- several Congresses. After a lot of hard to improve her budgeting and asset er, I just want to tell you how moving work and research by many different management skills. Today, Angela is the gentlelady’s story was about An- Members today, we are, at long last, working to prepare herself for home- gela, and how encouraged she must be honoring the Code Talkers who so ownership, a long way to come from and others who benefit from this pro- nobly served our country during both public housing. gram. World War I and World War II. Now, Angela is also giving back. She This is welfare reform done right, My friend, Representative DAN BOREN is an active member of the FSS pro- and I want to congratulate her on her from Oklahoma, I appreciate his work gram in DuPage County, providing in- compassion, for pushing this bill and this Congress for bringing the bill sights and suggestions to help keep the through. to the floor. program relevant and effective for I certainly urge all of my colleagues Like the Navajo Code Talkers who local participants. to vote unanimously for this great bill. were recognized for services in 2001, the Even amidst record-high energy Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Comanches, along with members of at prices and other challenges facing our my time. least 15 other tribes, acted as Code economy, there are bright stars like Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I would Talkers in some capacity during both Angela who, with a little help, can suc- like to yield as much time as she might world wars. The Code Talkers were

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The Code Talkers were able to gram, and for other purposes. forms to phase out premium subsidies send messages in their native dialect, a The Clerk read the title of the bill. and require more realistic pricing that code an enemy could never track. Mili- The text of the bill is as follows: is actuarially sound and based on the tary commanders credit the Code Talk- actual risk of flooding. Both bills H.R. 6965 ers with saving the lives of countless would also phase out rate subsidies for American soldiers and ultimately to Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- nonresidential properties and non-pri- resentatives of the United States of America in the success of the United States in Congress assembled, mary residences. many battles. One of the great challenges for this SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF NATIONAL FLOOD IN- In my mind, the Native American SURANCE PROGRAM. program is the debt, which presents an Code Talkers are some of our Nation’s (a) PROGRAM EXTENSION.—Section 1319 of ongoing challenge and stands at $17.4 greatest heroes. As my good friend, the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 billion resulting from the 2005 hurri- Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon U.S.C. 4026) is amended by striking ‘‘Sep- canes. Any flood program reform pack- England said, ‘‘The story of the Native tember 30, 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘April 30, age has to address the NFIP’s debt, the American Code Talkers is one of the 2009’’. interest payments on that debt and the most inspiring chapters in America’s (b) FINANCING.—Section 1309(a) of such Act net impact that they have on the budg- (42 U.S.C. 4016(a)) is amended by striking march to victory in World War II. ‘‘September 30, 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘April 30, et. Their heroic and dramatic contribu- 2009’’. We also have to face the reality of tions were instrumental in driving new claims in the pipeline to cover The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- back our enemies across the Pacific.’’ losses from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, ant to the rule, the gentleman from It’s time for Congress to give the Na- as well as the flooding in the Midwest North Carolina (Mr. WATT) and the tive American Code Talkers the rec- earlier this summer. gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. ognition they deserve for their con- Both bills contain strong and prudent CAPITO) will each control 20 minutes. tribution to U.S. victories in World reforms designed to strengthen the The Chair recognizes the gentleman War I and World War II. flood program, phase out subsidies, and from North Carolina. Charles Chibitty, a true American encourage a premium pricing structure hero, was also a loyal friend. He once GENERAL LEAVE that is based on the actual risk of prop- turned town a Medal of Honor because Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- erty loss from flooding. it did not include all the four signal mous consent that all Members have 5 The National Flood Insurance Pro- companies who he considered his broth- legislative days within which to revise gram is currently set to expire on Sep- ers. and extend their remarks on this legis- tember 30. For this reason we are today Chibitty said, I am glad that I am lation and to insert extraneous mate- considering a simple 7-month extension still here, but I miss my comrades. I rial thereon. designed to keep the flood insurance know that my comrades that have al- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there program up and running past the Sep- ready gone before me are listening and objection to the request of the gen- tember 30 deadline. Allowing the flood laughing right now. I know when I go tleman from North Carolina? insurance program to expire could up there someday, they will be there There was no objection. cause serious disruptions to the mort- waiting for me. Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- gage market and we could not afford to Today, at long last, we honor the late self such time as I may consume. let that happen, especially in light of Charles Chibitty and all of his friends (Mr. WATT asked and was given per- our current financial instabilities. A 7- who served our country as their service mission to revise and extend his re- month extension would allow Congress Code Talkers during World War I and marks.) time to complete their work on a com- World War II. Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, this bill prehensive reform package. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. would extend the National Flood Insur- I want my colleagues in the House to 4544. ance Program by 7 months. During the know that the Republican members on b 2230 most recent hurricanes of last year, we the Financial Services Committee re- found that the program had some sub- Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I have main committed to enacting com- stantial problems to it. The House has no further speakers, and I yield back prehensive reforms that not only mod- passed a bill, the Senate has passed a the balance of my time. ernize the National Flood Insurance bill, and we have been unable to this Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speak- Program so that homeowners will con- point to reconcile the two bills. er, I yield back the balance of my time. tinue to have access to flood insurance, The SPEAKER pro tempore. The So the solution in the meantime is to but also to protect the American tax- question is on the motion offered by extend the existing flood insurance payer at the same time. I urge passage the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. program by 7 months. It is important of this bill. to homeowners and businesses so they MOORE) that the House suspend the I reserve the balance of my time, al- rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3018. can have easy access to flood insur- though I have no further speakers. The question was taken. ance. Mr. WATT. I thank the gentlewoman The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the I reserve the balance of my time. for her excellent presentation on this. opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise If she is prepared to yield back, I am in the affirmative, the ayes have it. today in reluctant support really of also prepared to yield back. Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I object H.R. 6965 to extend the authorization of Mrs. CAPITO. I yield back the bal- to the vote on the ground that a the National Flood Insurance Program. ance of my time. quorum is not present and make the I would prefer that this would be a de- Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I have no point of order that a quorum is not bate on a consensus reform package further requests for time, and I yield present. that would put the National Flood In- back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- surance Program on a more actuarially The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the sound footing. question is on the motion offered by Chair’s prior announcement, further Both the House and Senate have the gentleman from North Carolina proceedings on this motion will be passed separate bills that include im- (Mr. WATT) that the House suspend the postponed. portant and necessary reforms. How- rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6965. The point of no quorum is considered ever, there are significant differences The question was taken; and (two- withdrawn. between the two packages. And, unfor- thirds being in the affirmative) the

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