mr. o'neill and mr. castro and also my captain and myself. we're happy with the progress that they've made just with specifically their establishment but also in front and in the area. and so, yeah, at this point we're very happy. we said that really our only concerns at this point is you've gotten everything up and running and good operation. and we just want to make sure that they maintain that. they said they would be maintaining that. we want to make sure that they continue to do what they're doing. commissioner joseph: great. and you'll be checking on them from time to time. >> pardon me? commissioner joseph: you'll be checking on them from time to time. >> yes. commissioner joseph: commissioner allan? commissioner allan: i want to thank you as to how the issue has evolved. concerns were raised to me about the thursday event. that has been dropped. and that has led partially to the turnaround that you expressed here tonight. i think that the police department would agree with my philosophy that having a business operator in that space an

mr. o'neil's case wasn't an isolated incident. a number of my constituents have been unable to close on their new homes, and it's my understanding that many throughout the country face a similar situation. this legislation, the underlying legislation, would rectify that problem and re-authorize the nfip through 2015. the bill provides premium discounts to assist residents in newly designated flood hazardous areas that would be subject to a new requirement to purchase flood insurance during a phase-in period of five years. other provisions include extelling the severe repetitivive loss grant program to reduce program losses in the long term. the bill also allows for premiums to be paid in installments for lower income property owners, thereby, helping them to afford flood insurance and encouraging them to continue to purchase protection. although i support the underlying bill, mr. speaker, it could have been better. especially if the taylor-scalise amendment had been made in order. their amendment would allow coastal homeowners to

mr. carnahan: instead of working together like president reagan and speaker o'neill did in the early 1980's to extend the solvency of social security, this week the republican leader announced his plans to raise the social security retirement age and decrease benefits for older americans to pay for the wars in iraq and afghanistan. pay for the wars in iraq and afghanistan on the backs of seniors? you've got to be kidding me. this is the same republican party where the majority under president bush refused to pay for the two wars and give tax cuts to the wealthiest americans, doubling our national debt and laying the groundwork for the worst financial crisis in a generation. some republicans are still trying to privatize social security. do i need to remind people personal retirement funds have been wiped out under failed republican economics. the other side refuses to work together to create additional jobs and to help those who have lost their jobs. despite republican foot-dragging and naysaying, this year we are on track to create more jobs than were created during the entire eight year