[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 17161-17162]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE AWARENESS 
                                 MONTH

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 181) supporting the goals and 
ideals of National Life Insurance Awareness Month, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 181

       Whereas life insurance is an essential part of a sound 
     financial plan;
       Whereas life insurance provides financial security for 
     families in the event of a premature death by helping 
     surviving family members to meet immediate and longer-term 
     financial obligations and objectives;
       Whereas nearly 50,000,000 Americans say they lack the life 
     insurance coverage needed to ensure a secure financial future 
     for their loved ones;
       Whereas recent studies have found that when a premature 
     death occurs, insufficient life insurance coverage on the 
     part of the insured results in three-fourths of surviving 
     family members having to take measures such as working 
     additional jobs or longer hours, borrowing money, withdrawing 
     money from savings and investment accounts, and, in too many 
     cases, moving to smaller, less expensive housing;
       Whereas individuals, families, and businesses can benefit 
     greatly from professional insurance and financial planning 
     advice, including the assessment of their life insurance 
     needs; and
       Whereas the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for 
     Education (LIFE), the National Association of Insurance and 
     Financial Advisors (NAIFA), and a coalition representing 
     hundreds of leading life insurance companies and 
     organizations have designated September 2005 as ``Life 
     Insurance Awareness Month'', the goal of which is to make 
     consumers more aware of their life insurance needs, seek 
     professional advice, and take the actions necessary to 
     achieve the financial security of their loved ones: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That the Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Life Insurance 
     Awareness Month; and
       (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, 
     schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, 
     and the people of the United States to observe the month with 
     appropriate programs and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Issa) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), the author of this bill.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support House 
Concurrent Resolution 181, which supports the goals and ideals of 
National Life Insurance Awareness Month, September of 2005.

[[Page 17162]]

  I want to thank my friend and colleague, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Kanjorski), the Ranking Member of the Committee on 
Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and 
Government Sponsored Enterprises, and a member of the Financial and 
Economic Literacy Caucus, for introducing this resolution with me for a 
second year, and for his support on this issue.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) for 
expeditiously moving this resolution through the Committee on 
Government Reform. In addition, I would like to thank Senator Chambliss 
for working with us on this side of the Capitol to craft identical 
resolutions with both bipartisan and bicameral support.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 181 calls on the Nation to 
observe the month of September as Life Insurance Awareness Month. A 
number of associations, including the Life and Health Insurance 
Foundation for Education, the National Association of Insurance and 
Financial Advisors, the American Council of Life Insurers, and a 
coalition representing hundreds of leading life insurance companies and 
organizations have designated September 2005 as Life Insurance 
Awareness Month.
  Our collective goal for the month is to make consumers more aware of 
their life insurance needs, seek professional advice, and take the 
actions necessary to achieve financial security for their families.
  Life insurance is too often thought of only when it is too late. Over 
half of adult Americans do not have a life insurance policy, and among 
those who do have life insurance, the amount is often too small to 
safeguard the financial futures of their loved ones. Life insurance can 
provide financial security for every American family that incurs the 
untimely death of a loved one.
  This September, during Life Insurance Awareness Month, I will join my 
colleagues and many life insurance organizations and advocates to 
encourage Americans to seek out information about the benefits of life 
insurance so that if the premature death of a loved one does occur, 
they will be spared the economic hardships that often accompany 
tragedy.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the goals and ideals of 
National Life Insurance Awareness Month, September 2005.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 181, which expresses 
the sense of Congress regarding the importance of life insurance.
  Life insurance provides financial security for families in the event 
of a premature death by helping surviving family members to meet 
immediate and long-term financial obligations and objectives.
  Fifty million Americans say they lack the life insurance coverage 
needed to ensure a secure financial future for their loved ones. Yet 
the need for life insurance is well documented.
  Recent studies have found that when a premature death occurs, 
insufficient life insurance coverage on the part of the deceased often 
results in the surviving family members being placed under an 
insurmountable burden, forcing family members to take on extra jobs, 
work longer hours, borrow money, and spend less time with their 
families. This takes place at a time when spending time with loved ones 
is important to healing and recovering from the tragedy of losing a 
family member.
  By designating a month each year as Life Insurance Awareness Month, 
we are establishing just how important it is to families to learn and 
educate themselves about life insurance. As a society, we must take 
steps to make sure that our children are provided for and are safe.
  By supporting Life Insurance Awareness Month, we are signaling to the 
American people that this is an important issue that they should 
consider in their financial planning.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support the adoption of House 
Concurrent Resolution 181 that emphasizes the significance of life 
insurance. I support this resolution. Today as many as 50 million 
Americans currently lack life insurance coverage. This reality puts 
countless families at risk of losing their assets in the event of a 
wage-earner's unexpected death.
  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my thoughts about 
House Concurrent Resolution 181, which I helped to introduce with my 
colleague, the gentlelady from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert). House 
Concurrent Resolution 181 would designate September as National Life 
Insurance Awareness Month.
  Life insurance is a financial planning tool that all families should 
explore. It can provide security in the event of an untimely death. In 
families where a premature death occurs, surviving family members are 
often required to work additional jobs or longer hours, borrow money, 
withdraw money from savings and investment accounts, and, in too many 
cases, move to smaller, less expensive housing.
  By designating September as National Life Insurance Awareness Month, 
we will hopefully highlight the importance of this financial instrument 
for the nearly 50 million Americans who presently lack the life 
insurance coverage needed to meet the long-term financial needs of 
their families.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
important resolution to promote financial literacy.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, 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. Issa) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 181, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

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