Congressional Briefs: Tubbs, Cummings, Norton

By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Publisher

July 13, 2007, 10:20 p.m. - This week, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones announced that the Appropriations Committee has put language into the Energy and Water appropriations bill that will award $1.1 Million to Cleveland State University for the construction of four rooftop wind spire towers throughout Northeast Ohio which will provide alternative energy sources for electricity. 

As the Northeast Ohio region moves toward the establishment of alternative energy as a key economic initiative, including the development of wind farms on Lake Erie, it is critical to offer various forms of alternative energy. Dr. Majid Rashidi has taken the traditional windmill and turned it upside down into a spiral mechanism. When any fluid goes around a structure an increase in velocity occurs. Dr. Rashidi developed an energy spire that includes multiple, miniature turbines on each of its spires that can generate electrical power at very low wind speeds, something that cannot be accomplished with standard large blade windmills.     

Currently, Cleveland State University is developing the prototype of this wind spire for use on the campus with funding for the Ohio Department of Development and the Ohio Capital Fund.  This prototype will allow Dr. Rashidi to determine the exact energy savings of the wind tower.  With the expectation that energy savings will be significant, the federal funds allocated in the Energy and Water appropriations bill will assist in the next phase of the project of building four roof top towers will be constructed throughout NE Ohio, with placement at not-for-profit institutions such as schools, municipal buildings, and hospitals. 

"I am pleased have to been able to assist in having this language inserted into the Energy and Water Appropriations bill," said Rep. Tubbs Jones. "As we move forward in this process, I am confident that this and other Northeast Ohio projects will receive broad bipartisan support. This funding is critical to the growth of Northeast Ohio." 

Tubbs Jones Joins Supports New Direction in Iraq 

This week, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones released this statement in response to the White House issuing its "Assessment report" on Iraq and in support of the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act:  

"Today the administration released its 'Assessment Report' on Iraq. While attempting to tout 'progress', it is plain to see that this is more of the same rhetoric that has become so commonplace in this administration. The sad truth is that since President Bush launched this war, more than 3,600 American servicemen and women have been killed in Iraq, more than 26,000 have been injured, and the American taxpayer has spent nearly half a trillion dollars on this war. 

"The report highlights that the Iraqi government has not met a single one of the 18 security, political, and economic milestones that Congress laid out as measurements for success. It also substantiates the fact that of the 18 benchmarks Congress laid out, Iraqis are making progress on only eight. The report also shows us that Iraqi security forces are not providing even-handed enforcement of the law and that Militia presence is still a prevalent force within the security services of a number of ministries.  

Story continues below ↓

"It is for this reason that I am in support of the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act. In addition to requiring the redeployment of American forces this legislation requires the development of a comprehensive strategy for U.S. policy in Iraq and limits missions any remaining forces in Iraq may undertake to duties such as counter-terrorism, and protecting American personnel at the embassy in Iraq.

 "It has been said that faith without action is merely superstition. We now have the opportunity to change course in this war. My father was a World War II veteran. He died a few months ago at the age of 87. As I looked at the flag draped across his coffin, I thought about the many mothers, fathers and families that had to bury their loved ones, many of them barely adults, and see that flag draped across their casket.

 "I, along with the American people, have no more patience with regards to this war in Iraq. I've been to three deployments, five funerals and countless memorials services; I don't want to go to any more. I want to be able to go to one last homecoming celebration when we can bring an end to this war."

House Passes Congressman Cummings' Resolution to Protect Homeowners

This week, in an important step to addressing the issue of increased foreclosures among sub-prime borrowers across the country, the House joined U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), a member of the U.S. House Joint Economic Committee, in passing his resolution that supports home ownership and responsible lending practices.

H.Res. 526 was passed just days after the Federal Reserve issued guidelines to lenders that encompass many of the ideals in today's resolution and regulate predatory practices in the sub-prime market. These new guidelines followed a letter sent by Congressman Cummings and several of his colleagues in the House urging Chairman Ben Bernanke to exercise the Federal Reserve's authority under the Home Ownership Equity Protection Act.

"What we are seeing here are predatory lenders across the country stripping hard-working families of their American Dream of homeownership and turning it into a nightmare," Congressman Cummings said. "Through the new guidelines issued by the Federal Reserve in conjunction with Congressional action, we hope to put an end to the abusive practices that are hurting our families."

While sub-prime loans are geared toward borrowers with low credit scores, they are not inherently dangerous; however, some abusive practices within the quickly-growing industry have resulted in a dramatic increase in foreclosures. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, approximately 1 in 5 of the sub-prime loans issued in the past two years will go into default, costing 2.2 million homeowners their homes over the next several years.

A foreclosure typically prevents a homeowner from being able to purchase a new home within ten years. In addition to hurting those being driven out of their homes, increased foreclosures also pose a threat to the economy by reducing the number of potential buyers as the housing market becomes saturated with homes for sale and prices are driven down.

"This May alone, 176,000 foreclosures occurred in the U.S., an increase of 90 percent since the previous year," Congressman Cummings said. "This is unacceptable, and it's a burden on both those being pushed out of their homes and on our overall housing market."

Highlights of H.Res. 526 state that government action should enforce rules to eliminate unfair and deceptive practices in sub-prime mortgage lending, establish minimum standards for lenders, encourage lenders to evaluate a borrower's ability to repay the mortgage over the life of the loan, and raise public awareness regarding mortgage originators with high foreclosure rates.

Norton and ICE Assistant Secretary Myers to Announce

Following hearings and meetings with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials on private contracting at the Federal Protective Service (FPS), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), will hold a joint news conference with agency officials on Tuesday, July 17 at 11 AM (location TBA) to release steps the agency has agreed to take to restore public confidence in contract operations and vendor payments for contract guards charged with security for federal buildings, employees and sites.  Norton also will release a bill to be filed on Tuesday to prohibit FPS contracts with guard vendors owned or controlled by felons.  She will be joined by Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Julie Myers, who has jurisdiction over FPS.  ICE has released some actions it took following the failure to forward payment to Jenkins Security for guard services at several locations in the Washington metropolitan area.  However, Norton and Myers will release additional important actions the agency will take regarding vendor payment and new procedures for contract officers and vendors alike.

The bill prohibiting felon ownership or control arose out of an investigative hearing on June 21, 2007, into management issues at STARTECH International Security whose guards were under FPS contract. STARTECH, which was controlled in part by a felon, the husband of a husband-wife team, failed to pay its guards despite receiving payment from FPS in June.  Norton's subcommittee, the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, has jurisdiction over FPS and the General Services Administration.

Norton said, "The point of my hearings was less to investigate one incident, than to find solutions to reported problems in an agency. Oversight for me is more about problem solving than uncovering issues or wrongdoing. Following the hearings with ICE and meetings in my office, I believe ICE is responding to the contract guard vending issues in the systemic terms we require, that the set of reforms that will be announced can result in the needed changes, and that they should be announced and discussed publicly."

Return to ReddingNewsReview.com
© RCI 2007. All Rights Reserved.