[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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