TARP Reform And Accountability Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

TARP Reform And Accountability Act Of 2009

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Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, Dr. King, whose birthday we are about to celebrate this month, reminds us that the truest measure of the person is not where you stand in times of comfort and convenience, but rather where do you stand in times of challenge and controversy. Not where do you stand when there is no housing crisis and no unemployment problem, but where do you stand when unemployment is 7.2 percent, when you have lost 1 million jobs in the last 2 months, when you have lost 2 million jobs in the last year. Where do you stand in times of challenge and controversy.

In this time of challenge and controversy, I stand with the American homeowner, who is in crisis, who needs our help, who but for this piece of legislation will not get our help. I stand with the American homeowner, because this legislation provides $40 billion to $100 billion to help homes that may go into foreclosure. In times of challenge and controversy, I stand with the homeowner.

And I also stand for something else. I stand for having the TARP money be made accountable for. This piece of legislation deals with accountability. People want to know how their money has been spent.

This legislation helps us to better understand how the TARP money has impacted new lending. The LaTourette amendment that passed this House overwhelmingly in the last session, the last time we met and had this bill before the House, that amendment is something that has been incorporated in this bill.

So, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for a stellar job, a job well done, and in times of challenge and controversy, I stand with you, Mr. Chairman.

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