I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in opposition to H.R. 836. This is one of four anti- foreclosure programs that the majority is voting to terminate. This particular program they want to terminate today is designed to assist…

Yes, I do. As a point of information, there are very strict criteria from the FHA and from the individual banks that are voluntarily participating, and one of those criteria is that you must be current on your payments. You must be…

I have an amendment at the desk. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: After section 1, insert the following new section: SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. The Congress finds that-- (1)…

My amendment has the purpose of making very clear what we're doing today to the American people. This amendment makes clear that we are ending a program that has the potential to help hundreds of thousands of underwater borrowers. H.R…

Congressman Paulsen---- The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman is advised to direct her remarks to the Chair.

I would like to inquire from Congressman Paulsen if he is aware of how many mortgages are underwater in his home State, the great State of Minnesota. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.

Reclaiming my time, I would like to point out to the gentleman from Minnesota that there are over 90,000 homes, 90,000 homeowners who are underwater in the great State of Minnesota and that could benefit if they meet the criteria in this…

The amendment is germane, Mr. Chairman. This program has the potential to help underwater mortgages across our great country, which is germane to the bill we're debating today, because the bill terminates the potential of this help. You…

I thank the ranking member for yielding. I rise in opposition to H.R. 830. This bill is one of four separate anti-foreclosure programs aimed at helping troubled homeowners stay in their homes that the new House Republican majority is…

I move to strike the last word. The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from New York is recognized for 5 minutes.

I'm distressed with this ruling because I think it is germane that people will lose their homes, that they are eliminating a program that is just starting that is thoughtful, that would give FHA financing and guarantees to help people stay…

I would just like to point out to Congressman Fitzpatrick from the great State of Pennsylvania that there are over 132,000 homes that are underwater now that could benefit from this program, and urge my colleagues to support the program…

Reclaiming my time, there are 431,000 mortgages that are underwater in the great State of Illinois where the residents would be eligible to participate in this program that the Republican majority is voting to terminate. I yield back the…

Congresswoman Biggert, do you know how many underwater mortgages there are in your home State?

States across the country have this challenge. As I said, almost 11 million mortgages are underwater, or 22 percent of all outstanding mortgages. By passing this bill, we are saying that we have no solutions for these homeowners. It is not…

Just on what you were talking about, the tax policy, and knowing that the top 1 percent of the wage earners, or the income people, in this country own 40 percent of the Nation's wealth. The President of the United States has to go to the…

Well, thank you so much. I was in my office doing a lot of work, and I couldn't figure who you people were talking about; it must be some foreign enemies of the United States that really were not supporting the things that, as far as I am…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and in support of the FHA refinancing bill that is one of four bills that will be on the floor coming out of the Financial Services Committee on which I…