Janice Schakowsky: “I strongly urge all Members to oppose this rule. Yesterday, Republicans on the Committee on Rules refused to make in…”

“I strongly urge all Members to oppose this rule. Yesterday, Republicans on the Committee on Rules refused to make in order my amendment that would help three categories of individuals who should be given an opportunity to get back on their feet while still being obligated to take responsibility for their debts. Without my amendment, credit card companies will get more consideration than, one, men and women on active duty in uniform; two, victims of terrorism; and, three, unemployed Americans. As we stand within hours of war, we owe it to our soldiers in uniform to think about their financial vulnerability. My amendment would have made sure that the brave men and women who serve this country will be able to file chapter 7 exempting them from the rigid means test required by H.R. 975. There is a great possibility that the families of many of the men and women who go to war in Iraq will have economic problems. This past Sunday on '60 Minutes,' Mrs. Vicky Wessel, whose husband is a Reservist who was sent overseas, summed it up by saying: 'Emotionally it's been tough not having a husband around, not having a father for the kids; but financially it's been really difficult because a staff sergeant's pay is a 60 percent cut in pay from what my husband's regular job pays.'”