E1544 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 14, 2012 

Under current law, independent claims adjusters face a hodgepodge of inconsistent 

state regulations that only serve to delay the 

prompt adjustment of claims for natural disasters, car accident victims, and other tragedies 

in life. The CLAIM Act would provide specific 

relief during a natural disaster. In areas designated by the President of the United States 

as a ‘‘Disaster Area,’’ independent claims adjusters who meet certain criteria would be eligible to adjust claims for losses notwithstanding the state the adjuster is licensed. 

Every independent claims adjuster must 

take a license examination in each state in 

which they work. This requires adjusters to 

take time off from their job and travel to each 

state in which they seek a license. This is a 

costly burden on the claims adjusters, the 

companies that employ them, and ultimately, 

the consumer. Sadly, it is the consumer who 

currently pays for these costs in higher premiums. 

Today, it is my pleasure to introduce a bill 

that would end this costly burden. The CLAIM 

Act would lead to a process that would provide independent claims adjusters licensing 

reciprocity so their home-state license is valid 

in any other state. To be clear the CLAIM Act 

does not create a new federal law and does 

not ‘‘federalize’’ the insurance industry. The 

CLAIM Act respects states’ rights to continue 

to regulate their individual insurance industries. Rather, the CLAIM Act would urge the 

National Association of Insurance Commissioners to adopt a model licensing standard 

for state regulation for independent claims adjusters that each individual State would adopt. 

The CLAIM Act would make sure that each 

state keeps its independence to adopt rules as 

they see fit and recognizes that State insurance regulators are best situated to address 

insurance licensing standards. 

The goal of this bill is to streamline the 

claims adjustment process so that individual 

claims adjusters can respond in the fastest 

possible and most cost-effective manner possible. I look forward to further discussing the 

issues of reciprocity and the CLAIM Act as we 

move forward in the Committee process. 

f 

CONGRATULATING KAYLA 

HARRISON AND HOLLEY MANGOLD 

HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 14, 2012 

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want 

to take this opportunity to congratulate two 

women from southwest Ohio who represented 

the United States in competition at the Games 

of the XXXth Olympiad this summer in London, England. 

Kayla Harrison, a native of Middletown, 

Ohio, entered the Olympic Games ranked 

number one in the United States and number 

four in the world. Kayla competed in the 172- 

pound women’s division defeating four competitors along the way to becoming the first 

United States judo athlete to win Olympic 

Gold. Kayla’s success serves as a role model 

for thousands of young girls to pursue their 

dreams and reach their goals. 

Holley Mangold, a native of Dayton, Ohio, a 

former junior national champion, competed in 

the 165-pound plus division and was one of 

two American women weightlifters to qualify 

for the London Olympic Games. Holley began 

competitive weight lifting in 2008 and competed in two events at the London Games. Although a wrist injury kept Holley from winning 

an Olympic medal, her competiveness and determination has won the hearts of sports fans 

throughout our community, our State and our 

Nation. 

Mr. Speaker, through hard work, discipline 

and determination, these young women 

trained vigorously for the opportunity to compete against the world’s finest athletes. They 

represented our country with grace and 

sportsmanship, and have made all of us from 

Dayton and Ohio proud. 

f 

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF EPIC 

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER FLOOD 

HON. LOU BARLETTA OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 14, 2012 

Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the one-year anniversary of the devastation communities in my district faced when 

Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee 

brought an epic 500-year flood to the Susquehanna River. 

In September 2011, when the creeks and 

rivers first started rising, I immediately returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania to help 

my constituents. I witnessed firsthand the devastation and destruction caused by this historic flooding. Over the past year, I spent time 

surveying the damage to our communities, our 

homes, and our regional economy. I met with 

people who lost everything: their jobs as local 

businesses closed; their homes; and their 

prized possessions and treasured keepsakes, 

which were destroyed and gone forever. I met 

with small business owners who didn’t know if 

they would be able to reopen their doors. I 

met with local officials who didn’t know how 

their towns would afford to repair their streets 

and keep their police officers, firefighters, and 

emergency responders working extra hours. 

Despite all of this devastation, the citizens 

of Pennsylvania’s 11th District rose above 

their own needs, though great, and thought of 

others. I saw neighbors open their homes and 

wallets to care for flood victims. I met volunteers who spent their evenings and weekends 

cleaning up senior citizens’ basements. I witnessed our community’s citizens coming together with hope and determination to repair 

the destruction from the flood. Even with the 

enormous strength of our combined efforts, I 

realized that our Federal Government must 

provide a better response to natural disasters. 

In Washington, I have been working to improve the assistance the Federal Government 

provides natural disaster victims. For the past 

year, I have aimed to lower the Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan interest rates for all Americans who have been the 

unfortunate victims of natural disasters. On 

September 23, 2011, I introduced H.R. 3042, 

the Disaster Loan Fairness Act of 2011. On 

August 2, 2012, I revised my original legislation and introduced H.R. 6296, the Disaster 

Loan Fairness Act of 2012. This measure allows for SBA loans at a discounted marketbased interest rate for homeowners and small 

business owners who were hit by flooding or 

other natural disasters and in which the president has declared a major disaster. Critically, 

the interest rate can never be greater than 4 

percent, which will make a tremendous difference to those seeking to rebuild their 

homes and restart their lives. Most importantly, this bill will restore American lives, save 

American businesses, and protect American 

jobs. 

Mr. Speaker, over the past year, I have 

seen the very best of humanity in Northeastern Pennsylvania in these people who lost 

everything. I commend those citizens who 

have helped their family, friends, neighbors, 

and strangers in this time of need. Rest assured, I will never forget the devastation 

caused by the flooding after Hurricane Irene 

and Tropical Storm Lee, and I will continue to 

support improved federal natural disaster assistance. 

f 

HONORING REV. DR. MYRTLE 

OWENS SMITH 

HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 14, 2012 

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, America was settled by people with a strong belief in God. To 

this day that conviction has carried through 

with churches in all neighborhoods of our 

country forming a bond that holds them and 

us together. 

Here in the Bronx we have one such 

church, the Emmanuel Baptist Church, under 

the inspired pastoring of the Rev. Dr. Myrtle 

Owens Smith who is celebrating her tenth anniversary as Pastor of the church. 

She is the first female black pastor of the 

Emmanuel Baptist Church and in her decade 

of service to her flock she has honored the 

past by renovating the church to keep its historical heritage and while enhancing the future 

by planning the installation of solar panels. 

Rev. Dr. Smith is a community oriented minister who regularly attends Community Board 

meetings, donated a new kitchen for the 

church, maintains excellent relationships with 

local elected officials, accommodates community mission outreach programs such as Soup 

and Sock Ministry and provides food and 

clothing and HIV testing. She also encourages 

a thriving Youth Ministry and, on a broader 

front, was the first female pastor asked by the 

Foreign Mission Board to accompany them to 

Ghana. 

This is the tip of the iceberg regarding Rev. 

Dr. Myrtle Owens Smith and her spiritual and 

corporal contributions to her community. I join 

with her congregants in congratulating her on 

ten wonderful and fruitful years and with them 

wish her many more years pastoring her flock. 

f 

HONORING WALTER MYERS, SR. 

HON. HENRY C. ‘‘HANK’’ JOHNSON, JR. OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 14, 2012 

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I 

submit the following Proclamation. 

Whereas, the birth of Walter Myers, Sr., in 

the state of South Carolina in the 1800’s 


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