New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act and the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007

Floor Speech

NEW DIRECTION FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT AND THE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION TAX ACT OF 2007 -- (Senate - April 07, 2008)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

AMENDMENT NO. 4478 TO AMENDMENT NO. 4387

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be temporarily set aside so I may call up amendment No. 4478.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The clerk will report the amendment.

The bill clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Washington [Mrs. Murray], for herself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Casey, and Mr. Brown, proposes an amendment numbered 4478 to amendment No. 4387.

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To increase funding for housing counseling with an offset)

At the appropriate place in the bill, insert:

Sec. . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the amount appropriated under section 301(a) of this Act shall be $3,900,000,000 and the amount appropriated under section 401 of this Act shall be $200,000,000.

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, it is not my desire to debate this amendment at length at this time. I only wanted to call it up so it will be available for the Senate to consider as we continue to debate this extremely important housing bill that is in front of us.

Late last week, the Senate considered the question of additional funding for housing counseling. When the Senate voted on that matter, there were 16 Senators who were absent from the Chamber. So that amendment did fail at the time on a procedural vote. But I do believe some Senators may have voted against our initial amendment because it added funds to the overall cost of this bill. The new amendment I have just called up will add the necessary funding for housing counselors from within the funds already in the bill.

Senator Schumer and I are going to be talking about this amendment in greater detail at the appropriate time. I think as we continue to try to address the housing issue, we all remember there are up to 2 million families who may go into foreclosure this year, and our main objective ought to be to make sure they do not go into foreclosure. That is what this housing counseling funding does. It is extremely important. I hope as we move this bill along we will be able to add the additional funding.

Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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