starttime 1247230837.09487
HOST
WEBSITE.
WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 10,
2009.
I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE
ANTHONY D. WEINER TO ACT AS
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE ON THIS
DAY.
SIGNED, NANCY PELOSI, SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
PRAYER WILL BE OFF
GUEST CHAPLAIN.
THE CHAPLAIN: WOULD YOU PLEASE
BOW YOUR HEAD IN PRAYER?
AS THE CHALLENGES OF WINDS
CHANGE ACROSS OUR BELOVED
NATION, WE ASK YOU TO EMPOWER
AND ENCOURAGE OUR LEADERS.
RELEASE IN THEM VIBRANT FAITH
IN YOUR WORD AND GRANT THEM
SUPERNATURAL WISDOM TO SOLVE
THE DAUNTING PROBLEMS FACING
OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD.
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, ONLY YOU CAN
LEAD US OUT OF DARKNESS AND
ONLY IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR REDEEMING LOVE.
OPEN YOUR EYES THAT WE MAY SEE
AND YOUR EARS WE MAY HEAR WHAT
YOUR HOLEY SPIRIT IS SAYING IN
THESE -- HOLY SPIRIT IS SAYING
IN THESE TRYING TIMES.
ANOINT US WITH POWER, LOVE AND
SOUND MINDS.
ESTABLISH WITHIN US THE
TENACIOUS RESOLVE NEED TO
OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLES INSPIRED
BY THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS. FATHER, PLEASE BLESS AND
ENCOURAGE THE MEMBERS OF THIS
HOUSE, THEIR FAMILIES AND STAFF
MEMBERS AS THEY SEEK YOUR
COUNL, SPEAK TENDERS WORDS OF
ENCOURAGEMENT AND DIRECTION IN
THEIR HEARTS.
MAY THEY FEEL RENEWED AND
ENLIGHTENED.
AND AS THEY WORSHIP, LET THEM
EXPERIENCE YOUR TRANSFORMING
APPEARANCE AND LOVE.
ALL THIS I PRAY IN THE NAME OF
HIM, WHO IS THE LIGHT OF THE
WORLD.
AMEN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE --
THE CHAIR HAS EXAMINED THE
JOURNAL OF THE LAST DAY'S
PROCEEDINGS AND ANNOUNCES TO
THE HOUSE HIS APPROVAL THEREOF.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL
BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ALABAMA, CON
MR. BRIGHT: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE
REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBE
JUSTICE FOR ALL. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN UP TO FIVE
FURTHER ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES ON
EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO RISE?
MR. KUCINICH: GOOD MORNING, MR.
SPEAKER.
I REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPO
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. KUCINICH: ONE OF THE TRAGIC
AND LAUGHABLE CONSEATS OF THE
ENTIRE HEALTH CARE DEBATE IS
THAT PEOPLE LOVE THEIR
FOR-PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE
COMPANIES.
SO HANDS OFF THE PRIVATE
INSURERS.
THESE ARE THE SAME INSURANCE
COMPANIES WHOSE PREMIUMS,
CO-PAYS AND DEDUCTIBLES ARE
FORCING MILLIONS OFMERICANS
INTO POVERTY.
60% OF ALL U.S. BANKRUPTCIES
ARE TIED TO PEOPLE NOT BEING
ABLE TO PAY THEIR HOSPITAL
BILLS.
AND MOST OF THESE PEOPLE WERE
INSURED.
BUT PEOPLE LOVE THEIR INSURANCE
COMPANIES.
NOW, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT
INSURANCE COMPANIES MAKE MONEY
NOT PROVIDING HEALTH CARE.
BUT PEOPLE LOVE THEIR INSURANCE
COMPANIES.
SO WE HAVE TO LEAVE THEM IN A
GAME, RIGHT?
PEOPLE LOVE FOR-PROFIT
SURERS, SO GOVERNMENT OUGHT
TO GIVE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES
A BAILOUT AND SUBSIDIZE PRIVATE
INSURERS BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE
THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES,
RIGHT?
WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE
LOVE FOR-PROFIT SURANCE.
I THINK PEOPLE WANT A NOT-FOR-PROFIT SYSTEM THAT
GUARANTEES ALL AMERICANS HEALTH
CARE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO
YOU RISE?
MR. WILSON: I ASK PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND
MY REMARKS. THE SPEAR PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. WILSON: MR. SPEAKER, DEMOCRATS ARE BEHOLDEN TO THE
FAILED POLICIES OF BIG
GOVERNMENT.
THAT IS WHY THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMONSENSE
PROPOSALS HOUSE REPUBLICANS
HAVE PROVIDED TO MAKE THIS NATION STRONGER, ENERGY MORE
AFFORDABLE AND AMERICANS
HEALTHIER.
RATHER THAN HAVE A REASONABLE
DEBATE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
DESERVE, DEMOCRATS WANT TO
SPEND THEIR TIME PRESENTING
FALSE CHOICES.
BUT DESPITE THE TIRED RHETORIC
WE HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE, HOUSE REPUBLICANS
CONTINUE TO OFFER COMMONSENSE
SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVEHE
ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS,
THROUGH RELIEF FOR FAMILIES AND
SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE ARE FIGHTING FOR
PATIENT-FIRST HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP
AMERICANS AFFORD INSURANCE,
PROTECT THE DOCTOR-PATIENT
RELATIONSHIP AND KEEP
WASHINGTON OUT OF THE PRIVATE
HEALTH CARE DECISIONS.
WE ARE STANDING UP FOR THE
MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES WHO CAN'T
AFFORD A MASSIVE NATIONAL
ENERGY TAX.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE A
DEBATE ON THE IDEAS, NOT MORE
RHETORIC AND FALSE CHOICES FROM
THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR
ALLIES.
IN CONCLUSION,
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET
SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR
ON TERRORISM.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DS THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA RISE? MR. BRIGHT: TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. BRIGHT: MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TODAY TO HONOR TWO VERY TALENTED LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS IN MY DISTRICT.
LAST WEEK GREG CAMPBELL AND
DARRELL BAILEY RECEIVED THE
HIGHEST HONORS IN THEIR
RESPECTIVE FIELDS FROM THE ALABAMA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
ASSOCIATION.
GREG RECEIVED THE BRAD MORRIS
MEMORIAL D.A. OF THE YEAR
AWARD.
AND HE SERVED IN THE COVENANT
COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE SINCE 1992
AND WAS ELECTED TO THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN 2004.
AND DARRELL BEGAN IN 1997 AND
SERVED AS CHIEF DEPUTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY SINCE 2002.
HE WAS NAMED ASSISTANT DISTRICT
ATTORNEY OF THE AR AND HE HAS
PROSECUTED CAPITAL MURDERS AS
WELL AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES IN HIS DISTRICT.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONSES TO
GREG, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE,
JULIE, ANDONS JOSEPH AND
CHARLIE, AND TO DARRELL BAILEY
AND HIS WIFE, TRACEY AND SONS
AND THEIR DEDICATION --
DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR
COMMUNITIES. I YIELD BACK MY TIME, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, FOR WHAT
PURPOSE DO YOU RISE?
MR. BURGESS: TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. BURGESS: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
ARE WE RUNNING OUT OF DOCTORS IS A QUESTION POSED BY THE
TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LAST
YEAR.
THE UNITED STATES POPULATION
CONTINUES TO GROW AND THERE IS
CONCERN THAT THERE MAY NOT BE
ENOUGH PHYSICIANS TO CARE FOR
AMERICANS.
IF WE DO NOTHING TO ASSIST THE
TRAINING OF NEW PHYSICIANS,
WAITING LINES WILL GROW LONGER,
LAPSES IN TREATMENT WILL OCCUR
AND MANY OF OUR SMALLER AND RURAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE AT
RISK OF NOT HAVING PHYSICIANS. AS THEY ENTER TRAINING IN
MEDICAL SCHOOL AND CONTINUING
ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THEIR
RESIDENCY IN HIGH-NEEDS SPESHTS
AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS
TO MAKE CERTAIN WHEN YOU NEED
HELP YOUR DOCTOR IS IN.
TWO BILLS, H.R. 914 AND H.R.
916, BIPARTISAN BILLS TO HELP
OFFER INCENTIVES FOR PHYSICIANS
TO PRACTICE IN RURAL AND
UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE
COUNTRY, HELPING TO ENSURE THAT
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE ACTUALLY
EQUALS ACCESS TO A DOCTOR FOR
ALL AMERICANS.
ALL OF THE RECENT DISCUSSION ON
HEALTH CARE REFORM HAS BEEN ON
COST AND COVERAGE, BUT IT
MATTERS NOT IF THERE ARE NOT
ENOUGH DOCTORS FOR AMERICA'S
PATIENTS.
ENSURING THAT OUR NATION HAS A
STRONG PHYSICIAN WORK FORCE IS
CRITICAL AND MUST BE PART OF
THIS NATIONAL HEALTH CARE
DEBATE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE
VISIT MY WEBSITE,
HEALTHCAUCUS.ORG.
TIME.
THE SPEAR PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENT
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE RISE?
MR. COHEN: TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. COHEN: MR. SPEAKER, TODAY I
RISE TO APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF
GHANA IN PROMOTING GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND CIVIC
PARTICIPATION.
PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL WRAP UP
THE THIRD LEG OF HIS
INTERNATIONAL TRIP IN GHANA.
HE'LL BE THERE TODAY AND I'M
REMINDED THE IMPORTANT ROLE
THIS DEMOCRATIC NATION PLAYS TO THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD.
GHANA IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT
IN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE
AFRICAN UNION.
IN ITS REGION HAS BEEN
EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN
INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING.
GHANA, THE FIRST STATE TO GAIN
ITS INDEPENDENCE, HAS SHOWN
IT'S A STABLE NATION WHOSE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE ARE
ACCOUNTABLE TO ONE ANOTHER.
THESE ACTS ARE A GOOD FIRST
STEP IN DEVELOPING FUTURE
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN US AND
GHANA.
ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS, FIVE-TIME KARATE CHAMPION,
FULFILLED HIS LIFELONG DREAM BY
VISITING GHANA IN 1998.
THE CHAMP VISITED ACRA AND ITS CHANGED LIFE.
AFTER RETURNING TO MEMPHIS, HE
DEVELOPED HIS EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTING PEOPLE ABOUT THE
CULTURAL AND IMPORTANCE OF
AFRICA AS A CONTINENT AND
GHANA.
SHOWCASED AFRICAN ARTIFACTS,
FABRIC AND ART.
THIS WEEKEND ON FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY BOTH, HE'LL BE
HONORING AFRICA AT HIS HOME AND
VITING THE PUBLIC AND HAVING
A FASHION SHOW AND AN AFRICAN
DINNER.
I'LL BE THERE.
NEXT WEEK -- NEXT YEAR I'LL
VISIT GHANA AND HOPE TO DEVELOP
TRADE BETWEEN OUR CITY, GHANA,
AND OUR NATION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA RISE?
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. PAULSEN: WE MUST NOT FORGET
WE ARE HERE FOR ONE REASON, TO
SERVE. THANKFULLY I'VE CONSTANT
REMINDERS OF THAT SPIRIT OF
SERVICE THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT.
DURING THE PAST WEEK I VISITED
TWO MAGSE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
WHERE I HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF
JOING THEIR EFFORTS.
INTERFAITH OUTREACH AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS HELPS PEOPLE
WHO ARE FACING A CRISIS,
WHETHER IT BE SUDDEN JOB LOSS
OR DEALING WITH SERIOUS HEALTH
CARE ISSUES.
ALONG WITH OPERATING A LOCAL
FOOD SHE, THEY OFFER
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
TO THOSE IN NEED.
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
PROVIDES HAND-PACKED MEALS
FORMULATED SPECIFICALLY FOR
CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM
MALNOURISHMENT AND STARVATION.
THEY SHIPHOSE MEALS TO OVER
60 COUNTRIES, PARTNERING WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATION
WORLDWIDE.
THEY'VE DEVELOPED AND HELPED
CHILDREN REGAIN THEIR HEALTH.
THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE EMBODIED
BY THESE EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS AT THESE
ORGANIZATIONS IS SOMETHING WE
SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF AND
SOMETHING WE SHOULD STRIVE FOR
EACH DAY.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, FOR WHAT PURPOSE
DO YOU RISE?
>> TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MS. SCHWARTZ: FINDING UNIQUELY
AMERICAN SOLUTION TO OUR
NATION'S HEALTH CARE CHALLENGES
MEANS EXPANDING ACCESS TO
HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH COVERAGE,
CONTAINING HEALTH COSTS,
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CARE
AND ACHIEVING BETTER HEALTH
OUTCOMES.
TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS WE MUST
THINK IN NEW WAYS ABOUT HOW TO
FRAGMENTATION, ENCOURAGE
COORDINATION, AND PROMOTE
COLLABORATION BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
MEANINGFUL HEALTH CARE REFORM
LIVERY OF CARE MODELS THAT
ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK AMONG
PROVIDERS, IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES
AND ENSURE THAT AMERICANS GET
BETTER VALUE FOR THEIR HEALTH
DOLLARS SPENT.
THIS INCLUDES PATIENT CENTERED MEDICAL HOMES AND GREATER
ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE.
WE SHOULD ALSO EXPAND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, INCLUDING THOSE
BASED IN COMMUNITY AND ACADEMIC
MEDICAL CENTERS TO DESIGN,
IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE SUCH
MODELS OF CARE DELIVERY.
I'VE INTRODUCED THE HEALTH CARE
ZONE ACT TO CREATE AND EXPAND
THESE INNOVATIVE MODELS OF
CARE.
WHEN WE PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO
PAYERS AND PROVIDERS TO WORK
TOGETHER TO IMPROVE CARE TO
COMMUNITIES AND PATIENTS, WE
WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SEE BETTER
HEALTH CARE, BETTER HEALTH CARE
OUTCOMES AND LOWER COSTS FOR
ALL OF US.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEWOMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RISE?
MS. FOXX: I ASK PERMISSION TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE, MR. SPEAKER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MS. FOXX: MR. SPEAKER, AT SOME
POINT EVERY AMERICAN WILL SEE A
DOCTOR OR REQUIRE SOME FORM OF
EMERGENCY CARE, WHETHER IT IS
THE BIRTH OF A CHILD OR AN
AGING PARENT SICK WITH CANCER.
FAMILIES ARE PRAYING FOR THE
BEST HEALTH CARE POSSIBLE FOR
THEIR LOVED ONES.
BUT RIGHT NOW DEMOCRATS ARE
PUSHING FOR A GOVERNMENT
TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE THAT WOULD SEVERELY LIMIT MANY
PATIENT'S ACCESS TO LIFESAVING
TREATMENT.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS KNOW THAT
HEALTH CARE RUN BY GOVERNMENT
BUREAUCRATS DOESN'T WORK
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN TRIED AND FAILED IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
TRAGEDIES RESULT WHEN
GOVERNMENT CONTROLS HEALTH CARE
AND MAKES DECISIONS BEST LEFT
TO DOCTORS AND THEIR PATIENTS.
REPUBLICANS WILL OFFER A BETTER
PLAN FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM,
ONE THAT PROVIDES PAENTS AND
THEIR FAMILI
OF MIND THAT COMES WITH HAVING
THE CARE THEY NEED WHEN THEY
NEED IT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEWOMAN HAS
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE, FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE?
MS. PINGE: TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MS. PINGREE: MR. SPEAKER, IN
MAINE WE ARE WITNESSING A BIRTH
OF AN INDUSTRY, A CLEAN ENERGY
INDUSTRY THAT WILL SUPPLY THE
REUNUSUAL ENERGY WE WILL NEED
TO GROW OUR ECONOMY.
IN MAINE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE, THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE
RESOURCES TO DEVELOP AND GROW
THIS INDUSTRY.
LAST WEEK MAINE HOSTED THE
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY OCEAN
CONFERENCE WHERE HUNDREDS OF
CLEAN ENERGY EXPERTS FROM
AROUND THE WORLD GATHERED AND
SAW FIRSTHAND HOW SERIOUS OUR
STATE IS ABOUT DEVELOPING
RENEWABLE ENERGY.
AND ALSO LAST WEEK THE MAINE
WIND INDUSTRY INITIATIVE WENT
PUBLIC, AND WE ORGANIZED THE
SUPPLY CHAIN FROM LARGE
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BATH IRON
WORKS TO SMALLER COMPANIES THAT
SPECIALIZE IN PRECISION
COMPOSITE MANUFACTURING.
MR. SPEAKER, MAINE HAS AN
IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN
MAINE'S CLEAN ENERGY
AND MAINE PEOPLE ARE READY TO
BE PART OF IT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTL
MR. POE: REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. POE: MR. SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT CONTROL CROWD IS
PUSHING FOR UNIVERSAL
GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH
CARE.
THEY SAY ONLY DOCTOR UNCLE SAM
CAN CURE THE HIGH COST OF
MEDICINE.
WELL, ONE WAY TO KEEP DOWN THE
COST OF HEALTH CARE THAT NO ONE
DARES MENTION IS TO SECURE THE
BORDERS.
THE FLOOD OF ILLEGALS COMING HERE FOR FREE HEALTH CARE
SERVICES COST TAXPAYERS
CALIFORNIA SPENDS $1.5 BILLION
A YEAR IN MEDICAL COSTS JUST
FOR ILLEGALS.
NO WONDER THEY'RE GOING BROKE.
TEXAS SPENDS $700 MILLION A
YEAR AND VIRGINIA SPENDS $100
MILLION A YEAR AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN A BORDER STATE.
THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE COST TO
HOSPITALS THAT TREAT ILLEGALS.
HOSPITALS AREN'T ALLOWED TO
CHECK CITIZENSHIP, SO ILLEGALS
USE EXPENSIVE EMERGENCY ROOMS
TO TREAT MINOR AILMENTS.
THE HOSPITALS THEN MUST CHARGE
MORE TO CITIZENS AND LEGAL
IMMIGRANTS JUST TO STAY IN
BUSINESS.
ILLEGALS ALSO DRIVE UP THE COST
OF MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR
EVERYBODY ELSE.
MR. SPEAKER, IF WE ARE -- IF WE
STOP PAYING FOR MEDICAL
COVERAGE FOR ILLEGALS, THEN CITIZENS AND LEGAL IMMIGRANTS
COULD OBTAIN AFFORDABLE HEALTH
CARE.
AMERICANS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED
AND COERCED TO PAY FOR THE
HEA
IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE RISE?
MS. PINGREE: BY DIRECTION OF
THE COMMITTEE ON RULES, I CALL
UP HOUSE RESOLUTION 622 AND ASK
FOR ITS IMMEDIATE
CONSIDERATION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
THE CLERK: RESOLVETHAT AT ANY
TIME AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THIS
RESOLUTION, THE CHAIR MAY
DECLARE THE HOUSE RESOLVED INTO
THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION
FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3082,
FOR CONSIDERATION OF DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED
AGENCIES FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING
2010 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL
SHALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER ARE WAIVED
EXCEPT THOSE ARISING UNDER
CLAUSE 9 OR 10 OF RULE 21.
GENERAL DEBATE SHALL BE DIVIDED
BETWEEN THE CHAIR AND RANKING
MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE OF APPROPRIATIONS.
AFTER DEBATE, THE BILL SHALL BE
CONSIDERED FOR AMENDMENT UNDER
THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE.
THE BILL SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS
READ THROUGH PAGE 58, LINE 6.
NOTWITHSTANDING CLAUSE 11 OF
RULE 18, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN
SECTION 2, NO AMENDMENT SHALL
SHAL BE IN ORDER EXCEPT THE AMENDMENTS PRINTED IN THE
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES ACCOMPANYING THIS
RESOLUTION.
EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE
OFFERED ONLY IN THE ORDER
PRINTED IN THE REPORT, MAY BE
OFFERED ONLY BY A MEMBER
DESIGNATED IN THE REPORT, SHALL
BE CONSIDERED AS READ, SHALL BE
DEBATED FOR 10 MINUTES
EQUALLIED DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE PROPONENT AND
AN OPPONENT AND SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO DIVISION OF THE
QUESTION IN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE OR THE HOUSE.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER ARE ARE
WAIVED EXCEPT THOSE ARISING
UNDER CLAUSE 9 OR 10 OF RULE
21.
THE COMMITTEE WILL RISE AND
REPORT THE BILL TO THE HOUSE
ALONG WITH SUCH AMENDMENTS AS
ADOPTED.
THE QUESTION OF THEIR ADOPTION
SHALL BE PUT TO THE HOUSEN
GROSSE, AND NOT DIVIDED. WITHOUT INTERVENING MOTION
EXCEPT ONE MOTION TO RECOMMIT
WITH OR WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS.
SECTION TWO, AFTER DISPOSITION
OF THE AMENDMENTS SPECIFIED IN
THE FIRST SECTION OF THE
RESOLUTION, THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, OR
THEIR DESIGNEES, EACH MAY OFFER
ONE PRO FORMA AMENDMENT TO THE
BILL FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE
WHICH SHALL BE CONTROLLED BY
THE PROPONENT.
SECTION 3, THE CHAIR MAY
ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT THE
COMMITTEE RISE ONLY IF OFFERED
BY THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
ON PREMISES OR HIS DESIGNEE.
THE CHAIR MAY NOT ENTERTAIN A
MOTION TO STRIKE OUT ENACTING
WORDS OF THE BILL.
DURING CONSIDERATION OF H.R.
3082, THE CHAIR MAY REDUCE TO
TWO MINUTES THE MINIMUM TIME FOR ELECTRONIC VOTING UNDER
CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 18 AND CLAUSES
8 AND 9 OF RULE 20.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA RISE?
MR. FLAKE: MR. SPEAKER, I RAISE
A POINT OF ORDER AGAINST H.R.
609 BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION
VI
BUDGET ACT.
IT INCLUDES A WAIVER OF SECTION
429 WHICH CAUSES A VIOLATION OF
462A.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: T
GENTLEMAN MAKES A POINT OF
ORDER THIS GENTLAN MET THE
THRESHOLD BURDEN TO IDENTIFY
THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ON WHICH
SOCIAL SECURITY BASED, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA AND A
MEMBER OPPOSED WILL EACH
CONTROL 10 MINUTES OF DEBATEN
-- ON THE QUESTION OF CONSIDERATION.
AFTER THE DEBATE, THE CHAIR
WILL PUT THE QUESTION OF
CONSIDERATION, TO WIT, WILL THE
HOUSE CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
MR. FLAKE: THERE MAY WELL BE
UNFUNDED MANDATES IN THIS BILL,
BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I RISE
TODAY.
I RISE BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY
MECHANISM WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT
THE FACT THAT WE'RE BRINGING
APPROPRIATION BILLS TO THE
FLOOR UNDER CLOSED OR
STRUCTURED RULES, WHICH
VIOLATES BASICALLY EVERY --
EVERY PRECEPT WE'VE HAD IN THIS
HOUSE ABOUT OPENNESS AND
TRANSPARENCY ON APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS.
FOR YEARS AND DECADES,
APPROPRIATION BILLS HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR UNDER AN
OPEN RULE, ALLOWING MEMBERS TO
OFFER AMENDMENTS TO VARIOUS
SECTIONS OF THE BILL AND NOT BE PRECLUDED FROM THAT.
BUT THESE BILLS ARE BEING
BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR ALL YEAR
UNDER CLOSED OR STRUCTURED
RULES ALLOWING VERY, VERY FEW
AMENDMENTS.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY THAT'S
IMPORTANT.
IN THE PAST, WHEN REPUBLICANS
WERE IN THE MAJORITY, WE WERE
LACKING IN A LOT OF
TRANSPARENCY ON EARMARKS.
I WOULD COME TO THE FLOOR AND
OFFER SOMETIMES A DOZEN EARMARK
AMENDMENTS ON THE FLOOR TO
STRIKE EARMARKS AND I HAD NO
IDEA, MOST TIMES, WHEN I WOULD
COME TO THE FLOOR, WHOSE
EARMARK I WAS CHALLENGING.
I WOULD SIMPLY COME AND
CHALLENGE AND SOMETIMES THE
SPONSOR WOULD COME DOWN AND
DEFEND IT, SOMETIMES THEY WNT.
BUT AT LEAST -- THEY WOULDN'T.
BUT AT LEAST I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THE
EARMARK A THERE WAS SOME TYPE
OF BACK AND FORTH AND
DISCUSSION OF IT.
NOW WE HAVE TRANDS PARENTCY
RULES WHICH IS GOOD.
SOME OF US HAVE PUSHED FOR
TRANSPARENCY RULES FOR A WHY
NOW WE KNOW WHOSE EARMARK WE'RE
CHALLENGING ON THE FLOOR.
NOW WE KNOW BECAUSE THERE'S A
NAME NEXT TO IT.
AND MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO
FILE OUT A CERTIFICATION LETTER
STATING THAT THEY HAVE NO
FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE
EARMARK THAT THEY ARE
SPONSORING.
THOSE
I'M GLAD WE HAVE THEM.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SAID
DURING THE CAMPAIGN A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO THAT WE WERE GOING TO
DRAIN THE SWAMP, REFERRING TO
SOME OF THE CORRUPTION THAT HAD
GONE ON, MUCH OF IT DUE TO
EARMARKING.
AND I'M PLEASED THAT SO
THESE TRANDS PARENTCY RULES
HAVE COME INTO BEING.
IT'S A GOOD THING.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE'VE NOT
DRAINED THE SWAMP.
WE SIMPLY KNOW HOW DEEP THE MUD
IS.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM,
BUT WE HAVE NOT DONE MUCH TO
CORRECT THAT PROBLEM.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THIS IS THE CASE HERE WITH THIS
RULE AND THE RULES ON OTHER
APPROPRIATION BILL THIS IS
YEAR.
NOW WE KNOW WHOSE EARMARKS ARE
IN THE BILLS, AND SO -- AND WE
KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM RAISE
QUESTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE
DEFENSE BILL THAT IS UPCOMING
LATER THIS MONTH. THERE ARE NUMEROUS
INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RIGHT
NOW, EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN EARMARKS AND CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS.
OUR OWN ETHICS COMMITTEE ISSUES
GUIDANCE THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU
RECEIVE A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION
IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AN
EARMARK YOU'VE SPONSORED THAT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY CONSTITUTE
FINANCIAL INTEREST.
IN OTHER WORDS, GO AHEAD AND DO
IT.
WE HAVE MANY EXAMPLES OF
EARMARKS GOING OUT AND CPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS FLOWING IN TO THE
SPONSOR OF THE EARMARK.
WE MAY NOT SEE THAT AS A
PROBLEM HEREBUT CLEARLY THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SEEMS TO SEE
THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
SO WHAT DO WE DO HERE IN THE
HOUSE?
INSTOFEDE ALLOWING MEMBERS TO
COME TO THE FLOOR DURING DEBATE
AND SAYING WHAT ABOUT THIS
EARMARK?
WHAT ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTION THIS IS A SEEM TO
HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AS SOON AS
THAT EARMARK WAS SPONSORED?
AS SOON AS THAT REPORT CAME TO THE FLOOR SAYING THAT THAT
EARMARK WAS IN THE BILL, WHY
DID CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FLOW
IN RESPONSE TO THAT?
INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO
EXAMINE THOSE THINGS, WE
DECIDED TO CUT OFF DEBATE.
SO WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY RULES
WHERE WE NOW KNOW WHOSE EARMARK
IS IN THE BILL, BUT WE'VE
PROHIBITED MEMBERS FROM
ACTUALLY COMING TO THE FLOOR TO
EXAMINE THAT.
SO YOU HAVE SOME MORE
TRANSPARENCY, BUT YOU' CUT
OUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
NOW WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS A SOME
AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED.
VERY FEW.
I THINK IN ONE BILL, THERE WERE
MORE THAN 100 AMENDMENTS
PREFILED AND ONLY MAYBE 20 OR
SO WERE ALLOWED.
I, MYSELF HAVE SUBMITTED IN ONE
OF THE LATEST BILLS A DOZEN
AMENDMENTS, WAS ONLY ALLOWED TO OFFER THREE ON THE FLOOR MY
GUESS IS, THESE ARE GOING TO BE
NARROWED FURTHER AND FURTHER
UNTIL WE GET TO THE DEFENSE
BILL LATER THIS MONTH, WHICH WE
HAVE ALLOWED ONLY ONE DAY OF
DEBATE FOR.
KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS GOING TO
BE A BILL THAT WILL HAVE,
LIKELY IF TRADITION HOLDS, MORE
THAN 1,000 EARMARKS, HOU
EARMARKS IN IT.
SEVERAL HUNDRED OF WHICH WILL
CONSTITUTE NO-BID CONTRACTS FOR
PRIVATE COMPANIES.
NEARLY ALL OF WHICH THERE WILL
BE A PATTERN OF CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS FLOWING BACK TO
THE MEMBER WHO SPONSORED THAT
EARMARK.
THIS ISN'T -- I AM NOT A FAN OF
PUBLIC FUNDING OF CAMPAIGNS.
THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION WE
SHOULD GO.
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
TYPICALLY FLOW TO MEMBERS WHO
SHARE THE PHILOSOPHY OF THAT
PERSON MAKING THE CONTRIBUTION
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A PATTERN, AS
THE PRESS HAS DULY NOTED,
ACCURATELY NOTED, THAT AS SOON
AS AN EARMARK IS SPONSORED,
OFTEN THERE'S CAMPAIGN CHECK
THIS IS A COME DIRECTLY TO THAT
MEMBER WHO SPONSORED THE
EARMARKS, THERE'S AN APPEARANCE
OF IMPROPRIETY WE HAVE TO TAKE
ACCOUNT OF HERE IN THE HOUSE.
OUR ROLE HERE IN THE HOUSE AND
THE ROLE OF THE ETHICS
COMMITTEE, IS TO MAKE SURE WE
UPHOLD THE DIGNITY OF THE INSTITUTION.
WE SIMPLY CAN'T DO THAT WHEN
YOU HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF
IMPROPRIETY AND WHEN YOU GIVE A
NO-BID CONTRACT TO A PRIVATE
COMPANY WHOSE EXECUTIVES TURN
AROUND AND MAKE LARGE CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS BA TO THAT
MEMBER WHO SPONSORED THE NO-BID
CONTRACT TO THEM, YOU HAVE THE
APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY.
IT'S SIMPLY WRONG FOR US NOW TO
SHUT DOWN DEBATE ON THAT AND
SAY, NOW WE USED TO ALLOW
MEMBERS TO CHALLENGE THESE
THINGS ON THE FLOOR, BUT NOW
APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY,
'RE SIMPLY GOING TO SHUT DOWN
DEBATE.
WE'RE IN THE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT IT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT
DEBATE TO OCCUR ON THE HOUSE
FLOOR.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THESE THINGS
WOULD BE TALKED ABOUT AND
DISCUSSED AND VETTED, THESE
EARMARKS WOULD BE VETTED ITHE
APPROPRTIONS COMMITTEE.
BUT CLEARLY THAT IS NOT THE
CASE.
IF IT WERE THE CASE, IF THESE
WERE PROPERLY VETTED IN THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, WE
WOULDN'T SEE THE SCANDALS WE'VE
SEEN.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS BEHIND BARS RIGHT NOW.
FOR SPONSORING EARMARKS.
AND TAKING MONEY FOR THEM.
NOW I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S
OCCURRING NOW, BUT THAT HAS IN
THE PAST.
AND WHEN WE CLEARLY HAVEN'T
VETTED THESE PROPERLY, AND WE
DON'T DO THIS BODY ANY SERVICE
BY CUTTING OFF DEBATE ON THE
HOUSE FLOOR AND SAYING, WE'RE
JUST GOING TO TURN A BLIND EYE
BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A
PROBLEM AND IF WE STAND ON THE
FLOOR AND DETE THESE THINGS, PEOPLE MIGHT SEE THERE IS A
PROBLEM.
SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY RULES.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
BUT ONCE YOU DO HAVE
TRANSPARENCY, YOU NEED
ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND WHEN YOU CUT OFF DEBATE AND
CUT OFF AMENDMENTS COMING TO
THE FLOOR AND BRING
APPROPRIATION BILLS UNDER
CLOSED RULES, IN VIOLATION OF
EVERY TRADITION WE'VE HAD IN
THIS HOUSE, THEN WE'VE GOT A
PROBLEM.
IT'S SAID THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE
OF THE BELTWAY DON'T CARE ABOUT
PROCESS AND THAT MAY BE TRUE.
IT'S TOUGH TO MAKE POLITICAL
POINTS ABOUT PROCESS BECAUSE
IT'S TOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE
PROCESS OF THIS INSTITUTION.
BUT BAD PROCESS ALWAYS YIELDS
BAD RESULTS.
AND BAD POLICY IT HAPPENED WHEN
WE WERE IN THE MAJORITY, WHEN
WE HELD VOTES OPEN FOR THREE
HOURS TO ALLOW LEADERSHIP AND
OTHERS TO TWIST ARMS, THAT
VIOLATED EVERY TRADITION OF THE
HOUSE, WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO
ONLY HOLD VOTES OPEN FOR 15
MINUTES OR SLIGHTLY LONGER,
THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
THAT LEADS TO BAD RESULTS.
I WOULD SUBMIT IF YOU SHUT DOWN
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS IF YOU
SHUT DOWN THE PROCESS ALLOW
MECKS TO OFFER AMENDMENTS ON
THE FLOOR AND TURN A BLIND EYE
TO WHAT MIGHT BE OCCURRING,
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A
PROBLEM.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE
THE CYNICISM, RIGHTFULLY THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THIS
INSTITUTION.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
I'VE SERVED HERE FOR NINE YEARS
THAT WONRFUL INSTITUTION.
IT REALLY.
IS WE OWE THIS BODY MUCH MORE
THAN WE'RE GIVING IT.
I WOULD HOPE THE LEADERSHIP
WOULD HAVE MORE OF A VESTED
INTEREST IN UPHOLDING THE
DIGNITY OF THE INSTITUTION
INSTEAD OF SWEEPING THESE
THINGS UNDER THE RUG AND SAY,
LET'S NOT
HOUSE FLOOR BECAUSE PEOPLE
MIGHT BE SEEING, PEOPLE MIGHT
SEE WHAT'S OCCURRING.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I HOPE
THAT PARTICULARLY WHEN WE GET
TO THE DEFENSE BILL LATER,
WHERE THERE ARE GOING TO BE
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF
EARMARKS THAT REPRESENT NO-BID
CONTRACTS TO PRIVATE COMPANIES
THAT WE ALLOW AMENDMENTS TO
COME TO THE FLOOR TO EXAMINE
SOME OF THESE, INSTEAD OF
SWEEPING THE PROCESS UNDER THE
RUG AND HOPING NOBODY PAYS
ATTENTION.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS RECOGNIZED IN OPPOSITION.
MS. PINGREE: I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA HAS
MADE SOME ELOQUENT POINTS THIS
MORNING.
I HOPE IF HE WANTS TO RESOLVE
THIS ISSUE, HE'LL JOIN ME IN
SUPPORTING THE BILL THAT IS IN
THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW ON PUBLIC
FINANCING, SINCE BOTH HE AND I
COME FROM STATES, ARIZONA AND MAINE, THAT HAVE HAD GREAT
SUCCESS WITH THIS SYSM IN
REMOVING SOME OF THE CORRUPTION
FROM THE PROCESS.
I THINK WE COULD MAKE A GOOD TEAM ON THAT ISSUE.
MR. SPEAKER, WE KNOW THAT THIS POINT OF ORDER IS NOT ABOUT
UNFUNDED MANDATES AS HE
MENTIONED OR EVEN ABOUT
EARMARKS.
IT'S ABOUT DELAYING CONSIDERING
OF THIS BILL AND ULTIMATELY
STOPPING IT ALTOGETHER.
SINCE I DO COME FROM THE STATE
OF MAINE WHERE NEARLY 1/5 OF
OUR STATE ARE VETERANS OR
ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS OF OUR
ARMED SERVICES, I KNOW THIS
BILL WE'RE ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT
TODAY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
AND PASSING THIS RULE TO ALLOW
FOR CONSIDERATION OF THIS BILL
AND MOVE FORWARD ON THESE
ISSUES AROUND ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE, MAKING SURE OUR VETERANS
GET THE BENEFITS THEY DESERVE
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE
RESIDENTS OF MY STATE AND
CERTAINLY PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL SEE
THROUGH THIS ATTEMPT AND WILL
VOTE YES SO THAT WE CAN
CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION ON
ITS MERITS AND NOT STOP IT WITH
A PROCEDURAL MOTION.
THAT IS THE LAST THING PEOPLE
WANT TO SEE HAPPENING IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IS
ENDLESS CONVERSATION ABOUT
THINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE ISSUES BEFORE US, BUT
NOT MOVING FORWARD ON THE
THINGS WE CARE ABOUT.
THOSE WHO VOTE -- WHO OPPOSE
THIS BILL CAN VOTE AGAINST IT
THE FINAL PASSAGE.
WE MUST CONSIDER THIS RULE, WE
MUST PASS THIS LEGISLATION
TODAY, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO
CLOSE, IN THE END I WILL URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES TO
CONSIDER THIS RULE, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
MR. FLAKE: WILL THE GENTLELADY
YIELD FOR 15 SECONDS?
MS. PINGREE: I WILL.
MR. FLAKE: I'M NOT GOING TO
CALL A VOTE ON THIS, WE'RE JUST
GIVEN TO LITTLE TIME TO SPEAK
THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE EVERY
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN, I
APPRECIATE THE TIME.
THANKS.
MS. PINGREE: I WILL ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES ON THIS
MOTION AND PASS THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION TODAY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA HAS
YIELDED BACK HIS TIME.
MS. PINGREE: THEN I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ALL
TIME FOR DEBATE HAS EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS SHALL THE HOUSE
NOW CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE QUESTION FOR CONSIDERATION
IS DECIDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR.
. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
FOR PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY I
YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SESSIONS.
ALL TIME YIELDED DURING
CONSIDERATION OF THE RULE IS
FOR DEBATE ONLY.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
I ALSO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON HOUSE
RESOLUTION 622.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
MS. PINGREE: MR. SPEAKER, HOUSE
RESOLUTION 622 PROVIDES FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3082, THE
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND
VETERANS' AFFAIRS
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010, UNDER
A STRUCTURED RULE.
FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, OUR
COUNTRY HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN TWO
CONFLICTS HALFWAY AROUND THE
WORL
THE NUMBER OF WOUNDED MILITARY
PERSONNEL IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN HAS PUT A FINANCIAL
STRAIN ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS' AFFAIRS.
THE VETERANS HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATES THAT
THEY WILL TREAT MORE THAN SIX
MILLION PATIENTS IN 2010,
INCLUDING OVER 400,000 VETERANS
FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
IN ADDITION, THE CONSISTENT
TRAING, DEPLOYMENT AND
REDEPLOYMENT OF OUR TROOPS HAVE
PUT A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN ON OUR MILITARY.
H.R. 3082 APPROPRIATES OVER
$133 BILLION IN FISCAL YEAR
2010 FOR MILITARY CONSTRUCTION,
VETERANS PROGRAMS AND FOUR
RELATED AGENCIES.
THE BILL PROVIDES $24.6 BILLION
FOR CONSTRUCTION AND
IMPROVEMENTS TO MILITARY BASES,
FACILITIES AND HOUSING UNITS.
THE BILL PROVIDES $450 MILLION
TO ACCELERATE THE MODERNIZATION
OF TRAINEE HOUSING, AND $2 BILLION TO CONSTRUCT AND
MAINTAIN HOUSES FOR MILITARY
FAMILIES.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES $200
MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FOR THE GUARD AND RESERVES TO
ADDRESS CRITICAL UNFUNDED
REQUIREMENTS AS A RESULT OF
PROLONGED AND REPEATED
DEPLOYMENTS.
MAINE IS HOME TO HOUNS OF GUARD
AND RESERVISTS WHO HAVE MADE AN
INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR
NATIONAL DEFENSE, AND I AM
PROUD TO SEE FUNDINGNCLUDED
IN THIS BILL FOR THEM.
H.R. 3082 ALSO RENEWS OUR
COMMITMENT TO REDEVELOP CLOSED
MILITARY BASES AND THEIR
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
THE BILL PROVIDES $7.5 BILLION
TO IMPLEMENT THE 2005 BRACC AND
$537 MILLION TO ADDRESS AN
ENORMOUS BACKLOG OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP PROJECTS
FROM THE PREVIOUS BRAC ROUNDS.
THIS IS ESSENTIAL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE TOWN OF
BRUNSWICK IN MY DISTRICT WHICH
IS EXPERIENCING ECONOMIC
DIFFICULTIES FROM THE CLOSING
OF NAVAL AIR STATION BRUNSWICK.
WHILE CONSTRUCTION IS VITAL,
THEY ARE ONLY A SMALL PORTION
OFHIS BILL.
MORE THAN 0% OF THE FUNDING IS
-- 80% OF THE FUNDING IS
DEVOTED TO VETERANS.
THE BILL PROVIDES OVER $108
BILLION FOR VETERANS MEDICAL
CARE, CLAIMS PROCESSORS AND
FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS.
H.R. 3082 INCREASES IN
APPROPRIIONS BY 14% OR $12.9
BILLION OVER THE CURRENT LEVEL.
THIS BILL INCLUDES $45 BILLION
FOR THE VETERANS HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION WITH INCREASED
FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES, ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
FOR HOMELESS VETERANS AND
INNOVATIVE SERVICES FOR
VETERANS IN RURAL AREAS.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES $85
MILLION FOR STATES TO BUILD AND
RENOVATE EXTENDED CARE
FACILITIES AND $3 BILLION TO
FUND NEW TECHNOLOGICAL
INITIATIVES WHICH WILL INCREASE
PROCESSING TIME AND IMPROVE
ELECTRON RECORD KEEPING.
AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY,
THE BILL PROVIDES FOR A
SIGNICANT AND HISTORIC CHANGE
IN THE WAY WE FUND HEALTH CARE
OF OUR VETERANS.
H.R. 3082 PROVIDES $48.2
BILLION IN ADVANCED
APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR
2011 FOR THE MEDICAL SERVICES,
MED CAN FACILITIES AND
MEDICALED A -- MEDICAL
FACILITIES AND MEDICAL
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS.
WHILE CONGRESS HAS ALWAYS TAKEN
ON THE CHALLENGES OF THIS
COUNTRY, THESE ISSUES HAVE NOT
ALWAYS BEEN SHIELDED FROM
PARTISAN BATTLES AND POLITICAL
DELAYS.
THIS CONGRESS IN THE PAST FEW
WEEKS HAS BEEN NO EXCEPTION.
BUT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WHICH
SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO
POLITICS AND DOUBT.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE ARMED SERVICES
HAVE BRAVELY SERVED OUR
COUNTRY.
THEY HAVE FOUGHT WITHOUT
QUESTION AND WITHOUT DEBATE,
AND IN DOING SO THEY HAVE
SACRIFICED TIME WITH THEIR
FAMILIES, RISKED THEIR OWN
WELL-BEING AND ALL TOO OFTEN
THEY HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR
LIVES.
BY PROVIDING ADVANCED
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE HEALTH
CARE OF OUR VETERANS, WE CAN
TAKE THE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT
THESE BENEFITS ARE NOT SUBJECT
TO POLITICS AS USUAL.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS RULE,
WHICH PROVIDES FOR
CONSIDERATION OF THIS ESSENTIAL
AND IMPORTANT BILL, AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THSPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SESSIONS: GOOD MORNING, MR.
SPEAKER.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SESSIONS: AND I APPRECIATE
THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDING ME THE
ME.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO A STRUCTURED RULE
, STRUCTURED APPROPRIATIONS
RULE, AND ALSO I'M OPPOSED TO
HOW MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES
CONTINUE TO SHUT OUT THE
MINORITY'S VOICE WITH THIS
STRUCTURED RULE.
BEFORE TAKING CONTROL OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN
2007, OUR DEMOCRAT FRIENDS
PROMISED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
THAT THIS WOULD BE THE MOST
OPEN, HONEST AND MOST ETHICAL
CONGRESS IN HISTORY.
YET, THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN
THE PAST OR FOR THE PAST 2 1/2
YEARS.
YOU HEARD MY COLLEAGUE, THE
GENTLEMAN, MR. FLAKE, TALKING
ABOUT THE PROCESS, THE PROCESS
THAT'S HAPPENING NOT JUST TODAY
BUT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR NOW
3 1/2 YEARS ON THIS FLOOR -- 2
1/2 YEARS ON THIS FLOOR.
THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THIS
DEMOCRAT MAJORITY HAS BEEN
FORCING SPENDING BILLS THROUGH
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE HAVE BEEN USING
EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE RULES TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS LEGISLATIVE
BUSINESS.
DURING THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY,
THE MOST APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
CONSIDERED UNDER A STRUCTURED
RULE IN ANY SINGLE SEASON WAS
FOUR, AND THAT WAS BACK IN
1997.
THIS MAJORITY HAS SET A NEW
RECORD FORCING EVERY
APPROPRIATIONS BILL UNDER A
STRICT, STRUCTURED RULE.
SO FAR, THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY
HAS LIMITED DEBATE ON THE SIX
SPENDING BILLS THAT THE HOUSE
HAS ALREADY PASSED, AND TODAY'S
BILL IS THE SEVENTH.
MR. SPEAKER, THAT IS NOT OPEN,
HONEST OR ETHICAL.
CHAIRMAN OBEY SAID AN ASH --
SET AN EASHTREAR TIMELINE TO
SET THE FISCAL YEAR 2010
SPENDING BILLS, WHICH HAS
FORCED THIS DEMOCRAT RUN RULES
COMMITTEE TO LIMIT EVERY SINGLE
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS'
CHANCES TO OFFER AMENDMENTS ON
THIS FLOOR.
HUNDREDS OF AMENDMENTS HAVE
BEENFFERED BY ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN
REJECTED ALSO.
REJECTED IN AN UNPRECEDENTED
FASHION.
WHAT THE HECK IS THE MAJIT
AFRAID OF?
WHY DON'T THEY WANT TO TAKE THE
NORMAL TIME, THE NORMAL PROCESS
WHY WON'T THEY ALLOW FOR AN
OPEN AND HONEST DEBATE, THE ONE
THAT THEY CALLED FOR?
MR. SPEAKER, WITH THAT SAID, I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
MAJORITY AND THE RULES
COMMITTEE FOR ALLOWING AT LEAST
MY AMENDMENT TO BE MADE IN
ORDER ON THE FLOOR TODAY.
THE CARE OF OUR NATION'S TROOPS AND VETERANS IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO ME AND EVERY
SINGLE MEMBER I BELIEVE OF THIS
BODY.
AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT MY
AMENDMENT WILL PASS ON THE
HOUSE FLOOR TODAY.
BUT, MR. SPEAKER, EVERY SINGLE
MEMBER SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT
OPPORTUNITY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE ABLE TO COME TO THIS FLOOR
UNDER AN OPEN RULE TO TALK
ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO THEM.
RULE FOR THE MILITARY
CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS'
AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF
2009.
AND I NOTE THAT MYEAR FRIEND,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE,
MR. ZACH WAMP, IS THE
REPUBLICAN LEAD ON THIS BILL
AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE
WORK THAT NOT ONLY MR. WAMP HAS
DONE BUT HOW HE HAS LED IN SUCH
A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY
UNDERSTAND HIS DEDICATION AND
DEVOTION TO THIS PROCESS.
IT'S MY INTENT TO DISCUSS THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE UNDERLYING
BILL AS WELL AS SOME OF THE
CONCERNS IN THE LEGISLATION.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT THE DEMOCRAT
MAJORITY'S LARGE INCREASE IN
SPENDING ACROSS THE BOARD FOR
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE,
ESPECIALLY IN A TIME OF HUGE
DEFICITS AND EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT.
MR. SPEAKER, I THINK WE SHOULD
AIM FOR A BALANCED BUDGET, NOT
UNLIMITED SPENDING.
I THINK THIS BODY SHOULD HAVE
TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND SET
PRIORITIES, NOT SET THE BAR SO
HIGH OR IN THIS CASE SO LOW FOR
JUST SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY
THAT WE CANNOT AND DO NOT HAVE
TO MAKE TOUGHER DECISIONS.
THIS BILL PROVIDES CRUCIAL
FUNDING NEEDED FOR THE MILITARY
CONSTRUCTION AND HOUSING
FUNDING FOR OUR TROOPS AND
THEIR FAMILIES AND OTHER
QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS.
AND THE CONGRESS SHOULD HAVTO
GO THROUGH THOSEROJECTS ONE
BY ONE AND MAKE A DETERMINATION
ABOUT WHAT IS IN THE BEST
INTEREST, NOT ONLY OF THE
COUNTRY BUT ALSO FOR OUR MILITARY.
I KNOW THAT THE FUNDING
PRIORITIES FOR ALL ESSENTIAL
PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND RELATED
AGENCIES HAVE ASKED FOR IN
THEIR BUDGETS ARE IMPORTANT.
AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THIS BILL
HONORS OUR NATION'S HEROES WHO
ARE SERVING IN OUR VOLUNTEER
MILITARY, THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED
AND ALSO HONORING THOSE WHO ARE
FALLEN VICTIMS AS WELL.
THIS BILL ILLUSTRATES THE DEEP
COMMITMENT THAT CONGRESS HAS TO
OUR MILITARY AND TO OUR
VETERANS, AND I DO RECOGNIZE
THAT THE GENTLEMAN, MR. WAMP,
AND THE GENTLEMAN, MR. EDWARDS
FROM TEXAS, AS THEY SPOKE TO
THE RULES COMMITTEE YESTERDAY,
NOT ONLY TOLTHAT STORY BUT
ALSO A SOURCE OF PRIDE OF HOW
THIS CONGRESS NEEDS TO BE
PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE
MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY.
I JOIN RANKING MEMBER LEWIS AND
HIS CONCERN REGARDING THE
ABILITY FOR THE V.A., HOWEVER
EFFECTIVELY ABSORB LARGE
FUNDING INCREASES PROVIDED BY
THIS BILL.
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
REPORT WAS CRITICAL OF THE SLOW
RATE OF THE MULTIBILLION DOLLAR
MAJOR CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT FOR
THE V.A. AND POINTS OUT TH
THE SPENDING RATES ARE WOEFULLY
SLOW HAVING ONLY SPENT $1.9
BILLION OF THE $4.4 BILLION
THAT WAS APPROPRIATED BETWEEN
YEAR 2008.
WHEN YOU ADD FISCAL YEAR 2009
AND THIS BILL, THAT ACCOUNT
THEN GROWS TO $6.5 BILLION.
I BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT
FUNDING PROJECT SHOULD BE
EXHAUSTED BEFORE RECEIVING
ADDITIONAL MONEYS.
MR. LEWIS AGREED ALSO, AND SO
DID ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS ON
THE COMMITTEE.
MR. SPEAKER, THE BILL BEFORE US
TODAY INCLUDES OVER A 15%
INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010
SPENDING OVER LAST YEAR, WHICH
ASSISTS WITH TRICARE, MORTGAGE
ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE AND OTHER
NECESSARY PERSONNEL-RELATED
ACCOUNTS.
YET, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
CONGRESS PASSED THE DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL, INCREASING
DEFENSE-RELATED FUNDING BY ONLY
4%.
THIS NATION IS AT WAR, AND MY
DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES ONLY
MODESTLY INCREASED OUR DEFENSE
AND STRATEGIC COMPASS ITS.
WHILE ALL OTHER -- CAPACITIES.
WHILE ALL OTHER BILLS ARE
INCREASING 10%, 15%, 19% AND
EVEN 33% MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S
LEVELS.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS DISPARITY
SENDS A DANGEROUS MESSAGE TO
OUR ENEMIES AND ONE TO OUR
TROOPS THAT ARE IN THE FIELD.
TO HELP CURB SOME
OUT-OF-CONTROL DEMOCRATIC
SPENDING, RANKING MEMBER JERRY
LEWIS OFFERED AN AMENDMENT IN
THE FULL COMMITTEE TT WOULD
PRIORITIZE FUNDING INCREASES
FOR DEFENSE, MILITARY
CONSTRUCTION AND OUR VETERANS
BY PROVIDING A 6% INCREASE FOR
THESE PROGRAMS, A 4% INCREASE
FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, AND
HOLDING ALL OTHER SUBCOMMITTEES
TO A VERY REASONABLE 2%
INCREASE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE AMENDMENT
WAS DEFEATED.
OUT OF THE 12 APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
HAVE REDUCED THE BURDEN ON THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC BY $35 BILLION.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT
YOU SHOULDT SPEND WHAT YOU
DON'T HAVE, AND THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT THIS DEMOCRAT MAJORITY IS
DOING AND CONTINUES TO DO.
ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION IS ON ITS WAY TO
DOUBLING THE NATIONAL DEBT IN FIVE YEARS.
IN DOING SO, IT WOULD DRIVE THE
TODAY, TO A STAGGERING 7 IS --
TO A STAGGERING 71% IN 2014.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
ON WEDNESDAY OF THIS WEEK
RELEASED A MONTHLY BUDGET
REVIEW THAT STATES THAT THE
FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT WAS $1.9
TRILLION FOR THE FIRST NINE
MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
C.B. OFMENT STATE THIS IS A
THIS IS MORE THAN $800 BILLION
GREATER THAN THE DEFICIT RECORD
IN JUNE OF 2008.
THE UNITED STATES IS LOOKING AT
A RECORD $1.8 TRILLION DEFICIT
THIS YEAR ALONE.
CONGRESS SHOULD BE PROMOTING
POLICY THIS IS A REDUCE
SPENDING AND GROW JOB GROWTH IN
THIS COUNTRY.
WHILE OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE CONTINUE TO
TAX, BORROW, AND SPEND THEIR
WAY INTO RECORD DEFICITS.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
ESTIMATES THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFIT SPENDING IS NOW MORE
THAN 2.5 TIMES WHAT IT WAS AT
THIS POINT LAST YEAR.
THE CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
IS OVER 9.5% FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE 1983.
WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
IT'S A QUESTION THAT SHOULD
CONTINUE TO BE ASKED ON THIS
FLOOR.
WHERE ARE THE JOBS THAT WERE
PROMISED FROM THIS ECONOMIC
STIMULUS, FROM THIS PRESIDENT,
AND OUR SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI?
MR. SPEAKER, NOW IS THE TIME
WHEN THE ECONOMY SHOULD BE
BOUNCING BACK, BUT THIS IS A
TIME WHEN THE DEMOCRAT CONGRESS
IS FORCING AMERICA TO --
AMERICANS TO PAY FOR A FAILED
TRILLION-DOLLAR STIMULUS
PACKAGE.
A BAILOUT FOR THOSE WHO
DEFAULTED ON THEIR MORTGAGES, A
BAILOUT FOR THOSE WHO ABUSED
THEIR CREDIT CARDS.
A BAILOUT FOR CREDIT AND
AMERICA'S BAD DECISION MAKING
FROM CORPORATE OFFICES.
A NEW NATIONAL ENERGY TAX AND A
POSSIBLE $1.5 TRILLION
CARE REFORM PACKAGE THAT WILL
FORCE 120 MILLION AMERICANS OFF
THEIR CURRENT HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE.
WHEN DOES THE SPENDING STOP?
NOT TODAY IN THIS HOUSE.
IN CLOSING, MR. SPEAKER, EVERY
MEMBER OF THIS BODY UNDERSTANDS
APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR OUR
NATION'S MILITARY AND OUR
VETERANS AND WE GIVE THANKS TO
THEM.
THIS BILL PROVIDES THE
NECESSARY BENEFITS TO OUR
SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, THEIR
I'M PROUD OF THAT.
BUT I WOULD CONTINUE TO POINT
OUT TO MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT WE
CANNOT TAX, SPEND, AND BORROW
OUR WAY OUT OF THIS RECESSION.
THIS RECESSION IS A NATIONAL
CRIS AND PUTS ALL OF US AT
RISK.
RISING UNEMPLOYMENT AND RECORD
DEFICITS CANNOT BE REMEDIES
WITH MASSIVE INCREASES IN SPENDING.
AMERICANS BACK HOME ARE
TIGHTENING THEIR BELTS AND THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS WOULD BE
WELL ADVISED TO DOHE SAME.
VOTE ON THE RULE AND I RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE DO YOU
SEEK RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLEWOMAN MANY FROM
MAINE, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE?
MS. P
SPEAKER, I YIELD TWO MINUTES OF
MY TIME TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO, MR. PERLMUTTER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
MINUTES.
MR. PERLMUTTER: I THANK MS.
PINGREE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK ON THIS RULE AND I WANT
TO THANK MY FRIEND CHET EDWARDS
AND MY -- MY FRIENDS CHET
EDWARDS AND ZACH WAMP FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND HARD WORK IN
CRAFTING THIS BILL AND THEIR
UNFAILING SUPPORT OF AMERICAN
SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS.
WITH WARS IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN ONGOING AND IN
INCREASE -- ANDN INCREASINGLY
HIGH VOLUME OF MEN AND WOMEN
SERVICE MEMBERS RETURNING HOME,
FUNDING THEIR NEEDS REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY.
AS MUCH NOW AS EVER, CONGRESS
NEEDS TO BE MAKING CRITICAL
INVESTMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS, WHICH SUPPORT SERVICE
MEMBERS' SAFETY AND QUALITY OF
LIFE AT HOME AND ON THE
BATTLEFIELD.
WE MUST ALSO MAKE GOOD ON OUR
PROMISE TO SERVICE MEMBERS
RETURNING HOME FROM THE WAR TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH THE BEST
HEALTH CARE POSSIBLE AND WE
NEED TO AID THEM BY FULLY
FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS' AFFAIRS.
THE BILL INCREASES FUNDING FOR
THE VETERANS HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION BY $4.4 MILLION
OVER LAST YEAR, IMPROVING
ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES FOR
VETERANS FOR KEY PROGRAMS,
INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
HOMELESS VETERANS AND IMPROVES
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR
VETERANS WHO LIVE IN RURAL
AREAS, SUCH AS THOSE IN
COLORADO.
IT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR
INFORMATION PROCESSING, AND
MAKES POSSIBLE EXPANDED USE OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS.
I WANT TO THANK THE VETERANS
COMMITTEE, THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE IN TAKING A -- TAKING
A GOOD LOOK, A HARD LOOK, AT
PROCESSING CLAIMS WHICH FOR A
LONG TIME WERE LAGGING AND
PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THEIR
VOICES HEARD.
THERE HAVE BEEN MOVES TO MAKE
THE CLAIMS MUCH FASTER AND MORE
ACCURATE.
MS. PINGREE: I YIELD ANOTHER
MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. PERLMUTTER: I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO THANK MY FRIENDS FOR
THEIR ASSISTANCE IN CREATING
WHAT WILL BE A STATE OF THE ART
HEALTH CARE FACILITY IN
COLORADO.
THE VETERANS IN COLORADO HAVE
BEEN PROMISED FOR YEARS AND
YEARS AND YEARS THEY WOULD GET
A FACILITY THAT WAS EQUAL TO
THE SERVICE THEY GAVE TO THIS
COUNTRY.
AND WITH THE HARD WORK OF THE
COMMITTEE, THE HARD WORK OF THE
COLORADO DELEGATION, ASSISTANCE
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE,
WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT
FACILITY BUILT IN COLORADO AND
WITH THAT, MS. PINGREE, MR.
SPEAKER, I WILL YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE?
MR. SESSIONS: I'D LIKE TO YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
MIAMI, MEMBER OF THE RULES
COMMITTEE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
MR. DIAZ-BALART: I WANT TO
THANK MY DEAR FRIEND FROM TEXAS
A GREAT LEAD FOR THE THIS
HOUSE, MR. SESSIONS FOR THE
TIME AND I RISE BECAUSE THIS
LEGISLATION WE'RE BRINGING TO
THE FLOOR TODAY INCLUDES THE
LAST INSTALLMENT IN A PROJECT
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE
COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT.
THE SOUTHERN COMMAND IS IN THE
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT I
REPRESENT, AND IT IS RECEIVING
IN THIS LEGISLATION $55.4
MILLION THAT COMPLETES THE $237
MILLION REQUIRES FOR THE NEW
HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOUTHERN
COMMAND.
WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO
THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE
NATION AND OF A THE HEMISPHERE,
THE DEFENSE OF THE HEMISPHERE
AND OBVIOUSLY TO THE COMMUNITY
THAT I AM HONORED TO REPRESENT.
PERSONNEL HAVE CONTRIBUTED OVER
$1.2 BILLION AND OTHER 20,000
JOBS TO SOUTH FLORIDA.
SOUTH FLORIDA IS THE RIGHT
PLACE FOR SOUTHCOM.
WE HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS
WORKING TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS
IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN
EDWARDS AND RANKING MEMBER WAMP
AND REALLY ALL OF THE MEMBERS
OF THE FLORIDA DELEGATION AND
-- AND OTHERS WHO HAVE WORKED
SO HARD IN A UNITED FASHION TO
MAKE THIS A REALITY A PERMANENT
FACILITY FOR SOUTHCOM.
LEASED FROM THE STATE OF
FLORIDA FOR THE GREAT TOTAL OF
$1 A YEAR.
LONG-TERM LEASE, $1 A YEAR,
THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE
COSTING THE TA
I WANT TO THANK FORMER GOVERNOR
BUSH, JEB BUSH, FOR HIS HELP IN
MAKING THIS A REALITY.
AS WELL AS GOVERNOR CHARLIE
CRIST WHO IS ALSO -- WHO HAS
ALSO DEMONSTRATED GREAT
LEADERSHIP IN MAKING THIS
PROJECT A REALITY.
WE'VE WORK WITH THE COUNTY,
THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DORAL,
THE CITY OF DORAL HAS BEEN
MARVELOUS IN ITS GOPPINGS.
TO GENERAL CRADIC, WITH WHOM WE
BEGAN WORKING ON THIS IMPORTANT
PROJECT, AND THEN ADRAL
STAREDES, WHO HAS DONE A
TREMENDOUS JOB AS HEAD OF
SOUTHCOM, HE'S NOW LEAVING US
TO GO TO EUROPE AND DEFEND THAT CONTINENT AND NOW GENERAL
FRAZIER WHO HAS JOINED SOUTHCOM
AS THE NEW HEAD.
ALL OF THEM HAVE DONE A
TREMENDOUS JOB ALONG WITH ALL
THE MEAND WOMEN AT THE
SOUTHERN COMMAND AND SO I THANK
ALL WHO HAVE HAD AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN THIS DEVELOPMENT AND
WISH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
SOUTHCOM WELL AS I CONGRATULATE
THEM BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS DONE
ITS JOB IN FUNDING THE NEW
HEADQUARTERS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE.
MS. PINGREE: I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR. SMITH.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MI
MR. SMITH: I -- THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. SMITH: I THANK CHAIRMAN
EDWARDS AND RANKING MEMBER WAMP
FOR THEIR WORK IN CRAFTING THIS
LEGISLATION.
AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS TE
OF THOUSANDS OF MILITY
VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY, I
BELIEVE WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE
BENEFITS AND TREATMENT THEY
DESERVE FOR THEIR YEARS IN
SERVICE.
THIS LEGISLATION ACCOMPLISH
THIS IS A BY PROVIDING $109
BILLION FOR THE DEPARENT OF
VETERANS' AFFAIRS, A $14.9
BILLION INCREASE OVER 2009.
IT'S ESTIMATED THE V.A. WILL
TREAT MORE THAN 61.-- 6.1
MILLION PATIENTS, INCLUDING 1.9
MILLION VETERANS OF IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
IT WILL IMPROVE ACCESS FOR
VETERANS IN RURAL AREAS.
IT PROVIDES VITAL FUNDING TO
HIRE ADDITIONAL CLAIMS
PROCESSERS TO REDUCE THE
BACKLOG OF BENEFITS CLAIMS.
THESE ARE TWO OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT ISSUES WE DEAL WITH,
MAKING SURE WE DEAL WITH THE
PTSD ISSUES WHICH CONTINUE TO
BE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AND
ALSO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE
SERVICES AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE
THE LARGE NUMBER OF WOUNDED
VETERANS COMING BACK FROM OUR
WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THE
COMMITTEE INCLUDED A PROVISION
TO PROVIDE ADVANCE BUDGET
AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011
FOR RELATED ACCOUNTS.
THIS IS A GOOD STEP TO ENSURE
THAT THEY RECEIVE A TIMELY
STREAM OF FUNDING WITHOUT
SUBJECTING IT TO THE DELAY THIS
IS A CAN ARISE DUE TO THE
LARGER BUET DEBATES.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SESSIONS: WE HAVE A LOT OF
MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN
CONFERENCE WHO WANT TO COME
DOWN AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS BILL,
GENTLEMAN, DR. BEGINNING REE,
I'D KE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. GINGREY: I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND I
STAND TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS
RULE ON MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2010.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS
UNCONSCIONABLE WHAT THE
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IS DOING
REGARDING THESE APPROPRI
BILLS.
I THINK THIS IS ABOUT THE
FOURTH OR FIFTH APPROPRIATIONS
BILL THAT WE'VE BROUGHT TO THE
FLOOR WITH A STRUCTURED RULE.
THIS IS NEVER -- THIS HAS NEVER
HAPPENED TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IN
THE HISTORY OF THIS CONGRESS.
THESE SHOULD BE OPEN RULES SO
THAT EVERY MEMBER, NOT JUST
MEMBERS OF THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE, THE 40 OR 50 MEMBERS
THAT STUDY THESE BILLS, BUT
EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS
BODY WHO REPRESENTS 675,000
PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AND
THESE 50 STATES, SHOULD HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER
AMENDMENTS.
I HAVE OFFERED 10 AMENDMENTS TO
THESE FIVE BILLS.
NOT ONE, MR. SPEAKER, NOT ONE
HAS BEEN MADE IN ORDER.
NOT ONE OF THESE AMENDMENTS ARE
DILATORY.
AS AN EXAMPLE, ON THIS
PARTICULAR BILL, THE VETERANS
ADMINISTRATION APPROPRIATION, I
HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT SAYS NO
PARTY, NO REPUBLICAN OR
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY, SHOULD
HOLD THAT BILL HOSTAGE ONCE IT
PASSES TO PUT IT IN THE FORM OF
A MINI BUS COMBINING WITH SOME
OTHER LEGISLATION TO PASS
SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO
PASS AND HOLD OUR VETERANS
HOSTAGE SO THAT THEY DON'T GET
THE PAY RAISE THEY NEED.
THEY DON'T GET THE BENEFITS
THEY NEED.
THEY DON'T GET THE HEALTH CARE
THEY NEED THAT, MR. SPEAKER, IS
UNCONSCIONABLE.
FOR THAT REASON, I STAND
STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS RULE.
THE RULE SHOULD BE OPEN AND THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE KNOW THIS IS A.
I CHALLENGE HIM TO BRING THESE
BILLS TO THE FLOOR IN AN OPEN
FASHION WHI
DONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE.
IT'S TIME TO END THIS MENDACITY
AND THIS UNCONSCIONABLE
ACTIVITY.
IT'S ALL -- LET'S ALL VOTE
AGAINST THIS RULE, LET'S SEND
IT BACK, LET'S BRING FORWARD AN
OPEN RULE AND A FAIR PROCESS SO
THAT
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ACROSS
THESE 50 STATES WILL HAVE AN OPPORTITY TO BE HEARD.
AND I YID BACK MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION AT THIS
TIME?
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE.
MS. PINGREE: I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE, MR. OBEY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. OBEY: I'D LIKE TO THANK THE
GENTLEWOMAN FOR THE TIME.
I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE
FICTION THAT I HAVE JUST HEARD
FROM THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER INDICATED
THAT NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF
THE CONGRESS HAVE WE HAD
STRUCTURED RULES FOR APPROPRIATION BILLS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT HE
OUGHT TO READ A LITTLE HISTORY.
HE WILL FIND -- WE HAVE 12
APPROPRIATION BILLS WE HAVE TO
BRING TO THE FLOOR EACH YEAR.
HE WILL FIND THAT DURING THE
REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THIS
HOUSE AT LEAST SIX OF THE 12
BILLS WERE BROUGHT TO THIS
FLOOR UNDER STRUCTURED RULES.
HE WILL FIND THAT ALMOST 20
TIMES THAT IS THE CASE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO --
>> WILL THE GENTLEMAN YIELD?
MR. OBEY:.
NO.
I HAVE FIVE MINUTES. YOU ATTACKED ME.
I'D ASK THE CHAIR TO PREVENT
FURTHER INTERRUPTIONS.
THE FACT IS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK
THE HOUSE QUESTION.
WHY IS IT THAT SOME MEMBERS OF
THIS HOUSE BELIEVE THAT THE
BRING BILLS TO THE FLOOR THAT
ARE TOTALLY OPEN WHEN THE WAYS
AND MEANS COMMITTEE WHEN IT
BRINGS TAX BILLS TO THE FLOOR
IS ENTITLED TO HAVE A TOTALLY
CLOSED RULE?
NOW, THERE IS NO INHERENT
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, BUT
THERE IS ONE HISTORICAL
DIFFERENCE, AND THAT IS THAT
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
USED TO BE T
HANDED OUT COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS TO MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE.
AND SO THE MESSAGE WENT OUT,
DON'T MESS WITH THE WAYAND
MEANS COMMITTEE BECAUSE THEY
DETERMINE YOUR CAREER PATH IN
THIS INSTITUTION.
THERE IS NO GREAT HISTORICAL OR
HAVE THAT DIFFERENTIATION.
IT'S SIMPLY A QUESTION OF POWER
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HOUSE THAT
DETERMINED THAT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT,
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
HAS THE RIGHT TO BRING TO THE
FLOOR ITS APPROPRIATION BILLS
WITHOUT EVER GOING TO THE RULES
COMMITTEE.
AND IN FACT WE'VE HAD
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS WHO'VE DONE
THAT. THE ADVANTAGE TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IN
DOING THAT IS THAT WHEN THE
BILLS COME TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT
GOING TO THE RULES COMMITTEE
WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT ANY
LE
BILL, WHICH UNDER THE HOUSE
RULES IS OFF-LIMITS, ANY
LEGISLATION WILL BE STRICKEN
OUT OF POINT OF ORDER.
I REMEMBER WHEN NEAL SMITH
WOULD BRING HIS BILL TO THE
FLOOR AND WITHIN 20 MINUTES THE
BILL WAS SHREDDED.
THERE WERE A FEW PARAGRAPHS
LEFT IN THE BILL.
IT TOOK OUT AN HOUR TO FINISH
THE BILL AND THEN NEAL COULD GO
OUT AND HAVE A CONFERENCE WITH
THE SENATE AND DO ANYTHING HE
WANTED TO DO BECAUSE THERE WERE
NO LIMITATIONS.
SO I WOULD -- SO IT HAS BEEN AN
ADVANTAGE TO INDIVIDUAL HOUSE
MEMBERS FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE TO GO TO THE RULES
COMMITTEE.
WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A
TOTALLY OPEN RULE OR WHETHER
THERE'S A STRUCTURED RULE,
BECAUSE AT LEAST THEN
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS HAVE SOME
CAPACITY TO INFLUENCE THE RESULTS.
NOW, WE HAVE MADE QUITE CLEAR
TO THE MINORITY SIDE WE WOULD
LIKE TO PROCEED IN AS OPEN A
FASHION AS
MR. HOYER, THE MAJORITY LEADER,
AND I WENT TO THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP WEEKS AND WEEKS AGO
AND ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS
SO
AGREEMENTS SO THAT WE COULD
FINISH THESE 12 BILLS BEFORE WE
GO HOME FOR THE AUGUST RECESS.
THE MINORITY SAYS THEY WANT US
TO DO ALL OF THESE BILLS
INDIVIDUALLY, NOT WRAP THEM UP INTO C.R.
BUT THEN THEY PROCEED TO DEMAND
A PROCEDURE WHICH WILL IN THE
END RESULT IN BILLS GOING INTO
A C.R.
AND SO WE ASK THE MINORITY
LEADERSHIP, WILL YOU AGREE TO
TIME LIMITS?
AND THE RESPONSE WAS, WELL, IF
WE DID THAT, OUR CAUCUS WOULD
ELECT SOMEBODY ELSE.
WE ASKED -- NO, I WILL NOT
YIELD.
WE ASKED THE LEADERSHIP, WOULD
YOU BE WILLING TO BUY A PROCESS
IN WHICH WE'LL GIVE YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER 10 OR 15
AMENDMENTS, THE MAJORITY PARTY
WILL OFFER FIVE OR SIX, YOU
PICK THE AMENDMENTS?
AND THEY SAID, NO, THEY DIDN'T
WANT TO DO THAT.
THERE ARE A LIMIT NUMBER OF
HOURS BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME
WE RECESS.
IF WE WANT TO GET OUR WORK
DONE, WE HAVE TO LIMIT THE
DEBATE TIME AT WE SPEND ON
THESE BILLS.
SO THERE'S NOTHING RADCALLY NEW
ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE SI
JOB DONE, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO
THAT IF IT TAKES ALL SUMMER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE?
MR. SESSIONS: MR. SPEAKER,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M DELIGHTED TODAY TO YIELD TO
THE DISTINGUISH YOUNG GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA,
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. DREIER: I'LL YIELD TO HIM
AFTER I MAKE A COUE OF
POINTS.
FIRST, THE GENTLEMAN HAS ENDED
HIS REMARKS BY TALKING ABOUT
THE NEED FOR SOME KIND OF OUTSIDE ME LIMIT.
IN FACT, JUST YESTERDAY I
PULLED OUT OF MY COAT POCKET
THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE SEEN,
AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT
GETTING THE APPROPRIATIONS WORK
DONE IS IMPOANT.
IT'S A PRIORITY FOR DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE
RULES COMMITTEE WITH A GREAT
DEAL OF EASE COULD IN FACT
SIMPLY REPORT OUT A SPECIAL
RULE WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH AN
OUTSIDE TIME LIMIT ON THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS AT ALL AND WE
COULD PROCEED AS HAS BEEN THE
CASE FOTHE LAST 220 YEARS
WITH AN OPEN AMENDMENT PROCESS.
NOW, MY FRIEND ALSO REFERRED TO
THE FACT THAT -- AND I KNOW
THAT MY FRIEND FROM MARIETTA
SAID -- HE DIDN'T SAY IT WAS
UNPRECEDTED TO HAVE
STRUCTURED RULES WHEN WE DEAL
WITH APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, BUT
IT IS UNUSUAL.
AND I WILL REMIND MY FRIEND WHO
TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY THAT
BACK IN 1997 WHEN WE DID IN
FACT HAVE FIVE APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS CONSIDERED UNDER
STRUCTURED RULES, IT WAS DONE
SO AFTER IN THE CASE OF
CAME TO THE FLOOR AS OUR LATE
COLLEAGUE, THE FORMER CHAIRMAN
OF
SAID BILLS SHOULD ALWAYS BE
CONSIDERED AS PRIVILEGED.
THE DISPARITY BETWEEN A MEASURE
EMERGING FROM THE WAYS AND
MEANCOMMITTEE AND THE PRIVILEGED STRUCTURE FOR
CONSIDERATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
EASILY UNDERSTOOD IN THE RULES
OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
AND SO I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO
MY FRIEND IF HE'D LIKE TO
RESPOND TO THE NOTION OF THE
FACT THAT WE BEGAN THOSE
MEASURES THAT ULTIMATELY WOULD
BE CONSIDERED UNDER STRUCTURED
RULES, WE BEGAN THEM AS -- ONE,
UNDER A PRIVILEGED STRUCTURE,
WHICH MEANT THAT THE RULES
COMMITTEE DID NOT EVEN NEED TO
ACT BECAUSE POINTS OF ORDER
COULD BE RAISED AGAINST THE
WORK PRODUCT OF THE MEASURE
ITSELF.
AND ALSO TO THE POINT OF TIME
LIMITS. THE RULES COMMITTEE COULD
EASILY REPORT OUT OF THE RULE
THAT COULD ESTABLISH AN OUTSIDE
TIME LIMIT.
THAT
UNDER AN OPEN AMENDMENT
PROCESS.
I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO MY
FRIEND.
MR. OBEY: LET ME SIMPLY SAY TO
THE GENTLEMAN, I DON'T SEE ANY
NEED TO CONTINUE CHEWING THIS
CUT OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
MR. DREIER: RECLAIMING MY TIME,
MR. SPEAKER.
IF I COULD RECLAIM MY TIME --
MR. OBEY: I DIDN'T ASK FOR THE
TIME.
YOU OFFERED IT TO ME AND I'M ACCEPTING IT.
MR. DREIER: MY FRIEND STOOD UP
AND BEGAN SAYING WE CONSIDERED
MEASURES UNDER A STRUCTURED
RULES IN THE PAST, AND IT'S
NAME OF DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS ALIKE WHO ARE
DENIED AMENDMENTS AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WHOSE
REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOT ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE VERY
IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 9 RESPONSIBILITY OF
APPROPRIATIONS HERE.
THAT'S WHY THERE IS IN FACT
BIPARTISAN CONCERN ON THIS
ISSUE, MR. SPEAKER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION AT THIS
TIME?
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE.
THE GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SESSIONS: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS TIMWE
HAVE A YOUNG MAN WHO
COACH OF OUR BASEBALL TEAM BUT
PERHAPS EVEN BETTER THAN THAT,
JUST SHOWING HIMSELF AS AN
ALL-AMERICAN, MR. BUYER, WHO IS
A DEDICATED VETERAN OF THE
FIRST GULF WAR AND SERVED AS A
COLONEL IN THE UNITED STATES
ARMY RESERVES AND HE'S THE
RANKING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE
VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD FIVE MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MONTICELLO, INDIANA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. BUYER: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN OPPOSITION OF
THIS RULE BECAUSE H.R. 3082
REPRESENTS A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN
THE WAY THAT WE PROVIDE FUNDING
FOR V.A. MEDICAL CARE BY
PROVIDING ADVANCED
APPROPRIATIONS FOR MEDICAL
SERVICES, MEDICAL FACILITIES
AND MEDICAL SUPPORTS AND
COMPLIANCE ACCOUNTS.
NOW, I HAVE SOME GREAT CONCERNS
BECAUSE OF THE STRESS PLACED ON
THE BUDGET MODEL
IN THE V.A. SUPPLEMENTAL
BUSINESS.
IT ALSO LEAVES OUT THE I.T. AND
MEDICAL RESEARCH ACCOUNTS.
SO MY AMENDMENT THAT WAS NOT
MADE INRDER UNDER THIS RULE
TRIED TO CORRECT WHAT I VIEWED
AS A FLAWED PROCESS.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE ADDED
THE V.A. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SYSTEMS AND THE V.A. MEDICAL
AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH
ACCOUNTS TO THE OTHER V.A.
MEDICAL CARE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE
INCLUDED IN THE ADVANCED
APPROPRIATION SECTION.
NOW, MANY ISSUES WERRAISED
ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSALS THAT HAD ADVANCED
ITEMS ON THE COMMITTEE ON
VETERANS' AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT
HEARING INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING
-- FUNDING SOME ACCOUNTS UNDER
ADVANCED APPROPRIATION AND SOME
ACCOUNTS UNDER FISCAL
APPROPRIATION COULD POTENTIALLY
CREATE ACCOUNTING
SECRETARY SHINSEKI EXPRESSED
CONCERN THAT THE V.A. I.T. IS
INTEGRATED INTO THE ACCOUNTS
AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR
ADVANCED APPROPRIATION.
THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE OBSERVED THAT NOT
INCLUDING I.T. IN ADVANCED
APPROPRIATIONS COULD, QUOTE,
CREATE A SITUATION WHEREBY, FOR
EXAMPLE, V.H.A. COULD NOT
PURCHASE COMPUTER SOFTWARE
ALTHOUGH IT HAS PROCURED
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT NEEDS
THE I.T. SOFTWARE, END QUOTE.
OR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
THE NECESSARY I.T.
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEW
COMMUNITY BASED OUTPATIENT
CLINICS.
THEY ALSO POINTED OUT THE
FAILURE TO INCLUDE PROSTHETIC
RESEARCH COULD RAISE PROBLEMS
FOR FUNDING RESEARCH PROJECTS
AND RESEARCH SUPPORT, SUCH AS
PERSONNEL COSTS AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
WHEN I OFFERED A SIMILAR
AMENDMENT AT THE FULL COMMITTEE
MARKUP OF H.R. 1016, AS
AMENDED, WHICH IS -- WHICH IS
THE BILL THAT AUTHORIZED THE
ADVANCED APPROPRIATIONS
PROPOSAL, IT RECEIVED BROAD
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND PASSED
THE VETERANS' AFFAIRS
AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE 17-8.
SINCE THE LANGUAGE OF MY
AMENDMENT WAS A ALSO PART
THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BILL
WHEN IT PASSED THE HOUSE, ALL I
WAS TRYING TO DO WAS BRING
CONSISTENCY BETWEEN H.R. 1016,
AS AMENDED, AND THE BILL BEFORE
US TOD. EVERY MEMBER OF THE RULES
COMMITTEE VOTED IN FAVOR OF
1016, SO I'M DISAPPOINTED TO
SEE THAT THE VERY SAME
PROVISION WAS NOT MADE IN
ORDER.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
PARTICULARLY THE VETERANS,
DESERVES A FAIR AND OPEN
PROCESS AND DEBATE ON THIS
ISSUE, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE
THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN
BLOCKED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE
FOR PARTISAN REASONS.
SINCE OPEN DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE
WAS DISALLOWED, IT'S MY HOPE TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CHAIRMAN
EDWARDS AND RANKING MEMBER WAMP
TO INCLUDE THESE ACCOUNTS IN
NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET RESOLUTION
AND THEN IN THE 2011'S
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.
THAT'S THE ONLY CHOICE THAT I
NOW HAVE.
SO I'LL WORK -- ATTEMPT TO WORK
WITH YOU IF YOU WANT TO WORK
WITH ME.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED AROUND THIS
PLACE IS BIPARTISANSHIP IS A
CHOICE.
IT'S A CHOICE.
AND I'VE BEEN HERE NOW FOR 17
YEARS, AND I'VE LISTENED TO
CHAIRMAN OBEY, NOT ONLY IN THE
MAJORITY, IN THE MINORITY AND
NOW BACK IN THE MAJORITY.
AND BEING CONSISTENT TO MY GOOD
SO IF YOU CAN REMEMBER WHAT YOU
WERE LIKE IN THE MINORITY, BE
CONSISTENT TO HOW YOU'RE LIKE
IN TH
YOU ENDURE RESPECT FROM ALL OF
US.
THAT'S MY GOOD COUNSEL TO MY
GOOD FRIEND.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE. MS. PINGREE: I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE G
COLORADO, A MEMBER OF THE RULES COMMITTEE, MR. POLIS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. POLIS: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R.
3082, THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2010, AND THE RULE.
I'D LIKE TO THANCHAIRMAN
EDWARDS OF THE MILITARY
CONSTRTION AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS CHAIRMAN
OBEY, FOR THEIR HARD WORK AS
WELL AS THE DEDICATED WORK OF
THEIR STAFF IN BRINGING THIS
BILL BEFORE US.
THIS LEGISLATION TRULY REFLECTS
OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SERVICE
MEN AND WOMEN AS WELL AS OUR
VETERANS WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH
TO DEFEND THE FREEDOMS THAT WE
ENJOY EVERY DAY.
IN THE MIDST OF AN ECONOMIC
CRIS AND A WAR ON TWO FRONTS,
FULLY FUNDING THE VETERANS'
AFFAIRS BILL IS CRITICAL TO OUR
COUNTRY'S ABILITY TO ADDRESS
THE NEEDS OF OUR VETERANS AND OUR MILITARY FAMILIES.
THIS BILL AUTHORIZES FUNDING
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO FUND A NUMBER OF
WORTHY PROJECTS, SUCH AS
BUILDING HOUSING FOR OUR
TROOPS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
AND GRANTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES AND
VETERANS CEMETERIES.
AS A COLORADAN, I'M
PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO SEE
THAT THE FITZSIMMONS VETERANS'
AFFAIRS HOSPITAL IN AURORA WILL
RECEIVE $19 MILLION AS PART OF
THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION BILL.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR THE
STATE OF COLORADO AND FOR THE
VETERANS IN MY DISTRICT TO HAVE
ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE CLOSE TO THEIR HOME.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO SECRETARY
SHINSEKI WHO INVITED US FROM
THE COLORADO DELEGATION TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
TO MAKE THIS AOUNCEMENT LAST
MONTH AND HIS STAFF.
THEY'VE TRULY RECOGNIZED THE
URGENCY OF COMPLETING A PROJECT
THAT'S BEEN TORN BY UNCERTAINTY
AND GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING
BOARD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND
FINALLY MOVE FORWARD AND
FUNDING THIS MILITARY
CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS'
AFFAIRS ACT.
THIS BILL WILL HELP ENSURE THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES
TO MOVE QUICKLY FORWARD, AND I
URGE
ON THE RULE AND VOTE YES ON THE
FINAL PASSAGE OF 3082.
THANK YOU, AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE?
MR. SESSIONS: I'D LIKE TO YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM OKLAHOMA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
RULE.
AS CONGRESS MOVES FORWARD IN
THE DEBATE ON HEALTH CARE, WE
SHOULD ENSURE THAT ANY NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN
PRESERVES THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF
OUR VETERANS AND SERVICE
MEMBERS AS WELL AS PROTECTS THE
UNIQUE IDENTITY AND ROLE OF THE
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS AN
ASSURANCES THEY DEPEND ON.
IF WE SUBJECT THESE BENEFITS TO
NEW TAXATION OR IF WE FOLD THEM
INTO A LARGE GOVERNMENT-RUN
PROGRAM, THE QUALITY AND
AVAILABILITY OF CARE FOR OUR
NATION'S VETERANS WILL SUFFER.
IT COULD UNDERMINE RECRUITING, RETENTION AND ULTIMATELY
NATIONAL SECURITY.
I HOPED TODAY TO OFFER AN
AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY
NEW HEALTH CARE PROGRAM WOULD
NOT UNDERCUT THE SERVICES
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR OUR MEN
AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT
ALLOWED TO DO SO TODAY BECAUSE
OF THE CLOSED RULE.
IT IS FRUSTRATING WHEN GOOD
IDEAS CANNOT MOVE FORWARD. MR. SPEAKER, THE SERVICE
MEMBERS AND VETERANS IN OUR
COUNTRY WHO HAVE SERVED R
NATION, THEY HAVE UNIQUE HEALTH
CARE NEEDS.
WE FULFILL THEM THROUGH
SPECIFIC MECHANISMS, SUCH AS
THE V.A., TRICARE, AND OTHERS.
THESE ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING
SURE WE MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS TO
THOSE SERVING IN UNIFORM AND
THAT WE DO SO IN A PERSONAL AND
EFFECTIVE WAY.
THEY PROVIDE SPECIFIC NEED
COVERAGE THAT RECOGNIZES THE
EXTRAORDINARY SACRIFICES THAT
ARE INHERENT TO THOSE WHO SERVE
IN OUR MILITARY.
SIMILARLY, THERE ARE UNIQUE AND
SPECIALIZED V.A. PROGRAM THIS
IS A RECOGNIZE THE SPECIAL
GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES TO
THOSE WHO INCUR INJURIES AND
ILLNESS AS A RESULT OF THEIR
SERVICE.
MOREOVER, SPECIFIC SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES OF THOSE
WHO HELPED SERVE THE GRATEFUL
NATION TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE
WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR
ALL OF US.
IT'S TOO BAD WE ARE UNABLE TO
MOVE FORWARD ON MY AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE
RECOGNIZED AND PROTECTED THE
RESPONSIBILITY TOSSER VIS
MEMBERS AND VETERANS IN ANY
HEALTH CARE PACKAGE MOVING THROUGH CONGRESS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE.
MS. PINGREE: I RESERVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SESSIONS: I WOULD LIKE TO
ADVISE THE GENTLEWOMAN I HAVE A
FEW MINUTES LEFT, I WOULD
RESERVE MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE.
MS. PINGREE: I'M THE LAST
SPEAKER FOR THIS SIDE, I'LL
RESERVE.
MR. SESSIONS: I THINK IT'S
INTERESTING THAT TWO OF OUR
NEWEST MEMBERS FROM COLORADO
AND MAINE HAVE NEVER SEEN AN
OPEN RULE.
THEY'VE ONLY SERVED FOR SIX
MONTHS BUT THEY COULD HAVE
SERVED FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.
NEVER WOULD HAVE SEEN AN OPEN
RULE ON THIS FLOOR.
THAT'S REALLY THE MEASURE OF
WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO
TALK ABOUT.
WE'RE TEACHING OUR NEWEST YOUNG
MEMBERS WHAT TNGS SHOULDN'T
LOOK LIKE.
SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE.
WE NEED OPEN RULES.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, MR.
SPEAKER, I'M GOING TO BE ASKING FOR A NO VOTE.
NO VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION, WE CAN AMEND THIS RULE AND ALLOW FOR AN OPEN
RULE.
THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD TEACH
ESPECIALLY NEW MEMBER THAT OPEN
RULES SHOULD BE PART OF A
REGULAR PROCESS.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE
RULE THE MAJORITY BRINGS FORTH
TODAY WILL ONLY CEMENT THE
DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT THE
MAJORITY HAS BEEN SETTING NOW
FOR OVER TWO YEARS.
IT WILL ONLY DAMAGE
BIPARTISANSHIP AND IT HARMS US
IN OUR COMMITTEES.
IN COMMITTEES ABOUT WHAT THIS
SPEAKER IS DOING.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
AND VOTE NO, TO SAY NO TO THIS.
SO WE CAN ALLOW FREE AND OPEN
DEBATE ON APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
AND UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF
MILLIONS OF MESHES AND NOT JUST
REPUBLICAN BUS DEMOCRATS ALSO.
BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING SHUT
ALSO BY THEIR OWN PARTY.
THIS IS NOT OPEN, IT'S NOT
HONEST, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S
ETHICAL.
I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY WILL
COME TO REGRET THIS DECISION TO
CLOSE DOWN THIS DELIBERATIVE
PROCESS HERE IN THIS FLOOR
DURING APPROPRIATIONS SEASONS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SUBMIT THE TEXT OF MY MATERIAL
AND OTHER EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE VOTE
ON THE QUESTION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. SESSIONS: THANK YOU.
I URGE A NO VOTE ON THE RULE.
REPUBLICAN TODAY.
WE BELIEVE IT'S -- NOT JUST OUR
RIGHT, BUT THE RIGHT THING TO
DO TO COME AND SPEAK
FORTHRIGHTLY ABOUT OUR IDEAS
ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY,
ABOUT V.A. HOSPITALS THAT ARE
IN OUR DISTRICTS, ABOUT
VETERANS AFFAIRS CENTERS THAT
NEED TO OPERATE IN A MORE
EFFICIENT WAY.
WE'RE PROUD OF THE MEN AND
WOMEN THAT SERVE OUR MILITARY.
I WAS PROUD TO HAVE THE
GENTLEMAN, MR. BUYER, GULF WAR
VETERAN, COME AND SPEAK
FORTHRIGHTLY ABOUT WHAT WE THINK OUGHT TO HAPPEN.
PROUD OF OUR MILITARY.
BUT WE THINK WE ALSO TO MAKE
MORE DELIBERATIVE DECISIONS IN
THIS HOUSE.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPO
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WANT TO POINT OUT, AS WE'RE
CLOSING, THERE'S BEEN A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
CONVERSATION ON THE FLOOR ABOUT THE OPEN RULE, ABOUT THE
PROCESS HERE, I WANT TO POINT
OUT TO MEMBERS THAT EVEN UNDER
AN OPEN RULE, NEARLY 2/3 OF THE
AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE
RULES COMMITTEE WERE IN
VIOLATION OF HOUSE RULES AND
WOULD HAVE BEEN -- WOULD HAVE
BEEN SUBJECT TO POINTS OF
ORDER, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO PROCEED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
THE MAJORITY OF AMENDMENTS
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS MORNING FROM MY GOOD FRIEND IN
MINNESOTA, FROM MY COLLEAGUE IN
GEORGIA, THOSE ARE RULE THIS IS
A WOULD HAVE BEEN -- THOSE WERE
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
IN VIOLATION OF HOUSE RULES,
WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO A
POINT OF ORDER, AND WHILE THEY
MADE GOOD POINTS ABOUT WHY THEY
WANT TO HAVE HAD THEIR
AMENDMENT MOVED FORWARD, THE
POINT IS, THAT WOULDN'T HAVE
HAPPENED TODAY ANYWAY, EVEN IF
WE'D BEEN UNDER OPEN RULE.
MY COLLEAGUE FROM TEXAS
MENTIONED A FEW OF US WHO ARE NEW HERE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN
THROUGH THE APPROPRIATIONS
PROCESS UNDER OPEN RULES.
I WILL SAY THAT MOST OF THE
BILLS OTHAT COME TO THE FLOOR
COME UNDER STRUCTURED RULE.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A TRADITION
IN THE PAST OF APPROPRTIONS
BILLS COMING UNDER MORE OF AN
OPEN RULE, BUT I'VE BALANCED
THAT WITH THE REMARKS OF OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, MR.
OBEY, WHO TALKED TO US ABOUT
THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK
WE'RE EXPECTED TO GET DONE.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS BACK IN THE STATE
OF MAINE, THEY SAY, YOU'VE GOT
A LOT OF WORK TO DO, ON
RENEWABLENERGY, ON HEALTH
CARE, WE WT TO SEE YOU MOVE
FORWARD ON THOSE ISSUES WE WANT
TO SEE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
LIKE THE ONE WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY, THAT ARE GOING TO
PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES FOR
VETERAN, WE WANT TO SEE THOSE GET DONE.
WE DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO YOU
WITH HOURS OF ENDLESS DEBATE,
PARTICULARLY ON THING THIS IS A
WOULD BE SUBJECT TO POINTS OF
ORDER AND WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED
TO BE DISCUSSED.
WE WANT TO SEE YOU GET YOUR
WORK DONE.
AS A VERY PROUD MEMBER OF THE
RULES COMMITTEE, I HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO A
TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF AMENDMENT
THIS IS A COME BEFORE US.
I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE WAY
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR
WORK AND ABOUT THE CHALLENGE
THIS IS A WE ARE FACING FOR THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC, ALL THAT IS
BEFORE US, AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF GETTING OUR WORK DONE.
I DO WANT TO REMIND US TODAY
THAT IN SPITE OF ALL THE OTHER
CONVERSATION THAT'S GONE ON
THIS PARTICULAR RULE IS A VITAL
STEP FORWARD TOWARD IMPROVING
OUR MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND
INSURANCE -- ENSURING THE
QUALITY CARE OF OUR VETERANS
AND THEIR FAMILIES, MAKING SURE
IT IS WORTHY OF THEIR
SACRIFICE.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE ON THE
FLOOR THIS MORNING, TO TALK
ABOUT OUR VETERANS TO TALK
ABOUT MILITARY CONSTRUCTION TO
TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE THERE FOR THEM.
MY HOME STATE OF MAINE HAS ONE
OF THE HIGHEST POPULATION OF
VETERANS IN THE COUNTRY.
IN A STATE OF NOT EVEN TWO
MILLION PEOPLE, MAINE IS HOME
TO OVER 155,000 VETERANS,
NEARLY 1/5 OF OUR POPULATION.
THEY HAVE SERVED WITHOUT
QUESTION, WITHOUT POLITICS, AND
CERTAINLY WITHOUT DELAY.
WE MUST MAKE A PROMISE TO THEM
AND ALL OF OUR VETERAN THIS
IS A WE WILL DO THE SAME.
WE MUST PROVIDE THEM WITH
HEALTH CARE AND THE BENEFITS
THEY DESERVE WITHOUT QUESTION,
WITHOUT POLITICS, AND WITHOUT
DELAY.
PASSING H.R. 3082, WE WILL
BEGIN TO KEEP THAT PROMISE.
I URGE A YES VOTE ON THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION AND ON THE
RULE, AND I YIELD BACK
OBALANCE OF MY TIME.
I MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE RESOLUTION.
QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SESSIONS: I ASK FOR THE
YEAS AND NAYS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE
YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 9 OF RULE
20, THE CHAIR E CHAIR WILL REDUCE TO
FIVE MINUTES THE MINIMUM TIME