[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 44 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2183-H2184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HELPING HEROES KEEP THEIR HOMES ACT OF 2009
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3976) to extend certain expiring provisions providing
enhanced protections for servicemembers relating to mortgages and
mortgage foreclosure, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3976
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Heroes Keep Their
Homes Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF ENHANCED PROTECTIONS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS
RELATING TO MORTGAGES AND MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE
UNDER SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT.
(a) Extension.--Paragraph (2) of section 2203(c) of the
Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-
289) is amended--
(1) by striking ``December 31, 2010'' and inserting
``December 31, 2015''; and
(2) by striking ``January 1, 2011'' and inserting ``January
1, 2016''.
(b) Protection for Surviving Spouse.--
(1) In general.--Section 303 of the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533) is amended by adding at the
end the following new subsection:
``(e) Protection for Surviving Spouse.--With respect to a
servicemember who dies while in military service and whose
death is service-connected, this section shall apply to the
surviving spouse of the servicemember if such spouse is the
successor in interest to property covered under subsection
(a).''.
(2) Effective date.--Subsection (e) of section 303 of such
Act, as added by paragraph (1), shall apply to a surviving
spouse of a servicemember whose death is on or after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Tom Perriello of Virginia
for introducing H.R. 3976, the Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of
2010. Mr. Perriello is one of the first-term members we have on our
committee. They are incredibly active and committed. Mr. Perriello hit
the ground running in his first year and is here today with a bill that
will make an immediate difference in the lives of our Nation's military
veterans.
I yield to Mr. Perriello to explain the bill.
Mr. PERRIELLO. Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand in support of H.R.
3976, the Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act, a bill that I introduced
to help ensure that our veterans have the resources they need to
confront the myriad of challenges in today's economic environment.
Homeownership is the touchstone of the American dream. H.R. 3976, the
Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act, will reauthorize home foreclosure
protections to prevent lenders from foreclosing on veterans' homes
within 9
[[Page H2184]]
months after the end of military service. Unfortunately, some of the
protections established in Public Law 110-289 are scheduled to expire
at the end of this year. This bill will ensure that these critical
protections remain available to our veterans.
H.R. 3976 is a commonsense bill that has been supported by the Iraq
and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the
American Legion, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. I
appreciate the bipartisan support on this bill, the chairman's
leadership and others', and I urge all members of this body to join me
in supporting our military families by voting in favor of this bill.
Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, if I might digress, I just wanted to
thank Mrs. Halvorson on H.J. Res. 80 for introducing the resolution,
and the chairman and Mr. Buyer for bringing that joint resolution to
the floor. I think that is important to remind all of my colleagues.
Madam Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 3976, as amended, a
bill to extend certain expiring provisions providing enhanced
protections for servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage
foreclosure.
Madam Speaker, Public Law 110-289, the Housing and Economic Recovery
Act of 2008, extended the protections against foreclosure and related
actions on servicemembers' homes contained in the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act from 90 days to 9 months following lengthy deployments.
Extensions of these protections will sunset December 31, 2010.
To address the continuing lengthy deployments by our servicemembers,
the Veterans Home Preservation Act of 2010 would simply extend the
mortgage-related sunset days contained in Public Law 110-289 through
December 31, 2015. The bill also adds a new clause that would apply
these same mortgage protections to a surviving spouse of a
servicemember who dies while in military service and whose death is
service connected.
Madam Speaker, these are good provisions that are appropriate given
the current economic climate. I thank the authors of the bill, Mr.
Perriello, as well as Chairman Herseth Sandlin and Ranking Member
Boozman for their fine work, and the Veterans' Affairs Committee
chairman, Mr. Filner, and Mr. Buyer, the ranking member, for bringing
this legislation to the floor.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FILNER. I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.
Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
3976, as amended, a bill to extend certain expiring provisions
providing enhanced protections to servicemembers relating to mortgages
and mortgage foreclosure.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate that these protections
are still needed. Two years ago or so we went through this major
foreclosure crisis. We unfortunately, have not solved it and expect a
recurrence, and we must protect and serve these brave men and women in
uniform with the same commitment and dedication with which they
protected and served us.
General Leave
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 3976, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R.
3976, ``Helping Heroes Keep their Homes Act of 2009,'' a bill that will
prevent mortgage lenders from foreclosing on a veteran's home after
their service.
Strengthening comprehensive programs by investing in our veterans,
requiring housing counselors to grant more housing opportunities at
each Veteran Affairs centers is the right thing to do. It is my
distinct honor to stand here today to support a bill that will allow us
to show our appreciation to our veterans who are in danger of losing
their homes and possibly becoming homeless.
I really find it unacceptable that an estimated 131,000 veterans are
homeless on any given night after honorably serving their country. We
are doing our veterans a great disservice. We owe our veterans the
utmost respect, appreciation, and definitely a home to come home to
after serving as a member of our Armed Forces. In these challenging
economic times, we must do more to provide for our veterans basic
needs. H.R. 3976 shows that all Americans take pride in our veterans
service to this Nation, and just as the military doesn't believe in
leaving a soldier behind on the battlefield, I believe that I speak for
all Americans that we don't believe in leaving our veterans behind . .
. we must help them push forward.
In these challenging economic times, with returning veterans
experiencing unemployment rates in the double digits, we must do more
to provide for our veterans' basic needs. This legislation shows that
the U.S. is grateful for our veterans' service. Just as the military
pledges to leave no soldier behind on the battlefield, this Nation will
leave no veteran behind when they come home. This bill will allow us to
show our appreciation and honor the service of veterans who have served
this country and who now look to us to serve their needs.
Madam Speaker, these veterans have given great contributions and made
incredible personal sacrifices so that all of us in this country might
live in a safe and secure nation and world. Ensuring that our veterans
are safeguarded from losing their homes is a small step towards
repaying the insurmountable debt that all of us owe to all veterans. We
must do everything possible to let our veterans know how much we value
their service. We would be irresponsible and ungrateful if we acted
otherwise.
Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3976.
Mr. FILNER. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3976, as amended. I
have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3976, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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