The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) praises both Congress for passing H.R. 3221, the “Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008,” and the President for signing it into law. NAMB believes this bill will provide necessary reforms to strengthen the housing finance system while assisting at-risk homeowners through the FHA program.

In addition, H.R. 3221 establishes a nationwide loan originator licensing and registration system that will set minimum standards for loan originator licensing. This section will help provide effective consumer safeguards by requiring background investigations, testing, and continuing education for all originators. Since 2002, NAMB has called for the licensure and registration of all mortgage originators. This section of the bill will help protect consumer’s financial information and rid all mortgage origination channels - banks, lenders, credit unions and mortgage brokers - of bad actors.

The Campaign for Youth Justice writes in strong opposition to the Kyl amendment to S. 3155, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (JJDPA) of 2008, and urges the Senate Judiciary Committee to do the same. The Kyl amendment directly contradicts the goals and purposes of the JJDPA.

Current federal transfer law provides that, except in one narrow circumstance, a judge must make a determination that it is “in the interest of justice” for a youth to be charged as an adult in federal court. The Kyl amendment would take the decision of whether a youth should be prosecuted as an adult for an enumerated list of crimes away from neutral federal judges, instead placing the decision with prosecutors, affecting a vast group of youth.

We strongly oppose the Kyl amendment because it: Read the rest of this entry »

It is true, the Emperor of Earmarks, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has been indicted on 7 counts of making false statements in his Senate financial disclosure forms. While the purported failure to report the gifts does not directly involve earmarking, the allegations are related to the abuse of a member of Congress’s position in order to do favors for a donor. Whether it is an earmark or a contract, it all stems from providing a benefit paid for by taxpayers in exchange for some form of support.

Since 1991 Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has been exposing pork barrel spending by Members of Congress. Sen. Stevens soon became a poster child for pork. Since 1995, CAGW has documented 1,452 projects worth more than $3.4 billion in pork to Alaska courtesy of the newly indicted. He endeared himself even more to CAGW when he said of us in 1999, “All they are is a bunch of psychopaths.”

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NASA’s done a good job educating America on their accomplishments over the past 50 years. My hope is that this milestone will energize America and our children in gaining more of an interest in the sciences.

We need to make sure we have a clear focus for NASA. We have limited resources. [NASA has] paid dividends in the past, but where are we going with the space program? I think we had a clear focus when we wanted to go to the moon. There was a clear, set goal which NASA met. The next step was to build a space station, and to see how men could perform and relate to staying in space for long periods of time. Moving forward, I think what needs to be very clear in the next phase of NASA is where we are going and what our long term objective is.

It was a privilege to hear from the four distinguished speakers today, each of whom has made a great contribution to space exploration and to improving life here on earth.  I believe that a renewed commitment to NASA is in order, and the speakers raised some very important points that the Committee will have to discuss–and find the money to address within a very tight budget, given the very large needs we have here at home.

The health of the automotive industry is essential for our nation and particularly for my district which is home to the Ford plant in Avon Lake. This industry has the potential to help turn our economy around and it is critical that any recovery package include funding for the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program.

The initiative will provide low-interest credit to U.S. automakers and parts suppliers, allowing them to usher in the next generation of fuel efficient vehicles. Not only will this promote job growth, but it will help clean up our environment while reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

That is why I joined with Reps. Sander Levin (D-MI) and Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) to lead a coalition of more than 70 Members of Congress in urging House Leadership to fully fund the program. This funding will help bring renewed vitality to the automotive sector, while helping to ensure America is at the forefront of clean car technology.

Stephen Johnson’s record as Administrator of EPA reveals a dangerous pattern of disregard for the public health and safety of the American people.

From the start, there were warning signs.

Even before his Senate confirmation, Mr. Johnson supported a program to spray pesticides around infants and young children and then study the toxic effects.  This program was called CHEERS, but it was nothing to cheer about.  Revelations about this controversial program resulted in its cancellation. However, Stephen Johnson’s strong support for this program led me to oppose his nomination.

Since then, the EPA has issued one decision after another that leaves communities, families, and children in harm’s way.

Here are just a few of many, many examples.
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Yesterday, I introduced the Volunteer Health Care Program Act of 2008, a bill that will remove a legal barrier preventing physicians and health care professionals from volunteering their services to individuals who cannot afford or cannot access basic medical care.

There is an overwhelming need for volunteer medical care to help the poor in the United States, but medical liability concerns discourage doctors from providing their services. This bill will protect doctors who want to give back to their communities, and will help provide access for the patients who need their care. Read the rest of this entry »

The National Association of Realtors and its 1.2 million members commend President George W. Bush for his quick action in signing the housing stimulus bill today. This legislation will go a long way to help stabilize the housing market and make the dream of homeownership more attainable for many Americans. In addition, more families will be able to refinance into safer, more affordable mortgages, in many cases helping those families avoid a devastating foreclosure.

Congress presented the president with a comprehensive bipartisan bill that includes needed reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with improved oversight, FHA modernization, permanent increases in conforming and FHA loan limits, and a temporary tax credit for home buyers. These are all designed to help the housing and mortgage industries and boost the U.S. economy. We believe these goals are achievable and will benefit current and future homeowners alike.

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For too long Washington has been deadlocked on issues of critical importance. So it came as a pleasant surprise when Congress and the Administration approved landmark housing legislation that helps thousands of Americans stay in their homes, provides cities with the funding they need to stop the downward spiral of home vacancies and neighborhood deterioration, and stabilizes the home financing system.

Until the middle of last week it was unclear whether partisan differences could be overcome in order to address the growing number of housing foreclosures, declining economic markets and concern over the stability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Legislation that had been introduced and debated for months seemed doomed to the black hole of partisan bickering. Read the rest of this entry »