E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 153 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007 No. 98 House of Representatives The House met at 12:30 p.m. and was mismanagement, corruption, and a per- In this program, people receive an called to order by the Speaker pro tem- petual dependence upon foreign aid and overnight transfer from an American pore (Ms. HIRONO). remittances. Mexico must make tough bank account to a Mexican one. The f decisions and get its economy in shape. two central banks act as middlemen, Until then, Madam Speaker, we will taking a cut of about 67 cents no mat- DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO continue to face massive immigration ter what the size of the transaction. TEMPORE from the south. According to Elizabeth McQuerry of The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- While we are painfully aware of the the Federal Reserve, banks then typi- fore the House the following commu- problems illegal immigration is caus- cally charge $2.50 to $5 to transfer ing our society, consider what it is nication from the Speaker: about $350. In total, this new program doing to Mexico in the long run. The WASHINGTON, DC, cuts the costs of remittances by at June 18, 2007. massive immigration is draining many least half. In America, 200 banks are I hereby appoint the Honorable MAZIE K. villages across Mexico of their impor- now signed up for this service com- HIRONO to act as Speaker pro tempore on tant labor pool. Families are separated pared with just six that signed up when this day. while the husbands and fathers choose it was initiated in 2004. So far, the pro- NANCY PELOSI, to cross our borders to get better lives gram is just beginning, handling about Speaker of the House of Representatives. for themselves and for their families. 27,000 transactions a month. However, f Mexico is slow in reforming their eco- another point of serious concern is that nomic policies, in part perhaps because MORNING-HOUR DEBATE about 26,000 of which are Social Secu- of the influx of money from the remit- rity payments made by the American tances from the United States that en- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- government to beneficiaries in Mexico. ant to the order of the House of Janu- ables them to continue their unhealthy One kink in the program was that ary 4, 2007, the Chair will now recog- policies. most of Mexico’s poor, who are often Let me explain. The money sent in nize Members from lists submitted by the intended recipients of the funds, do the form of remittances amounted to the majority and minority leaders for not have bank accounts to pay them about $23 billion in 2006, according to morning-hour debate. The Chair will into. So to ensure that these funds can alternate recognition between the par- the Bank of Mexico, the country’s cen- tral bank. That amount is up almost still get to Mexico, they developed an- ties, with each party limited to not to other program, run by Bansefi, a Mexi- exceed 30 minutes, and each Member, sevenfold in a dozen years. As that number has grown, the fee for remit- can government bank, that allows peo- except the majority leader, the minor- ple in America to open bank accounts ity leader, or the minority whip, lim- ting money has dropped from an aver- age of about 9.2 percent in 1999 to just for their relatives in Mexico. Their rel- ited to not to exceed 5 minutes. atives can then use these accounts to The Chair recognizes the gentleman about 3 percent this year, according to Bancomer, a Mexican bank. withdraw the money deposited through from Florida (Mr. STEARNS) for 5 min- Sending money back to Mexico has the remittance program. utes. become cheaper partly because the Madam Speaker, another question is, f amounts have become bigger. It was do the legal and illegal immigrants about $290 on average 8 years ago, and themselves have accounts to send REGRETTABLE REMITTANCES now is up to over $350. More impor- money from? Statistics indicate as Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, the tantly, according to the Bank of Mex- many as 70 percent do, according to a immigration problem has been a topic ico, over 90 percent of remittances are recent report by the Bank of Mexico. of contentious debate for years now, now sent by electronic wire transfer This is largely because hundreds of with few results. The influx, both legal compared with only 50 percent in 1995. American banks, eager for deposits, and illegal, of immigrants from Mexico In rural poor communities in Mexico, will happily open accounts for people to North America numbers at a min- even the 3 percent transaction fee is a carrying only a Mexican consular iden- imum about 500,000 people a year. It is huge chunk cut out of a remittance tity card, rather than requiring official clear that the majority of these immi- check. That is why the Bank of Mexico United States Government identifica- grants are coming to our country for and America’s Federal Reserve are run- tion. This allows people without offi- the better wages to provide for their ning a program called Directo a Mex- cially sanctioned rights to be in this families. And this is the heart of the ico, or FedACH International Mexico country to send money out of it. As a problem. The Mexican economy is con- Service, to cut the cost further for result, the Mexican bank has seen tinually stunted in its growth by fiscal these folks. rapid growth, with 3.4 million accounts 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. H6581 . VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:46 Jun 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18JN7.000 H18JNPT1 hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMHOUSE H6582 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 18, 2007 now open, compared to just 850,000 in declares the House in recess until 2 Mr. MORAN, Kansas the year 2001. p.m. today. If this trend continues, Madam Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 38 f Speaker, it will enable the Mexican minutes p.m.), the House stood in re- government to continue to operate as cess until 2 p.m. IT’S STILL A BAD DEAL it is today. Their economy will con- f (Mr. POE asked and was given per- tinue to stagnate, immigration will mission to address the House for 1 continue to bleed across our border, b 1400 minute.) and the Mexican people will be caught AFTER RECESS Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the ‘‘Grand in a downward spiral for generations to come. The recess having expired, the House Bargain’’ is what people are calling the Obviously another part of any immi- was called to order by the Speaker pro new inclusive, comprehensive give- gration reform is making sure that tempore (Mr. CARDOZA) at 2 p.m. America-away immigration bill. Since it got nowhere in the Senate last week, U.S. banks only open accounts for per- f sons who have legally sanctioned Senators have returned to the back rights to be in this country and not il- PRAYER room and behind closed doors to come legal aliens. The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. up with a ‘‘Greater Grand Bargain’’ f Coughlin, offered the following prayer: than before. In other words, throw in Great Creator and Ruler of the uni- something for the left, more family re- HONORING LIEUTENANT GENERAL verse, every creature of Yours quickens unification for illegals, and something KEVIN J. SULLIVAN to a new day. Each in proper order for the right, more border security The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- gives You glory simply by its being. promises, and this all done in an effort ant to the order of the House of Janu- Every plant, animal and element lives to get a deal, any deal, passed quickly. ary 4, 2007, the gentleman from Utah according to its own unique pattern of Of course, the underlying principle of (Mr. BISHOP) is recognized during life as beautiful, irregular or routine as this deal is if you are here illegally, morning-hour debate for 5 minutes. that may be. you’re going to get to stay. Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speak- Only we, as Your people, with minds Now, smart people on the left and the er, it is with great pleasure that I and hearts can spontaneously and con- right say this is not amnesty. Of course stand to honor Lieutenant General sciously give You praise and thanks. they say it’s not amnesty because Kevin J. Sullivan upon his promotion Outside our moments of prayer, we these smart people know Americans to Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for are overwhelmingly opposed to am- Installations and Logistics. become focused on primal responsibil- ities. In doing so, Lord, we continue to nesty. So they call it a reform. Kevin Sullivan was born in Bridge- Mr. Speaker, if 12 to 20 million people port, Connecticut, and grew up in an give You glory by simply performing our work with dedication and whole- are on our land illegally, and shall I Air Force family. He married the speak politically incorrect and call it former June Young, also from Con- hearted effort, by following Your holy trespassing, and if they pay some kick- necticut.