September 16, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9591 Sutton Van Hollen Waxman Jenkins Miller, Gary Schakowsky Tiahrt Westmoreland Wittman Thompson (CA) Vela´ zquez Weiner Johnson (GA) Miller, George Schauer Walden Wilson (SC) Young (FL) Thompson (MS) Visclosky Welch Johnson (IL) Minnick Schiff NOT VOTING—7 Tierney Walz Wexler Johnson, E. B. Mitchell Schock Titus Wasserman Wilson (OH) Jones Mollohan Schrader Barrett (SC) Chandler Tanner Tonko Schultz Woolsey Kagen Moore (KS) Schwartz Barton (TX) McHugh Towns Waters Wu Kanjorski Moore (WI) Scott (GA) Capps Sestak Tsongas Watson Yarmuth Kaptur Moran (VA) Scott (VA) Upton Watt Kennedy Murphy (CT) Serrano ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Kildee Murphy (NY) Shea-Porter NOT VOTING—8 The SPEAKER pro tempore (during Kilpatrick (MI) Murphy, Patrick Sherman the vote). Members are reminded there Barrett (SC) Ellison Sestak Kilroy Murphy, Tim Shuler Capps McHugh Tanner Kind Murtha Shuster are 2 minutes remaining in this vote. Clyburn Schmidt King (NY) Nadler (NY) Sires Kirk Napolitano Skelton b 1606 ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Kirkpatrick (AZ) Neal (MA) Slaughter Mrs. BONO MACK and Mr. COLE Kissell Nye Smith (NE) The SPEAKER pro tempore (during changed their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to the vote). There are less than 2 min- Klein (FL) Oberstar Smith (NJ) Kosmas Obey Smith (WA) ‘‘nay.’’ utes left in this vote. Kratovil Olver Snyder So the bill was passed. Kucinich Ortiz Souder Lance Pallone Space The result of the vote was announced b 1559 Langevin Pascrell Speier as above recorded. Mr. NYE changed his vote from ‘‘no’’ Larsen (WA) Pastor (AZ) Spratt A motion to reconsider was laid on Larson (CT) Paulsen Stark the table. to ‘‘aye.’’ LaTourette Payne Stupak Mr. PAYNE changed his vote from Lee (CA) Perlmutter Sutton Stated for: ‘‘aye’’ to ‘‘no.’’ Lee (NY) Perriello Taylor Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on roll- So the motion to recommit was re- Levin Peters Terry call No. 709, I inadvertently missed the last Lewis (GA) Peterson Thompson (CA) jected. Lipinski Pingree (ME) Thompson (MS) vote. Had I been present, I would have voted The result of the vote was announced LoBiondo Pitts Tiberi ‘‘yea.’’ as above recorded. Loebsack Platts Tierney f The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Lofgren, Zoe Polis (CO) Titus Lowey Pomeroy Tonko REMOVAL OF NAME OF MEMBER question is on the passage of the bill. Lucas Posey Towns The question was taken; and the Luja´ n Price (NC) Tsongas AS COSPONSOR OF H. RES. 648 Speaker pro tempore announced that Lynch Putnam Turner Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Maffei Quigley Upton the ayes appeared to have it. Maloney Rahall Van Hollen Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Markey (CO) Rangel Vela´ zquez my name be removed as a cosponsor of Speaker, on that I demand the yeas Markey (MA) Reichert Visclosky H. Res. 648. Marshall Reyes Walz and nays. Massa Richardson Wamp The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. The yeas and nays were ordered. Matheson Rodriguez Wasserman JACKSON-LEE of Texas). Is there objec- The SPEAKER pro tempore. This Matsui Rogers (AL) Schultz tion to the request of the gentleman will be a 5-minute vote. McCarthy (NY) Rogers (KY) Waters from Georgia? McCollum Rogers (MI) Watson The vote was taken by electronic de- McCotter Ros-Lehtinen Watt There was no objection. vice, and there were—yeas 312, nays McDermott Ross Waxman f 114, not voting 7, as follows: McGovern Rothman (NJ) Weiner McIntyre Roybal-Allard Welch [Roll No. 709] ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER McMahon Ruppersberger Wexler PRO TEMPORE YEAS—312 McNerney Rush Whitfield Meek (FL) Ryan (OH) Wilson (OH) The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Abercrombie Castle Eshoo Meeks (NY) Salazar Wolf Ackerman Castor (FL) Etheridge Melancon Sa´ nchez, Linda Woolsey ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair Aderholt Childers Farr Michaud T. Wu will postpone further proceedings Adler (NJ) Chu Fattah Miller (MI) Sanchez, Loretta Yarmuth today on motions to suspend the rules Altmire Clarke Filner Miller (NC) Sarbanes Young (AK) Andrews Clay Foster on which a recorded vote or the yeas Arcuri Cleaver Frank (MA) NAYS—114 and nays are ordered, or on which the Austria Clyburn Frelinghuysen vote incurs objection under clause 6 of Baca Coble Fudge Akin Foxx McHenry Bachus Cohen Gerlach Alexander Franks (AZ) McKeon rule XX. Baird Connolly (VA) Giffords Bachmann Gallegly McMorris Record votes on postponed questions Baldwin Conyers Gonzalez Bilirakis Garrett (NJ) Rodgers will be taken later today. Barrow Cooper Gordon (TN) Bishop (UT) Gingrey (GA) Mica Bartlett Costa Grayson Blackburn Gohmert Miller (FL) f Bean Costello Green, Al Blunt Goodlatte Moran (KS) Becerra Courtney Green, Gene Boehner Granger Myrick AGRICULTURAL Berkley Crowley Griffith Bono Mack Graves Neugebauer RESEARCH LAB AND POST OFFICE Berman Cuellar Grijalva Boozman Guthrie Nunes Berry Cummings Gutierrez Boustany Harper Olson Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I Biggert Dahlkemper Hall (NY) Brady (TX) Hastings (WA) Paul move to suspend the rules and pass the Bilbray Davis (AL) Hall (TX) Broun (GA) Heller Pence bill (H.R. 1713) to name the South Cen- Bishop (GA) Davis (CA) Halvorson Brown (SC) Hensarling Petri Bishop (NY) Davis (IL) Hare Brown-Waite, Herger Poe (TX) tral Agricultural Research Laboratory Blumenauer Davis (KY) Harman Ginny Hunter Price (GA) of the Department of Agriculture in Boccieri Davis (TN) Hastings (FL) Buchanan Issa Radanovich Lane, , and the facility of the Bonner DeFazio Heinrich Burgess Johnson, Sam Rehberg Boren DeGette Herseth Sandlin Burton (IN) Jordan (OH) Roe (TN) Postal Service located at Boswell Delahunt Higgins Campbell King (IA) Rohrabacher 310 North Perry Street in Bennington, Boucher DeLauro Hill Cantor Kingston Rooney Oklahoma, in honor of former Con- Boyd Dent Himes Carter Kline (MN) Roskam gressman Wesley ‘‘Wes’’ Watkins. Brady (PA) Diaz-Balart, L. Hinchey Cassidy Lamborn Royce Braley (IA) Diaz-Balart, M. Hinojosa Chaffetz Latham Ryan (WI) The Clerk read the title of the bill. Bright Dicks Hirono Coffman (CO) Latta Scalise The text of the bill is as follows: Brown, Corrine Dingell Hodes Cole Lewis (CA) Schmidt H.R. 1713 Butterfield Doggett Hoekstra Conaway Linder Sensenbrenner Buyer Donnelly (IN) Holden Crenshaw Luetkemeyer Sessions Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Calvert Doyle Holt Culberson Lummis Shadegg resentatives of the United States of America in Camp Driehaus Honda Deal (GA) Lungren, Daniel Shimkus Congress assembled, Cao Edwards (MD) Hoyer Dreier E. Simpson SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION OF SOUTH CENTRAL Capito Edwards (TX) Inglis Duncan Mack Smith (TX) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH LABORA- Capuano Ehlers Inslee Fallin Manzullo Stearns TORY, LANE, OKLAHOMA. Cardoza Ellison Israel Flake Marchant Sullivan Carnahan Ellsworth Jackson (IL) Fleming McCarthy (CA) Teague (a) REDESIGNATION.—The South Central Carney Emerson Jackson-Lee Forbes McCaul Thompson (PA) Agricultural Research Laboratory of the De- Carson (IN) Engel (TX) Fortenberry McClintock Thornberry partment of Agriculture in Lane, Oklahoma,

VerDate Nov 24 2008 04:20 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H16SE9.REC H16SE9 mmaher on DSK69SOYB1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE H9592 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2009 shall be known and redesignated as the ‘‘Wes search Laboratory of the Department State and country by joining the Okla- Watkins Agricultural Research Laboratory’’. of Agriculture in Lane, Oklahoma, and homa Air National Guard. But in the (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, the United States Post Office facility summer of 1975, Wes Watkins felt he map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the South in Bennington, Oklahoma, in honor of had a higher calling, and that was pub- Central Agricultural Research Laboratory my friend and predecessor, Wes Wat- lic service. That fall, he would success- shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘‘Wes kins. fully run for a seat in the Oklahoma Watkins Agricultural Research Laboratory’’. Wes has enjoyed a long and distin- State Senate, representing the same SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF WES WATKINS POST OF- guished career in public service, first ‘‘’’ region that the former FICE, BENNINGTON, OKLAHOMA. as a member of the Oklahoma State Speaker called home. (a) DESIGNATION.—The facility of the Senate and then as a United States Two years later when Speaker Albert United States Postal Service located at 310 Congressman from Oklahoma’s Third announced his retirement, State Sen- North Perry Street in Bennington, Okla- District for 20 years. During his tenure, ator Watkins decided he would run for homa, shall be known and designated as the ‘‘Wes Watkins Post Office’’. Wes had the honor of serving on three the Speaker’s former seat. After win- (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, of the House’s most prestigious com- ning a competitive primary against the map, regulation, document, paper, or other mittees, including Appropriations, Speaker’s former Chief of Staff, Wes record of the United States to the facility re- Budget, and Ways and Means. Before went on to win the general election ferred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to Wes, no other Congressperson had ever with more than 80 percent of the vote, be a reference to the ‘‘Wes Watkins Post Of- served on all three of the House’s and for the better part of four decades, fice’’. major committees during their career. Congressman Wes Watkins would rep- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Beyond his committee work, Wes was resent eastern Oklahoma in the United ant to the rule, the gentleman from In- intimately attuned to the financial States House of Representatives. As a diana (Mr. ELLSWORTH) and the gen- needs of the constituents back home in Member of the House of Representa- tleman from Oklahoma (Mr. LUCAS) Oklahoma. Recognizing the hardships tives, Congressman Watkins would go each will control 20 minutes. Oklahoma families had to endure on a on to become the only Oklahoma Con- The Chair recognizes the gentleman daily basis, Wes used his committee as- gressman to serve on all three major from Indiana. signments to steer resources back to House financial committees. GENERAL LEAVE the Third District of Oklahoma. As a Madam Speaker, I was fortunate Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I part of his efforts to restore financial enough to not only be represented by ask unanimous consent that all Mem- security to his constituents, Wes took Wes Watkins in Congress, I was lucky bers may have 5 legislative days in a particularly strong interest in eco- to have the opportunity to serve on which to revise and extend their re- nomic development issues, which no both his D.C. staff and his district marks on the bill. doubt changed the economic landscape staff, first as an intern in his Wash- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there of Oklahoma’s Third District for the ington, D.C. office and then as a field objection to the request of the gen- better. representative in his eastern Oklahoma tleman from Indiana? Let there be no doubt, had it not district. Without Congressman Wat- There was no objection. been for Wes’s dedication and strong kins’ guidance and his inspiration, I Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I leadership, Oklahoma’s Third District probably wouldn’t be here today rep- yield myself such time as I may con- would not have been what it is today. resenting Oklahoma’s Second Congres- sume. On behalf of Wes Watkins and my sional District. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1713 would constituents back home in Oklahoma, I Wes Watkins’ record serving the name the U.S. Department of Agri- urge all of my colleagues to support State of Oklahoma is one filled with culture’s South Central Agricultural this bill. leadership, compassion, and selfless Research Laboratory in Lane, Okla- Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- service. The Lane Agricultural Re- homa, as the facility of the U.S. Postal ance of my time. search Laboratory and the United Service located at 310 North Perry Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I States Post Office that this legislation Street in Bennington, Oklahoma, in yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from will name in his honor will serve as a honor of former Congressman Wesley Oklahoma (Mr. BOREN). permanent reminder of all that he has Watkins. Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, I rise given to Oklahoma. After graduating with two degrees today to honor one of Oklahoma’s most I ask that all my colleagues support from Oklahoma State University in distinguished public servants and a this bill. Stillwater, Congressman Watkins former Member of this legislative body, worked for the Agriculture Department Congressman Wes Watkins. b 1615 and as an administrator at his alma Madam Speaker, the legislation that Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield mater before entering political life, we have before us today, H.R. 1713, such time as he may consume to a fel- first as a State senator and then as a would name the USDA Lane Agricul- low member of the Oklahoma delega- Member of Congress. Mr. Watkins rep- tural Research Laboratory in Lane, tion, Congressman COLE. resented Oklahoma’s Third Congres- Oklahoma, and the United States Post Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, it is a sional District for a total of 20 years, Office in Bennington, Oklahoma, in great privilege to be here with my col- both as a Democrat and as a Repub- honor of Congressman Wesley ‘‘Wes’’ leagues and participate in honoring our lican. Watkins. former colleague in this Chamber, Wes I am pleased the name of Congress- Congressman Watkins’ story is Watkins. Usually when you come down man Watkins will be part of his former uniquely American. Born in De Queen, to the floor on an occasion like this, district’s role in the important mission Arkansas, and raised and schooled in a you are armed with all sorts of wonder- of scientific research in agricultural working class Oklahoma agricultural ful prepared remarks, and you lay issues that affect all Americans every family, Wes Watkins would grow and them out. day, from the fields to our dinner ta- develop into one of Oklahoma’s most But I would rather talk about my bles. prominent political figures. friend, Wes Watkins, spontaneously This bill has the support of the Okla- Following his graduation from and, frankly, from a rather unique per- homa delegation, and I encourage the Bennington High School in the spring spective because I have run races rest of my House colleagues to support of 1956, a young Watkins would move to against him, and I have run races for it here today. Stillwater, Oklahoma, and enroll in him. And I have to tell you, I never Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- Oklahoma State University. Five year beat him when I ran a race against ance of my time. later, Watkins would earn a bachelor’s him, but I was a lot more successful Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield and master’s degree with honor and working for him. myself such time as I may consume. distinction. He is really an extraordinary polit- Madam Speaker, I want to take a After graduating from college, Wes ical figure in his own right. As my moment to discuss H.R. 1713, which Watkins did what many Oklahomans friend, Congressman BOREN mentioned, would name the South Agricultural Re- have done. He decided to serve his he served as a State senator. He was a

VerDate Nov 24 2008 04:20 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H16SE9.REC H16SE9 mmaher on DSK69SOYB1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE September 16, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9593 Congressman. He ran for governor good for our State. They are deep in a homebuilder. He got himself elected twice, frankly, nearly getting the the hearts of the people that they man- to the State senate over tremendous Democratic nomination in 1990. Had he age to serve. opposition. He got himself elected to gotten that, he undoubtedly would I do want to tell one polling story the United States Congress. have won the election and have been and one media story about my friend, This individual that we know as Wes, the Governor of our State. He ran Wes Watkins. When he first decided to and many Americans on the floor re- again in 1994 as an Independent. Very run as a Republican, the district was member as our colleague, Congressman unusual. By the way, his congressional literally registered over 80 percent Watkins, is an amazing fellow from the district voted for him as a Democrat, Democrat at that time. We did a sur- absolute, most humble beginnings in a voted for him as an Independent, and vey. In the survey you ask what are great little community called then later voted for him as a Repub- called open-ended questions: What do Bennington to accomplish for his lican. I have never seen a loyalty di- you like most, what do you like least friends and neighbors back home, be- rected toward an individual that way. about this individual. cause everyone was his friend and ev- In the course of his 1990 campaign, he I never saw this before, 97 percent of eryone was his neighbor, what he did is got to be pretty good friends with my the people could tell you something a testament. That is why I am so client, , who later went specific about Wes Watkins, all of it pleased and we are so pleased on this on to be Governor. Frank Keating positive: he helped my father get a job; side of the aisle to name these two im- thought so much of Wes Watkins, his he helped bring this business to our portant facilities in the old 3rd Con- opponent, that he offered him a job in community. It was the most incredibly gressional District in his honor because his Cabinet as a Secretary for inter- impressive testimony for an individ- he worked incredibly hard for the good national trade because Wes was so pas- ual’s good deeds and using public office folks of the 3rd District of Oklahoma sionate about bringing jobs and oppor- in an appropriate way to help people and, by the actions he took, improved tunity to the people of Oklahoma. That that I have ever seen in my life. everything for all of us across America. says a lot about you as an individual We sent the media consultant to Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- that one of your opponents thinks so travel with him around the district for ance of my time. highly of you that they want to move 3 days. She came back and I asked, you over into their administration. What did you think? Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, Unfortunately, some of Wes’s col- She said, In 3 days I only met one if there is no objection, I yield 1 addi- leagues in the State senate in Okla- person who didn’t call him Wes in tional minute to Mr. BOREN from Okla- homa decided that having run as an every little town. She said it was actu- homa. Independent instead of a Democrat, ally a young lady, probably 16 or 17 Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, I want- they were not inclined to do that. But years. She came up to say, Mr. Wat- ed to add a couple of things as a former a number of years later, an oppor- kins, could I please shake your hand. staffer to Congressman Watkins—and tunity came up when the seat that he Thank you for something you have Congressman COLE was very eloquent won came open again. Our good friend, done for my family. The consultant in his remarks, and so was my good Bill Brewster, decided to retire. And I said he just threw his arms around her friend, FRANK LUCAS. remember, Wes was still registered as and said, Honey, just call me Wes. There are so many of us, not just my- an Independent, and there was 17 days He is just a remarkable human being. self but there are many of us in con- before the cutoff when you had to I want to thank both of my colleagues gressional offices across Washington, choose your party. The minute that for this recognition, particularly my D.C., people in State government in Frank Keating, then Governor Keating, good friend, , who worked Oklahoma, a lot of folks involved in saw that congressional seat was open, with him. Wes Watkins has done as agriculture, who can trace back their he literally within 20 minutes called much for our State as anybody I have start to Wes Watkins. Wes Watkins and said, Wes, I want you seen in my political lifetime. And con- I can tell you when I was starting out to run for Congress. I don’t care if you tinues to do it. And so does Lou. This and I was looking for a job, he is the run as an Independent; I don’t care if is such a fitting and appropriate honor. first person who gave me an oppor- you run as a Democrat. I’m a Repub- I am happy to join my friends as a co- tunity. There are so many countless lican. I would like you to run as that. sponsor and look forward to voting for people that could say the same thing. That doesn’t matter. We are going to this particular piece of legislation with So his legacy isn’t necessarily just his do everything we can. We need you a great deal of pleasure. name on a building. It is also all of the back in the Congress of the United Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, people and all of the families that he States. We need your passion and your we have no further speakers, but I will has touched. And also I wanted to say, commitment for economic develop- reserve the balance of my time. and brought this up, Lou ment and to help the people of this Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, we Watkins. She has been his partner for State. have no further speakers, and I yield so many years. She has been a State Wes honestly made, I would say, a myself the balance of my time. regent at Oklahoma State University tough political call because he would Madam Speaker, as you’ve heard my and a constant mentor to all of us. have won as a Democrat. He would colleagues in the Oklahoma delegation With that, I hope my colleagues have won as an Independent. He chose address today, Wes is a unique indi- would support this legislation. vidual. He is a self-made man. In a to become a Republican for a lot of rea- Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I world where the American ideal is com- sons, but I think partly because he did not know Congressman Watkins, ing from nothing to becoming some- thought we were in the majority then, but after this moving testimony, I thing, which is the ideal goal, I think, he thought he would be very effective would encourage all of our colleagues of all of us, Wes represents that. Re- in that role, and he was. He was an ex- to pass H.R. 1713. traordinarily effective Congressman member, he was born just across the I yield back the balance of my time. for his State. line in Arkansas in 1938. He lived his Now, when I think about Wes, you life in Oklahoma. He was born in the The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. can’t think about Wes and not think Great Depression period, a time of eco- CLARKE). The question is on the motion about Lou Watkins, his partner, his nomic challenges for all Oklahomans offered by the gentleman from Indiana only real political consultant and, and all people in rural America. He (Mr. ELLSWORTH) that the House sus- quite frankly, now a regent at Okla- came from a family that had tremen- pend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. homa State University, one of the real- dous challenges. But he and his mother 1713. ly fine public figures and one of the and his brother overcame those. He put The question was taken; and (two- best classroom teachers I ever saw in himself through university at Okla- thirds being in the affirmative) the my life. As a college political science homa State. He was southeast district rules were suspended and the bill was professor, I used to occasionally go and FFA vice president. He was State presi- passed. deal with her students. And incredibly dent of what was then the Future A motion to reconsider was laid on fair. Together, they have done so much Farmers of America. He made himself the table.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 04:20 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H16SE9.REC H16SE9 mmaher on DSK69SOYB1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE H9594 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2009 GENERAL LEAVE scholarship to $5,550 in 2010, and by 2019 Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. increase it to $6,900. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous con- It also provides low-income and mid- seconds. Mr. HINOJOSA. This legislation is sent that all Members may have 5 leg- dle class families with reliable, afford- fiscally responsible and helps reduce islative days in which to revise and ex- able, high-quality direct Federal stu- the deficit. It complies with pay-as- tend their remarks and insert extra- dent loans, and simplifies the applica- you-go and directs $8 billion in savings neous material on H.R. 3221. tion process for financial aid. back to the U.S. Treasury to help pay The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there H.R. 3221 strengthens our Nation’s down the deficit. objection to the request of the gen- minority-serving institutions, MSIs, particularly in the STEM areas so stu- Our competitiveness and innovation tleman from California? in the world depends on our ability to There was no objection. dents can stay in school, graduate and succeed in our global economy. It does invest in human capital and train a f this by investing $2.55 billion in our workforce for the 21st century. I urge my colleagues to support this historic STUDENT AID AND FISCAL Nation’s minority-serving institutions investment in higher education. RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 2009 over a 10-year period. We estimate that this funding will reach at least 500 in- Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Madam The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- stitutions of higher learning. These in- Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3221, ant to House Resolution 746 and rule vestments will expand educational op- and yield myself such time as I may XVIII, the Chair declares the House in portunities in the STEM fields and sup- consume. Government takeover. We have seen the Committee of the Whole House on port students in staying in school and and heard a lot of those two words late- the State of the Union for the consider- graduating at our Nation’s Historically ly—in the credit markets, the banking ation of the bill, H.R. 3221. Black Colleges and Universities; His- sector, the automotive industry, and panic-serving institutions; tribally b 1626 even the building of schools. Then controlled colleges and universities; IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE there’s health care—an industry that predominantly black institutions; and assumes one-sixth of America’s gross Accordingly, the House resolved Asian American and Native Pacific Is- itself into the Committee of the Whole domestic product. We’re not talking lander-serving institutions. about health care today, but perhaps House on the State of the Union for the These investments will create a new consideration of the bill (H.R. 3221) to we should be. generation of minority workers in The vote we will take on student amend the Higher Education Act of STEM fields, professionals that our 1965, and for other purposes, with Ms. lending is a culmination of a plan set country desperately needs to remain in motion more than a decade and a JACKSON-LEE of Texas in the chair. competitive in our world. The Clerk read the title of the bill. half ago—and one that bears an eerily The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the b 1630 strong resemblance to the health care bill is considered read the first time. For decades, MSIs have provided edu- debate that rages on today. In 1993, Congress created a so-called The gentleman from California (Mr. cational opportunities for tens of thou- government option for college loans. GEORGE MILLER) and the gentleman sands of minority, low-income, and The idea of this Direct Loan Program from Minnesota (Mr. KLINE) each will first-generation college students due to was to introduce competition and hold control 30 minutes. their accessibility, affordability, and down costs. Sound familiar? Just 16 The Chair recognizes the gentleman close proximity to the communities years later, we’re about to vote on a from California. they serve. If we hope to reach Presi- plan that would completely and perma- Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. dent Obama’s goals, we must make nently eliminate the private sector’s Madam Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the sure that more minority students are role in originating and raising capital gentleman from Texas (Mr. HINOJOSA), completing advanced college degrees. for Federal student loans. In its place the Chair of the Subcommittee on This bill invests $10 billion in our Na- will be a one-size-fits-all Federal loan Higher Education. tion’s community colleges to support model that requires the U.S. Treasury Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Chair, as President Obama’s American Gradua- to directly lend tens of billions of dol- chairman of the Subcommittee on tion Initiative and expands educational lars each year—tens of billions of dol- Higher Education, Lifelong Learning opportunities to millions of students lars we don’t have, and will be forced and Competitiveness, I rise in support who attend our Nation’s community to borrow. of H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal colleges. So why is Congress intervening to de- Responsibility Act. These institutions serve young peo- clare one program the winner? If it’s I congratulate Chairman GEORGE ple who are just beginning their ca- truly about competition, the best pro- MILLER for his great leadership in reers but need flexible schedules to gram ought to win in the marketplace. bringing this historic legislation to the work to pay their tuition and living ex- In fact, one program has won—the pub- House floor. I also want to thank my penses. They serve displaced workers lic-private partnership of the Federal colleagues from the Education and who must upgrade their skills to pur- Family Education Loan Program, Labor Committee on both sides of the sue a new career and enter high-growth which is the choice of three-quarters of aisle for supporting the largest invest- sectors of our economy. colleges and universities today. ment ever in higher education. They serve older students and adult By eliminating the FFEL program, The bill embraces President Obama’s learners who seek specialized training we will lose the choice, the competi- educational priorities by helping us to and are attending their local commu- tion, and innovation of the private sec- reach the goal of producing the most nity college for the very first time. tor. That includes everything from college graduates in the world by 2020 They serve veterans who are pursuing technological innovations to loan dis- and makes our workforce strong and postsecondary education after having counts and borrower services. We will competitive. This bill will provide served in the military. also lose jobs—an estimated 30,000 or much-needed relief to families who are This bill includes $8 billion in invest- more in congressional districts from struggling to pay tuition, as well as ments in early childhood education to coast to coast. students and workers who seek to ac- increase access to high-quality early And what are we getting in return? cess high-skilled and family-sustaining education programs. And we know that My colleagues on the other side of the jobs. children who have an early start by the aisle tout this legislation as being fis- The legislation will increase afford- time they enter kindergarten are more cally responsible. Respectfully, I beg to ability, accessibility, and college com- likely to go to college and succeed. differ. pletion rates, particularly for first-gen- There is proof that early reading and The bill is awash with new entitle- eration college, low-income, minority, writing, from cradle to 5 years of age, ment programs, including a new early and middle class students. equals success in school. childhood program to develop and fund H.R. 3221 invests $40 billion to in- The CHAIR. The time of the gen- programs at the State level; a new pro- crease the maximum annual Pell Grant tleman has expired. gram to build and renovate schools;

VerDate Nov 24 2008 04:20 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H16SE9.REC H16SE9 mmaher on DSK69SOYB1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE