House Proceeding 03-18-09 on Mar 18th, 2009 :: 0:45:25 to 1:05:25
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0:44:30 to 0:45:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: George Miller

0:45:13 to 0:45:27( Edit History Discussion )

George Miller: mr. cassidy: i thank the chair e chair: the gentleman from california. mr. miller: i yield to the gentlewoman from pennsylvania, mrs. dahlkemper, 1/2 minutes. the

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recognized for 1/2 minutes. mrs. dahlkemper spb service has always been -- mrs. dahlkemper: service has always been an american value. i believe that a commitment to service is one of the defining characteristics of being an american. service has played an important role in my family. i'm proud of my son nathan, who

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spent his time this spring volunteering in a homeless shelt for the new york city. i love our family tradition of adopting a family at the holiday season. i've spent my life doing community service, founding and operating the lake erie ar bo retuand serving on the board of the erie community foundation. it is because of this background in service that i

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rise today in strong support of the give act thi will provide hundreds of thousands of americans the opportunity to invest through service in our nation's recovery. it will not have a bigger impact anywhere than in pennsylvania's third district. our county, one county in my nearly 250 different nonprofit

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organizations that depend on volunteers to support their work, work that improves the quality of life for the region. mr. speaker, the economic recession has been especially difficult to my constituents. with lines at our food banks and shelters literally full, these groups take care of tens of thousands of adults and children w live in poverty. last year, the erie county

0:46:54 to 0:47:14( Edit History Discussion )

holess shelter served 1,500 homeless individuals 200 of them children. there's no better time to support community service and volunteerism to help our country get economic crisis and prepare for the future. i urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the give act. the chair: the gentleman from pennsylvania.

0:47:15 to 0:47:35( Edit History Discussion )

mr. platts: i continue to reserve my time. the chair: the gentleman from california. mr. miller: i recognize the gentleman from ohio, mr. driehaus. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for 1 1/2 minutes. mr. driehau floor to give my support to this important piece of legislation. mr. speaker, i am one of four members of this house who is a former peace corps volunteer.

0:47:36 to 0:47:56( Edit History Discussion )

Steve Driehaus: i had the privilege of serving this country in the united states peace corps for almost 1/2 years in west africa. i can speak on behalf of the return volunteers in this body and the return volunteers across this country as to the impoance of service. both at home and abroad. this is an important step, an important step in the right

0:47:45 to 0:48:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Steve Driehaus

0:47:57 to 0:48:17( Edit History Discussion )

Steve Driehaus: direction. as we ask so many sons and daughters of this country to serve in our military and iraq and afghanistan, critically important we open up doors of opportunity for young men and older men and women and young men and women across this country to also serve right here at home.

0:48:18 to 0:48:38( Edit History Discussion )

Steve Driehaus: se service is critly important to show that they believe in this country, to show they believe in our community and they are able to give back. this is an important step in the right direction. i've had the privileged in cincinnati in working with the public allies program which is an americorps program which has

0:48:39 to 0:48:50( Edit History Discussion )

Steve Driehaus: worked with nonprofit organizations across the region. this expands that opportuny for so many more people. so i applaud the president for his efforts. i applaud the first lady for shining the light on service in

0:48:51 to 0:49:12( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: the united thank the chairman and the committee for their tremendous work and i would balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman yields the gentleman from pennsylvania. mr. platts: thank you, mr. chairman. i continue to reserve. the chair: the gentleman reserves his time.

0:48:55 to 0:56:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Steny H. Hoyer

0:49:13 to 0:49:33( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: mr. miller: i now yield one minute to the gentleman from maryland, mr. hoyer. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. hoyer: i thank the chairman for yielding. i thank mr. platts for his leadership on this bill. and i thank buck ranking republican who leads this bill for his party. and i say this is a perfect example of when we can work in

0:49:34 to 0:49:56( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: a bipartisan way we do work in a bipartisan way. what has agered so many people about this recession is the perception that its causes are not simply material, not simply financial.

0:49:57 to 0:50:18( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: but in many ways moral. ask most americans what got it to this point and i guess the first words they'll reach for will be credit default swaps or troubled assets or overleveraging. they'll turn to older ideas --

0:50:19 to 0:50:39( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: greed, recklessness, self-dealing, profi and some, they will take there is a moraleficiency. it follows that our economy and ou if it only encompasses renewed

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Steny H. Hoyer: balance sheets or consumer demand. what is also required is a renewed public spirit. government cannot create that spirit. we'd be fools to think it could. but it can recognize it, applaud it, give avenues for its manifestation.

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Steny H. Hoyer: we can coordinate it and give it productive outlets. that is exactly what this bill does. and i want to congratulate the president of the united states, barack obama, for his leadership, and michelle obama, for working so avidly on behalf

0:51:22 to 0:51:42( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: of public service and a renewed spirit of giving to our country. our president has not just talked about that. he has lived a life of service. i said with chairman miller at a press -- i sat with chairman miller at a press conference just a few hours ago and said

0:51:43 to 0:52:04( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: that barack obama graduated from one of the best law schools in this country, editor of the law review, one of the keenest minds in his class, indeed in the country. could have made literally millions of dollars practicing law representing the most powerful interests of our country. he chose not to do that.

0:52:05 to 0:52:25( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: he went to chicago, his hometown, and he spent his time reaching out to those who need help, those who didn't have power, those who did not have economic might to assist them in making their lives better and their communities better.

0:52:26 to 0:52:46( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: that is what this bill does. so the principles spokesperson for this bill, president obama, has just lived it, not just talked it. we're blessed with a young generation remarkably committed to public service, and this bill gives them the outlets and the opportunities to contribute to our recovery. and, mr. speaker, i would also

0:52:47 to 0:53:08( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: say there are a whole lot of seniors who have retired from thr careerbut don't want to retire from life, don't want to retire from their communities, don't want to retire from continuing to give service to their fellow men and women. this bill strengthens the bond between service and education by helping volunteers pay for

0:53:09 to 0:53:29( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: college, focuses volunteer efforts on our most pressing needs, including rebuilding our infrastructure and retooling our economy for clean energy and expands volunteers of all ages, from middle schoolers to baby boomers. this bill represents the greatest expansion in national service since the days of john

0:53:30 to 0:53:52( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: f. kennedy. he asked us to n ask what the country could do for us but what we could do for our country. in fact, that's what our faiths asks us as well. for they say all of our faiths have a central theme, love god

0:53:53 to 0:54:13( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: and love god's children as well. and we love god's children by giving them a handup and helping to serve with them in making their lives better. the new ranks of volunteers will be making tangible contributions that benefit all of us, according to house testimony from "time"

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Steny H. Hoyer: magazine's managing editor, and i quote, volunteered in their communities in 2007 giving more than eight billion hours, that's billion, eight bill billion hours of community service.

0:54:36 to 0:54:59( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: worth more than $158 billion to america's communities. in mcommunity we have volunteer fire companies in the southern part of my district. the cost of providing fire seice in st. mary's and calvert would be higher if it were not literally for the tens of thousands of hours for citizens that care about their

0:55:00 to 0:55:20( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: communities and care about us keeping safe when fire occurs. the cost of the americorps program has concluded that every $1 in investment, every $1 that we invest in americorps results in $1.50 to $3.90 of direct mearable benefits to the community. wouldn't it be wonderful if all of our businesses had been

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Steny H. Hoyer: successful, we wouldn't be in the pickle we're in. those are the material wards of this bill. but, mr. speaker, i think we all know that the rewards we can't measure are far greater. they are the virtues of community and self-sacrifice, of responsibility and team

0:55:42 to 0:56:02( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: work, of a better -- teamwork, of a better country, a better community. john lewis talks about the beloved community. this bill seeks to serve the beloved community. i urge its adoption. i thank mr. miller for his lead i thank the speaker for her pressing us to consider this early.

0:56:03 to 0:56:20( Edit History Discussion )

Steny H. Hoyer: i thank mr. platts and mr. mckeon for their leadership and work on this bill as well. i yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from pennsylvania. mr. platts: thank you, mr. speaker. i continue to reserve my time. the chair: the gentleman reserves his time.

0:56:21 to 0:56:41( Edit History Discussion )

the gentleman from california. mr. miller: mr. speaker, i yield myself one minute. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. miller: mr. speaker, questions have been raised about the section of 105 given the chief executive officer giving authority to the states. in particular, strong concerns have been raised that the corporation officials would use this authority to eliminate the state offices of the corporation that would

0:56:42 to 0:57:02( Edit History Discussion )

adversity impact the office of vista and the corps. they say he will try to improve the operations of all corps programs by using a consultive process that includes all of the stake holders in the programs. they need to have an operational level that is at least equal to the current ones. with that i yield 1 1/2 minutes to the gentleman from texas, mr. cuellar.

0:57:03 to 0:57:24( Edit History Discussion )

Henry Cuellar: the chair: the gentleman is recognized for 1 1/2 minutes. mr. cuellar: i thank you for the leadership, mr. miller, for the work you've done on this bill. i rise to support the principles, the manager's office -- amendment that i've supported. this goes a long way to support the poor communities in

0:57:05 to 0:59:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Henry Cuellar

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Henry Cuellar: different parts of the nation, especially around the southern border. i'm thinking about adding the word of colonialism -- distressed areas under this bill that will help national volunteer and services. they're found in texas, new mexico, arizona and california, along the border, and as you

0:57:47 to 0:58:08( Edit History Discussion )

Henry Cuellar: know, this clonians are areas that have no water, no sewage or paving. it's almost third world conditions, mr. speaker, and members of congress, where we have to do something to help this people. just in my area, for example, it's estimated in the state of texas that we got over 400,000 texans that live along the

0:58:09 to 0:58:30( Edit History Discussion )

Henry Cuellar: borders in colonias. this is why the manager's amendment, which includes my language, gives critical financial assistance to facilitate the operation and national programs that are working to solve many of its problems in colonias. we're helping them to have the basic living conditions that all americans deserve.

0:58:31 to 0:58:51( Edit History Discussion )

Henry Cuellar: mr. chairman, i want to thank you for allowing this language to be added dealing with colonias. i urge all of my colleagues to vote yes. again, thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield back the remaind of the time. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentlemafrom pennsylvania. mr. platts: thank you, mr. chairman. continuing to reserve.

0:58:52 to 0:59:05( Edit History Discussion )

Henry Cuellar: the chair: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman mr. andrews: how much time do we have left on debate? the chair: 12 minutes. mr. andrews: i ask unanimous consent that i can assume the yielding of time from the chairman of the committee.

0:59:06 to 0:59:26( Edit History Discussion )

the chair: the gentlem will be recognized. mr. andrews: mr. chairman, i yield myself three minutes. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. mr. andrews: mr. chairman, this bill answers the question, whose skills do america need? every day in our districts and in our travels we see heart-rending amples of the

0:59:27 to 0:59:47( Edit History Discussion )

Robert E. Andrews: needs of our country. there are men and women who are struggling to find a job who cannot read and write. they need a literacy coach. there are elderly people who don't see anyone come visit with them at all during the course of a week who may be sick or hungry or certainly are very lonely.

0:59:40 to 1:02:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Robert E. Andrews

0:59:48 to 1:00:10( Edit History Discussion )

Robert E. Andrews: they need geriatric care workers to come in, friends to come in. there are children who today after school will face a choice between the ravages of drugs and alcohol, the irresponsibility of bad personal behavior, the violence of gang warfare and really nothing else. they need an after-school program, they need a long and

1:00:11 to 1:00:34( Edit History Discussion )

Robert E. Andrews: supportive family or religious institution to help them out. everywhere we look in this country there are examples of great unmet needs. now, many of these needs require money to meet. and this president has proposed a budget and this congress just enacted and the president signed a stimulus bill that provides great new resources

1:00:35 to 1:00:56( Edit History Discussion )

Robert E. Andrews: but money will never be enough because in addition to financial resources we also need the spirit and enthusiasm and integrity of our people. the answer to the question, whose skills do america needs is america needs everyone's skills, everyone's skills to move forward as

1:00:57 to 1:01:17( Edit History Discussion )

Robert E. Andrews: this legislation supported by both the republican and democratic parties, supported by the president, we're very hopeful supported by the other body in short order, will provide powerful new ways for people to offer those skills that america needs. it will be open to very young americans who want to gain the experience of helping their

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Robert E. Andrews: neighbors while helping to finance their own education. it will be open to vastly experienced americans who've achieved success in the classrooor the lab or the military base who now want to use the lessons of that success to help their friends and neighbors.

1:01:39 to 1:01:59( Edit History Discussion )

Robert E. Andrews: this is a bill that unlocks the dooror opportunity, not just for those of our neighbors who are in need of these services but also for those of us who will provide those services. there is very little in life that is more fulfilling than doing a job well whose benefits reach beyond your own personal interests and values.

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Robert E. Andrews: the power of this bill, which is so well put together, is not at scholarship programs, although they're very needed. it's not its broad reach among the very -- american people, although it's desired.

1:02:21 to 1:02:40( Edit History Discussion )

Robert E. Andrews: the power of this bill is that for people to do right by their communities and right by themselves. i urge a yes vote. the chair: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from pennsylvania. mr. platts: thank you, mr. chairman. i'll reserve the balance of my time.

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i don't know if the other side has other speakers. mr. andrews: i believe, mr. speaker, we have one more speaker on our side, the gentleman from mississippi, mr. taylor, who's been a leader in the reconstruction efforts after the devastation in the gulf, and i'm pleased to yield him one minute. mr. platts: i'll reserve. the chair: the gentleman from new jersey. mr. taylor: i want to thank the gentleman.

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the chair: the gentleman from mississippi is recognized for one minute. mr. taylor: thank you, mr. speaker. there's nothing that i can say that can top the words of the gentleman from new jersey. i do want to take this opportunity to say what a magnificent job that the americorps volunteers did after katrina. they are still there 3 1/2 years later doing wonderfu things for folks who need some help.

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Todd Russell Platts: i want to take this opportunity to hardly endorse this program. thank you very much. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from pennsylvania. mr. platts: i'm ready to delose if the gentleman is. mr. andrews: we are. mr. platts: i yield myself such time as i may consume.

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Speech By: Todd Russell Platts

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Todd Russell Platts: the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. plts: i urge a yes vote in favor of the give act. i want to recognize chairman miller and ranking member mckeon and the staff on both sides for a tireless effort and many, many hours working together to bring this bill to fruition. the last speaker's comments

1:04:06 to 1:04:27( Edit History Discussion )

Todd Russell Platts: about the work of americorps workers in the gulf region, it's my understanding that over the last three years, more than four million hours of services have been providing through service programs, one example of how e can be in assisting those in need. i urge a yes vote and yield back the balance of my time.

1:04:28 to 1:04:48( Edit History Discussion )

Todd Russell Platts: the chair: the gentleman from new jersey. mr. andrews: on behalf of urge a yes vote from all members and we proudly support this legislation and yield back the balance of our time. the chair: the gentleman yields his time. all time for gener debate has expired. pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered

1:04:49 to 1:04:51( Edit History Discussion )

Todd Russell Platts: as an original bill for the

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purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule and shall be considered read. no amendment to the committee amendment is in in orderer except those printed in h report 111-39. each amendment may be offered only in the order printed in the report. by a member designated by the

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report, shall be considered read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and opponent of the amendment. shall be subject to amendment and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. it is now in order to consider