[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4643]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




BUSH ADMINISTRATION WILLING TO BAIL OUT BEAR STEARNS BUT NOT STRUGGLING 
                                FAMILIES

  (Mr. ALTMIRE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Madam Speaker, last month the Bush administration 
approved the Federal bailout of an investment giant, Bear Stearns. You 
would have thought that the crisis on Wall Street would have opened the 
administration's eyes as to what is happening on Main Street. 
Reminiscent of Herbert Hoover, President Bush continues to oppose any 
efforts by this Congress to address the extreme hardships of Americans 
struggling in today's economy. House Democrats have crafted a 
foreclosure prevention package that would help stabilize the housing 
market, and Senate Democrats have similarly been working on legislation 
to help struggling families keep their homes. But rather than support 
such efforts, President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, and 
Senate Republicans voted to block it from even coming to the floor for 
a vote.
  Madam Speaker, it's time President Bush and Republicans recognize 
that the crisis affects Main Street as well as Wall Street, and they 
should join us in our efforts to help families hard hit by this 
economy.

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