[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2092-H2093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL PLUMBING INDUSTRY WEEK
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
resolution (H. Res. 1082) recognizing the plumbing industry and
supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Plumbing Industry Week''.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1082
Whereas on June 27, 1883, Victorian plumbers came together
at the Old Masonic Temple in New York City, New York, for the
first-ever convention of master plumbers;
Whereas the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National
Association (PHCC) is the oldest trade association in the
construction industry;
Whereas for over 125 years, our Nation has been paving the
way for today's plumbing, heating, and cooling contractor's
status as important, and independent small business people;
Whereas the majority of plumbing contractors are small
business owners, who help create critical jobs in this
country;
Whereas the men and women who design, manufacture, install,
and maintain water efficient plumbing systems play a crucial
role in our economy;
Whereas this industry has one of the best and most
extensive training programs in the country by providing young
men and women with thousands of dollars in scholarships every
year;
Whereas professional certified plumbers save our Nation
millions of dollars each year through the design and
installation of more efficient equipment that provides
essential comfort while reducing water consumption; and
Whereas the House of Representatives supports the industry
in its celebration of ``National Plumbing Industry Week'',
April 27 through May 3, 2008: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes that small business plumbing contractors
have benefitted from the reduced regulatory burden provided
as a result of passage of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of
1980 (Public Law 96-354) and the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-121);
(2) recognizes that the loan guarantee program under
Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a))
administered by the Administrator of the Small Business
Administration has provided access to capital for small
business plumbing contractors;
(3) recognizes that approximately 80 percent of plumbing
contractors around the country are small, family owned and
run companies;
(4) recognizes these small firms account for a large
percentage of our Nation's GDP, through sales, service, and
repair;
(5) recognizes how small businesses in the plumbing
industry are the leader in developing, and utilizing new
innovative technologies which help improve and maintain the
infrastructure our Nation depends on; and
(6) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Plumbing
Industry Week''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the House Small Business Committee, I rise
to support this resolution recognizing the contributions of the U.S.
plumbing industry during National Plumbing Industry Week. I am pleased
to be joined by my ranking member, Representative Steve Chabot, in
offering this legislation.
I stand before you today to honor a sector of the U.S. small
businesses that provide vital contributions to the lives of millions of
Americans. The plumbing industry is one of the oldest trades in the
country. It employs thousands and serves every American. In fact, over
90 percent of the firms in this sector are led by entrepreneurs. And
their companies create jobs in every city and town across the Nation.
In the coming weeks, one of the leading trade associations
representing these plumbers will be celebrating its 125th anniversary.
The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association was
founded in my home city of New York in 1883.
This resolution highlights the contributions of many of its members,
as well as those of other American plumbing professionals. During
National Plumbing Industry Week, many of them will visit Capitol Hill,
as they have done in previous years, to advocate issues of critical
importance to their trade.
The industry will also use the observance to promote greater energy
efficiency, water conservation and worker training. On this last point,
it is worth noting that because the plumbing industry has placed such
emphasis on professional skills, it has one of the best and most
extensive training programs in this country. That program has been
vital in meeting the demands of the new green economy. Consumers in
every community are benefiting from its careful design and unparalleled
success. To accommodate the growing needs of our greener economy, the
plumbing trade also has a newly developed apprentice and education
program. It will create new opportunities and further showcase the
positive impacts of green jobs.
Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that this resolution will focus the
country's attention on the important role that plumbing contractors
play in our daily lives. Their industry is vital to our economy for its
work and for the job opportunities it provides thousands of our fellow
Americans.
{time} 1200
Mr. Speaker, without this industry, it would be difficult to be
assured that the water our family uses to drink and bathe in is safe
and nontoxic. We are proud this House will take a moment to thank such
an important part of our Nation's infrastructure and economic base, our
plumbers.
I urge my colleagues to join me and Mr. Chabot in passing this
resolution, and I urge support of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution and
yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New York, the distinguished
chairwoman of the Small Business Committee, Ms. Velazquez, for bringing
this bipartisan measure to the floor recognizing the plumbing industry
and supporting the goals and ideals of National Plumbing Industry Week.
Like many of our small businesses today, plumbing contractors face
difficult times and many difficult issues; a burdensome regulatory
system, confiscatory taxation policy at virtually every level of
government, rising energy prices, and often the unavailability of
affordable health care for their employees and families. Congress can
and must help these entrepreneurs, and we will continue to work with
the chairwoman and my colleagues on the Small Business Committee to
address these obstacles to the success of our Nation's small business
plumbing contractors.
As Chairwoman Velazquez has pointed out, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling
Contractors National Association is the oldest trade association in the
American construction industry. I congratulate the association for its
contributions over the years and encourage the industry to continue its
good work, especially in training and mentoring our future industry
leaders in that field.
I have no doubt that our friends and neighbors in the plumbing
industry
[[Page H2093]]
will continue to make strides in the design and installation of energy
efficient equipment that will carry us through the 21st century.
I again want to thank my colleague, Chairwoman Velazquez, for working
in a bipartisan manner on this issue, as we do virtually on every issue
in the Small Business Committee. I thank her for bringing this
resolution to the floor today. I am happy to join her in supporting it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, as Members of this Chamber know, our Nation's small
businesses come in all types and a broad range of sizes. Each one makes
an important contribution to our society and is an essential part of
the great economic engine. In fact, there is no other nation on Earth
where a person's dreams of service and innovation can be translated so
effectively into the brand of success that yields both wealth and
concrete benefits to communities. Entrepreneurs are the reason for
this. They are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy.
Moving forward, we should remember that these hard-working business
people, including those who are part of the plumbing trade, are the
reason our Nation has thrived. So in recognizing the men and women of
the plumbing industry today, we extend our salute to every small
business person across America.
We thank plumbers for their invaluable effort and encourage the
American spirit of service, progress and business excellence. That is
the hallmark of our Nation's small firms, and it is one we should all
be proud of.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and yield back
the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Holden). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1082.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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