Expressing Sense of Congress Regarding the Importance of Life Insurance, and Recognizing and Supporting National Life Insurance Awareness Month

EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFE INSURANCE, AND RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE AWARENESS MONTH -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2004)

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 461) expressing the sense of Congress regarding the importance of life insurance, and recognizing and supporting National Life Insurance Awareness Month.

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GENERAL LEAVE

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?

There was no objection.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 461 stresses the importance of life insurance. Frankly, I believe the resolution's message is an important one to convey.

According to the text of the resolution, nearly 50 million Americans do not carry life insurance policies. The implication for these families and their loved ones is clear and worrisome. These individuals run the risk of losing their assets in the event of an unexpected death.

Mr. Speaker, a death in the family is one of the most agonizing things a family or individual can endure. Forfeiting one's assets can compound the horrible grief or, worse, wreck the financial standing of the deceased person's immediate family. Life insurance brings security to millions of Americans and helps families meet many of their short- and long-term financial needs and goals. I urge all Americans to incorporate life insurance into their personal financial portfolios.

I understand hundreds of leading life insurance companies and organizations have designated September 2004 as Life Insurance Awareness Month. On behalf of the House of Representatives and our committee, I am pleased to support the goals and ideals of this commemoration.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), who is a leader in Congress in encouraging Americans to be prudent with their personal finances. Again, few things are more important for a person or family than effectively managing their financial resources. So I commend my colleague on her efforts to recognize, again, the importance of life insurance in our society.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), a colleague of mine and author of this legislation and resolution.

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Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Again, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Illinois for her work and also the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kanjorski) for his efforts in preparing House Concurrent Resolution 461. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Chocola). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 461.

The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.