H168 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 13, 2009 

We have the opportunity to restore 

America’s proper place in the world 

community as a nation that others see 

as a good and giving and intelligent 

country that shares the power of its 

ideas rather than the idea of its power, 

as President Clinton said, one that 

works in a multinational fashion to 

work with other countries to solve the 

problems around the globe. 

I have great confidence that Secretary of State CLINTON will see to it 

that women’s issues, children’s issues 

and health care issues will be dealt 

with by the United States as a leader 

around the globe and that people will 

see us as a friend and not a foe, as 

someone to be respected and not 

feared. 

Nevertheless, the military is always 

necessary for those who are incapable 

of seeing peace as the ultimate purpose 

in our time on Earth, and we will see 

to it that our military is effectively 

maintained. 

Climate change threatens the very 

Earth we inhabit, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 

under the leadership of Representative 

Chairman JAMES OBERSTAR, will see to 

it that we address issues of importance 

that maintain the Earth as we know it, 

the flora and fauna as God has given 

them to us, and see that future generations aren’t impacted as greatly as 

they would be. 

The past Congresses did not deal with 

global warming. They did not sign the 

Kyoto Accord—the President did not— 

and they leave us with a problem there. 

So we’ve got a problem with the world 

community, a problem with the economy, a problem with the environmental standards that we need to 

adopt. Much to be done. It has all 

begun, but most of it won’t really get 

into full swing until after the inauguration of January 20. 

Madam Speaker, I urge every school 

system and every citizen to watch the 

inauguration of our next President on 

January 20. Allow students to watch 

that inauguration. Hopefully, it will 

instill in them the same spirit about 

government and the same hope that I 

had on January 20, 1961 when I watched 

John Kennedy take the oath of office. 

John Kennedy gave my generation 

the belief that politics could be an honorable profession and that government 

could be a useful tool in seeing our 

country and our world as a better 

place. To a goodly extent, I think we’ve 

lost that hope that the new frontier 

brought some 40-some-odd years ago. 

With the election of Barack Obama, 

hope again exists to the American people’s hearts and minds. I expect his 

oratory to embody the spirit of America—a spirit of working together and a 

spirit of change that is for the betterment of this country and for the world. 

I hope everybody watches. 

Please encourage your children to 

watch and to allow them to be inspired, 

for if they are, we’ll have a generation 

that will participate, that will vote and 

that will see to it that we have a better 

tomorrow. 

Madam Speaker, I am proud to serve 

in this Congress. I am very proud to 

serve with Speaker PELOSI. I am 

blessed to have the opportunity to 

serve with the new frontier of the 21st 

century, Barack Obama. 

Thank you very much. 

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HONORING THE MEMORY OF 

ZACHARY COOK 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

California (Mr. SHERMAN) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. SHERMAN. I ask unanimous 

consent that the Chair consider recognizing the gentleman from Texas first 

and then recognize me. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair will do that as a matter of recognition. 

Mr. SHERMAN. Thank you. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas may proceed for 5 

minutes. 

Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam 

Speaker, today I rise to honor the 

memory of Zachary Cook, a 22-year-old 

Army officer and a 2008 graduate of 

Texas A&M University and its Corps of 

Cadets. Zachary died tragically yesterday in an Army helicopter crash on the 

A&M campus in College Station, Texas, 

in my district during Rudder’s Rangers 

annual winter field training. His loss 

brings a great sadness to his family 

and friends, the extended Texas A&M 

family, the Army, and to all of us deprived of this patriotic citizen who was 

dedicated to serving our great Nation 

in uniform. Zachary dreamed of flying 

Army helicopters and was thrilled to 

have received his recent Army commission. He was revered as a true friend to 

others, someone who truly inspired and 

mentored his friends. 

Madam Speaker, I believe the families and loved ones of our servicemen 

and women are truly the unsung heroes 

and heroines in our Nation’s defense, 

and that is why I want to express my 

regret and respect to the family of Mr. 

Cook. A grateful Nation owes them a 

deep debt of gratitude, and our 

thoughts and prayers are with them 

during this difficult time. I hope they 

take comfort in knowing that the spirit of service demonstrated by their 

loved one will touch and inspire the 

lives of others long after we are all 

gone from this Earth. 

Our thoughts and prayers are also 

with the four Texas National Guard 

members who were seriously injured in 

the crash. We pray for their speedy recovery. 

We humbly recognize that we can 

never repay fully Zachary or his family 

for their loss, but I hope that his family will know our Nation will never forget their sacrifice. 

May God bless the spirit of Zachary 

Cook and keep him lovingly in His 

arms. 

f 

BAILOUT BILL IS BACK 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

California (Mr. SHERMAN) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. SHERMAN. Well, the $700 billion 

bankers’ bailout bill is back. Many of 

my colleagues didn’t enjoy voting on it 

twice last year, but it is back. It is 

back with two votes—one vote this 

week, one vote next week. This week, 

we will vote on Chairman FRANK’s bill 

(H.R. 384) to improve the TARP legislation, the $700 billion bill. I believe that 

Chairman FRANK’s bill is a step in the 

right direction but insufficient. Then 

on Friday, the Senate is expected to 

take up a resolution of disapproval. As 

you remember, the bill we passed last 

year, TARP, says that the executive 

branch gets the last $350 billion as soon 

as they ask for it, or 15 days after they 

ask for it, unless both the House and 

Senate pass a resolution of disapproval, 

and it provides for expedited consideration of such a resolution. 

So next Friday, January 16th, the 

Senate is expected to vote on a resolution of disapproval. Then on the following Wednesday, January 21, we will 

vote on a resolution of disapproval. 

Such a resolution would be effective 

only in the unusual circumstance that 

it passes both Houses of Congress, and 

even then it is subject to a possible 

Presidential veto. Still, this House 

must carry out its responsibilities. 

This week, hopefully the Rules Committee will allow us to consider amendments to strengthen Chairman FRANK’s 

bill. And next week we have to vote on 

releasing the second $350 billion. When 

we vote next week, we will at that 

point have before us just the existing 

statute passed last year, because even 

if Chairman FRANK’s bill passes, even if 

it is made much stronger than it is 

now, it will be languishing in the Senate next week, and we in the House will 

have no idea whether it will ever become law. So when we vote to release 

the second $350 billion, we’re basically 

voting again for the TARP bill, except 

for three differences. 

First, we know a lot more now than 

we knew then. Second, the unprecedented transfer of money and power to 

the administration will be to the new 

administration in which many of us 

have far greater faith. And, finally, we 

will hopefully have before us a letter 

from the incoming administration indicating how they will use the enormous 

power and discretion conveyed by the 

existing TARP statute. 

It is my hope that such a letter be 

explicit, be unequivocal, and be comprehensive. Explicit, so that we know 

exactly what they’re going to do and 

what rules they’re going to live by. Unequivocal, hopefully signed by the 

President, and a clear statement of the 

rules the administration will live by, 

not just a statement of principles or 

present intentions. And, finally, comprehensive. It should deal with the concerns that we all have, or that so many 

of us have, about the existing TARP 

legislation. 

Chairman FRANK’s bill will deal with 

transparency and deal with home foreclosures. And my hope is that since 


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January 13, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H169 

Chairman FRANK’s bill won’t be law 

next week, that the President-elect’s 

letter will address those issues explicitly and unequivocally. Chairman 

FRANK’s bill calls for us to get 15 percent warrants when we make investments in banks. I am pleased to report 

that after discussions with the Chairman and his staff, he is going to make 

it clear in his bill, and I hope it is clear 

in any letter we get from the Obama 

administration, that 15 percent is a 

floor, not a ceiling, and that the Treasury should be obligated to work to get 

us all the warrants that we deserve as 

taxpayers for the risks that we are taking. The taxpayers should be fully compensated for the enormous risks we 

take when we invest in troubled Wall 

Street firms. 

Now I am going to offer an amendment to Chairman FRANK’s bill to state 

that while a company is holding our 

TARP money, they should not pay a 

penny in dividends and they should not 

purchase any of their own stock back 

from their existing shareholders. If the 

company has extra money, give the 

taxpayers our money back. Don’t give 

it to your shareholders. 

We do have a letter from Larry Summers, who will be playing a key role in 

the White House, saying, and I don’t 

know if this is intended to be binding 

on the incoming administration, that 

they would favor strict limits on dividends and modest limits on stock repurchases, but we need stronger protections for the taxpayers. 

I hope very much that we are able to 

work on this issue and other taxpayer 

protections. 

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RECESS 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair 

declares the House in recess until 2 

p.m. today. 

Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 55 

minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess until 2 p.m. 

f 

b 1400 

AFTER RECESS 

The recess having expired, the House 

was called to order by the Speaker pro 

tempore (Mr. LARSEN of Washington) 

at 2 p.m. 

f 

PRAYER 

The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. 

Coughlin, offered the following prayer: 

The Earth may seem hardened, but 

this is the time for Congress to be 

planting. Lord, is it too early? Too cold 

with indifference? Still too dark due to 

the lack of sunlight? 

Though ‘‘a term’’ speaks of ending, 

now we are just beginning. Lord, help 

Congress determine what is in most 

need of attention, the crusted Earth 

held by winter or the seedlings of 

promise? 

Guide us and protect us, Lord, that 

the timing may be right and we know 

how to foster the new growth. 

As the world looks on, more hungry 

than envious, the Nation needs a rich 

harvest. So, Lord, let Congress be 

about planting with crafty hands and 

heartfelt trust. You will give the increase. 

Amen. 

f 

THE JOURNAL 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair has examined the Journal of the 

last day’s proceedings and announces 

to the House his approval thereof. 

Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. 

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the 

gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 

CONNOLLY) come forward and lead the 

House in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia led the 

Pledge of Allegiance as follows: 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the 

United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 

f 

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AT GAZA 

(Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given 

permission to address the House for 1 

minute.) 

Mr. KUCINICH. Most Americans are 

unaware that 50 percent of the population of Gaza is under 14 years of age. 

According to the U.N., 292 Gazan children have been killed in the war, and 

1,497 children have been injured. 

In the past few days, many Gazan 

children’s hospitals and clinics have 

been attacked, damaged by artillery 

fire from the Israeli defense forces. 

Fifty thousand children are expected to 

be displaced from their homes. According to the U.N., food for infants and 

malnourished children is not available, 

one-third of Gaza has no water, and 

most of Gaza has no electricity. 

This is a humanitarian crisis of the 

highest magnitude. We cannot avert 

our eyes without staining our souls. It 

is time for Congress to recognize the 

humanitarian crisis at Gaza. Hamas’ 

rocket fire is wrong. Israel’s response 

has created a humanitarian disaster. 

Israel is using U.S.-provided F–16 

jets, Apache helicopters and white 

phosphorous against the people of 

Gaza. This imposes upon this Congress 

a moral obligation to speak out. We 

cannot be effective in promoting peace 

unless we recognize the scale of the 

suffering of the children of Gaza and 

take nonviolent steps to remedy the 

situation. 

f 

LONE STAR VOICE—DANIEL WOLF 

(Mr. POE of Texas asked and was 

given permission to address the House 

for 1 minute.) 

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I 

bring you news from the people. Boy 

Scout Daniel Wolf of Spring, Texas, 

wrote me the following about our economic crisis. 

‘‘I am concerned about my generation paying for the mistakes that the 

government is making. It’s just not 

fair. It’s kind of like you and a friend 

are doing a project together and he 

doesn’t want to do his part, so you end 

up doing all the work. The government 

is bailing out Wall Street, banks, mortgages, the car industry, and also increasing spending and putting our 

country into more debt and the next 

generation is going to have to pay for 

it. 

‘‘The government needs to lower 

taxes and quit spending so much. I 

think that people should spend the 

money they earn the way they want to 

and not have the government do it for 

them.’’ 

Mr. Speaker, those who say the government needs to take money from 

some citizens and give it to certain 

special interest groups to stimulate the 

economy are wrong. 

As Boy Scout Daniel says, ‘‘that’s 

not fair,’’ and I agree. This massive 

government money grab and redistribution of somebody else’s income is 

going to cause more problems during 

this economic crisis. But as it has been 

said, ‘‘if you think the problems government creates are bad, just wait 

until you see the government’s solutions.’’ 

And that’s just the way it is. 

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NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH 

(Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana asked 

and was given permission to address 

the House for 1 minute.) 

Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. 

Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in honoring the contributions 

of mentors as we celebrate National 

Mentoring Month. 

I want to recognize mentoring programs across America that are dedicated to encouraging all aspects of student development. I believe mentoring 

is an essential tool in cultivating a 

child’s emotional and behavior development, and I strongly support these 

programs. 

I would also like to congratulate an 

exemplary program in my district that 

is celebrating its 10th anniversary, the 

Joy Elementary School in Michigan 

City, Indiana. This program is a 

school-based mentoring program, 

partnering Michigan City area schools 

with the Michigan City business community. It is with great pleasure that I 

stand before the House and the American people today and commend the 

work of mentors and programs like 

Safe Harbor. 

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues 

to vote for the resolution honoring 

mentors. 

f 

HARVEST HOPE FOOD BANK 

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina 

asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 


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