1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 starttime 1247230837.09487 2 00:00:04,001 --> 00:00:05,000 HOST 3 00:00:05,001 --> 00:00:08,000 WEBSITE. 4 00:00:08,001 --> 00:00:10,000 WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 10, 5 00:00:10,001 --> 00:00:11,000 2009. 6 00:00:11,001 --> 00:00:12,000 I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE 7 00:00:12,001 --> 00:00:13,000 ANTHONY D. WEINER TO ACT AS 8 00:00:13,001 --> 00:00:14,000 SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE ON THIS 9 00:00:14,001 --> 00:00:16,000 DAY. 10 00:00:16,001 --> 00:00:17,000 SIGNED, NANCY PELOSI, SPEAKER 11 00:00:17,001 --> 00:00:19,000 OF THE HOUSE OF 12 00:00:19,001 --> 00:00:21,000 REPRESENTATIVES. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 13 00:00:21,001 --> 00:00:23,000 PRAYER WILL BE OFF 14 00:00:23,001 --> 00:00:24,000 GUEST CHAPLAIN. 15 00:00:24,001 --> 00:00:27,000 THE CHAPLAIN: WOULD YOU PLEASE 16 00:00:27,001 --> 00:00:29,000 BOW YOUR HEAD IN PRAYER? 17 00:00:29,001 --> 00:00:30,000 AS THE CHALLENGES OF WINDS 18 00:00:30,001 --> 00:00:33,000 CHANGE ACROSS OUR BELOVED 19 00:00:33,001 --> 00:00:34,000 NATION, WE ASK YOU TO EMPOWER 20 00:00:34,001 --> 00:00:35,000 AND ENCOURAGE OUR LEADERS. 21 00:00:35,001 --> 00:00:40,000 RELEASE IN THEM VIBRANT FAITH 22 00:00:40,001 --> 00:00:41,000 IN YOUR WORD AND GRANT THEM 23 00:00:41,001 --> 00:00:42,000 SUPERNATURAL WISDOM TO SOLVE 24 00:00:42,001 --> 00:00:44,000 THE DAUNTING PROBLEMS FACING 25 00:00:44,001 --> 00:00:46,000 OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD. 26 00:00:46,001 --> 00:00:49,000 LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, ONLY YOU CAN 27 00:00:49,001 --> 00:00:51,000 LEAD US OUT OF DARKNESS AND 28 00:00:51,001 --> 00:00:54,000 ONLY IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR REDEEMING LOVE. 29 00:00:54,001 --> 00:00:55,000 OPEN YOUR EYES THAT WE MAY SEE 30 00:00:55,001 --> 00:00:57,000 AND YOUR EARS WE MAY HEAR WHAT 31 00:00:57,001 --> 00:01:00,000 YOUR HOLEY SPIRIT IS SAYING IN 32 00:01:00,001 --> 00:01:02,000 THESE -- HOLY SPIRIT IS SAYING 33 00:01:02,001 --> 00:01:03,000 IN THESE TRYING TIMES. 34 00:01:03,001 --> 00:01:05,000 ANOINT US WITH POWER, LOVE AND 35 00:01:05,001 --> 00:01:06,000 SOUND MINDS. 36 00:01:06,001 --> 00:01:07,000 ESTABLISH WITHIN US THE 37 00:01:07,001 --> 00:01:09,000 TENACIOUS RESOLVE NEED TO 38 00:01:09,001 --> 00:01:13,000 OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLES INSPIRED 39 00:01:13,001 --> 00:01:15,000 BY THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS. FATHER, PLEASE BLESS AND 40 00:01:15,001 --> 00:01:17,000 ENCOURAGE THE MEMBERS OF THIS 41 00:01:17,001 --> 00:01:19,000 HOUSE, THEIR FAMILIES AND STAFF 42 00:01:19,001 --> 00:01:22,000 MEMBERS AS THEY SEEK YOUR 43 00:01:22,001 --> 00:01:23,000 COUNL, SPEAK TENDERS WORDS OF 44 00:01:23,001 --> 00:01:24,000 ENCOURAGEMENT AND DIRECTION IN 45 00:01:24,001 --> 00:01:28,000 THEIR HEARTS. 46 00:01:28,001 --> 00:01:29,000 MAY THEY FEEL RENEWED AND 47 00:01:29,001 --> 00:01:31,000 ENLIGHTENED. 48 00:01:31,001 --> 00:01:32,000 AND AS THEY WORSHIP, LET THEM 49 00:01:32,001 --> 00:01:34,000 EXPERIENCE YOUR TRANSFORMING 50 00:01:34,001 --> 00:01:36,000 APPEARANCE AND LOVE. 51 00:01:36,001 --> 00:01:37,000 ALL THIS I PRAY IN THE NAME OF 52 00:01:37,001 --> 00:01:38,000 HIM, WHO IS THE LIGHT OF THE 53 00:01:38,001 --> 00:01:40,000 WORLD. 54 00:01:40,001 --> 00:01:41,000 AMEN. 55 00:01:41,001 --> 00:01:42,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 56 00:01:42,001 --> 00:01:44,000 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE -- 57 00:01:44,001 --> 00:01:45,000 THE CHAIR HAS EXAMINED THE 58 00:01:45,001 --> 00:01:47,000 JOURNAL OF THE LAST DAY'S 59 00:01:47,001 --> 00:01:48,000 PROCEEDINGS AND ANNOUNCES TO 60 00:01:48,001 --> 00:01:49,000 THE HOUSE HIS APPROVAL THEREOF. 61 00:01:49,001 --> 00:01:53,000 PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1 62 00:01:53,001 --> 00:01:54,000 THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED. 63 00:01:54,001 --> 00:01:55,000 THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL 64 00:01:55,001 --> 00:01:57,000 BE LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM 65 00:01:57,001 --> 00:01:58,000 ALABAMA, CON 66 00:01:58,001 --> 00:02:00,000 MR. BRIGHT: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE 67 00:02:00,001 --> 00:02:01,000 TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED 68 00:02:01,001 --> 00:02:02,000 STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE 69 00:02:02,001 --> 00:02:04,000 REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, 70 00:02:04,001 --> 00:02:05,000 ONE NATION UNDER GOD, 71 00:02:05,001 --> 00:02:12,000 INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBE 72 00:02:12,001 --> 00:02:14,000 JUSTICE FOR ALL. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 73 00:02:14,001 --> 00:02:16,000 CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN UP TO FIVE 74 00:02:16,001 --> 00:02:17,000 FURTHER ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES ON 75 00:02:17,001 --> 00:02:19,000 EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE. 76 00:02:19,001 --> 00:02:21,000 FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO RISE? 77 00:02:21,001 --> 00:02:22,000 MR. KUCINICH: GOOD MORNING, MR. 78 00:02:22,001 --> 00:02:24,000 SPEAKER. 79 00:02:24,001 --> 00:02:26,000 I REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. 80 00:02:26,001 --> 00:02:27,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPO 81 00:02:27,001 --> 00:02:29,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE 82 00:02:29,001 --> 00:02:30,000 GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 83 00:02:30,001 --> 00:02:31,000 MR. KUCINICH: ONE OF THE TRAGIC 84 00:02:31,001 --> 00:02:33,000 AND LAUGHABLE CONSEATS OF THE 85 00:02:33,001 --> 00:02:37,000 ENTIRE HEALTH CARE DEBATE IS 86 00:02:37,001 --> 00:02:38,000 THAT PEOPLE LOVE THEIR 87 00:02:38,001 --> 00:02:39,000 FOR-PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE 88 00:02:39,001 --> 00:02:41,000 COMPANIES. 89 00:02:41,001 --> 00:02:43,000 SO HANDS OFF THE PRIVATE 90 00:02:43,001 --> 00:02:45,000 INSURERS. 91 00:02:45,001 --> 00:02:46,000 THESE ARE THE SAME INSURANCE 92 00:02:46,001 --> 00:02:49,000 COMPANIES WHOSE PREMIUMS, 93 00:02:49,001 --> 00:02:50,000 CO-PAYS AND DEDUCTIBLES ARE 94 00:02:50,001 --> 00:02:52,000 FORCING MILLIONS OFMERICANS 95 00:02:52,001 --> 00:02:55,000 INTO POVERTY. 96 00:02:55,001 --> 00:02:58,000 60% OF ALL U.S. BANKRUPTCIES 97 00:02:58,001 --> 00:02:59,000 ARE TIED TO PEOPLE NOT BEING 98 00:02:59,001 --> 00:03:01,000 ABLE TO PAY THEIR HOSPITAL 99 00:03:01,001 --> 00:03:02,000 BILLS. 100 00:03:02,001 --> 00:03:03,000 AND MOST OF THESE PEOPLE WERE 101 00:03:03,001 --> 00:03:06,000 INSURED. 102 00:03:06,001 --> 00:03:08,000 BUT PEOPLE LOVE THEIR INSURANCE 103 00:03:08,001 --> 00:03:09,000 COMPANIES. 104 00:03:09,001 --> 00:03:10,000 NOW, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT 105 00:03:10,001 --> 00:03:12,000 INSURANCE COMPANIES MAKE MONEY 106 00:03:12,001 --> 00:03:15,000 NOT PROVIDING HEALTH CARE. 107 00:03:15,001 --> 00:03:16,000 BUT PEOPLE LOVE THEIR INSURANCE 108 00:03:16,001 --> 00:03:18,000 COMPANIES. 109 00:03:18,001 --> 00:03:19,000 SO WE HAVE TO LEAVE THEM IN A 110 00:03:19,001 --> 00:03:22,000 GAME, RIGHT? 111 00:03:22,001 --> 00:03:23,000 PEOPLE LOVE FOR-PROFIT 112 00:03:23,001 --> 00:03:24,000 SURERS, SO GOVERNMENT OUGHT 113 00:03:24,001 --> 00:03:27,000 TO GIVE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES 114 00:03:27,001 --> 00:03:29,000 A BAILOUT AND SUBSIDIZE PRIVATE 115 00:03:29,001 --> 00:03:31,000 INSURERS BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE 116 00:03:31,001 --> 00:03:33,000 THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES, 117 00:03:33,001 --> 00:03:34,000 RIGHT? 118 00:03:34,001 --> 00:03:35,000 WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE 119 00:03:35,001 --> 00:03:39,000 LOVE FOR-PROFIT SURANCE. 120 00:03:39,001 --> 00:03:41,000 I THINK PEOPLE WANT A NOT-FOR-PROFIT SYSTEM THAT 121 00:03:41,001 --> 00:03:42,000 GUARANTEES ALL AMERICANS HEALTH 122 00:03:42,001 --> 00:03:44,000 CARE. 123 00:03:44,001 --> 00:03:46,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS 124 00:03:46,001 --> 00:03:47,000 EXPIRE 125 00:03:47,001 --> 00:03:48,000 THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH 126 00:03:48,001 --> 00:03:50,000 CAROLINA, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO 127 00:03:50,001 --> 00:03:51,000 YOU RISE? 128 00:03:51,001 --> 00:03:52,000 MR. WILSON: I ASK PERMISSION TO 129 00:03:52,001 --> 00:03:53,000 ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE 130 00:03:53,001 --> 00:03:55,000 MINUTE AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND 131 00:03:55,001 --> 00:03:57,000 MY REMARKS. THE SPEAR PRO TEMPORE: 132 00:03:57,001 --> 00:03:59,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. 133 00:03:59,001 --> 00:04:01,000 MR. WILSON: MR. SPEAKER, DEMOCRATS ARE BEHOLDEN TO THE 134 00:04:01,001 --> 00:04:02,000 FAILED POLICIES OF BIG 135 00:04:02,001 --> 00:04:04,000 GOVERNMENT. 136 00:04:04,001 --> 00:04:06,000 THAT IS WHY THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMONSENSE 137 00:04:06,001 --> 00:04:08,000 PROPOSALS HOUSE REPUBLICANS 138 00:04:08,001 --> 00:04:10,000 HAVE PROVIDED TO MAKE THIS NATION STRONGER, ENERGY MORE 139 00:04:10,001 --> 00:04:11,000 AFFORDABLE AND AMERICANS 140 00:04:11,001 --> 00:04:13,000 HEALTHIER. 141 00:04:13,001 --> 00:04:14,000 RATHER THAN HAVE A REASONABLE 142 00:04:14,001 --> 00:04:15,000 DEBATE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 143 00:04:15,001 --> 00:04:17,000 DESERVE, DEMOCRATS WANT TO 144 00:04:17,001 --> 00:04:18,000 SPEND THEIR TIME PRESENTING 145 00:04:18,001 --> 00:04:19,000 FALSE CHOICES. 146 00:04:19,001 --> 00:04:20,000 BUT DESPITE THE TIRED RHETORIC 147 00:04:20,001 --> 00:04:22,000 WE HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF 148 00:04:22,001 --> 00:04:23,000 THE AISLE, HOUSE REPUBLICANS 149 00:04:23,001 --> 00:04:24,000 CONTINUE TO OFFER COMMONSENSE 150 00:04:24,001 --> 00:04:26,000 SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVEHE 151 00:04:26,001 --> 00:04:27,000 ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS, 152 00:04:27,001 --> 00:04:28,000 THROUGH RELIEF FOR FAMILIES AND 153 00:04:28,001 --> 00:04:29,000 SMALL BUSINESSES. 154 00:04:29,001 --> 00:04:31,000 WE ARE FIGHTING FOR 155 00:04:31,001 --> 00:04:33,000 PATIENT-FIRST HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP 156 00:04:33,001 --> 00:04:35,000 AMERICANS AFFORD INSURANCE, 157 00:04:35,001 --> 00:04:36,000 PROTECT THE DOCTOR-PATIENT 158 00:04:36,001 --> 00:04:37,000 RELATIONSHIP AND KEEP 159 00:04:37,001 --> 00:04:38,000 WASHINGTON OUT OF THE PRIVATE 160 00:04:38,001 --> 00:04:40,000 HEALTH CARE DECISIONS. 161 00:04:40,001 --> 00:04:41,000 WE ARE STANDING UP FOR THE 162 00:04:41,001 --> 00:04:42,000 MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES WHO CAN'T 163 00:04:42,001 --> 00:04:43,000 AFFORD A MASSIVE NATIONAL 164 00:04:43,001 --> 00:04:45,000 ENERGY TAX. 165 00:04:45,001 --> 00:04:47,000 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE A 166 00:04:47,001 --> 00:04:48,000 DEBATE ON THE IDEAS, NOT MORE 167 00:04:48,001 --> 00:04:49,000 RHETORIC AND FALSE CHOICES FROM 168 00:04:49,001 --> 00:04:51,000 THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR 169 00:04:51,001 --> 00:04:52,000 ALLIES. 170 00:04:52,001 --> 00:04:54,000 IN CONCLUSION, 171 00:04:54,001 --> 00:04:55,000 TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET 172 00:04:55,001 --> 00:04:56,000 SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE GLOBAL WAR 173 00:04:56,001 --> 00:04:58,000 ON TERRORISM. 174 00:04:58,001 --> 00:05:00,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS 175 00:05:00,001 --> 00:05:01,000 EXPIRED. 176 00:05:01,001 --> 00:05:03,000 FOR WHAT PURPOSE DS THE 177 00:05:03,001 --> 00:05:05,000 GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA RISE? MR. BRIGHT: TO ADDRESS THE 178 00:05:05,001 --> 00:05:06,000 HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. 179 00:05:06,001 --> 00:05:07,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 180 00:05:07,001 --> 00:05:10,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. 181 00:05:10,001 --> 00:05:13,000 MR. BRIGHT: MR. SPEAKER, I RISE 182 00:05:13,001 --> 00:05:15,000 TODAY TO HONOR TWO VERY TALENTED LAW ENFORCEMENT 183 00:05:15,001 --> 00:05:18,000 OFFICIALS IN MY DISTRICT. 184 00:05:18,001 --> 00:05:20,000 LAST WEEK GREG CAMPBELL AND 185 00:05:20,001 --> 00:05:21,000 DARRELL BAILEY RECEIVED THE 186 00:05:21,001 --> 00:05:23,000 HIGHEST HONORS IN THEIR 187 00:05:23,001 --> 00:05:24,000 RESPECTIVE FIELDS FROM THE ALABAMA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S 188 00:05:24,001 --> 00:05:26,000 ASSOCIATION. 189 00:05:26,001 --> 00:05:28,000 GREG RECEIVED THE BRAD MORRIS 190 00:05:28,001 --> 00:05:29,000 MEMORIAL D.A. OF THE YEAR 191 00:05:29,001 --> 00:05:32,000 AWARD. 192 00:05:32,001 --> 00:05:35,000 AND HE SERVED IN THE COVENANT 193 00:05:35,001 --> 00:05:37,000 COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE SINCE 1992 194 00:05:37,001 --> 00:05:39,000 AND WAS ELECTED TO THE DISTRICT 195 00:05:39,001 --> 00:05:40,000 ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN 2004. 196 00:05:40,001 --> 00:05:42,000 AND DARRELL BEGAN IN 1997 AND 197 00:05:42,001 --> 00:05:44,000 SERVED AS CHIEF DEPUTY DISTRICT 198 00:05:44,001 --> 00:05:45,000 ATTORNEY SINCE 2002. 199 00:05:45,001 --> 00:05:47,000 HE WAS NAMED ASSISTANT DISTRICT 200 00:05:47,001 --> 00:05:48,000 ATTORNEY OF THE AR AND HE HAS 201 00:05:48,001 --> 00:05:51,000 PROSECUTED CAPITAL MURDERS AS 202 00:05:51,001 --> 00:05:53,000 WELL AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES IN HIS DISTRICT. 203 00:05:53,001 --> 00:05:54,000 AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONSES TO 204 00:05:54,001 --> 00:05:56,000 GREG, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, 205 00:05:56,001 --> 00:05:57,000 JULIE, ANDONS JOSEPH AND 206 00:05:57,001 --> 00:06:01,000 CHARLIE, AND TO DARRELL BAILEY 207 00:06:01,001 --> 00:06:04,000 AND HIS WIFE, TRACEY AND SONS 208 00:06:04,001 --> 00:06:05,000 AND THEIR DEDICATION -- 209 00:06:05,001 --> 00:06:07,000 DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR 210 00:06:07,001 --> 00:06:10,000 COMMUNITIES. I YIELD BACK MY TIME, MR. 211 00:06:10,001 --> 00:06:12,000 CHAIRMAN. 212 00:06:12,001 --> 00:06:13,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 213 00:06:13,001 --> 00:06:14,000 GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, FOR WHAT 214 00:06:14,001 --> 00:06:16,000 PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 215 00:06:16,001 --> 00:06:18,000 MR. BURGESS: TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE AND TO 216 00:06:18,001 --> 00:06:20,000 REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. 217 00:06:20,001 --> 00:06:21,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 218 00:06:21,001 --> 00:06:22,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. 219 00:06:22,001 --> 00:06:23,000 MR. BURGESS: THANK YOU, MR. 220 00:06:23,001 --> 00:06:25,000 SPEAKER. 221 00:06:25,001 --> 00:06:27,000 ARE WE RUNNING OUT OF DOCTORS IS A QUESTION POSED BY THE 222 00:06:27,001 --> 00:06:29,000 TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LAST 223 00:06:29,001 --> 00:06:30,000 YEAR. 224 00:06:30,001 --> 00:06:31,000 THE UNITED STATES POPULATION 225 00:06:31,001 --> 00:06:32,000 CONTINUES TO GROW AND THERE IS 226 00:06:32,001 --> 00:06:33,000 CONCERN THAT THERE MAY NOT BE 227 00:06:33,001 --> 00:06:34,000 ENOUGH PHYSICIANS TO CARE FOR 228 00:06:34,001 --> 00:06:36,000 AMERICANS. 229 00:06:36,001 --> 00:06:38,000 IF WE DO NOTHING TO ASSIST THE 230 00:06:38,001 --> 00:06:39,000 TRAINING OF NEW PHYSICIANS, 231 00:06:39,001 --> 00:06:40,000 WAITING LINES WILL GROW LONGER, 232 00:06:40,001 --> 00:06:42,000 LAPSES IN TREATMENT WILL OCCUR 233 00:06:42,001 --> 00:06:46,000 AND MANY OF OUR SMALLER AND RURAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE AT 234 00:06:46,001 --> 00:06:48,000 RISK OF NOT HAVING PHYSICIANS. AS THEY ENTER TRAINING IN 235 00:06:48,001 --> 00:06:50,000 MEDICAL SCHOOL AND CONTINUING 236 00:06:50,001 --> 00:06:52,000 ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THEIR 237 00:06:52,001 --> 00:06:53,000 RESIDENCY IN HIGH-NEEDS SPESHTS 238 00:06:53,001 --> 00:06:56,000 AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS 239 00:06:56,001 --> 00:06:57,000 TO MAKE CERTAIN WHEN YOU NEED 240 00:06:57,001 --> 00:07:00,000 HELP YOUR DOCTOR IS IN. 241 00:07:00,001 --> 00:07:02,000 TWO BILLS, H.R. 914 AND H.R. 242 00:07:02,001 --> 00:07:04,000 916, BIPARTISAN BILLS TO HELP 243 00:07:04,001 --> 00:07:05,000 OFFER INCENTIVES FOR PHYSICIANS 244 00:07:05,001 --> 00:07:07,000 TO PRACTICE IN RURAL AND 245 00:07:07,001 --> 00:07:08,000 UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE 246 00:07:08,001 --> 00:07:11,000 COUNTRY, HELPING TO ENSURE THAT 247 00:07:11,001 --> 00:07:12,000 HEALTH CARE COVERAGE ACTUALLY 248 00:07:12,001 --> 00:07:14,000 EQUALS ACCESS TO A DOCTOR FOR 249 00:07:14,001 --> 00:07:15,000 ALL AMERICANS. 250 00:07:15,001 --> 00:07:16,000 ALL OF THE RECENT DISCUSSION ON 251 00:07:16,001 --> 00:07:17,000 HEALTH CARE REFORM HAS BEEN ON 252 00:07:17,001 --> 00:07:19,000 COST AND COVERAGE, BUT IT 253 00:07:19,001 --> 00:07:21,000 MATTERS NOT IF THERE ARE NOT 254 00:07:21,001 --> 00:07:22,000 ENOUGH DOCTORS FOR AMERICA'S 255 00:07:22,001 --> 00:07:23,000 PATIENTS. 256 00:07:23,001 --> 00:07:25,000 ENSURING THAT OUR NATION HAS A 257 00:07:25,001 --> 00:07:26,000 STRONG PHYSICIAN WORK FORCE IS 258 00:07:26,001 --> 00:07:27,000 CRITICAL AND MUST BE PART OF 259 00:07:27,001 --> 00:07:29,000 THIS NATIONAL HEALTH CARE 260 00:07:29,001 --> 00:07:31,000 DEBATE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE 261 00:07:31,001 --> 00:07:34,000 VISIT MY WEBSITE, 262 00:07:34,001 --> 00:07:35,000 HEALTHCAUCUS.ORG. 263 00:07:35,001 --> 00:07:36,000 TIME. 264 00:07:36,001 --> 00:07:38,000 THE SPEAR PRO TEMPORE: THE 265 00:07:38,001 --> 00:07:39,000 GENT 266 00:07:39,001 --> 00:07:40,000 FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE 267 00:07:40,001 --> 00:07:41,000 GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE RISE? 268 00:07:41,001 --> 00:07:42,000 MR. COHEN: TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE 269 00:07:42,001 --> 00:07:44,000 FOR ONE MINUTE. 270 00:07:44,001 --> 00:07:45,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 271 00:07:45,001 --> 00:07:47,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION. 272 00:07:47,001 --> 00:07:48,000 MR. COHEN: MR. SPEAKER, TODAY I 273 00:07:48,001 --> 00:07:49,000 RISE TO APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF 274 00:07:49,001 --> 00:07:51,000 GHANA IN PROMOTING GOOD 275 00:07:51,001 --> 00:07:52,000 GOVERNANCE AND CIVIC 276 00:07:52,001 --> 00:07:53,000 PARTICIPATION. 277 00:07:53,001 --> 00:07:54,000 PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL WRAP UP 278 00:07:54,001 --> 00:07:56,000 THE THIRD LEG OF HIS 279 00:07:56,001 --> 00:07:57,000 INTERNATIONAL TRIP IN GHANA. 280 00:07:57,001 --> 00:07:58,000 HE'LL BE THERE TODAY AND I'M 281 00:07:58,001 --> 00:08:00,000 REMINDED THE IMPORTANT ROLE 282 00:08:00,001 --> 00:08:02,000 THIS DEMOCRATIC NATION PLAYS TO THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD. 283 00:08:02,001 --> 00:08:03,000 GHANA IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT 284 00:08:03,001 --> 00:08:04,000 IN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE 285 00:08:04,001 --> 00:08:06,000 AFRICAN UNION. 286 00:08:06,001 --> 00:08:07,000 IN ITS REGION HAS BEEN 287 00:08:07,001 --> 00:08:09,000 EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN 288 00:08:09,001 --> 00:08:10,000 INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING. 289 00:08:10,001 --> 00:08:11,000 GHANA, THE FIRST STATE TO GAIN 290 00:08:11,001 --> 00:08:13,000 ITS INDEPENDENCE, HAS SHOWN 291 00:08:13,001 --> 00:08:15,000 IT'S A STABLE NATION WHOSE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE ARE 292 00:08:15,001 --> 00:08:17,000 ACCOUNTABLE TO ONE ANOTHER. 293 00:08:17,001 --> 00:08:18,000 THESE ACTS ARE A GOOD FIRST 294 00:08:18,001 --> 00:08:19,000 STEP IN DEVELOPING FUTURE 295 00:08:19,001 --> 00:08:20,000 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN US AND 296 00:08:20,001 --> 00:08:22,000 GHANA. 297 00:08:22,001 --> 00:08:24,000 ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS, FIVE-TIME KARATE CHAMPION, 298 00:08:24,001 --> 00:08:25,000 FULFILLED HIS LIFELONG DREAM BY 299 00:08:25,001 --> 00:08:27,000 VISITING GHANA IN 1998. 300 00:08:27,001 --> 00:08:29,000 THE CHAMP VISITED ACRA AND ITS CHANGED LIFE. 301 00:08:29,001 --> 00:08:31,000 AFTER RETURNING TO MEMPHIS, HE 302 00:08:31,001 --> 00:08:33,000 DEVELOPED HIS EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTING PEOPLE ABOUT THE 303 00:08:33,001 --> 00:08:35,000 CULTURAL AND IMPORTANCE OF 304 00:08:35,001 --> 00:08:37,000 AFRICA AS A CONTINENT AND 305 00:08:37,001 --> 00:08:38,000 GHANA. 306 00:08:38,001 --> 00:08:40,000 SHOWCASED AFRICAN ARTIFACTS, 307 00:08:40,001 --> 00:08:41,000 FABRIC AND ART. 308 00:08:41,001 --> 00:08:43,000 THIS WEEKEND ON FRIDAY AND 309 00:08:43,001 --> 00:08:45,000 SATURDAY BOTH, HE'LL BE 310 00:08:45,001 --> 00:08:46,000 HONORING AFRICA AT HIS HOME AND 311 00:08:46,001 --> 00:08:47,000 VITING THE PUBLIC AND HAVING 312 00:08:47,001 --> 00:08:48,000 A FASHION SHOW AND AN AFRICAN 313 00:08:48,001 --> 00:08:50,000 DINNER. 314 00:08:50,001 --> 00:08:51,000 I'LL BE THERE. 315 00:08:51,001 --> 00:08:53,000 NEXT WEEK -- NEXT YEAR I'LL 316 00:08:53,001 --> 00:08:55,000 VISIT GHANA AND HOPE TO DEVELOP 317 00:08:55,001 --> 00:08:56,000 TRADE BETWEEN OUR CITY, GHANA, 318 00:08:56,001 --> 00:08:58,000 AND OUR NATION. 319 00:08:58,001 --> 00:09:00,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS 320 00:09:00,001 --> 00:09:01,000 EXPIRED. 321 00:09:01,001 --> 00:09:03,000 FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES 322 00:09:03,001 --> 00:09:04,000 GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA RISE? 323 00:09:04,001 --> 00:09:05,000 >> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 324 00:09:05,001 --> 00:09:06,000 ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE 325 00:09:06,001 --> 00:09:08,000 MINUTE. 326 00:09:08,001 --> 00:09:09,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 327 00:09:09,001 --> 00:09:10,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. 328 00:09:10,001 --> 00:09:11,000 MR. PAULSEN: WE MUST NOT FORGET 329 00:09:11,001 --> 00:09:13,000 WE ARE HERE FOR ONE REASON, TO 330 00:09:13,001 --> 00:09:15,000 SERVE. THANKFULLY I'VE CONSTANT 331 00:09:15,001 --> 00:09:17,000 REMINDERS OF THAT SPIRIT OF 332 00:09:17,001 --> 00:09:18,000 SERVICE THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT. 333 00:09:18,001 --> 00:09:19,000 DURING THE PAST WEEK I VISITED 334 00:09:19,001 --> 00:09:21,000 TWO MAGSE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS 335 00:09:21,001 --> 00:09:22,000 WHERE I HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF 336 00:09:22,001 --> 00:09:23,000 JOING THEIR EFFORTS. 337 00:09:23,001 --> 00:09:24,000 INTERFAITH OUTREACH AND 338 00:09:24,001 --> 00:09:27,000 COMMUNITY PARTNERS HELPS PEOPLE 339 00:09:27,001 --> 00:09:28,000 WHO ARE FACING A CRISIS, 340 00:09:28,001 --> 00:09:29,000 WHETHER IT BE SUDDEN JOB LOSS 341 00:09:29,001 --> 00:09:30,000 OR DEALING WITH SERIOUS HEALTH 342 00:09:30,001 --> 00:09:32,000 CARE ISSUES. 343 00:09:32,001 --> 00:09:33,000 ALONG WITH OPERATING A LOCAL 344 00:09:33,001 --> 00:09:35,000 FOOD SHE, THEY OFFER 345 00:09:35,001 --> 00:09:36,000 EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 346 00:09:36,001 --> 00:09:38,000 TO THOSE IN NEED. 347 00:09:38,001 --> 00:09:39,000 FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN 348 00:09:39,001 --> 00:09:41,000 PROVIDES HAND-PACKED MEALS 349 00:09:41,001 --> 00:09:43,000 FORMULATED SPECIFICALLY FOR 350 00:09:43,001 --> 00:09:44,000 CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM 351 00:09:44,001 --> 00:09:46,000 MALNOURISHMENT AND STARVATION. 352 00:09:46,001 --> 00:09:49,000 THEY SHIPHOSE MEALS TO OVER 353 00:09:49,001 --> 00:09:50,000 60 COUNTRIES, PARTNERING WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATION 354 00:09:50,001 --> 00:09:52,000 WORLDWIDE. 355 00:09:52,001 --> 00:09:54,000 THEY'VE DEVELOPED AND HELPED 356 00:09:54,001 --> 00:09:55,000 CHILDREN REGAIN THEIR HEALTH. 357 00:09:55,001 --> 00:09:57,000 THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE EMBODIED 358 00:09:57,001 --> 00:09:59,000 BY THESE EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS AT THESE 359 00:09:59,001 --> 00:10:00,000 ORGANIZATIONS IS SOMETHING WE 360 00:10:00,001 --> 00:10:01,000 SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF AND 361 00:10:01,001 --> 00:10:02,000 SOMETHING WE SHOULD STRIVE FOR 362 00:10:02,001 --> 00:10:04,000 EACH DAY. 363 00:10:04,001 --> 00:10:05,000 AND I YIELD BACK. 364 00:10:05,001 --> 00:10:06,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 365 00:10:06,001 --> 00:10:08,000 TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS 366 00:10:08,001 --> 00:10:09,000 EXPIRED. 367 00:10:09,001 --> 00:10:10,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM 368 00:10:10,001 --> 00:10:11,000 PENNSYLVANIA, FOR WHAT PURPOSE 369 00:10:11,001 --> 00:10:12,000 DO YOU RISE? 370 00:10:12,001 --> 00:10:13,000 >> TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE 371 00:10:13,001 --> 00:10:15,000 MINUTE. 372 00:10:15,001 --> 00:10:17,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 373 00:10:17,001 --> 00:10:18,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. 374 00:10:18,001 --> 00:10:19,000 MS. SCHWARTZ: FINDING UNIQUELY 375 00:10:19,001 --> 00:10:20,000 AMERICAN SOLUTION TO OUR 376 00:10:20,001 --> 00:10:22,000 NATION'S HEALTH CARE CHALLENGES 377 00:10:22,001 --> 00:10:23,000 MEANS EXPANDING ACCESS TO 378 00:10:23,001 --> 00:10:24,000 HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH COVERAGE, 379 00:10:24,001 --> 00:10:25,000 CONTAINING HEALTH COSTS, 380 00:10:25,001 --> 00:10:26,000 IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CARE 381 00:10:26,001 --> 00:10:28,000 AND ACHIEVING BETTER HEALTH 382 00:10:28,001 --> 00:10:29,000 OUTCOMES. 383 00:10:29,001 --> 00:10:31,000 TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS WE MUST 384 00:10:31,001 --> 00:10:33,000 THINK IN NEW WAYS ABOUT HOW TO 385 00:10:33,001 --> 00:10:35,000 FRAGMENTATION, ENCOURAGE 386 00:10:35,001 --> 00:10:36,000 COORDINATION, AND PROMOTE 387 00:10:36,001 --> 00:10:40,000 COLLABORATION BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. 388 00:10:40,001 --> 00:10:41,000 MEANINGFUL HEALTH CARE REFORM 389 00:10:41,001 --> 00:10:42,000 LIVERY OF CARE MODELS THAT 390 00:10:42,001 --> 00:10:43,000 ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK AMONG 391 00:10:43,001 --> 00:10:45,000 PROVIDERS, IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES 392 00:10:45,001 --> 00:10:46,000 AND ENSURE THAT AMERICANS GET 393 00:10:46,001 --> 00:10:47,000 BETTER VALUE FOR THEIR HEALTH 394 00:10:47,001 --> 00:10:49,000 DOLLARS SPENT. 395 00:10:49,001 --> 00:10:51,000 THIS INCLUDES PATIENT CENTERED MEDICAL HOMES AND GREATER 396 00:10:51,001 --> 00:10:52,000 ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE. 397 00:10:52,001 --> 00:10:54,000 WE SHOULD ALSO EXPAND 398 00:10:54,001 --> 00:10:56,000 OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS, INCLUDING THOSE 399 00:10:56,001 --> 00:10:58,000 BASED IN COMMUNITY AND ACADEMIC 400 00:10:58,001 --> 00:10:59,000 MEDICAL CENTERS TO DESIGN, 401 00:10:59,001 --> 00:11:01,000 IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE SUCH 402 00:11:01,001 --> 00:11:03,000 MODELS OF CARE DELIVERY. 403 00:11:03,001 --> 00:11:07,000 I'VE INTRODUCED THE HEALTH CARE 404 00:11:07,001 --> 00:11:08,000 ZONE ACT TO CREATE AND EXPAND 405 00:11:08,001 --> 00:11:09,000 THESE INNOVATIVE MODELS OF 406 00:11:09,001 --> 00:11:11,000 CARE. 407 00:11:11,001 --> 00:11:12,000 WHEN WE PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO 408 00:11:12,001 --> 00:11:13,000 PAYERS AND PROVIDERS TO WORK 409 00:11:13,001 --> 00:11:15,000 TOGETHER TO IMPROVE CARE TO 410 00:11:15,001 --> 00:11:16,000 COMMUNITIES AND PATIENTS, WE 411 00:11:16,001 --> 00:11:17,000 WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SEE BETTER 412 00:11:17,001 --> 00:11:18,000 HEALTH CARE, BETTER HEALTH CARE 413 00:11:18,001 --> 00:11:20,000 OUTCOMES AND LOWER COSTS FOR 414 00:11:20,001 --> 00:11:22,000 ALL OF US. 415 00:11:22,001 --> 00:11:23,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEWOMAN HAS 416 00:11:23,001 --> 00:11:25,000 EXPIRED. 417 00:11:25,001 --> 00:11:28,000 FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE 418 00:11:28,001 --> 00:11:29,000 RISE? 419 00:11:29,001 --> 00:11:30,000 MS. FOXX: I ASK PERMISSION TO 420 00:11:30,001 --> 00:11:31,000 ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE 421 00:11:31,001 --> 00:11:33,000 MINUTE, MR. SPEAKER. 422 00:11:33,001 --> 00:11:34,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 423 00:11:34,001 --> 00:11:35,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. 424 00:11:35,001 --> 00:11:37,000 MS. FOXX: MR. SPEAKER, AT SOME 425 00:11:37,001 --> 00:11:38,000 POINT EVERY AMERICAN WILL SEE A 426 00:11:38,001 --> 00:11:39,000 DOCTOR OR REQUIRE SOME FORM OF 427 00:11:39,001 --> 00:11:41,000 EMERGENCY CARE, WHETHER IT IS 428 00:11:41,001 --> 00:11:42,000 THE BIRTH OF A CHILD OR AN 429 00:11:42,001 --> 00:11:43,000 AGING PARENT SICK WITH CANCER. 430 00:11:43,001 --> 00:11:45,000 FAMILIES ARE PRAYING FOR THE 431 00:11:45,001 --> 00:11:46,000 BEST HEALTH CARE POSSIBLE FOR 432 00:11:46,001 --> 00:11:47,000 THEIR LOVED ONES. 433 00:11:47,001 --> 00:11:48,000 BUT RIGHT NOW DEMOCRATS ARE 434 00:11:48,001 --> 00:11:50,000 PUSHING FOR A GOVERNMENT 435 00:11:50,001 --> 00:11:52,000 TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE THAT WOULD SEVERELY LIMIT MANY 436 00:11:52,001 --> 00:11:53,000 PATIENT'S ACCESS TO LIFESAVING 437 00:11:53,001 --> 00:11:55,000 TREATMENT. 438 00:11:55,001 --> 00:11:56,000 HOUSE REPUBLICANS KNOW THAT 439 00:11:56,001 --> 00:11:57,000 HEALTH CARE RUN BY GOVERNMENT 440 00:11:57,001 --> 00:11:59,000 BUREAUCRATS DOESN'T WORK 441 00:11:59,001 --> 00:12:01,000 BECAUSE IT'S BEEN TRIED AND FAILED IN OTHER COUNTRIES. 442 00:12:01,001 --> 00:12:02,000 TRAGEDIES RESULT WHEN 443 00:12:02,001 --> 00:12:04,000 GOVERNMENT CONTROLS HEALTH CARE 444 00:12:04,001 --> 00:12:05,000 AND MAKES DECISIONS BEST LEFT 445 00:12:05,001 --> 00:12:07,000 TO DOCTORS AND THEIR PATIENTS. 446 00:12:07,001 --> 00:12:08,000 REPUBLICANS WILL OFFER A BETTER 447 00:12:08,001 --> 00:12:09,000 PLAN FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM, 448 00:12:09,001 --> 00:12:10,000 ONE THAT PROVIDES PAENTS AND 449 00:12:10,001 --> 00:12:12,000 THEIR FAMILI 450 00:12:12,001 --> 00:12:13,000 OF MIND THAT COMES WITH HAVING 451 00:12:13,001 --> 00:12:15,000 THE CARE THEY NEED WHEN THEY 452 00:12:15,001 --> 00:12:16,000 NEED IT. 453 00:12:16,001 --> 00:12:18,000 I YIELD BACK. 454 00:12:18,001 --> 00:12:20,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 455 00:12:20,001 --> 00:12:22,000 TIME OF THE GENTLEWOMAN HAS 456 00:12:22,001 --> 00:12:23,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE, FOR 457 00:12:23,001 --> 00:12:25,000 WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 458 00:12:25,001 --> 00:12:27,000 MS. PINGE: TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. 459 00:12:27,001 --> 00:12:28,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 460 00:12:28,001 --> 00:12:30,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. 461 00:12:30,001 --> 00:12:31,000 MS. PINGREE: MR. SPEAKER, IN 462 00:12:31,001 --> 00:12:32,000 MAINE WE ARE WITNESSING A BIRTH 463 00:12:32,001 --> 00:12:34,000 OF AN INDUSTRY, A CLEAN ENERGY 464 00:12:34,001 --> 00:12:35,000 INDUSTRY THAT WILL SUPPLY THE 465 00:12:35,001 --> 00:12:36,000 REUNUSUAL ENERGY WE WILL NEED 466 00:12:36,001 --> 00:12:38,000 TO GROW OUR ECONOMY. 467 00:12:38,001 --> 00:12:40,000 IN MAINE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE, THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE 468 00:12:40,001 --> 00:12:41,000 RESOURCES TO DEVELOP AND GROW 469 00:12:41,001 --> 00:12:43,000 THIS INDUSTRY. 470 00:12:43,001 --> 00:12:44,000 LAST WEEK MAINE HOSTED THE 471 00:12:44,001 --> 00:12:45,000 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY OCEAN 472 00:12:45,001 --> 00:12:47,000 CONFERENCE WHERE HUNDREDS OF 473 00:12:47,001 --> 00:12:48,000 CLEAN ENERGY EXPERTS FROM 474 00:12:48,001 --> 00:12:49,000 AROUND THE WORLD GATHERED AND 475 00:12:49,001 --> 00:12:51,000 SAW FIRSTHAND HOW SERIOUS OUR 476 00:12:51,001 --> 00:12:52,000 STATE IS ABOUT DEVELOPING 477 00:12:52,001 --> 00:12:54,000 RENEWABLE ENERGY. 478 00:12:54,001 --> 00:12:56,000 AND ALSO LAST WEEK THE MAINE 479 00:12:56,001 --> 00:12:58,000 WIND INDUSTRY INITIATIVE WENT 480 00:12:58,001 --> 00:13:00,000 PUBLIC, AND WE ORGANIZED THE 481 00:13:00,001 --> 00:13:01,000 SUPPLY CHAIN FROM LARGE 482 00:13:01,001 --> 00:13:02,000 ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BATH IRON 483 00:13:02,001 --> 00:13:05,000 WORKS TO SMALLER COMPANIES THAT 484 00:13:05,001 --> 00:13:06,000 SPECIALIZE IN PRECISION 485 00:13:06,001 --> 00:13:08,000 COMPOSITE MANUFACTURING. 486 00:13:08,001 --> 00:13:09,000 MR. SPEAKER, MAINE HAS AN 487 00:13:09,001 --> 00:13:12,000 IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN 488 00:13:12,001 --> 00:13:13,000 MAINE'S CLEAN ENERGY 489 00:13:13,001 --> 00:13:14,000 AND MAINE PEOPLE ARE READY TO 490 00:13:14,001 --> 00:13:15,000 BE PART OF IT. 491 00:13:15,001 --> 00:13:17,000 I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 492 00:13:17,001 --> 00:13:20,000 TIME. 493 00:13:20,001 --> 00:13:22,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE 494 00:13:22,001 --> 00:13:24,000 GENTL 495 00:13:24,001 --> 00:13:25,000 MR. POE: REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE 496 00:13:25,001 --> 00:13:27,000 MINUTE. 497 00:13:27,001 --> 00:13:28,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 498 00:13:28,001 --> 00:13:30,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION. 499 00:13:30,001 --> 00:13:32,000 MR. POE: MR. SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT CONTROL CROWD IS 500 00:13:32,001 --> 00:13:33,000 PUSHING FOR UNIVERSAL 501 00:13:33,001 --> 00:13:35,000 GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH 502 00:13:35,001 --> 00:13:36,000 CARE. 503 00:13:36,001 --> 00:13:37,000 THEY SAY ONLY DOCTOR UNCLE SAM 504 00:13:37,001 --> 00:13:38,000 CAN CURE THE HIGH COST OF 505 00:13:38,001 --> 00:13:40,000 MEDICINE. 506 00:13:40,001 --> 00:13:41,000 WELL, ONE WAY TO KEEP DOWN THE 507 00:13:41,001 --> 00:13:42,000 COST OF HEALTH CARE THAT NO ONE 508 00:13:42,001 --> 00:13:43,000 DARES MENTION IS TO SECURE THE 509 00:13:43,001 --> 00:13:45,000 BORDERS. 510 00:13:45,001 --> 00:13:47,000 THE FLOOD OF ILLEGALS COMING HERE FOR FREE HEALTH CARE 511 00:13:47,001 --> 00:13:50,000 SERVICES COST TAXPAYERS 512 00:13:50,001 --> 00:13:51,000 CALIFORNIA SPENDS $1.5 BILLION 513 00:13:51,001 --> 00:13:52,000 A YEAR IN MEDICAL COSTS JUST 514 00:13:52,001 --> 00:13:54,000 FOR ILLEGALS. 515 00:13:54,001 --> 00:13:55,000 NO WONDER THEY'RE GOING BROKE. 516 00:13:55,001 --> 00:13:56,000 TEXAS SPENDS $700 MILLION A 517 00:13:56,001 --> 00:13:58,000 YEAR AND VIRGINIA SPENDS $100 518 00:13:58,001 --> 00:14:00,000 MILLION A YEAR AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN A BORDER STATE. 519 00:14:00,001 --> 00:14:02,000 THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE COST TO 520 00:14:02,001 --> 00:14:03,000 HOSPITALS THAT TREAT ILLEGALS. 521 00:14:03,001 --> 00:14:04,000 HOSPITALS AREN'T ALLOWED TO 522 00:14:04,001 --> 00:14:05,000 CHECK CITIZENSHIP, SO ILLEGALS 523 00:14:05,001 --> 00:14:08,000 USE EXPENSIVE EMERGENCY ROOMS 524 00:14:08,001 --> 00:14:09,000 TO TREAT MINOR AILMENTS. 525 00:14:09,001 --> 00:14:11,000 THE HOSPITALS THEN MUST CHARGE 526 00:14:11,001 --> 00:14:12,000 MORE TO CITIZENS AND LEGAL 527 00:14:12,001 --> 00:14:14,000 IMMIGRANTS JUST TO STAY IN 528 00:14:14,001 --> 00:14:15,000 BUSINESS. 529 00:14:15,001 --> 00:14:16,000 ILLEGALS ALSO DRIVE UP THE COST 530 00:14:16,001 --> 00:14:18,000 OF MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR 531 00:14:18,001 --> 00:14:19,000 EVERYBODY ELSE. 532 00:14:19,001 --> 00:14:20,000 MR. SPEAKER, IF WE ARE -- IF WE 533 00:14:20,001 --> 00:14:22,000 STOP PAYING FOR MEDICAL 534 00:14:22,001 --> 00:14:24,000 COVERAGE FOR ILLEGALS, THEN CITIZENS AND LEGAL IMMIGRANTS 535 00:14:24,001 --> 00:14:26,000 COULD OBTAIN AFFORDABLE HEALTH 536 00:14:26,001 --> 00:14:27,000 CARE. 537 00:14:27,001 --> 00:14:28,000 AMERICANS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED 538 00:14:28,001 --> 00:14:30,000 AND COERCED TO PAY FOR THE 539 00:14:30,001 --> 00:14:32,000 HEA 540 00:14:32,001 --> 00:14:33,000 IN THE UNITED STATES. 541 00:14:33,001 --> 00:14:35,000 AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. 542 00:14:35,001 --> 00:14:40,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS 543 00:14:40,001 --> 00:14:43,000 EXPIRED. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE 544 00:14:43,001 --> 00:14:46,000 GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE RISE? 545 00:14:46,001 --> 00:14:48,000 MS. PINGREE: BY DIRECTION OF 546 00:14:48,001 --> 00:14:51,000 THE COMMITTEE ON RULES, I CALL 547 00:14:51,001 --> 00:14:52,000 UP HOUSE RESOLUTION 622 AND ASK 548 00:14:52,001 --> 00:14:54,000 FOR ITS IMMEDIATE 549 00:14:54,001 --> 00:14:55,000 CONSIDERATION. 550 00:14:55,001 --> 00:14:56,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 551 00:14:56,001 --> 00:14:57,000 CLERK WILL REPORT THE 552 00:14:57,001 --> 00:15:00,000 RESOLUTION. 553 00:15:00,001 --> 00:15:01,000 THE CLERK: RESOLVETHAT AT ANY 554 00:15:01,001 --> 00:15:03,000 TIME AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THIS 555 00:15:03,001 --> 00:15:04,000 RESOLUTION, THE CHAIR MAY 556 00:15:04,001 --> 00:15:06,000 DECLARE THE HOUSE RESOLVED INTO 557 00:15:06,001 --> 00:15:08,000 THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 558 00:15:08,001 --> 00:15:10,000 HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION 559 00:15:10,001 --> 00:15:12,000 FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3082, 560 00:15:12,001 --> 00:15:15,000 FOR CONSIDERATION OF DEPARTMENT 561 00:15:15,001 --> 00:15:19,000 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED 562 00:15:19,001 --> 00:15:20,000 AGENCIES FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING 563 00:15:20,001 --> 00:15:23,000 2010 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 564 00:15:23,001 --> 00:15:24,000 THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL 565 00:15:24,001 --> 00:15:26,000 SHALL BE DISPENSED WITH. 566 00:15:26,001 --> 00:15:27,000 ALL POINTS OF ORDER ARE WAIVED 567 00:15:27,001 --> 00:15:31,000 EXCEPT THOSE ARISING UNDER 568 00:15:31,001 --> 00:15:37,000 CLAUSE 9 OR 10 OF RULE 21. 569 00:15:37,001 --> 00:15:39,000 GENERAL DEBATE SHALL BE DIVIDED 570 00:15:39,001 --> 00:15:40,000 BETWEEN THE CHAIR AND RANKING 571 00:15:40,001 --> 00:15:41,000 MINORITY MEMBER OF THE 572 00:15:41,001 --> 00:15:44,000 COMMITTEE OF APPROPRIATIONS. 573 00:15:44,001 --> 00:15:45,000 AFTER DEBATE, THE BILL SHALL BE 574 00:15:45,001 --> 00:15:46,000 CONSIDERED FOR AMENDMENT UNDER 575 00:15:46,001 --> 00:15:47,000 THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE. 576 00:15:47,001 --> 00:15:54,000 THE BILL SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS 577 00:15:54,001 --> 00:15:55,000 READ THROUGH PAGE 58, LINE 6. 578 00:15:55,001 --> 00:15:58,000 NOTWITHSTANDING CLAUSE 11 OF 579 00:15:58,001 --> 00:15:59,000 RULE 18, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN 580 00:15:59,001 --> 00:16:02,000 SECTION 2, NO AMENDMENT SHALL 581 00:16:02,001 --> 00:16:05,000 SHAL BE IN ORDER EXCEPT THE AMENDMENTS PRINTED IN THE 582 00:16:05,001 --> 00:16:06,000 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON 583 00:16:06,001 --> 00:16:08,000 RULES ACCOMPANYING THIS 584 00:16:08,001 --> 00:16:09,000 RESOLUTION. 585 00:16:09,001 --> 00:16:11,000 EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE 586 00:16:11,001 --> 00:16:12,000 OFFERED ONLY IN THE ORDER 587 00:16:12,001 --> 00:16:14,000 PRINTED IN THE REPORT, MAY BE 588 00:16:14,001 --> 00:16:16,000 OFFERED ONLY BY A MEMBER 589 00:16:16,001 --> 00:16:18,000 DESIGNATED IN THE REPORT, SHALL 590 00:16:18,001 --> 00:16:20,000 BE CONSIDERED AS READ, SHALL BE 591 00:16:20,001 --> 00:16:22,000 DEBATED FOR 10 MINUTES 592 00:16:22,001 --> 00:16:24,000 EQUALLIED DIVIDED AND 593 00:16:24,001 --> 00:16:28,000 CONTROLLED BY THE PROPONENT AND 594 00:16:28,001 --> 00:16:29,000 AN OPPONENT AND SHALL NOT BE 595 00:16:29,001 --> 00:16:30,000 SUBJECT TO DIVISION OF THE 596 00:16:30,001 --> 00:16:34,000 QUESTION IN THE COMMITTEE OF 597 00:16:34,001 --> 00:16:35,000 THE WHOLE OR THE HOUSE. 598 00:16:35,001 --> 00:16:37,000 ALL POINTS OF ORDER ARE ARE 599 00:16:37,001 --> 00:16:39,000 WAIVED EXCEPT THOSE ARISING 600 00:16:39,001 --> 00:16:41,000 UNDER CLAUSE 9 OR 10 OF RULE 601 00:16:41,001 --> 00:16:43,000 21. 602 00:16:43,001 --> 00:16:44,000 THE COMMITTEE WILL RISE AND 603 00:16:44,001 --> 00:16:46,000 REPORT THE BILL TO THE HOUSE 604 00:16:46,001 --> 00:16:47,000 ALONG WITH SUCH AMENDMENTS AS 605 00:16:47,001 --> 00:16:49,000 ADOPTED. 606 00:16:49,001 --> 00:16:53,000 THE QUESTION OF THEIR ADOPTION 607 00:16:53,001 --> 00:16:58,000 SHALL BE PUT TO THE HOUSEN 608 00:16:58,001 --> 00:17:00,000 GROSSE, AND NOT DIVIDED. WITHOUT INTERVENING MOTION 609 00:17:00,001 --> 00:17:03,000 EXCEPT ONE MOTION TO RECOMMIT 610 00:17:03,001 --> 00:17:04,000 WITH OR WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS. 611 00:17:04,001 --> 00:17:06,000 SECTION TWO, AFTER DISPOSITION 612 00:17:06,001 --> 00:17:07,000 OF THE AMENDMENTS SPECIFIED IN 613 00:17:07,001 --> 00:17:08,000 THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 614 00:17:08,001 --> 00:17:09,000 RESOLUTION, THE CHAIR AND 615 00:17:09,001 --> 00:17:11,000 RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE 616 00:17:11,001 --> 00:17:14,000 COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, OR 617 00:17:14,001 --> 00:17:15,000 THEIR DESIGNEES, EACH MAY OFFER 618 00:17:15,001 --> 00:17:17,000 ONE PRO FORMA AMENDMENT TO THE 619 00:17:17,001 --> 00:17:18,000 BILL FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE 620 00:17:18,001 --> 00:17:20,000 WHICH SHALL BE CONTROLLED BY 621 00:17:20,001 --> 00:17:21,000 THE PROPONENT. 622 00:17:21,001 --> 00:17:24,000 SECTION 3, THE CHAIR MAY 623 00:17:24,001 --> 00:17:25,000 ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT THE 624 00:17:25,001 --> 00:17:26,000 COMMITTEE RISE ONLY IF OFFERED 625 00:17:26,001 --> 00:17:28,000 BY THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE 626 00:17:28,001 --> 00:17:32,000 ON PREMISES OR HIS DESIGNEE. 627 00:17:32,001 --> 00:17:34,000 THE CHAIR MAY NOT ENTERTAIN A 628 00:17:34,001 --> 00:17:35,000 MOTION TO STRIKE OUT ENACTING 629 00:17:35,001 --> 00:17:38,000 WORDS OF THE BILL. 630 00:17:38,001 --> 00:17:39,000 DURING CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 631 00:17:39,001 --> 00:17:42,000 3082, THE CHAIR MAY REDUCE TO 632 00:17:42,001 --> 00:17:45,000 TWO MINUTES THE MINIMUM TIME FOR ELECTRONIC VOTING UNDER 633 00:17:45,001 --> 00:17:47,000 CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 18 AND CLAUSES 634 00:17:47,001 --> 00:17:49,000 8 AND 9 OF RULE 20. 635 00:17:49,001 --> 00:17:50,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR 636 00:17:50,001 --> 00:17:51,000 WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN 637 00:17:51,001 --> 00:17:54,000 FROM ARIZONA RISE? 638 00:17:54,001 --> 00:17:55,000 MR. FLAKE: MR. SPEAKER, I RAISE 639 00:17:55,001 --> 00:17:57,000 A POINT OF ORDER AGAINST H.R. 640 00:17:57,001 --> 00:18:01,000 609 BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION 641 00:18:01,001 --> 00:18:03,000 VI 642 00:18:03,001 --> 00:18:09,000 BUDGET ACT. 643 00:18:09,001 --> 00:18:14,000 IT INCLUDES A WAIVER OF SECTION 644 00:18:14,001 --> 00:18:16,000 429 WHICH CAUSES A VIOLATION OF 645 00:18:16,001 --> 00:18:17,000 462A. 646 00:18:17,001 --> 00:18:18,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: T 647 00:18:18,001 --> 00:18:19,000 GENTLEMAN MAKES A POINT OF 648 00:18:19,001 --> 00:18:23,000 ORDER THIS GENTLAN MET THE 649 00:18:23,001 --> 00:18:25,000 THRESHOLD BURDEN TO IDENTIFY 650 00:18:25,001 --> 00:18:28,000 THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ON WHICH 651 00:18:28,001 --> 00:18:29,000 SOCIAL SECURITY BASED, THE 652 00:18:29,001 --> 00:18:31,000 GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA AND A 653 00:18:31,001 --> 00:18:33,000 MEMBER OPPOSED WILL EACH 654 00:18:33,001 --> 00:18:35,000 CONTROL 10 MINUTES OF DEBATEN 655 00:18:35,001 --> 00:18:37,000 -- ON THE QUESTION OF CONSIDERATION. 656 00:18:37,001 --> 00:18:39,000 AFTER THE DEBATE, THE CHAIR 657 00:18:39,001 --> 00:18:41,000 WILL PUT THE QUESTION OF 658 00:18:41,001 --> 00:18:42,000 CONSIDERATION, TO WIT, WILL THE 659 00:18:42,001 --> 00:18:43,000 HOUSE CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION. 660 00:18:43,001 --> 00:18:45,000 THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE 661 00:18:45,001 --> 00:18:48,000 GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA. 662 00:18:48,001 --> 00:18:49,000 MR. FLAKE: THERE MAY WELL BE 663 00:18:49,001 --> 00:18:50,000 UNFUNDED MANDATES IN THIS BILL, 664 00:18:50,001 --> 00:18:52,000 BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I RISE 665 00:18:52,001 --> 00:18:53,000 TODAY. 666 00:18:53,001 --> 00:18:55,000 I RISE BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY 667 00:18:55,001 --> 00:18:56,000 MECHANISM WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT 668 00:18:56,001 --> 00:18:58,000 THE FACT THAT WE'RE BRINGING 669 00:18:58,001 --> 00:18:59,000 APPROPRIATION BILLS TO THE 670 00:18:59,001 --> 00:19:02,000 FLOOR UNDER CLOSED OR 671 00:19:02,001 --> 00:19:07,000 STRUCTURED RULES, WHICH 672 00:19:07,001 --> 00:19:08,000 VIOLATES BASICALLY EVERY -- 673 00:19:08,001 --> 00:19:11,000 EVERY PRECEPT WE'VE HAD IN THIS 674 00:19:11,001 --> 00:19:12,000 HOUSE ABOUT OPENNESS AND 675 00:19:12,001 --> 00:19:13,000 TRANSPARENCY ON APPROPRIATIONS 676 00:19:13,001 --> 00:19:16,000 BILLS. 677 00:19:16,001 --> 00:19:17,000 FOR YEARS AND DECADES, 678 00:19:17,001 --> 00:19:18,000 APPROPRIATION BILLS HAVE BEEN 679 00:19:18,001 --> 00:19:20,000 BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR UNDER AN 680 00:19:20,001 --> 00:19:21,000 OPEN RULE, ALLOWING MEMBERS TO 681 00:19:21,001 --> 00:19:25,000 OFFER AMENDMENTS TO VARIOUS 682 00:19:25,001 --> 00:19:27,000 SECTIONS OF THE BILL AND NOT BE PRECLUDED FROM THAT. 683 00:19:27,001 --> 00:19:28,000 BUT THESE BILLS ARE BEING 684 00:19:28,001 --> 00:19:31,000 BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR ALL YEAR 685 00:19:31,001 --> 00:19:32,000 UNDER CLOSED OR STRUCTURED 686 00:19:32,001 --> 00:19:34,000 RULES ALLOWING VERY, VERY FEW 687 00:19:34,001 --> 00:19:35,000 AMENDMENTS. 688 00:19:35,001 --> 00:19:37,000 LET ME TELL YOU WHY THAT'S 689 00:19:37,001 --> 00:19:38,000 IMPORTANT. 690 00:19:38,001 --> 00:19:39,000 IN THE PAST, WHEN REPUBLICANS 691 00:19:39,001 --> 00:19:40,000 WERE IN THE MAJORITY, WE WERE 692 00:19:40,001 --> 00:19:43,000 LACKING IN A LOT OF 693 00:19:43,001 --> 00:19:44,000 TRANSPARENCY ON EARMARKS. 694 00:19:44,001 --> 00:19:47,000 I WOULD COME TO THE FLOOR AND 695 00:19:47,001 --> 00:19:48,000 OFFER SOMETIMES A DOZEN EARMARK 696 00:19:48,001 --> 00:19:50,000 AMENDMENTS ON THE FLOOR TO 697 00:19:50,001 --> 00:19:52,000 STRIKE EARMARKS AND I HAD NO 698 00:19:52,001 --> 00:19:53,000 IDEA, MOST TIMES, WHEN I WOULD 699 00:19:53,001 --> 00:19:56,000 COME TO THE FLOOR, WHOSE 700 00:19:56,001 --> 00:19:57,000 EARMARK I WAS CHALLENGING. 701 00:19:57,001 --> 00:19:59,000 I WOULD SIMPLY COME AND 702 00:19:59,001 --> 00:20:00,000 CHALLENGE AND SOMETIMES THE 703 00:20:00,001 --> 00:20:01,000 SPONSOR WOULD COME DOWN AND 704 00:20:01,001 --> 00:20:04,000 DEFEND IT, SOMETIMES THEY WNT. 705 00:20:04,001 --> 00:20:06,000 BUT AT LEAST -- THEY WOULDN'T. 706 00:20:06,001 --> 00:20:07,000 BUT AT LEAST I HAD THE 707 00:20:07,001 --> 00:20:09,000 OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THE 708 00:20:09,001 --> 00:20:11,000 EARMARK A THERE WAS SOME TYPE 709 00:20:11,001 --> 00:20:13,000 OF BACK AND FORTH AND 710 00:20:13,001 --> 00:20:14,000 DISCUSSION OF IT. 711 00:20:14,001 --> 00:20:15,000 NOW WE HAVE TRANDS PARENTCY 712 00:20:15,001 --> 00:20:17,000 RULES WHICH IS GOOD. 713 00:20:17,001 --> 00:20:20,000 SOME OF US HAVE PUSHED FOR 714 00:20:20,001 --> 00:20:21,000 TRANSPARENCY RULES FOR A WHY 715 00:20:21,001 --> 00:20:23,000 NOW WE KNOW WHOSE EARMARK WE'RE 716 00:20:23,001 --> 00:20:24,000 CHALLENGING ON THE FLOOR. 717 00:20:24,001 --> 00:20:25,000 NOW WE KNOW BECAUSE THERE'S A 718 00:20:25,001 --> 00:20:26,000 NAME NEXT TO IT. 719 00:20:26,001 --> 00:20:29,000 AND MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO 720 00:20:29,001 --> 00:20:30,000 FILE OUT A CERTIFICATION LETTER 721 00:20:30,001 --> 00:20:32,000 STATING THAT THEY HAVE NO 722 00:20:32,001 --> 00:20:33,000 FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE 723 00:20:33,001 --> 00:20:34,000 EARMARK THAT THEY ARE 724 00:20:34,001 --> 00:20:37,000 SPONSORING. 725 00:20:37,001 --> 00:20:39,000 THOSE 726 00:20:39,001 --> 00:20:41,000 I'M GLAD WE HAVE THEM. 727 00:20:41,001 --> 00:20:43,000 THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SAID 728 00:20:43,001 --> 00:20:46,000 DURING THE CAMPAIGN A COUPLE OF 729 00:20:46,001 --> 00:20:48,000 YEARS AGO THAT WE WERE GOING TO 730 00:20:48,001 --> 00:20:49,000 DRAIN THE SWAMP, REFERRING TO 731 00:20:49,001 --> 00:20:52,000 SOME OF THE CORRUPTION THAT HAD 732 00:20:52,001 --> 00:20:53,000 GONE ON, MUCH OF IT DUE TO 733 00:20:53,001 --> 00:20:55,000 EARMARKING. 734 00:20:55,001 --> 00:20:56,000 AND I'M PLEASED THAT SO 735 00:20:56,001 --> 00:20:57,000 THESE TRANDS PARENTCY RULES 736 00:20:57,001 --> 00:20:59,000 HAVE COME INTO BEING. 737 00:20:59,001 --> 00:21:00,000 IT'S A GOOD THING. 738 00:21:00,001 --> 00:21:01,000 THE PROBLEM IS, WE'VE NOT 739 00:21:01,001 --> 00:21:03,000 DRAINED THE SWAMP. 740 00:21:03,001 --> 00:21:05,000 WE SIMPLY KNOW HOW DEEP THE MUD 741 00:21:05,001 --> 00:21:07,000 IS. 742 00:21:07,001 --> 00:21:09,000 WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM, 743 00:21:09,001 --> 00:21:11,000 BUT WE HAVE NOT DONE MUCH TO 744 00:21:11,001 --> 00:21:14,000 CORRECT THAT PROBLEM. 745 00:21:14,001 --> 00:21:15,000 LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. 746 00:21:15,001 --> 00:21:18,000 THIS IS THE CASE HERE WITH THIS 747 00:21:18,001 --> 00:21:19,000 RULE AND THE RULES ON OTHER 748 00:21:19,001 --> 00:21:20,000 APPROPRIATION BILL THIS IS 749 00:21:20,001 --> 00:21:22,000 YEAR. 750 00:21:22,001 --> 00:21:25,000 NOW WE KNOW WHOSE EARMARKS ARE 751 00:21:25,001 --> 00:21:26,000 IN THE BILLS, AND SO -- AND WE 752 00:21:26,001 --> 00:21:28,000 KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM RAISE 753 00:21:28,001 --> 00:21:30,000 QUESTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE 754 00:21:30,001 --> 00:21:33,000 DEFENSE BILL THAT IS UPCOMING 755 00:21:33,001 --> 00:21:35,000 LATER THIS MONTH. THERE ARE NUMEROUS 756 00:21:35,001 --> 00:21:37,000 INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON BY THE 757 00:21:37,001 --> 00:21:38,000 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RIGHT 758 00:21:38,001 --> 00:21:40,000 NOW, EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP 759 00:21:40,001 --> 00:21:42,000 BETWEEN EARMARKS AND CAMPAIGN 760 00:21:42,001 --> 00:21:45,000 CONTRIBUTIONS. 761 00:21:45,001 --> 00:21:47,000 OUR OWN ETHICS COMMITTEE ISSUES 762 00:21:47,001 --> 00:21:50,000 GUIDANCE THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU 763 00:21:50,001 --> 00:21:51,000 RECEIVE A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION 764 00:21:51,001 --> 00:21:54,000 IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AN 765 00:21:54,001 --> 00:21:55,000 EARMARK YOU'VE SPONSORED THAT 766 00:21:55,001 --> 00:21:57,000 DOESN'T NECESSARILY CONSTITUTE 767 00:21:57,001 --> 00:21:58,000 FINANCIAL INTEREST. 768 00:21:58,001 --> 00:21:59,000 IN OTHER WORDS, GO AHEAD AND DO 769 00:21:59,001 --> 00:22:02,000 IT. 770 00:22:02,001 --> 00:22:03,000 WE HAVE MANY EXAMPLES OF 771 00:22:03,001 --> 00:22:05,000 EARMARKS GOING OUT AND CPAIGN 772 00:22:05,001 --> 00:22:06,000 CONTRIBUTIONS FLOWING IN TO THE 773 00:22:06,001 --> 00:22:09,000 SPONSOR OF THE EARMARK. 774 00:22:09,001 --> 00:22:10,000 WE MAY NOT SEE THAT AS A 775 00:22:10,001 --> 00:22:12,000 PROBLEM HEREBUT CLEARLY THE 776 00:22:12,001 --> 00:22:14,000 JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SEEMS TO SEE 777 00:22:14,001 --> 00:22:17,000 THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT. 778 00:22:17,001 --> 00:22:18,000 SO WHAT DO WE DO HERE IN THE 779 00:22:18,001 --> 00:22:20,000 HOUSE? 780 00:22:20,001 --> 00:22:22,000 INSTOFEDE ALLOWING MEMBERS TO 781 00:22:22,001 --> 00:22:23,000 COME TO THE FLOOR DURING DEBATE 782 00:22:23,001 --> 00:22:24,000 AND SAYING WHAT ABOUT THIS 783 00:22:24,001 --> 00:22:26,000 EARMARK? 784 00:22:26,001 --> 00:22:27,000 WHAT ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN 785 00:22:27,001 --> 00:22:28,000 CONTRIBUTION THIS IS A SEEM TO 786 00:22:28,001 --> 00:22:30,000 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AS SOON AS 787 00:22:30,001 --> 00:22:34,000 THAT EARMARK WAS SPONSORED? 788 00:22:34,001 --> 00:22:37,000 AS SOON AS THAT REPORT CAME TO THE FLOOR SAYING THAT THAT 789 00:22:37,001 --> 00:22:38,000 EARMARK WAS IN THE BILL, WHY 790 00:22:38,001 --> 00:22:40,000 DID CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FLOW 791 00:22:40,001 --> 00:22:41,000 IN RESPONSE TO THAT? 792 00:22:41,001 --> 00:22:44,000 INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO 793 00:22:44,001 --> 00:22:46,000 EXAMINE THOSE THINGS, WE 794 00:22:46,001 --> 00:22:48,000 DECIDED TO CUT OFF DEBATE. 795 00:22:48,001 --> 00:22:52,000 SO WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY RULES 796 00:22:52,001 --> 00:22:55,000 WHERE WE NOW KNOW WHOSE EARMARK 797 00:22:55,001 --> 00:22:56,000 IS IN THE BILL, BUT WE'VE 798 00:22:56,001 --> 00:22:58,000 PROHIBITED MEMBERS FROM 799 00:22:58,001 --> 00:22:59,000 ACTUALLY COMING TO THE FLOOR TO 800 00:22:59,001 --> 00:23:00,000 EXAMINE THAT. 801 00:23:00,001 --> 00:23:02,000 SO YOU HAVE SOME MORE 802 00:23:02,001 --> 00:23:03,000 TRANSPARENCY, BUT YOU' CUT 803 00:23:03,001 --> 00:23:05,000 OUT ACCOUNTABILITY. 804 00:23:05,001 --> 00:23:07,000 NOW WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF 805 00:23:07,001 --> 00:23:09,000 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS A SOME 806 00:23:09,001 --> 00:23:10,000 AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED. 807 00:23:10,001 --> 00:23:13,000 VERY FEW. 808 00:23:13,001 --> 00:23:15,000 I THINK IN ONE BILL, THERE WERE 809 00:23:15,001 --> 00:23:17,000 MORE THAN 100 AMENDMENTS 810 00:23:17,001 --> 00:23:19,000 PREFILED AND ONLY MAYBE 20 OR 811 00:23:19,001 --> 00:23:22,000 SO WERE ALLOWED. 812 00:23:22,001 --> 00:23:24,000 I, MYSELF HAVE SUBMITTED IN ONE 813 00:23:24,001 --> 00:23:26,000 OF THE LATEST BILLS A DOZEN 814 00:23:26,001 --> 00:23:29,000 AMENDMENTS, WAS ONLY ALLOWED TO OFFER THREE ON THE FLOOR MY 815 00:23:29,001 --> 00:23:30,000 GUESS IS, THESE ARE GOING TO BE 816 00:23:30,001 --> 00:23:31,000 NARROWED FURTHER AND FURTHER 817 00:23:31,001 --> 00:23:34,000 UNTIL WE GET TO THE DEFENSE 818 00:23:34,001 --> 00:23:35,000 BILL LATER THIS MONTH, WHICH WE 819 00:23:35,001 --> 00:23:37,000 HAVE ALLOWED ONLY ONE DAY OF 820 00:23:37,001 --> 00:23:38,000 DEBATE FOR. 821 00:23:38,001 --> 00:23:39,000 KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS GOING TO 822 00:23:39,001 --> 00:23:42,000 BE A BILL THAT WILL HAVE, 823 00:23:42,001 --> 00:23:44,000 LIKELY IF TRADITION HOLDS, MORE 824 00:23:44,001 --> 00:23:46,000 THAN 1,000 EARMARKS, HOU 825 00:23:46,001 --> 00:23:48,000 EARMARKS IN IT. 826 00:23:48,001 --> 00:23:50,000 SEVERAL HUNDRED OF WHICH WILL 827 00:23:50,001 --> 00:23:52,000 CONSTITUTE NO-BID CONTRACTS FOR 828 00:23:52,001 --> 00:23:54,000 PRIVATE COMPANIES. 829 00:23:54,001 --> 00:23:55,000 NEARLY ALL OF WHICH THERE WILL 830 00:23:55,001 --> 00:23:58,000 BE A PATTERN OF CAMPAIGN 831 00:23:58,001 --> 00:24:00,000 CONTRIBUTIONS FLOWING BACK TO 832 00:24:00,001 --> 00:24:01,000 THE MEMBER WHO SPONSORED THAT 833 00:24:01,001 --> 00:24:03,000 EARMARK. 834 00:24:03,001 --> 00:24:05,000 THIS ISN'T -- I AM NOT A FAN OF 835 00:24:05,001 --> 00:24:06,000 PUBLIC FUNDING OF CAMPAIGNS. 836 00:24:06,001 --> 00:24:09,000 THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION WE 837 00:24:09,001 --> 00:24:12,000 SHOULD GO. 838 00:24:12,001 --> 00:24:13,000 CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS 839 00:24:13,001 --> 00:24:15,000 TYPICALLY FLOW TO MEMBERS WHO 840 00:24:15,001 --> 00:24:16,000 SHARE THE PHILOSOPHY OF THAT 841 00:24:16,001 --> 00:24:18,000 PERSON MAKING THE CONTRIBUTION 842 00:24:18,001 --> 00:24:19,000 BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A PATTERN, AS 843 00:24:19,001 --> 00:24:22,000 THE PRESS HAS DULY NOTED, 844 00:24:22,001 --> 00:24:25,000 ACCURATELY NOTED, THAT AS SOON 845 00:24:25,001 --> 00:24:27,000 AS AN EARMARK IS SPONSORED, 846 00:24:27,001 --> 00:24:29,000 OFTEN THERE'S CAMPAIGN CHECK 847 00:24:29,001 --> 00:24:30,000 THIS IS A COME DIRECTLY TO THAT 848 00:24:30,001 --> 00:24:32,000 MEMBER WHO SPONSORED THE 849 00:24:32,001 --> 00:24:34,000 EARMARKS, THERE'S AN APPEARANCE 850 00:24:34,001 --> 00:24:36,000 OF IMPROPRIETY WE HAVE TO TAKE 851 00:24:36,001 --> 00:24:39,000 ACCOUNT OF HERE IN THE HOUSE. 852 00:24:39,001 --> 00:24:40,000 OUR ROLE HERE IN THE HOUSE AND 853 00:24:40,001 --> 00:24:42,000 THE ROLE OF THE ETHICS 854 00:24:42,001 --> 00:24:45,000 COMMITTEE, IS TO MAKE SURE WE 855 00:24:45,001 --> 00:24:47,000 UPHOLD THE DIGNITY OF THE INSTITUTION. 856 00:24:47,001 --> 00:24:48,000 WE SIMPLY CAN'T DO THAT WHEN 857 00:24:48,001 --> 00:24:51,000 YOU HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF 858 00:24:51,001 --> 00:24:53,000 IMPROPRIETY AND WHEN YOU GIVE A 859 00:24:53,001 --> 00:24:56,000 NO-BID CONTRACT TO A PRIVATE 860 00:24:56,001 --> 00:24:58,000 COMPANY WHOSE EXECUTIVES TURN 861 00:24:58,001 --> 00:24:59,000 AROUND AND MAKE LARGE CAMPAIGN 862 00:24:59,001 --> 00:25:03,000 CONTRIBUTIONS BA TO THAT 863 00:25:03,001 --> 00:25:04,000 MEMBER WHO SPONSORED THE NO-BID 864 00:25:04,001 --> 00:25:07,000 CONTRACT TO THEM, YOU HAVE THE 865 00:25:07,001 --> 00:25:08,000 APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY. 866 00:25:08,001 --> 00:25:11,000 IT'S SIMPLY WRONG FOR US NOW TO 867 00:25:11,001 --> 00:25:13,000 SHUT DOWN DEBATE ON THAT AND 868 00:25:13,001 --> 00:25:14,000 SAY, NOW WE USED TO ALLOW 869 00:25:14,001 --> 00:25:17,000 MEMBERS TO CHALLENGE THESE 870 00:25:17,001 --> 00:25:20,000 THINGS ON THE FLOOR, BUT NOW 871 00:25:20,001 --> 00:25:22,000 APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY, 872 00:25:22,001 --> 00:25:23,000 'RE SIMPLY GOING TO SHUT DOWN 873 00:25:23,001 --> 00:25:24,000 DEBATE. 874 00:25:24,001 --> 00:25:26,000 WE'RE IN THE GOING TO TALK 875 00:25:26,001 --> 00:25:27,000 ABOUT IT. 876 00:25:27,001 --> 00:25:28,000 WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT 877 00:25:28,001 --> 00:25:29,000 DEBATE TO OCCUR ON THE HOUSE 878 00:25:29,001 --> 00:25:30,000 FLOOR. 879 00:25:30,001 --> 00:25:32,000 I WOULD HOPE THAT THESE THINGS 880 00:25:32,001 --> 00:25:35,000 WOULD BE TALKED ABOUT AND 881 00:25:35,001 --> 00:25:36,000 DISCUSSED AND VETTED, THESE 882 00:25:36,001 --> 00:25:38,000 EARMARKS WOULD BE VETTED ITHE 883 00:25:38,001 --> 00:25:39,000 APPROPRTIONS COMMITTEE. 884 00:25:39,001 --> 00:25:41,000 BUT CLEARLY THAT IS NOT THE 885 00:25:41,001 --> 00:25:42,000 CASE. 886 00:25:42,001 --> 00:25:44,000 IF IT WERE THE CASE, IF THESE 887 00:25:44,001 --> 00:25:45,000 WERE PROPERLY VETTED IN THE 888 00:25:45,001 --> 00:25:46,000 APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, WE 889 00:25:46,001 --> 00:25:48,000 WOULDN'T SEE THE SCANDALS WE'VE 890 00:25:48,001 --> 00:25:49,000 SEEN. 891 00:25:49,001 --> 00:25:53,000 WE WOULDN'T HAVE MEMBERS OF 892 00:25:53,001 --> 00:25:54,000 CONGRESS BEHIND BARS RIGHT NOW. 893 00:25:54,001 --> 00:25:56,000 FOR SPONSORING EARMARKS. 894 00:25:56,001 --> 00:25:59,000 AND TAKING MONEY FOR THEM. 895 00:25:59,001 --> 00:26:01,000 NOW I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S 896 00:26:01,001 --> 00:26:02,000 OCCURRING NOW, BUT THAT HAS IN 897 00:26:02,001 --> 00:26:04,000 THE PAST. 898 00:26:04,001 --> 00:26:07,000 AND WHEN WE CLEARLY HAVEN'T 899 00:26:07,001 --> 00:26:10,000 VETTED THESE PROPERLY, AND WE 900 00:26:10,001 --> 00:26:13,000 DON'T DO THIS BODY ANY SERVICE 901 00:26:13,001 --> 00:26:14,000 BY CUTTING OFF DEBATE ON THE 902 00:26:14,001 --> 00:26:16,000 HOUSE FLOOR AND SAYING, WE'RE 903 00:26:16,001 --> 00:26:17,000 JUST GOING TO TURN A BLIND EYE 904 00:26:17,001 --> 00:26:20,000 BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A 905 00:26:20,001 --> 00:26:22,000 PROBLEM AND IF WE STAND ON THE 906 00:26:22,001 --> 00:26:24,000 FLOOR AND DETE THESE THINGS, PEOPLE MIGHT SEE THERE IS A 907 00:26:24,001 --> 00:26:26,000 PROBLEM. 908 00:26:26,001 --> 00:26:28,000 SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY RULES. 909 00:26:28,001 --> 00:26:30,000 THAT'S WONDERFUL. 910 00:26:30,001 --> 00:26:31,000 BUT ONCE YOU DO HAVE 911 00:26:31,001 --> 00:26:32,000 TRANSPARENCY, YOU NEED 912 00:26:32,001 --> 00:26:33,000 ACCOUNTABILITY. 913 00:26:33,001 --> 00:26:35,000 AND WHEN YOU CUT OFF DEBATE AND 914 00:26:35,001 --> 00:26:37,000 CUT OFF AMENDMENTS COMING TO 915 00:26:37,001 --> 00:26:38,000 THE FLOOR AND BRING 916 00:26:38,001 --> 00:26:42,000 APPROPRIATION BILLS UNDER 917 00:26:42,001 --> 00:26:43,000 CLOSED RULES, IN VIOLATION OF 918 00:26:43,001 --> 00:26:46,000 EVERY TRADITION WE'VE HAD IN 919 00:26:46,001 --> 00:26:48,000 THIS HOUSE, THEN WE'VE GOT A 920 00:26:48,001 --> 00:26:49,000 PROBLEM. 921 00:26:49,001 --> 00:26:50,000 IT'S SAID THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE 922 00:26:50,001 --> 00:26:52,000 OF THE BELTWAY DON'T CARE ABOUT 923 00:26:52,001 --> 00:26:54,000 PROCESS AND THAT MAY BE TRUE. 924 00:26:54,001 --> 00:26:55,000 IT'S TOUGH TO MAKE POLITICAL 925 00:26:55,001 --> 00:26:56,000 POINTS ABOUT PROCESS BECAUSE 926 00:26:56,001 --> 00:26:57,000 IT'S TOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE 927 00:26:57,001 --> 00:27:01,000 PROCESS OF THIS INSTITUTION. 928 00:27:01,001 --> 00:27:02,000 BUT BAD PROCESS ALWAYS YIELDS 929 00:27:02,001 --> 00:27:05,000 BAD RESULTS. 930 00:27:05,001 --> 00:27:06,000 AND BAD POLICY IT HAPPENED WHEN 931 00:27:06,001 --> 00:27:08,000 WE WERE IN THE MAJORITY, WHEN 932 00:27:08,001 --> 00:27:10,000 WE HELD VOTES OPEN FOR THREE 933 00:27:10,001 --> 00:27:13,000 HOURS TO ALLOW LEADERSHIP AND 934 00:27:13,001 --> 00:27:14,000 OTHERS TO TWIST ARMS, THAT 935 00:27:14,001 --> 00:27:16,000 VIOLATED EVERY TRADITION OF THE 936 00:27:16,001 --> 00:27:18,000 HOUSE, WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO 937 00:27:18,001 --> 00:27:22,000 ONLY HOLD VOTES OPEN FOR 15 938 00:27:22,001 --> 00:27:25,000 MINUTES OR SLIGHTLY LONGER, 939 00:27:25,001 --> 00:27:28,000 THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT. 940 00:27:28,001 --> 00:27:30,000 THAT LEADS TO BAD RESULTS. 941 00:27:30,001 --> 00:27:31,000 I WOULD SUBMIT IF YOU SHUT DOWN 942 00:27:31,001 --> 00:27:33,000 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS IF YOU 943 00:27:33,001 --> 00:27:34,000 SHUT DOWN THE PROCESS ALLOW 944 00:27:34,001 --> 00:27:36,000 MECKS TO OFFER AMENDMENTS ON 945 00:27:36,001 --> 00:27:37,000 THE FLOOR AND TURN A BLIND EYE 946 00:27:37,001 --> 00:27:38,000 TO WHAT MIGHT BE OCCURRING, 947 00:27:38,001 --> 00:27:40,000 THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A 948 00:27:40,001 --> 00:27:41,000 PROBLEM. 949 00:27:41,001 --> 00:27:43,000 AND YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE 950 00:27:43,001 --> 00:27:46,000 THE CYNICISM, RIGHTFULLY THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THIS 951 00:27:46,001 --> 00:27:47,000 INSTITUTION. 952 00:27:47,001 --> 00:27:52,000 THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 953 00:27:52,001 --> 00:27:54,000 I'VE SERVED HERE FOR NINE YEARS 954 00:27:54,001 --> 00:27:55,000 THAT WONRFUL INSTITUTION. 955 00:27:55,001 --> 00:27:57,000 IT REALLY. 956 00:27:57,001 --> 00:27:59,000 IS WE OWE THIS BODY MUCH MORE 957 00:27:59,001 --> 00:28:03,000 THAN WE'RE GIVING IT. 958 00:28:03,001 --> 00:28:05,000 I WOULD HOPE THE LEADERSHIP 959 00:28:05,001 --> 00:28:07,000 WOULD HAVE MORE OF A VESTED 960 00:28:07,001 --> 00:28:08,000 INTEREST IN UPHOLDING THE 961 00:28:08,001 --> 00:28:10,000 DIGNITY OF THE INSTITUTION 962 00:28:10,001 --> 00:28:11,000 INSTEAD OF SWEEPING THESE 963 00:28:11,001 --> 00:28:13,000 THINGS UNDER THE RUG AND SAY, 964 00:28:13,001 --> 00:28:14,000 LET'S NOT 965 00:28:14,001 --> 00:28:16,000 HOUSE FLOOR BECAUSE PEOPLE 966 00:28:16,001 --> 00:28:19,000 MIGHT BE SEEING, PEOPLE MIGHT 967 00:28:19,001 --> 00:28:20,000 SEE WHAT'S OCCURRING. 968 00:28:20,001 --> 00:28:23,000 WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I HOPE 969 00:28:23,001 --> 00:28:24,000 THAT PARTICULARLY WHEN WE GET 970 00:28:24,001 --> 00:28:25,000 TO THE DEFENSE BILL LATER, 971 00:28:25,001 --> 00:28:28,000 WHERE THERE ARE GOING TO BE 972 00:28:28,001 --> 00:28:31,000 HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF 973 00:28:31,001 --> 00:28:32,000 EARMARKS THAT REPRESENT NO-BID 974 00:28:32,001 --> 00:28:35,000 CONTRACTS TO PRIVATE COMPANIES 975 00:28:35,001 --> 00:28:36,000 THAT WE ALLOW AMENDMENTS TO 976 00:28:36,001 --> 00:28:38,000 COME TO THE FLOOR TO EXAMINE 977 00:28:38,001 --> 00:28:40,000 SOME OF THESE, INSTEAD OF 978 00:28:40,001 --> 00:28:42,000 SWEEPING THE PROCESS UNDER THE 979 00:28:42,001 --> 00:28:43,000 RUG AND HOPING NOBODY PAYS 980 00:28:43,001 --> 00:28:44,000 ATTENTION. 981 00:28:44,001 --> 00:28:46,000 WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK THE 982 00:28:46,001 --> 00:28:47,000 BALANCE OF MY TIME. 983 00:28:47,001 --> 00:28:49,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 984 00:28:49,001 --> 00:28:51,000 GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS RECOGNIZED IN OPPOSITION. 985 00:28:51,001 --> 00:28:52,000 MS. PINGREE: I YIELD MYSELF 986 00:28:52,001 --> 00:28:55,000 SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. 987 00:28:55,001 --> 00:28:58,000 THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA HAS 988 00:28:58,001 --> 00:29:00,000 MADE SOME ELOQUENT POINTS THIS 989 00:29:00,001 --> 00:29:02,000 MORNING. 990 00:29:02,001 --> 00:29:03,000 I HOPE IF HE WANTS TO RESOLVE 991 00:29:03,001 --> 00:29:05,000 THIS ISSUE, HE'LL JOIN ME IN 992 00:29:05,001 --> 00:29:06,000 SUPPORTING THE BILL THAT IS IN 993 00:29:06,001 --> 00:29:08,000 THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW ON PUBLIC 994 00:29:08,001 --> 00:29:10,000 FINANCING, SINCE BOTH HE AND I 995 00:29:10,001 --> 00:29:13,000 COME FROM STATES, ARIZONA AND MAINE, THAT HAVE HAD GREAT 996 00:29:13,001 --> 00:29:14,000 SUCCESS WITH THIS SYSM IN 997 00:29:14,001 --> 00:29:15,000 REMOVING SOME OF THE CORRUPTION 998 00:29:15,001 --> 00:29:17,000 FROM THE PROCESS. 999 00:29:17,001 --> 00:29:20,000 I THINK WE COULD MAKE A GOOD TEAM ON THAT ISSUE. 1000 00:29:20,001 --> 00:29:24,000 MR. SPEAKER, WE KNOW THAT THIS POINT OF ORDER IS NOT ABOUT 1001 00:29:24,001 --> 00:29:25,000 UNFUNDED MANDATES AS HE 1002 00:29:25,001 --> 00:29:26,000 MENTIONED OR EVEN ABOUT 1003 00:29:26,001 --> 00:29:28,000 EARMARKS. 1004 00:29:28,001 --> 00:29:29,000 IT'S ABOUT DELAYING CONSIDERING 1005 00:29:29,001 --> 00:29:31,000 OF THIS BILL AND ULTIMATELY 1006 00:29:31,001 --> 00:29:32,000 STOPPING IT ALTOGETHER. 1007 00:29:32,001 --> 00:29:34,000 SINCE I DO COME FROM THE STATE 1008 00:29:34,001 --> 00:29:37,000 OF MAINE WHERE NEARLY 1/5 OF 1009 00:29:37,001 --> 00:29:38,000 OUR STATE ARE VETERANS OR 1010 00:29:38,001 --> 00:29:40,000 ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS OF OUR 1011 00:29:40,001 --> 00:29:41,000 ARMED SERVICES, I KNOW THIS 1012 00:29:41,001 --> 00:29:43,000 BILL WE'RE ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT 1013 00:29:43,001 --> 00:29:46,000 TODAY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 1014 00:29:46,001 --> 00:29:48,000 AND PASSING THIS RULE TO ALLOW 1015 00:29:48,001 --> 00:29:50,000 FOR CONSIDERATION OF THIS BILL 1016 00:29:50,001 --> 00:29:51,000 AND MOVE FORWARD ON THESE 1017 00:29:51,001 --> 00:29:52,000 ISSUES AROUND ACCESS TO HEALTH 1018 00:29:52,001 --> 00:29:54,000 CARE, MAKING SURE OUR VETERANS 1019 00:29:54,001 --> 00:29:57,000 GET THE BENEFITS THEY DESERVE 1020 00:29:57,001 --> 00:29:58,000 IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE 1021 00:29:58,001 --> 00:30:00,000 RESIDENTS OF MY STATE AND 1022 00:30:00,001 --> 00:30:02,000 CERTAINLY PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. 1023 00:30:02,001 --> 00:30:04,000 I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL SEE 1024 00:30:04,001 --> 00:30:05,000 THROUGH THIS ATTEMPT AND WILL 1025 00:30:05,001 --> 00:30:07,000 VOTE YES SO THAT WE CAN 1026 00:30:07,001 --> 00:30:08,000 CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION ON 1027 00:30:08,001 --> 00:30:10,000 ITS MERITS AND NOT STOP IT WITH 1028 00:30:10,001 --> 00:30:12,000 A PROCEDURAL MOTION. 1029 00:30:12,001 --> 00:30:14,000 THAT IS THE LAST THING PEOPLE 1030 00:30:14,001 --> 00:30:15,000 WANT TO SEE HAPPENING IN THE 1031 00:30:15,001 --> 00:30:16,000 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IS 1032 00:30:16,001 --> 00:30:17,000 ENDLESS CONVERSATION ABOUT 1033 00:30:17,001 --> 00:30:20,000 THINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO 1034 00:30:20,001 --> 00:30:21,000 WITH THE ISSUES BEFORE US, BUT 1035 00:30:21,001 --> 00:30:22,000 NOT MOVING FORWARD ON THE 1036 00:30:22,001 --> 00:30:24,000 THINGS WE CARE ABOUT. 1037 00:30:24,001 --> 00:30:26,000 THOSE WHO VOTE -- WHO OPPOSE 1038 00:30:26,001 --> 00:30:27,000 THIS BILL CAN VOTE AGAINST IT 1039 00:30:27,001 --> 00:30:29,000 THE FINAL PASSAGE. 1040 00:30:29,001 --> 00:30:31,000 WE MUST CONSIDER THIS RULE, WE 1041 00:30:31,001 --> 00:30:33,000 MUST PASS THIS LEGISLATION 1042 00:30:33,001 --> 00:30:35,000 TODAY, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO 1043 00:30:35,001 --> 00:30:37,000 CLOSE, IN THE END I WILL URGE 1044 00:30:37,001 --> 00:30:38,000 MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES TO 1045 00:30:38,001 --> 00:30:39,000 CONSIDER THIS RULE, MR. 1046 00:30:39,001 --> 00:30:40,000 SPEAKER. 1047 00:30:40,001 --> 00:30:42,000 I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY 1048 00:30:42,001 --> 00:30:43,000 TIME. 1049 00:30:43,001 --> 00:30:44,000 MR. FLAKE: WILL THE GENTLELADY 1050 00:30:44,001 --> 00:30:46,000 YIELD FOR 15 SECONDS? 1051 00:30:46,001 --> 00:30:48,000 MS. PINGREE: I WILL. 1052 00:30:48,001 --> 00:30:49,000 MR. FLAKE: I'M NOT GOING TO 1053 00:30:49,001 --> 00:30:51,000 CALL A VOTE ON THIS, WE'RE JUST 1054 00:30:51,001 --> 00:30:52,000 GIVEN TO LITTLE TIME TO SPEAK 1055 00:30:52,001 --> 00:30:53,000 THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE EVERY 1056 00:30:53,001 --> 00:30:56,000 OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN, I 1057 00:30:56,001 --> 00:30:58,000 APPRECIATE THE TIME. 1058 00:30:58,001 --> 00:30:59,000 THANKS. 1059 00:30:59,001 --> 00:31:01,000 MS. PINGREE: I WILL ASK MY 1060 00:31:01,001 --> 00:31:03,000 COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES ON THIS 1061 00:31:03,001 --> 00:31:06,000 MOTION AND PASS THIS IMPORTANT 1062 00:31:06,001 --> 00:31:08,000 LEGISLATION TODAY. 1063 00:31:08,001 --> 00:31:10,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1064 00:31:10,001 --> 00:31:11,000 GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA HAS 1065 00:31:11,001 --> 00:31:12,000 YIELDED BACK HIS TIME. 1066 00:31:12,001 --> 00:31:13,000 MS. PINGREE: THEN I YIELD BACK 1067 00:31:13,001 --> 00:31:15,000 THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. 1068 00:31:15,001 --> 00:31:16,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ALL 1069 00:31:16,001 --> 00:31:17,000 TIME FOR DEBATE HAS EXPIRED. 1070 00:31:17,001 --> 00:31:19,000 THE QUESTION IS SHALL THE HOUSE 1071 00:31:19,001 --> 00:31:20,000 NOW CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION. 1072 00:31:20,001 --> 00:31:21,000 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 1073 00:31:21,001 --> 00:31:23,000 ALL THOSE OPPOSED, NO. 1074 00:31:23,001 --> 00:31:24,000 THE AYES HAVE IT. 1075 00:31:24,001 --> 00:31:26,000 THE QUESTION FOR CONSIDERATION 1076 00:31:26,001 --> 00:31:28,000 IS DECIDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. 1077 00:31:28,001 --> 00:31:30,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS 1078 00:31:30,001 --> 00:31:31,000 RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR. 1079 00:31:31,001 --> 00:31:33,000 . PINGREE: THANK YOU, MR. 1080 00:31:33,001 --> 00:31:34,000 SPEAKER. 1081 00:31:34,001 --> 00:31:35,000 FOR PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY I 1082 00:31:35,001 --> 00:31:37,000 YIELD THE CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES 1083 00:31:37,001 --> 00:31:39,000 TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SESSIONS. 1084 00:31:39,001 --> 00:31:40,000 ALL TIME YIELDED DURING 1085 00:31:40,001 --> 00:31:42,000 CONSIDERATION OF THE RULE IS 1086 00:31:42,001 --> 00:31:43,000 FOR DEBATE ONLY. 1087 00:31:43,001 --> 00:31:44,000 I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I 1088 00:31:44,001 --> 00:31:46,000 MAY CONSUME. 1089 00:31:46,001 --> 00:31:47,000 I ALSO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT 1090 00:31:47,001 --> 00:31:48,000 THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE 1091 00:31:48,001 --> 00:31:49,000 LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND 1092 00:31:49,001 --> 00:31:51,000 EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON HOUSE 1093 00:31:51,001 --> 00:31:53,000 RESOLUTION 622. 1094 00:31:53,001 --> 00:31:56,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 1095 00:31:56,001 --> 00:31:58,000 MS. PINGREE: MR. SPEAKER, HOUSE 1096 00:31:58,001 --> 00:32:01,000 RESOLUTION 622 PROVIDES FOR 1097 00:32:01,001 --> 00:32:02,000 CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3082, THE 1098 00:32:02,001 --> 00:32:03,000 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND 1099 00:32:03,001 --> 00:32:07,000 VETERANS' AFFAIRS 1100 00:32:07,001 --> 00:32:08,000 APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010, UNDER 1101 00:32:08,001 --> 00:32:10,000 A STRUCTURED RULE. 1102 00:32:10,001 --> 00:32:12,000 FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, OUR 1103 00:32:12,001 --> 00:32:13,000 COUNTRY HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN TWO 1104 00:32:13,001 --> 00:32:15,000 CONFLICTS HALFWAY AROUND THE 1105 00:32:15,001 --> 00:32:16,000 WORL 1106 00:32:16,001 --> 00:32:18,000 THE NUMBER OF WOUNDED MILITARY 1107 00:32:18,001 --> 00:32:19,000 PERSONNEL IN IRAQ AND 1108 00:32:19,001 --> 00:32:20,000 AFGHANISTAN HAS PUT A FINANCIAL 1109 00:32:20,001 --> 00:32:22,000 STRAIN ON THE DEPARTMENT OF 1110 00:32:22,001 --> 00:32:24,000 VETERANS' AFFAIRS. 1111 00:32:24,001 --> 00:32:25,000 THE VETERANS HEALTH 1112 00:32:25,001 --> 00:32:27,000 ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATES THAT 1113 00:32:27,001 --> 00:32:29,000 THEY WILL TREAT MORE THAN SIX 1114 00:32:29,001 --> 00:32:31,000 MILLION PATIENTS IN 2010, 1115 00:32:31,001 --> 00:32:33,000 INCLUDING OVER 400,000 VETERANS 1116 00:32:33,001 --> 00:32:37,000 FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. 1117 00:32:37,001 --> 00:32:40,000 IN ADDITION, THE CONSISTENT 1118 00:32:40,001 --> 00:32:41,000 TRAING, DEPLOYMENT AND 1119 00:32:41,001 --> 00:32:43,000 REDEPLOYMENT OF OUR TROOPS HAVE 1120 00:32:43,001 --> 00:32:46,000 PUT A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN ON OUR MILITARY. 1121 00:32:46,001 --> 00:32:49,000 H.R. 3082 APPROPRIATES OVER 1122 00:32:49,001 --> 00:32:51,000 $133 BILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 1123 00:32:51,001 --> 00:32:52,000 2010 FOR MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, 1124 00:32:52,001 --> 00:32:54,000 VETERANS PROGRAMS AND FOUR 1125 00:32:54,001 --> 00:32:57,000 RELATED AGENCIES. 1126 00:32:57,001 --> 00:33:00,000 THE BILL PROVIDES $24.6 BILLION 1127 00:33:00,001 --> 00:33:01,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION AND 1128 00:33:01,001 --> 00:33:03,000 IMPROVEMENTS TO MILITARY BASES, 1129 00:33:03,001 --> 00:33:06,000 FACILITIES AND HOUSING UNITS. 1130 00:33:06,001 --> 00:33:08,000 THE BILL PROVIDES $450 MILLION 1131 00:33:08,001 --> 00:33:11,000 TO ACCELERATE THE MODERNIZATION 1132 00:33:11,001 --> 00:33:14,000 OF TRAINEE HOUSING, AND $2 BILLION TO CONSTRUCT AND 1133 00:33:14,001 --> 00:33:15,000 MAINTAIN HOUSES FOR MILITARY 1134 00:33:15,001 --> 00:33:17,000 FAMILIES. 1135 00:33:17,001 --> 00:33:19,000 THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES $200 1136 00:33:19,001 --> 00:33:21,000 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING 1137 00:33:21,001 --> 00:33:22,000 FOR THE GUARD AND RESERVES TO 1138 00:33:22,001 --> 00:33:25,000 ADDRESS CRITICAL UNFUNDED 1139 00:33:25,001 --> 00:33:26,000 REQUIREMENTS AS A RESULT OF 1140 00:33:26,001 --> 00:33:28,000 PROLONGED AND REPEATED 1141 00:33:28,001 --> 00:33:29,000 DEPLOYMENTS. 1142 00:33:29,001 --> 00:33:32,000 MAINE IS HOME TO HOUNS OF GUARD 1143 00:33:32,001 --> 00:33:33,000 AND RESERVISTS WHO HAVE MADE AN 1144 00:33:33,001 --> 00:33:36,000 INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR 1145 00:33:36,001 --> 00:33:37,000 NATIONAL DEFENSE, AND I AM 1146 00:33:37,001 --> 00:33:38,000 PROUD TO SEE FUNDINGNCLUDED 1147 00:33:38,001 --> 00:33:41,000 IN THIS BILL FOR THEM. 1148 00:33:41,001 --> 00:33:44,000 H.R. 3082 ALSO RENEWS OUR 1149 00:33:44,001 --> 00:33:46,000 COMMITMENT TO REDEVELOP CLOSED 1150 00:33:46,001 --> 00:33:47,000 MILITARY BASES AND THEIR 1151 00:33:47,001 --> 00:33:48,000 SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. 1152 00:33:48,001 --> 00:33:54,000 THE BILL PROVIDES $7.5 BILLION 1153 00:33:54,001 --> 00:33:56,000 TO IMPLEMENT THE 2005 BRACC AND 1154 00:33:56,001 --> 00:33:57,000 $537 MILLION TO ADDRESS AN 1155 00:33:57,001 --> 00:33:59,000 ENORMOUS BACKLOG OF 1156 00:33:59,001 --> 00:34:02,000 ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP PROJECTS 1157 00:34:02,001 --> 00:34:05,000 FROM THE PREVIOUS BRAC ROUNDS. 1158 00:34:05,001 --> 00:34:07,000 THIS IS ESSENTIAL ACROSS THE 1159 00:34:07,001 --> 00:34:09,000 COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE TOWN OF 1160 00:34:09,001 --> 00:34:10,000 BRUNSWICK IN MY DISTRICT WHICH 1161 00:34:10,001 --> 00:34:13,000 IS EXPERIENCING ECONOMIC 1162 00:34:13,001 --> 00:34:16,000 DIFFICULTIES FROM THE CLOSING 1163 00:34:16,001 --> 00:34:18,000 OF NAVAL AIR STATION BRUNSWICK. 1164 00:34:18,001 --> 00:34:20,000 WHILE CONSTRUCTION IS VITAL, 1165 00:34:20,001 --> 00:34:21,000 THEY ARE ONLY A SMALL PORTION 1166 00:34:21,001 --> 00:34:22,000 OFHIS BILL. 1167 00:34:22,001 --> 00:34:24,000 MORE THAN 0% OF THE FUNDING IS 1168 00:34:24,001 --> 00:34:26,000 -- 80% OF THE FUNDING IS 1169 00:34:26,001 --> 00:34:28,000 DEVOTED TO VETERANS. 1170 00:34:28,001 --> 00:34:29,000 THE BILL PROVIDES OVER $108 1171 00:34:29,001 --> 00:34:31,000 BILLION FOR VETERANS MEDICAL 1172 00:34:31,001 --> 00:34:32,000 CARE, CLAIMS PROCESSORS AND 1173 00:34:32,001 --> 00:34:35,000 FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. 1174 00:34:35,001 --> 00:34:38,000 H.R. 3082 INCREASES IN 1175 00:34:38,001 --> 00:34:41,000 APPROPRIIONS BY 14% OR $12.9 1176 00:34:41,001 --> 00:34:43,000 BILLION OVER THE CURRENT LEVEL. 1177 00:34:43,001 --> 00:34:45,000 THIS BILL INCLUDES $45 BILLION 1178 00:34:45,001 --> 00:34:47,000 FOR THE VETERANS HEALTH 1179 00:34:47,001 --> 00:34:49,000 ADMINISTRATION WITH INCREASED 1180 00:34:49,001 --> 00:34:50,000 FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH 1181 00:34:50,001 --> 00:34:51,000 SERVICES, ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 1182 00:34:51,001 --> 00:34:53,000 FOR HOMELESS VETERANS AND 1183 00:34:53,001 --> 00:34:54,000 INNOVATIVE SERVICES FOR 1184 00:34:54,001 --> 00:34:57,000 VETERANS IN RURAL AREAS. 1185 00:34:57,001 --> 00:35:00,000 THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES $85 1186 00:35:00,001 --> 00:35:03,000 MILLION FOR STATES TO BUILD AND 1187 00:35:03,001 --> 00:35:05,000 RENOVATE EXTENDED CARE 1188 00:35:05,001 --> 00:35:07,000 FACILITIES AND $3 BILLION TO 1189 00:35:07,001 --> 00:35:08,000 FUND NEW TECHNOLOGICAL 1190 00:35:08,001 --> 00:35:10,000 INITIATIVES WHICH WILL INCREASE 1191 00:35:10,001 --> 00:35:12,000 PROCESSING TIME AND IMPROVE 1192 00:35:12,001 --> 00:35:13,000 ELECTRON RECORD KEEPING. 1193 00:35:13,001 --> 00:35:16,000 AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, 1194 00:35:16,001 --> 00:35:17,000 THE BILL PROVIDES FOR A 1195 00:35:17,001 --> 00:35:19,000 SIGNICANT AND HISTORIC CHANGE 1196 00:35:19,001 --> 00:35:20,000 IN THE WAY WE FUND HEALTH CARE 1197 00:35:20,001 --> 00:35:25,000 OF OUR VETERANS. 1198 00:35:25,001 --> 00:35:27,000 H.R. 3082 PROVIDES $48.2 1199 00:35:27,001 --> 00:35:29,000 BILLION IN ADVANCED 1200 00:35:29,001 --> 00:35:31,000 APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1201 00:35:31,001 --> 00:35:33,000 2011 FOR THE MEDICAL SERVICES, 1202 00:35:33,001 --> 00:35:34,000 MED CAN FACILITIES AND 1203 00:35:34,001 --> 00:35:36,000 MEDICALED A -- MEDICAL 1204 00:35:36,001 --> 00:35:37,000 FACILITIES AND MEDICAL 1205 00:35:37,001 --> 00:35:38,000 ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS. 1206 00:35:38,001 --> 00:35:39,000 WHILE CONGRESS HAS ALWAYS TAKEN 1207 00:35:39,001 --> 00:35:41,000 ON THE CHALLENGES OF THIS 1208 00:35:41,001 --> 00:35:42,000 COUNTRY, THESE ISSUES HAVE NOT 1209 00:35:42,001 --> 00:35:43,000 ALWAYS BEEN SHIELDED FROM 1210 00:35:43,001 --> 00:35:45,000 PARTISAN BATTLES AND POLITICAL 1211 00:35:45,001 --> 00:35:46,000 DELAYS. 1212 00:35:46,001 --> 00:35:48,000 THIS CONGRESS IN THE PAST FEW 1213 00:35:48,001 --> 00:35:49,000 WEEKS HAS BEEN NO EXCEPTION. 1214 00:35:49,001 --> 00:35:51,000 BUT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WHICH 1215 00:35:51,001 --> 00:35:52,000 SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO 1216 00:35:52,001 --> 00:35:54,000 POLITICS AND DOUBT. 1217 00:35:54,001 --> 00:35:56,000 THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE MEN 1218 00:35:56,001 --> 00:35:58,000 AND WOMEN OF THE ARMED SERVICES 1219 00:35:58,001 --> 00:35:59,000 HAVE BRAVELY SERVED OUR 1220 00:35:59,001 --> 00:36:01,000 COUNTRY. 1221 00:36:01,001 --> 00:36:02,000 THEY HAVE FOUGHT WITHOUT 1222 00:36:02,001 --> 00:36:03,000 QUESTION AND WITHOUT DEBATE, 1223 00:36:03,001 --> 00:36:05,000 AND IN DOING SO THEY HAVE 1224 00:36:05,001 --> 00:36:06,000 SACRIFICED TIME WITH THEIR 1225 00:36:06,001 --> 00:36:08,000 FAMILIES, RISKED THEIR OWN 1226 00:36:08,001 --> 00:36:09,000 WELL-BEING AND ALL TOO OFTEN 1227 00:36:09,001 --> 00:36:10,000 THEY HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR 1228 00:36:10,001 --> 00:36:12,000 LIVES. 1229 00:36:12,001 --> 00:36:13,000 BY PROVIDING ADVANCED 1230 00:36:13,001 --> 00:36:14,000 APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE HEALTH 1231 00:36:14,001 --> 00:36:16,000 CARE OF OUR VETERANS, WE CAN 1232 00:36:16,001 --> 00:36:17,000 TAKE THE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT 1233 00:36:17,001 --> 00:36:18,000 THESE BENEFITS ARE NOT SUBJECT 1234 00:36:18,001 --> 00:36:20,000 TO POLITICS AS USUAL. 1235 00:36:20,001 --> 00:36:22,000 I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS RULE, 1236 00:36:22,001 --> 00:36:24,000 WHICH PROVIDES FOR 1237 00:36:24,001 --> 00:36:26,000 CONSIDERATION OF THIS ESSENTIAL 1238 00:36:26,001 --> 00:36:28,000 AND IMPORTANT BILL, AND I 1239 00:36:28,001 --> 00:36:29,000 RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. 1240 00:36:29,001 --> 00:36:30,000 THSPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1241 00:36:30,001 --> 00:36:32,000 GENTLELADY RESERVES. 1242 00:36:32,001 --> 00:36:33,000 THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS 1243 00:36:33,001 --> 00:36:34,000 RECOGNIZED. 1244 00:36:34,001 --> 00:36:35,000 MR. SESSIONS: GOOD MORNING, MR. 1245 00:36:35,001 --> 00:36:36,000 SPEAKER. 1246 00:36:36,001 --> 00:36:38,000 HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? 1247 00:36:38,001 --> 00:36:39,000 MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF 1248 00:36:39,001 --> 00:36:40,000 SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. 1249 00:36:40,001 --> 00:36:42,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1250 00:36:42,001 --> 00:36:43,000 GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 1251 00:36:43,001 --> 00:36:44,000 MR. SESSIONS: AND I APPRECIATE 1252 00:36:44,001 --> 00:36:45,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELDING ME THE 1253 00:36:45,001 --> 00:36:47,000 ME. 1254 00:36:47,001 --> 00:36:48,000 MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN 1255 00:36:48,001 --> 00:36:49,000 OPPOSITION TO A STRUCTURED RULE 1256 00:36:49,001 --> 00:36:51,000 , STRUCTURED APPROPRIATIONS 1257 00:36:51,001 --> 00:36:52,000 RULE, AND ALSO I'M OPPOSED TO 1258 00:36:52,001 --> 00:36:53,000 HOW MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES 1259 00:36:53,001 --> 00:36:54,000 CONTINUE TO SHUT OUT THE 1260 00:36:54,001 --> 00:36:56,000 MINORITY'S VOICE WITH THIS 1261 00:36:56,001 --> 00:36:58,000 STRUCTURED RULE. 1262 00:36:58,001 --> 00:37:00,000 BEFORE TAKING CONTROL OF THE 1263 00:37:00,001 --> 00:37:02,000 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 1264 00:37:02,001 --> 00:37:03,000 2007, OUR DEMOCRAT FRIENDS 1265 00:37:03,001 --> 00:37:05,000 PROMISED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC 1266 00:37:05,001 --> 00:37:07,000 THAT THIS WOULD BE THE MOST 1267 00:37:07,001 --> 00:37:09,000 OPEN, HONEST AND MOST ETHICAL 1268 00:37:09,001 --> 00:37:11,000 CONGRESS IN HISTORY. 1269 00:37:11,001 --> 00:37:13,000 YET, THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN 1270 00:37:13,001 --> 00:37:14,000 THE PAST OR FOR THE PAST 2 1/2 1271 00:37:14,001 --> 00:37:15,000 YEARS. 1272 00:37:15,001 --> 00:37:17,000 YOU HEARD MY COLLEAGUE, THE 1273 00:37:17,001 --> 00:37:19,000 GENTLEMAN, MR. FLAKE, TALKING 1274 00:37:19,001 --> 00:37:20,000 ABOUT THE PROCESS, THE PROCESS 1275 00:37:20,001 --> 00:37:24,000 THAT'S HAPPENING NOT JUST TODAY 1276 00:37:24,001 --> 00:37:27,000 BUT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR NOW 1277 00:37:27,001 --> 00:37:29,000 3 1/2 YEARS ON THIS FLOOR -- 2 1278 00:37:29,001 --> 00:37:31,000 1/2 YEARS ON THIS FLOOR. 1279 00:37:31,001 --> 00:37:32,000 THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THIS 1280 00:37:32,001 --> 00:37:34,000 DEMOCRAT MAJORITY HAS BEEN 1281 00:37:34,001 --> 00:37:36,000 FORCING SPENDING BILLS THROUGH 1282 00:37:36,001 --> 00:37:37,000 THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 1283 00:37:37,001 --> 00:37:39,000 MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 1284 00:37:39,001 --> 00:37:41,000 THE AISLE HAVE BEEN USING 1285 00:37:41,001 --> 00:37:44,000 EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE RULES TO 1286 00:37:44,001 --> 00:37:46,000 ACCOMPLISH THIS LEGISLATIVE 1287 00:37:46,001 --> 00:37:47,000 BUSINESS. 1288 00:37:47,001 --> 00:37:49,000 DURING THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, 1289 00:37:49,001 --> 00:37:52,000 THE MOST APPROPRIATIONS BILLS 1290 00:37:52,001 --> 00:37:53,000 CONSIDERED UNDER A STRUCTURED 1291 00:37:53,001 --> 00:37:56,000 RULE IN ANY SINGLE SEASON WAS 1292 00:37:56,001 --> 00:37:57,000 FOUR, AND THAT WAS BACK IN 1293 00:37:57,001 --> 00:37:59,000 1997. 1294 00:37:59,001 --> 00:38:01,000 THIS MAJORITY HAS SET A NEW 1295 00:38:01,001 --> 00:38:03,000 RECORD FORCING EVERY 1296 00:38:03,001 --> 00:38:05,000 APPROPRIATIONS BILL UNDER A 1297 00:38:05,001 --> 00:38:07,000 STRICT, STRUCTURED RULE. 1298 00:38:07,001 --> 00:38:10,000 SO FAR, THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY 1299 00:38:10,001 --> 00:38:11,000 HAS LIMITED DEBATE ON THE SIX 1300 00:38:11,001 --> 00:38:12,000 SPENDING BILLS THAT THE HOUSE 1301 00:38:12,001 --> 00:38:14,000 HAS ALREADY PASSED, AND TODAY'S 1302 00:38:14,001 --> 00:38:17,000 BILL IS THE SEVENTH. 1303 00:38:17,001 --> 00:38:19,000 MR. SPEAKER, THAT IS NOT OPEN, 1304 00:38:19,001 --> 00:38:21,000 HONEST OR ETHICAL. 1305 00:38:21,001 --> 00:38:24,000 CHAIRMAN OBEY SAID AN ASH -- 1306 00:38:24,001 --> 00:38:26,000 SET AN EASHTREAR TIMELINE TO 1307 00:38:26,001 --> 00:38:27,000 SET THE FISCAL YEAR 2010 1308 00:38:27,001 --> 00:38:29,000 SPENDING BILLS, WHICH HAS 1309 00:38:29,001 --> 00:38:32,000 FORCED THIS DEMOCRAT RUN RULES 1310 00:38:32,001 --> 00:38:34,000 COMMITTEE TO LIMIT EVERY SINGLE 1311 00:38:34,001 --> 00:38:36,000 REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS' 1312 00:38:36,001 --> 00:38:37,000 CHANCES TO OFFER AMENDMENTS ON 1313 00:38:37,001 --> 00:38:38,000 THIS FLOOR. 1314 00:38:38,001 --> 00:38:39,000 HUNDREDS OF AMENDMENTS HAVE 1315 00:38:39,001 --> 00:38:41,000 BEENFFERED BY ALL OF MY 1316 00:38:41,001 --> 00:38:44,000 COLLEAGUES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN 1317 00:38:44,001 --> 00:38:48,000 REJECTED ALSO. 1318 00:38:48,001 --> 00:38:49,000 REJECTED IN AN UNPRECEDENTED 1319 00:38:49,001 --> 00:38:50,000 FASHION. 1320 00:38:50,001 --> 00:38:51,000 WHAT THE HECK IS THE MAJIT 1321 00:38:51,001 --> 00:38:53,000 AFRAID OF? 1322 00:38:53,001 --> 00:38:58,000 WHY DON'T THEY WANT TO TAKE THE 1323 00:38:58,001 --> 00:38:59,000 NORMAL TIME, THE NORMAL PROCESS 1324 00:38:59,001 --> 00:39:01,000 WHY WON'T THEY ALLOW FOR AN 1325 00:39:01,001 --> 00:39:03,000 OPEN AND HONEST DEBATE, THE ONE 1326 00:39:03,001 --> 00:39:05,000 THAT THEY CALLED FOR? 1327 00:39:05,001 --> 00:39:08,000 MR. SPEAKER, WITH THAT SAID, I 1328 00:39:08,001 --> 00:39:09,000 WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE 1329 00:39:09,001 --> 00:39:10,000 MAJORITY AND THE RULES 1330 00:39:10,001 --> 00:39:12,000 COMMITTEE FOR ALLOWING AT LEAST 1331 00:39:12,001 --> 00:39:14,000 MY AMENDMENT TO BE MADE IN 1332 00:39:14,001 --> 00:39:16,000 ORDER ON THE FLOOR TODAY. 1333 00:39:16,001 --> 00:39:19,000 THE CARE OF OUR NATION'S TROOPS AND VETERANS IS EXTREMELY 1334 00:39:19,001 --> 00:39:20,000 IMPORTANT TO ME AND EVERY 1335 00:39:20,001 --> 00:39:21,000 SINGLE MEMBER I BELIEVE OF THIS 1336 00:39:21,001 --> 00:39:23,000 BODY. 1337 00:39:23,001 --> 00:39:24,000 AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT MY 1338 00:39:24,001 --> 00:39:26,000 AMENDMENT WILL PASS ON THE 1339 00:39:26,001 --> 00:39:28,000 HOUSE FLOOR TODAY. 1340 00:39:28,001 --> 00:39:30,000 BUT, MR. SPEAKER, EVERY SINGLE 1341 00:39:30,001 --> 00:39:32,000 MEMBER SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT 1342 00:39:32,001 --> 00:39:34,000 OPPORTUNITY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO 1343 00:39:34,001 --> 00:39:35,000 BE ABLE TO COME TO THIS FLOOR 1344 00:39:35,001 --> 00:39:37,000 UNDER AN OPEN RULE TO TALK 1345 00:39:37,001 --> 00:39:41,000 ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE 1346 00:39:41,001 --> 00:39:43,000 IMPORTANT TO THEM. 1347 00:39:43,001 --> 00:39:44,000 RULE FOR THE MILITARY 1348 00:39:44,001 --> 00:39:45,000 CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS' 1349 00:39:45,001 --> 00:39:46,000 AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 1350 00:39:46,001 --> 00:39:50,000 2009. 1351 00:39:50,001 --> 00:39:52,000 AND I NOTE THAT MYEAR FRIEND, 1352 00:39:52,001 --> 00:39:53,000 THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE, 1353 00:39:53,001 --> 00:39:54,000 MR. ZACH WAMP, IS THE 1354 00:39:54,001 --> 00:39:55,000 REPUBLICAN LEAD ON THIS BILL 1355 00:39:55,001 --> 00:39:57,000 AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE 1356 00:39:57,001 --> 00:40:00,000 WORK THAT NOT ONLY MR. WAMP HAS 1357 00:40:00,001 --> 00:40:02,000 DONE BUT HOW HE HAS LED IN SUCH 1358 00:40:02,001 --> 00:40:03,000 A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MEN 1359 00:40:03,001 --> 00:40:05,000 AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY 1360 00:40:05,001 --> 00:40:08,000 UNDERSTAND HIS DEDICATION AND 1361 00:40:08,001 --> 00:40:09,000 DEVOTION TO THIS PROCESS. 1362 00:40:09,001 --> 00:40:11,000 IT'S MY INTENT TO DISCUSS THE 1363 00:40:11,001 --> 00:40:13,000 IMPORTANCE OF THE UNDERLYING 1364 00:40:13,001 --> 00:40:15,000 BILL AS WELL AS SOME OF THE 1365 00:40:15,001 --> 00:40:17,000 CONCERNS IN THE LEGISLATION. 1366 00:40:17,001 --> 00:40:18,000 AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO 1367 00:40:18,001 --> 00:40:20,000 HIGHLIGHT THE DEMOCRAT 1368 00:40:20,001 --> 00:40:21,000 MAJORITY'S LARGE INCREASE IN 1369 00:40:21,001 --> 00:40:23,000 SPENDING ACROSS THE BOARD FOR 1370 00:40:23,001 --> 00:40:26,000 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS. 1371 00:40:26,001 --> 00:40:28,000 THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, 1372 00:40:28,001 --> 00:40:31,000 ESPECIALLY IN A TIME OF HUGE 1373 00:40:31,001 --> 00:40:32,000 DEFICITS AND EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH 1374 00:40:32,001 --> 00:40:33,000 UNEMPLOYMENT. 1375 00:40:33,001 --> 00:40:35,000 MR. SPEAKER, I THINK WE SHOULD 1376 00:40:35,001 --> 00:40:36,000 AIM FOR A BALANCED BUDGET, NOT 1377 00:40:36,001 --> 00:40:38,000 UNLIMITED SPENDING. 1378 00:40:38,001 --> 00:40:39,000 I THINK THIS BODY SHOULD HAVE 1379 00:40:39,001 --> 00:40:42,000 TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND SET 1380 00:40:42,001 --> 00:40:45,000 PRIORITIES, NOT SET THE BAR SO 1381 00:40:45,001 --> 00:40:47,000 HIGH OR IN THIS CASE SO LOW FOR 1382 00:40:47,001 --> 00:40:50,000 JUST SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY 1383 00:40:50,001 --> 00:40:51,000 THAT WE CANNOT AND DO NOT HAVE 1384 00:40:51,001 --> 00:40:54,000 TO MAKE TOUGHER DECISIONS. 1385 00:40:54,001 --> 00:40:57,000 THIS BILL PROVIDES CRUCIAL 1386 00:40:57,001 --> 00:40:58,000 FUNDING NEEDED FOR THE MILITARY 1387 00:40:58,001 --> 00:40:59,000 CONSTRUCTION AND HOUSING 1388 00:40:59,001 --> 00:41:01,000 FUNDING FOR OUR TROOPS AND 1389 00:41:01,001 --> 00:41:02,000 THEIR FAMILIES AND OTHER 1390 00:41:02,001 --> 00:41:04,000 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS. 1391 00:41:04,001 --> 00:41:05,000 AND THE CONGRESS SHOULD HAVTO 1392 00:41:05,001 --> 00:41:07,000 GO THROUGH THOSEROJECTS ONE 1393 00:41:07,001 --> 00:41:08,000 BY ONE AND MAKE A DETERMINATION 1394 00:41:08,001 --> 00:41:09,000 ABOUT WHAT IS IN THE BEST 1395 00:41:09,001 --> 00:41:11,000 INTEREST, NOT ONLY OF THE 1396 00:41:11,001 --> 00:41:13,000 COUNTRY BUT ALSO FOR OUR MILITARY. 1397 00:41:13,001 --> 00:41:15,000 I KNOW THAT THE FUNDING 1398 00:41:15,001 --> 00:41:17,000 PRIORITIES FOR ALL ESSENTIAL 1399 00:41:17,001 --> 00:41:18,000 PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF 1400 00:41:18,001 --> 00:41:19,000 VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND RELATED 1401 00:41:19,001 --> 00:41:21,000 AGENCIES HAVE ASKED FOR IN 1402 00:41:21,001 --> 00:41:22,000 THEIR BUDGETS ARE IMPORTANT. 1403 00:41:22,001 --> 00:41:24,000 AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THIS BILL 1404 00:41:24,001 --> 00:41:27,000 HONORS OUR NATION'S HEROES WHO 1405 00:41:27,001 --> 00:41:29,000 ARE SERVING IN OUR VOLUNTEER 1406 00:41:29,001 --> 00:41:31,000 MILITARY, THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED 1407 00:41:31,001 --> 00:41:33,000 AND ALSO HONORING THOSE WHO ARE 1408 00:41:33,001 --> 00:41:35,000 FALLEN VICTIMS AS WELL. 1409 00:41:35,001 --> 00:41:36,000 THIS BILL ILLUSTRATES THE DEEP 1410 00:41:36,001 --> 00:41:39,000 COMMITMENT THAT CONGRESS HAS TO 1411 00:41:39,001 --> 00:41:42,000 OUR MILITARY AND TO OUR 1412 00:41:42,001 --> 00:41:44,000 VETERANS, AND I DO RECOGNIZE 1413 00:41:44,001 --> 00:41:46,000 THAT THE GENTLEMAN, MR. WAMP, 1414 00:41:46,001 --> 00:41:47,000 AND THE GENTLEMAN, MR. EDWARDS 1415 00:41:47,001 --> 00:41:49,000 FROM TEXAS, AS THEY SPOKE TO 1416 00:41:49,001 --> 00:41:50,000 THE RULES COMMITTEE YESTERDAY, 1417 00:41:50,001 --> 00:41:52,000 NOT ONLY TOLTHAT STORY BUT 1418 00:41:52,001 --> 00:41:54,000 ALSO A SOURCE OF PRIDE OF HOW 1419 00:41:54,001 --> 00:41:55,000 THIS CONGRESS NEEDS TO BE 1420 00:41:55,001 --> 00:41:57,000 PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE 1421 00:41:57,001 --> 00:41:59,000 MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY. 1422 00:41:59,001 --> 00:42:01,000 I JOIN RANKING MEMBER LEWIS AND 1423 00:42:01,001 --> 00:42:05,000 HIS CONCERN REGARDING THE 1424 00:42:05,001 --> 00:42:06,000 ABILITY FOR THE V.A., HOWEVER 1425 00:42:06,001 --> 00:42:08,000 EFFECTIVELY ABSORB LARGE 1426 00:42:08,001 --> 00:42:09,000 FUNDING INCREASES PROVIDED BY 1427 00:42:09,001 --> 00:42:11,000 THIS BILL. 1428 00:42:11,001 --> 00:42:13,000 THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE 1429 00:42:13,001 --> 00:42:16,000 REPORT WAS CRITICAL OF THE SLOW 1430 00:42:16,001 --> 00:42:18,000 RATE OF THE MULTIBILLION DOLLAR 1431 00:42:18,001 --> 00:42:19,000 MAJOR CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT FOR 1432 00:42:19,001 --> 00:42:22,000 THE V.A. AND POINTS OUT TH 1433 00:42:22,001 --> 00:42:25,000 THE SPENDING RATES ARE WOEFULLY 1434 00:42:25,001 --> 00:42:28,000 SLOW HAVING ONLY SPENT $1.9 1435 00:42:28,001 --> 00:42:31,000 BILLION OF THE $4.4 BILLION 1436 00:42:31,001 --> 00:42:33,000 THAT WAS APPROPRIATED BETWEEN 1437 00:42:33,001 --> 00:42:37,000 YEAR 2008. 1438 00:42:37,001 --> 00:42:40,000 WHEN YOU ADD FISCAL YEAR 2009 1439 00:42:40,001 --> 00:42:45,000 AND THIS BILL, THAT ACCOUNT 1440 00:42:45,001 --> 00:42:46,000 THEN GROWS TO $6.5 BILLION. 1441 00:42:46,001 --> 00:42:50,000 I BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT 1442 00:42:50,001 --> 00:42:53,000 FUNDING PROJECT SHOULD BE 1443 00:42:53,001 --> 00:42:54,000 EXHAUSTED BEFORE RECEIVING 1444 00:42:54,001 --> 00:42:55,000 ADDITIONAL MONEYS. 1445 00:42:55,001 --> 00:42:58,000 MR. LEWIS AGREED ALSO, AND SO 1446 00:42:58,001 --> 00:42:59,000 DID ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS ON 1447 00:42:59,001 --> 00:43:00,000 THE COMMITTEE. 1448 00:43:00,001 --> 00:43:02,000 MR. SPEAKER, THE BILL BEFORE US 1449 00:43:02,001 --> 00:43:06,000 TODAY INCLUDES OVER A 15% 1450 00:43:06,001 --> 00:43:08,000 INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 1451 00:43:08,001 --> 00:43:11,000 SPENDING OVER LAST YEAR, WHICH 1452 00:43:11,001 --> 00:43:14,000 ASSISTS WITH TRICARE, MORTGAGE 1453 00:43:14,001 --> 00:43:15,000 ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE AND OTHER 1454 00:43:15,001 --> 00:43:16,000 NECESSARY PERSONNEL-RELATED 1455 00:43:16,001 --> 00:43:18,000 ACCOUNTS. 1456 00:43:18,001 --> 00:43:19,000 YET, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE 1457 00:43:19,001 --> 00:43:20,000 THAT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO 1458 00:43:20,001 --> 00:43:22,000 CONGRESS PASSED THE DEFENSE 1459 00:43:22,001 --> 00:43:25,000 AUTHORIZATION BILL, INCREASING 1460 00:43:25,001 --> 00:43:26,000 DEFENSE-RELATED FUNDING BY ONLY 1461 00:43:26,001 --> 00:43:28,000 4%. 1462 00:43:28,001 --> 00:43:30,000 THIS NATION IS AT WAR, AND MY 1463 00:43:30,001 --> 00:43:32,000 DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES ONLY 1464 00:43:32,001 --> 00:43:34,000 MODESTLY INCREASED OUR DEFENSE 1465 00:43:34,001 --> 00:43:36,000 AND STRATEGIC COMPASS ITS. 1466 00:43:36,001 --> 00:43:37,000 WHILE ALL OTHER -- CAPACITIES. 1467 00:43:37,001 --> 00:43:41,000 WHILE ALL OTHER BILLS ARE 1468 00:43:41,001 --> 00:43:43,000 INCREASING 10%, 15%, 19% AND 1469 00:43:43,001 --> 00:43:45,000 EVEN 33% MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S 1470 00:43:45,001 --> 00:43:47,000 LEVELS. 1471 00:43:47,001 --> 00:43:48,000 MR. SPEAKER, THIS DISPARITY 1472 00:43:48,001 --> 00:43:49,000 SENDS A DANGEROUS MESSAGE TO 1473 00:43:49,001 --> 00:43:52,000 OUR ENEMIES AND ONE TO OUR 1474 00:43:52,001 --> 00:43:54,000 TROOPS THAT ARE IN THE FIELD. 1475 00:43:54,001 --> 00:43:56,000 TO HELP CURB SOME 1476 00:43:56,001 --> 00:43:57,000 OUT-OF-CONTROL DEMOCRATIC 1477 00:43:57,001 --> 00:43:59,000 SPENDING, RANKING MEMBER JERRY 1478 00:43:59,001 --> 00:44:00,000 LEWIS OFFERED AN AMENDMENT IN 1479 00:44:00,001 --> 00:44:02,000 THE FULL COMMITTEE TT WOULD 1480 00:44:02,001 --> 00:44:04,000 PRIORITIZE FUNDING INCREASES 1481 00:44:04,001 --> 00:44:05,000 FOR DEFENSE, MILITARY 1482 00:44:05,001 --> 00:44:08,000 CONSTRUCTION AND OUR VETERANS 1483 00:44:08,001 --> 00:44:12,000 BY PROVIDING A 6% INCREASE FOR 1484 00:44:12,001 --> 00:44:13,000 THESE PROGRAMS, A 4% INCREASE 1485 00:44:13,001 --> 00:44:14,000 FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, AND 1486 00:44:14,001 --> 00:44:19,000 HOLDING ALL OTHER SUBCOMMITTEES 1487 00:44:19,001 --> 00:44:21,000 TO A VERY REASONABLE 2% 1488 00:44:21,001 --> 00:44:23,000 INCREASE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE AMENDMENT 1489 00:44:23,001 --> 00:44:24,000 WAS DEFEATED. 1490 00:44:24,001 --> 00:44:25,000 OUT OF THE 12 APPROPRIATIONS 1491 00:44:25,001 --> 00:44:28,000 BILLS, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD 1492 00:44:28,001 --> 00:44:32,000 HAVE REDUCED THE BURDEN ON THE 1493 00:44:32,001 --> 00:44:34,000 AMERICAN PUBLIC BY $35 BILLION. 1494 00:44:34,001 --> 00:44:35,000 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT 1495 00:44:35,001 --> 00:44:38,000 YOU SHOULDT SPEND WHAT YOU 1496 00:44:38,001 --> 00:44:41,000 DON'T HAVE, AND THAT IS EXACTLY 1497 00:44:41,001 --> 00:44:46,000 WHAT THIS DEMOCRAT MAJORITY IS 1498 00:44:46,001 --> 00:44:48,000 DOING AND CONTINUES TO DO. 1499 00:44:48,001 --> 00:44:50,000 ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL 1500 00:44:50,001 --> 00:44:51,000 BUDGET OFFICE, THE OBAMA 1501 00:44:51,001 --> 00:44:53,000 ADMINISTRATION IS ON ITS WAY TO 1502 00:44:53,001 --> 00:44:56,000 DOUBLING THE NATIONAL DEBT IN FIVE YEARS. 1503 00:44:56,001 --> 00:45:03,000 IN DOING SO, IT WOULD DRIVE THE 1504 00:45:03,001 --> 00:45:08,000 TODAY, TO A STAGGERING 7 IS -- 1505 00:45:08,001 --> 00:45:09,000 TO A STAGGERING 71% IN 2014. 1506 00:45:09,001 --> 00:45:10,000 THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE 1507 00:45:10,001 --> 00:45:13,000 ON WEDNESDAY OF THIS WEEK 1508 00:45:13,001 --> 00:45:14,000 RELEASED A MONTHLY BUDGET 1509 00:45:14,001 --> 00:45:17,000 REVIEW THAT STATES THAT THE 1510 00:45:17,001 --> 00:45:19,000 FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT WAS $1.9 1511 00:45:19,001 --> 00:45:21,000 TRILLION FOR THE FIRST NINE 1512 00:45:21,001 --> 00:45:23,000 MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. 1513 00:45:23,001 --> 00:45:26,000 C.B. OFMENT STATE THIS IS A 1514 00:45:26,001 --> 00:45:28,000 THIS IS MORE THAN $800 BILLION 1515 00:45:28,001 --> 00:45:30,000 GREATER THAN THE DEFICIT RECORD 1516 00:45:30,001 --> 00:45:33,000 IN JUNE OF 2008. 1517 00:45:33,001 --> 00:45:37,000 THE UNITED STATES IS LOOKING AT 1518 00:45:37,001 --> 00:45:40,000 A RECORD $1.8 TRILLION DEFICIT 1519 00:45:40,001 --> 00:45:41,000 THIS YEAR ALONE. 1520 00:45:41,001 --> 00:45:45,000 CONGRESS SHOULD BE PROMOTING 1521 00:45:45,001 --> 00:45:46,000 POLICY THIS IS A REDUCE 1522 00:45:46,001 --> 00:45:48,000 SPENDING AND GROW JOB GROWTH IN 1523 00:45:48,001 --> 00:45:52,000 THIS COUNTRY. 1524 00:45:52,001 --> 00:45:54,000 WHILE OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER 1525 00:45:54,001 --> 00:45:58,000 SIDE OF THE AISLE CONTINUE TO 1526 00:45:58,001 --> 00:46:00,000 TAX, BORROW, AND SPEND THEIR 1527 00:46:00,001 --> 00:46:01,000 WAY INTO RECORD DEFICITS. 1528 00:46:01,001 --> 00:46:04,000 THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE 1529 00:46:04,001 --> 00:46:06,000 ESTIMATES THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT 1530 00:46:06,001 --> 00:46:08,000 BENEFIT SPENDING IS NOW MORE 1531 00:46:08,001 --> 00:46:11,000 THAN 2.5 TIMES WHAT IT WAS AT 1532 00:46:11,001 --> 00:46:13,000 THIS POINT LAST YEAR. 1533 00:46:13,001 --> 00:46:16,000 THE CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 1534 00:46:16,001 --> 00:46:19,000 IS OVER 9.5% FOR THE FIRST TIME 1535 00:46:19,001 --> 00:46:25,000 SINCE 1983. 1536 00:46:25,001 --> 00:46:27,000 WHERE ARE THE JOBS? 1537 00:46:27,001 --> 00:46:28,000 IT'S A QUESTION THAT SHOULD 1538 00:46:28,001 --> 00:46:29,000 CONTINUE TO BE ASKED ON THIS 1539 00:46:29,001 --> 00:46:33,000 FLOOR. 1540 00:46:33,001 --> 00:46:34,000 WHERE ARE THE JOBS THAT WERE 1541 00:46:34,001 --> 00:46:37,000 PROMISED FROM THIS ECONOMIC 1542 00:46:37,001 --> 00:46:41,000 STIMULUS, FROM THIS PRESIDENT, 1543 00:46:41,001 --> 00:46:43,000 AND OUR SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI? 1544 00:46:43,001 --> 00:46:44,000 MR. SPEAKER, NOW IS THE TIME 1545 00:46:44,001 --> 00:46:46,000 WHEN THE ECONOMY SHOULD BE 1546 00:46:46,001 --> 00:46:47,000 BOUNCING BACK, BUT THIS IS A 1547 00:46:47,001 --> 00:46:50,000 TIME WHEN THE DEMOCRAT CONGRESS 1548 00:46:50,001 --> 00:46:53,000 IS FORCING AMERICA TO -- 1549 00:46:53,001 --> 00:46:54,000 AMERICANS TO PAY FOR A FAILED 1550 00:46:54,001 --> 00:46:56,000 TRILLION-DOLLAR STIMULUS 1551 00:46:56,001 --> 00:46:57,000 PACKAGE. 1552 00:46:57,001 --> 00:46:59,000 A BAILOUT FOR THOSE WHO 1553 00:46:59,001 --> 00:47:01,000 DEFAULTED ON THEIR MORTGAGES, A 1554 00:47:01,001 --> 00:47:03,000 BAILOUT FOR THOSE WHO ABUSED 1555 00:47:03,001 --> 00:47:05,000 THEIR CREDIT CARDS. 1556 00:47:05,001 --> 00:47:06,000 A BAILOUT FOR CREDIT AND 1557 00:47:06,001 --> 00:47:09,000 AMERICA'S BAD DECISION MAKING 1558 00:47:09,001 --> 00:47:12,000 FROM CORPORATE OFFICES. 1559 00:47:12,001 --> 00:47:15,000 A NEW NATIONAL ENERGY TAX AND A 1560 00:47:15,001 --> 00:47:18,000 POSSIBLE $1.5 TRILLION 1561 00:47:18,001 --> 00:47:20,000 CARE REFORM PACKAGE THAT WILL 1562 00:47:20,001 --> 00:47:21,000 FORCE 120 MILLION AMERICANS OFF 1563 00:47:21,001 --> 00:47:23,000 THEIR CURRENT HEALTH CARE 1564 00:47:23,001 --> 00:47:25,000 COVERAGE. 1565 00:47:25,001 --> 00:47:29,000 WHEN DOES THE SPENDING STOP? 1566 00:47:29,001 --> 00:47:31,000 NOT TODAY IN THIS HOUSE. 1567 00:47:31,001 --> 00:47:33,000 IN CLOSING, MR. SPEAKER, EVERY 1568 00:47:33,001 --> 00:47:36,000 MEMBER OF THIS BODY UNDERSTANDS 1569 00:47:36,001 --> 00:47:37,000 APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR OUR 1570 00:47:37,001 --> 00:47:39,000 NATION'S MILITARY AND OUR 1571 00:47:39,001 --> 00:47:40,000 VETERANS AND WE GIVE THANKS TO 1572 00:47:40,001 --> 00:47:42,000 THEM. 1573 00:47:42,001 --> 00:47:43,000 THIS BILL PROVIDES THE 1574 00:47:43,001 --> 00:47:47,000 NECESSARY BENEFITS TO OUR 1575 00:47:47,001 --> 00:47:50,000 SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, THEIR 1576 00:47:50,001 --> 00:47:52,000 I'M PROUD OF THAT. 1577 00:47:52,001 --> 00:47:53,000 BUT I WOULD CONTINUE TO POINT 1578 00:47:53,001 --> 00:47:54,000 OUT TO MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER 1579 00:47:54,001 --> 00:47:58,000 SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT WE 1580 00:47:58,001 --> 00:48:01,000 CANNOT TAX, SPEND, AND BORROW 1581 00:48:01,001 --> 00:48:04,000 OUR WAY OUT OF THIS RECESSION. 1582 00:48:04,001 --> 00:48:07,000 THIS RECESSION IS A NATIONAL 1583 00:48:07,001 --> 00:48:10,000 CRIS AND PUTS ALL OF US AT 1584 00:48:10,001 --> 00:48:12,000 RISK. 1585 00:48:12,001 --> 00:48:14,000 RISING UNEMPLOYMENT AND RECORD 1586 00:48:14,001 --> 00:48:18,000 DEFICITS CANNOT BE REMEDIES 1587 00:48:18,001 --> 00:48:20,000 WITH MASSIVE INCREASES IN SPENDING. 1588 00:48:20,001 --> 00:48:22,000 AMERICANS BACK HOME ARE 1589 00:48:22,001 --> 00:48:25,000 TIGHTENING THEIR BELTS AND THE 1590 00:48:25,001 --> 00:48:27,000 UNITED STATES CONGRESS WOULD BE 1591 00:48:27,001 --> 00:48:32,000 WELL ADVISED TO DOHE SAME. 1592 00:48:32,001 --> 00:48:34,000 VOTE ON THE RULE AND I RESERVE 1593 00:48:34,001 --> 00:48:36,000 THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. 1594 00:48:36,001 --> 00:48:38,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1595 00:48:38,001 --> 00:48:42,000 GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE DO YOU 1596 00:48:42,001 --> 00:48:44,000 SEEK RECOGNITION? 1597 00:48:44,001 --> 00:48:46,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN MANY FROM 1598 00:48:46,001 --> 00:48:48,000 MAINE, FOR WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 1599 00:48:48,001 --> 00:48:50,000 MS. P 1600 00:48:50,001 --> 00:48:52,000 SPEAKER, I YIELD TWO MINUTES OF 1601 00:48:52,001 --> 00:48:54,000 MY TIME TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 1602 00:48:54,001 --> 00:48:57,000 COLORADO, MR. PERLMUTTER. 1603 00:48:57,001 --> 00:48:58,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1604 00:48:58,001 --> 00:49:00,000 MINUTES. 1605 00:49:00,001 --> 00:49:01,000 MR. PERLMUTTER: I THANK MS. 1606 00:49:01,001 --> 00:49:02,000 PINGREE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO 1607 00:49:02,001 --> 00:49:03,000 SPEAK ON THIS RULE AND I WANT 1608 00:49:03,001 --> 00:49:06,000 TO THANK MY FRIEND CHET EDWARDS 1609 00:49:06,001 --> 00:49:09,000 AND MY -- MY FRIENDS CHET 1610 00:49:09,001 --> 00:49:10,000 EDWARDS AND ZACH WAMP FOR THEIR 1611 00:49:10,001 --> 00:49:12,000 LEADERSHIP AND HARD WORK IN 1612 00:49:12,001 --> 00:49:14,000 CRAFTING THIS BILL AND THEIR 1613 00:49:14,001 --> 00:49:17,000 UNFAILING SUPPORT OF AMERICAN 1614 00:49:17,001 --> 00:49:18,000 SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS. 1615 00:49:18,001 --> 00:49:22,000 WITH WARS IN IRAQ AND 1616 00:49:22,001 --> 00:49:24,000 AFGHANISTAN ONGOING AND IN 1617 00:49:24,001 --> 00:49:26,000 INCREASE -- ANDN INCREASINGLY 1618 00:49:26,001 --> 00:49:27,000 HIGH VOLUME OF MEN AND WOMEN 1619 00:49:27,001 --> 00:49:31,000 SERVICE MEMBERS RETURNING HOME, 1620 00:49:31,001 --> 00:49:33,000 FUNDING THEIR NEEDS REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY. 1621 00:49:33,001 --> 00:49:34,000 AS MUCH NOW AS EVER, CONGRESS 1622 00:49:34,001 --> 00:49:37,000 NEEDS TO BE MAKING CRITICAL 1623 00:49:37,001 --> 00:49:39,000 INVESTMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION 1624 00:49:39,001 --> 00:49:41,000 PROJECTS, WHICH SUPPORT SERVICE 1625 00:49:41,001 --> 00:49:43,000 MEMBERS' SAFETY AND QUALITY OF 1626 00:49:43,001 --> 00:49:44,000 LIFE AT HOME AND ON THE 1627 00:49:44,001 --> 00:49:46,000 BATTLEFIELD. 1628 00:49:46,001 --> 00:49:48,000 WE MUST ALSO MAKE GOOD ON OUR 1629 00:49:48,001 --> 00:49:53,000 PROMISE TO SERVICE MEMBERS 1630 00:49:53,001 --> 00:49:54,000 RETURNING HOME FROM THE WAR TO 1631 00:49:54,001 --> 00:49:56,000 PROVIDE THEM WITH THE BEST 1632 00:49:56,001 --> 00:49:58,000 HEALTH CARE POSSIBLE AND WE 1633 00:49:58,001 --> 00:50:00,000 NEED TO AID THEM BY FULLY 1634 00:50:00,001 --> 00:50:05,000 FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT OF 1635 00:50:05,001 --> 00:50:09,000 VETERANS' AFFAIRS. 1636 00:50:09,001 --> 00:50:10,000 THE BILL INCREASES FUNDING FOR 1637 00:50:10,001 --> 00:50:12,000 THE VETERANS HEALTH 1638 00:50:12,001 --> 00:50:14,000 ADMINISTRATION BY $4.4 MILLION 1639 00:50:14,001 --> 00:50:16,000 OVER LAST YEAR, IMPROVING 1640 00:50:16,001 --> 00:50:20,000 ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES FOR 1641 00:50:20,001 --> 00:50:21,000 VETERANS FOR KEY PROGRAMS, 1642 00:50:21,001 --> 00:50:24,000 INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, 1643 00:50:24,001 --> 00:50:27,000 HOMELESS VETERANS AND IMPROVES 1644 00:50:27,001 --> 00:50:28,000 ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR 1645 00:50:28,001 --> 00:50:29,000 VETERANS WHO LIVE IN RURAL 1646 00:50:29,001 --> 00:50:30,000 AREAS, SUCH AS THOSE IN 1647 00:50:30,001 --> 00:50:36,000 COLORADO. 1648 00:50:36,001 --> 00:50:38,000 IT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR 1649 00:50:38,001 --> 00:50:42,000 INFORMATION PROCESSING, AND 1650 00:50:42,001 --> 00:50:44,000 MAKES POSSIBLE EXPANDED USE OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS. 1651 00:50:44,001 --> 00:50:45,000 I WANT TO THANK THE VETERANS 1652 00:50:45,001 --> 00:50:47,000 COMMITTEE, THE APPROPRIATIONS 1653 00:50:47,001 --> 00:50:49,000 COMMITTEE IN TAKING A -- TAKING 1654 00:50:49,001 --> 00:50:53,000 A GOOD LOOK, A HARD LOOK, AT 1655 00:50:53,001 --> 00:50:55,000 PROCESSING CLAIMS WHICH FOR A 1656 00:50:55,001 --> 00:50:59,000 LONG TIME WERE LAGGING AND 1657 00:50:59,001 --> 00:51:01,000 PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THEIR 1658 00:51:01,001 --> 00:51:02,000 VOICES HEARD. 1659 00:51:02,001 --> 00:51:04,000 THERE HAVE BEEN MOVES TO MAKE 1660 00:51:04,001 --> 00:51:05,000 THE CLAIMS MUCH FASTER AND MORE 1661 00:51:05,001 --> 00:51:06,000 ACCURATE. 1662 00:51:06,001 --> 00:51:08,000 MS. PINGREE: I YIELD ANOTHER 1663 00:51:08,001 --> 00:51:09,000 MINUTE. 1664 00:51:09,001 --> 00:51:11,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1665 00:51:11,001 --> 00:51:12,000 GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 1666 00:51:12,001 --> 00:51:14,000 MR. PERLMUTTER: I WOULD ALSO 1667 00:51:14,001 --> 00:51:15,000 LIKE TO THANK MY FRIENDS FOR 1668 00:51:15,001 --> 00:51:16,000 THEIR ASSISTANCE IN CREATING 1669 00:51:16,001 --> 00:51:18,000 WHAT WILL BE A STATE OF THE ART 1670 00:51:18,001 --> 00:51:19,000 HEALTH CARE FACILITY IN 1671 00:51:19,001 --> 00:51:20,000 COLORADO. 1672 00:51:20,001 --> 00:51:22,000 THE VETERANS IN COLORADO HAVE 1673 00:51:22,001 --> 00:51:23,000 BEEN PROMISED FOR YEARS AND 1674 00:51:23,001 --> 00:51:24,000 YEARS AND YEARS THEY WOULD GET 1675 00:51:24,001 --> 00:51:26,000 A FACILITY THAT WAS EQUAL TO 1676 00:51:26,001 --> 00:51:28,000 THE SERVICE THEY GAVE TO THIS 1677 00:51:28,001 --> 00:51:30,000 COUNTRY. 1678 00:51:30,001 --> 00:51:31,000 AND WITH THE HARD WORK OF THE 1679 00:51:31,001 --> 00:51:34,000 COMMITTEE, THE HARD WORK OF THE 1680 00:51:34,001 --> 00:51:35,000 COLORADO DELEGATION, ASSISTANCE 1681 00:51:35,001 --> 00:51:37,000 FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, 1682 00:51:37,001 --> 00:51:38,000 WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT 1683 00:51:38,001 --> 00:51:42,000 FACILITY BUILT IN COLORADO AND 1684 00:51:42,001 --> 00:51:43,000 WITH THAT, MS. PINGREE, MR. 1685 00:51:43,001 --> 00:51:44,000 SPEAKER, I WILL YIELD BACK THE 1686 00:51:44,001 --> 00:51:46,000 BALANCE OF MY TIME. 1687 00:51:46,001 --> 00:51:47,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1688 00:51:47,001 --> 00:51:48,000 GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 1689 00:51:48,001 --> 00:51:49,000 THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, FOR 1690 00:51:49,001 --> 00:51:51,000 WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 1691 00:51:51,001 --> 00:51:52,000 MR. SESSIONS: I'D LIKE TO YIELD 1692 00:51:52,001 --> 00:51:54,000 THREE MINUTES TO THE 1693 00:51:54,001 --> 00:51:55,000 DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM 1694 00:51:55,001 --> 00:51:56,000 MIAMI, MEMBER OF THE RULES 1695 00:51:56,001 --> 00:51:58,000 COMMITTEE. 1696 00:51:58,001 --> 00:51:59,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1697 00:51:59,001 --> 00:52:00,000 GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 1698 00:52:00,001 --> 00:52:01,000 THREE MINUTES. 1699 00:52:01,001 --> 00:52:03,000 MR. DIAZ-BALART: I WANT TO 1700 00:52:03,001 --> 00:52:04,000 THANK MY DEAR FRIEND FROM TEXAS 1701 00:52:04,001 --> 00:52:06,000 A GREAT LEAD FOR THE THIS 1702 00:52:06,001 --> 00:52:10,000 HOUSE, MR. SESSIONS FOR THE 1703 00:52:10,001 --> 00:52:11,000 TIME AND I RISE BECAUSE THIS 1704 00:52:11,001 --> 00:52:16,000 LEGISLATION WE'RE BRINGING TO 1705 00:52:16,001 --> 00:52:19,000 THE FLOOR TODAY INCLUDES THE 1706 00:52:19,001 --> 00:52:21,000 LAST INSTALLMENT IN A PROJECT 1707 00:52:21,001 --> 00:52:25,000 THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE 1708 00:52:25,001 --> 00:52:28,000 COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT. 1709 00:52:28,001 --> 00:52:29,000 THE SOUTHERN COMMAND IS IN THE 1710 00:52:29,001 --> 00:52:35,000 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT I 1711 00:52:35,001 --> 00:52:41,000 REPRESENT, AND IT IS RECEIVING 1712 00:52:41,001 --> 00:52:43,000 IN THIS LEGISLATION $55.4 1713 00:52:43,001 --> 00:52:46,000 MILLION THAT COMPLETES THE $237 1714 00:52:46,001 --> 00:52:47,000 MILLION REQUIRES FOR THE NEW 1715 00:52:47,001 --> 00:52:49,000 HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOUTHERN 1716 00:52:49,001 --> 00:52:50,000 COMMAND. 1717 00:52:50,001 --> 00:52:52,000 WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO 1718 00:52:52,001 --> 00:52:59,000 THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE 1719 00:52:59,001 --> 00:53:01,000 NATION AND OF A THE HEMISPHERE, 1720 00:53:01,001 --> 00:53:04,000 THE DEFENSE OF THE HEMISPHERE 1721 00:53:04,001 --> 00:53:10,000 AND OBVIOUSLY TO THE COMMUNITY 1722 00:53:10,001 --> 00:53:13,000 THAT I AM HONORED TO REPRESENT. 1723 00:53:13,001 --> 00:53:15,000 PERSONNEL HAVE CONTRIBUTED OVER 1724 00:53:15,001 --> 00:53:16,000 $1.2 BILLION AND OTHER 20,000 1725 00:53:16,001 --> 00:53:19,000 JOBS TO SOUTH FLORIDA. 1726 00:53:19,001 --> 00:53:21,000 SOUTH FLORIDA IS THE RIGHT 1727 00:53:21,001 --> 00:53:23,000 PLACE FOR SOUTHCOM. 1728 00:53:23,001 --> 00:53:24,000 WE HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS 1729 00:53:24,001 --> 00:53:26,000 WORKING TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS 1730 00:53:26,001 --> 00:53:27,000 IN SOUTH FLORIDA. 1731 00:53:27,001 --> 00:53:31,000 I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN 1732 00:53:31,001 --> 00:53:32,000 EDWARDS AND RANKING MEMBER WAMP 1733 00:53:32,001 --> 00:53:34,000 AND REALLY ALL OF THE MEMBERS 1734 00:53:34,001 --> 00:53:37,000 OF THE FLORIDA DELEGATION AND 1735 00:53:37,001 --> 00:53:41,000 -- AND OTHERS WHO HAVE WORKED 1736 00:53:41,001 --> 00:53:43,000 SO HARD IN A UNITED FASHION TO 1737 00:53:43,001 --> 00:53:45,000 MAKE THIS A REALITY A PERMANENT 1738 00:53:45,001 --> 00:53:50,000 FACILITY FOR SOUTHCOM. 1739 00:53:50,001 --> 00:53:51,000 LEASED FROM THE STATE OF 1740 00:53:51,001 --> 00:53:55,000 FLORIDA FOR THE GREAT TOTAL OF 1741 00:53:55,001 --> 00:53:56,000 $1 A YEAR. 1742 00:53:56,001 --> 00:53:58,000 LONG-TERM LEASE, $1 A YEAR, 1743 00:53:58,001 --> 00:53:59,000 THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE 1744 00:53:59,001 --> 00:54:02,000 COSTING THE TA 1745 00:54:02,001 --> 00:54:04,000 I WANT TO THANK FORMER GOVERNOR 1746 00:54:04,001 --> 00:54:06,000 BUSH, JEB BUSH, FOR HIS HELP IN 1747 00:54:06,001 --> 00:54:08,000 MAKING THIS A REALITY. 1748 00:54:08,001 --> 00:54:12,000 AS WELL AS GOVERNOR CHARLIE 1749 00:54:12,001 --> 00:54:14,000 CRIST WHO IS ALSO -- WHO HAS 1750 00:54:14,001 --> 00:54:16,000 ALSO DEMONSTRATED GREAT 1751 00:54:16,001 --> 00:54:17,000 LEADERSHIP IN MAKING THIS 1752 00:54:17,001 --> 00:54:19,000 PROJECT A REALITY. 1753 00:54:19,001 --> 00:54:22,000 WE'VE WORK WITH THE COUNTY, 1754 00:54:22,001 --> 00:54:25,000 THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DORAL, 1755 00:54:25,001 --> 00:54:27,000 THE CITY OF DORAL HAS BEEN 1756 00:54:27,001 --> 00:54:28,000 MARVELOUS IN ITS GOPPINGS. 1757 00:54:28,001 --> 00:54:32,000 TO GENERAL CRADIC, WITH WHOM WE 1758 00:54:32,001 --> 00:54:38,000 BEGAN WORKING ON THIS IMPORTANT 1759 00:54:38,001 --> 00:54:40,000 PROJECT, AND THEN ADRAL 1760 00:54:40,001 --> 00:54:45,000 STAREDES, WHO HAS DONE A 1761 00:54:45,001 --> 00:54:46,000 TREMENDOUS JOB AS HEAD OF 1762 00:54:46,001 --> 00:54:49,000 SOUTHCOM, HE'S NOW LEAVING US 1763 00:54:49,001 --> 00:54:54,000 TO GO TO EUROPE AND DEFEND THAT CONTINENT AND NOW GENERAL 1764 00:54:54,001 --> 00:54:55,000 FRAZIER WHO HAS JOINED SOUTHCOM 1765 00:54:55,001 --> 00:54:56,000 AS THE NEW HEAD. 1766 00:54:56,001 --> 00:54:58,000 ALL OF THEM HAVE DONE A 1767 00:54:58,001 --> 00:55:00,000 TREMENDOUS JOB ALONG WITH ALL 1768 00:55:00,001 --> 00:55:03,000 THE MEAND WOMEN AT THE 1769 00:55:03,001 --> 00:55:05,000 SOUTHERN COMMAND AND SO I THANK 1770 00:55:05,001 --> 00:55:08,000 ALL WHO HAVE HAD AN IMPORTANT 1771 00:55:08,001 --> 00:55:10,000 ROLE IN THIS DEVELOPMENT AND 1772 00:55:10,001 --> 00:55:12,000 WISH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF 1773 00:55:12,001 --> 00:55:14,000 SOUTHCOM WELL AS I CONGRATULATE 1774 00:55:14,001 --> 00:55:16,000 THEM BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS DONE 1775 00:55:16,001 --> 00:55:20,000 ITS JOB IN FUNDING THE NEW 1776 00:55:20,001 --> 00:55:21,000 HEADQUARTERS. 1777 00:55:21,001 --> 00:55:22,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1778 00:55:22,001 --> 00:55:23,000 TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS 1779 00:55:23,001 --> 00:55:25,000 EXPIRED. 1780 00:55:25,001 --> 00:55:26,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE. 1781 00:55:26,001 --> 00:55:28,000 MS. PINGREE: I YIELD TWO 1782 00:55:28,001 --> 00:55:30,000 MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR. SMITH. 1783 00:55:30,001 --> 00:55:31,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1784 00:55:31,001 --> 00:55:33,000 GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 1785 00:55:33,001 --> 00:55:35,000 MI 1786 00:55:35,001 --> 00:55:38,000 MR. SMITH: I -- THANK YOU, MR. 1787 00:55:38,001 --> 00:55:39,000 SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS 1788 00:55:39,001 --> 00:55:40,000 CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND. 1789 00:55:40,001 --> 00:55:41,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 1790 00:55:41,001 --> 00:55:43,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION. 1791 00:55:43,001 --> 00:55:44,000 MR. SMITH: I THANK CHAIRMAN 1792 00:55:44,001 --> 00:55:45,000 EDWARDS AND RANKING MEMBER WAMP 1793 00:55:45,001 --> 00:55:47,000 FOR THEIR WORK IN CRAFTING THIS 1794 00:55:47,001 --> 00:55:48,000 LEGISLATION. 1795 00:55:48,001 --> 00:55:49,000 AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS TE 1796 00:55:49,001 --> 00:55:51,000 OF THOUSANDS OF MILITY 1797 00:55:51,001 --> 00:55:52,000 VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY, I 1798 00:55:52,001 --> 00:55:53,000 BELIEVE WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION 1799 00:55:53,001 --> 00:55:54,000 TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE 1800 00:55:54,001 --> 00:55:56,000 BENEFITS AND TREATMENT THEY 1801 00:55:56,001 --> 00:55:57,000 DESERVE FOR THEIR YEARS IN 1802 00:55:57,001 --> 00:55:58,000 SERVICE. 1803 00:55:58,001 --> 00:55:59,000 THIS LEGISLATION ACCOMPLISH 1804 00:55:59,001 --> 00:56:02,000 THIS IS A BY PROVIDING $109 1805 00:56:02,001 --> 00:56:04,000 BILLION FOR THE DEPARENT OF 1806 00:56:04,001 --> 00:56:06,000 VETERANS' AFFAIRS, A $14.9 1807 00:56:06,001 --> 00:56:08,000 BILLION INCREASE OVER 2009. 1808 00:56:08,001 --> 00:56:11,000 IT'S ESTIMATED THE V.A. WILL 1809 00:56:11,001 --> 00:56:18,000 TREAT MORE THAN 61.-- 6.1 1810 00:56:18,001 --> 00:56:20,000 MILLION PATIENTS, INCLUDING 1.9 1811 00:56:20,001 --> 00:56:21,000 MILLION VETERANS OF IRAQ AND 1812 00:56:21,001 --> 00:56:24,000 AFGHANISTAN. 1813 00:56:24,001 --> 00:56:25,000 IT WILL IMPROVE ACCESS FOR 1814 00:56:25,001 --> 00:56:28,000 VETERANS IN RURAL AREAS. 1815 00:56:28,001 --> 00:56:31,000 IT PROVIDES VITAL FUNDING TO 1816 00:56:31,001 --> 00:56:33,000 HIRE ADDITIONAL CLAIMS 1817 00:56:33,001 --> 00:56:34,000 PROCESSERS TO REDUCE THE 1818 00:56:34,001 --> 00:56:36,000 BACKLOG OF BENEFITS CLAIMS. 1819 00:56:36,001 --> 00:56:37,000 THESE ARE TWO OF THE MOST 1820 00:56:37,001 --> 00:56:39,000 IMPORTANT ISSUES WE DEAL WITH, 1821 00:56:39,001 --> 00:56:40,000 MAKING SURE WE DEAL WITH THE 1822 00:56:40,001 --> 00:56:42,000 PTSD ISSUES WHICH CONTINUE TO 1823 00:56:42,001 --> 00:56:44,000 BE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AND 1824 00:56:44,001 --> 00:56:45,000 ALSO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE 1825 00:56:45,001 --> 00:56:46,000 SERVICES AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE 1826 00:56:46,001 --> 00:56:49,000 THE LARGE NUMBER OF WOUNDED 1827 00:56:49,001 --> 00:56:50,000 VETERANS COMING BACK FROM OUR 1828 00:56:50,001 --> 00:56:52,000 WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. 1829 00:56:52,001 --> 00:56:53,000 I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THE 1830 00:56:53,001 --> 00:56:55,000 COMMITTEE INCLUDED A PROVISION 1831 00:56:55,001 --> 00:56:57,000 TO PROVIDE ADVANCE BUDGET 1832 00:56:57,001 --> 00:57:01,000 AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 1833 00:57:01,001 --> 00:57:02,000 FOR RELATED ACCOUNTS. 1834 00:57:02,001 --> 00:57:04,000 THIS IS A GOOD STEP TO ENSURE 1835 00:57:04,001 --> 00:57:06,000 THAT THEY RECEIVE A TIMELY 1836 00:57:06,001 --> 00:57:08,000 STREAM OF FUNDING WITHOUT 1837 00:57:08,001 --> 00:57:12,000 SUBJECTING IT TO THE DELAY THIS 1838 00:57:12,001 --> 00:57:14,000 IS A CAN ARISE DUE TO THE 1839 00:57:14,001 --> 00:57:16,000 LARGER BUET DEBATES. 1840 00:57:16,001 --> 00:57:19,000 I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT 1841 00:57:19,001 --> 00:57:21,000 THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL. 1842 00:57:21,001 --> 00:57:22,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1843 00:57:22,001 --> 00:57:23,000 GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. 1844 00:57:23,001 --> 00:57:24,000 MR. SESSIONS: WE HAVE A LOT OF 1845 00:57:24,001 --> 00:57:26,000 MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN 1846 00:57:26,001 --> 00:57:28,000 CONFERENCE WHO WANT TO COME 1847 00:57:28,001 --> 00:57:30,000 DOWN AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS BILL, 1848 00:57:30,001 --> 00:57:31,000 GENTLEMAN, DR. BEGINNING REE, 1849 00:57:31,001 --> 00:57:32,000 I'D KE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES 1850 00:57:32,001 --> 00:57:34,000 TO THE GENTLEMAN. 1851 00:57:34,001 --> 00:57:35,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1852 00:57:35,001 --> 00:57:37,000 GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS 1853 00:57:37,001 --> 00:57:38,000 RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. 1854 00:57:38,001 --> 00:57:39,000 MR. GINGREY: I THANK THE 1855 00:57:39,001 --> 00:57:41,000 GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND I 1856 00:57:41,001 --> 00:57:43,000 STAND TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS 1857 00:57:43,001 --> 00:57:44,000 RULE ON MILITARY CONSTRUCTION 1858 00:57:44,001 --> 00:57:47,000 AND VETERANS AFFAIRS 1859 00:57:47,001 --> 00:57:49,000 APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2010. 1860 00:57:49,001 --> 00:57:51,000 MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS 1861 00:57:51,001 --> 00:57:52,000 UNCONSCIONABLE WHAT THE 1862 00:57:52,001 --> 00:57:54,000 DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IS DOING 1863 00:57:54,001 --> 00:57:55,000 REGARDING THESE APPROPRI 1864 00:57:55,001 --> 00:57:56,000 BILLS. 1865 00:57:56,001 --> 00:57:58,000 I THINK THIS IS ABOUT THE 1866 00:57:58,001 --> 00:57:59,000 FOURTH OR FIFTH APPROPRIATIONS 1867 00:57:59,001 --> 00:58:01,000 BILL THAT WE'VE BROUGHT TO THE 1868 00:58:01,001 --> 00:58:03,000 FLOOR WITH A STRUCTURED RULE. 1869 00:58:03,001 --> 00:58:05,000 THIS IS NEVER -- THIS HAS NEVER 1870 00:58:05,001 --> 00:58:07,000 HAPPENED TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IN 1871 00:58:07,001 --> 00:58:09,000 THE HISTORY OF THIS CONGRESS. 1872 00:58:09,001 --> 00:58:11,000 THESE SHOULD BE OPEN RULES SO 1873 00:58:11,001 --> 00:58:13,000 THAT EVERY MEMBER, NOT JUST 1874 00:58:13,001 --> 00:58:16,000 MEMBERS OF THE APPROPRIATIONS 1875 00:58:16,001 --> 00:58:17,000 COMMITTEE, THE 40 OR 50 MEMBERS 1876 00:58:17,001 --> 00:58:19,000 THAT STUDY THESE BILLS, BUT 1877 00:58:19,001 --> 00:58:22,000 EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS 1878 00:58:22,001 --> 00:58:24,000 BODY WHO REPRESENTS 675,000 1879 00:58:24,001 --> 00:58:26,000 PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AND 1880 00:58:26,001 --> 00:58:27,000 THESE 50 STATES, SHOULD HAVE AN 1881 00:58:27,001 --> 00:58:28,000 OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER 1882 00:58:28,001 --> 00:58:30,000 AMENDMENTS. 1883 00:58:30,001 --> 00:58:31,000 I HAVE OFFERED 10 AMENDMENTS TO 1884 00:58:31,001 --> 00:58:33,000 THESE FIVE BILLS. 1885 00:58:33,001 --> 00:58:34,000 NOT ONE, MR. SPEAKER, NOT ONE 1886 00:58:34,001 --> 00:58:36,000 HAS BEEN MADE IN ORDER. 1887 00:58:36,001 --> 00:58:39,000 NOT ONE OF THESE AMENDMENTS ARE 1888 00:58:39,001 --> 00:58:41,000 DILATORY. 1889 00:58:41,001 --> 00:58:45,000 AS AN EXAMPLE, ON THIS 1890 00:58:45,001 --> 00:58:46,000 PARTICULAR BILL, THE VETERANS 1891 00:58:46,001 --> 00:58:48,000 ADMINISTRATION APPROPRIATION, I 1892 00:58:48,001 --> 00:58:50,000 HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT SAYS NO 1893 00:58:50,001 --> 00:58:52,000 PARTY, NO REPUBLICAN OR 1894 00:58:52,001 --> 00:58:54,000 DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY, SHOULD 1895 00:58:54,001 --> 00:58:57,000 HOLD THAT BILL HOSTAGE ONCE IT 1896 00:58:57,001 --> 00:58:58,000 PASSES TO PUT IT IN THE FORM OF 1897 00:58:58,001 --> 00:59:01,000 A MINI BUS COMBINING WITH SOME 1898 00:59:01,001 --> 00:59:02,000 OTHER LEGISLATION TO PASS 1899 00:59:02,001 --> 00:59:04,000 SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO 1900 00:59:04,001 --> 00:59:05,000 PASS AND HOLD OUR VETERANS 1901 00:59:05,001 --> 00:59:07,000 HOSTAGE SO THAT THEY DON'T GET 1902 00:59:07,001 --> 00:59:09,000 THE PAY RAISE THEY NEED. 1903 00:59:09,001 --> 00:59:10,000 THEY DON'T GET THE BENEFITS 1904 00:59:10,001 --> 00:59:11,000 THEY NEED. 1905 00:59:11,001 --> 00:59:13,000 THEY DON'T GET THE HEALTH CARE 1906 00:59:13,001 --> 00:59:14,000 THEY NEED THAT, MR. SPEAKER, IS 1907 00:59:14,001 --> 00:59:16,000 UNCONSCIONABLE. 1908 00:59:16,001 --> 00:59:17,000 FOR THAT REASON, I STAND 1909 00:59:17,001 --> 00:59:20,000 STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS RULE. 1910 00:59:20,001 --> 00:59:22,000 THE RULE SHOULD BE OPEN AND THE 1911 00:59:22,001 --> 00:59:25,000 CHAIRMAN OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE KNOW THIS IS A. 1912 00:59:25,001 --> 00:59:27,000 I CHALLENGE HIM TO BRING THESE 1913 00:59:27,001 --> 00:59:29,000 BILLS TO THE FLOOR IN AN OPEN 1914 00:59:29,001 --> 00:59:30,000 FASHION WHI 1915 00:59:30,001 --> 00:59:31,000 DONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE 1916 00:59:31,001 --> 00:59:32,000 AISLE. 1917 00:59:32,001 --> 00:59:35,000 IT'S TIME TO END THIS MENDACITY 1918 00:59:35,001 --> 00:59:36,000 AND THIS UNCONSCIONABLE 1919 00:59:36,001 --> 00:59:38,000 ACTIVITY. 1920 00:59:38,001 --> 00:59:39,000 IT'S ALL -- LET'S ALL VOTE 1921 00:59:39,001 --> 00:59:41,000 AGAINST THIS RULE, LET'S SEND 1922 00:59:41,001 --> 00:59:42,000 IT BACK, LET'S BRING FORWARD AN 1923 00:59:42,001 --> 00:59:44,000 OPEN RULE AND A FAIR PROCESS SO 1924 00:59:44,001 --> 00:59:45,000 THAT 1925 00:59:45,001 --> 00:59:48,000 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ACROSS 1926 00:59:48,001 --> 00:59:50,000 THESE 50 STATES WILL HAVE AN OPPORTITY TO BE HEARD. 1927 00:59:50,001 --> 00:59:51,000 AND I YID BACK MY TIME. 1928 00:59:51,001 --> 00:59:52,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1929 00:59:52,001 --> 00:59:54,000 TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS 1930 00:59:54,001 --> 00:59:55,000 EXPIRED. 1931 00:59:55,001 --> 00:59:59,000 WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION AT THIS 1932 00:59:59,001 --> 01:00:00,000 TIME? 1933 01:00:00,001 --> 01:00:02,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE. 1934 01:00:02,001 --> 01:00:04,000 MS. PINGREE: I'M PLEASED TO 1935 01:00:04,001 --> 01:00:05,000 YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO THE 1936 01:00:05,001 --> 01:00:07,000 CHAIRMAN OF THE APPROPRIATIONS 1937 01:00:07,001 --> 01:00:08,000 COMMITTEE, MR. OBEY. 1938 01:00:08,001 --> 01:00:10,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 1939 01:00:10,001 --> 01:00:11,000 GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN IS 1940 01:00:11,001 --> 01:00:13,000 RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES. 1941 01:00:13,001 --> 01:00:14,000 MR. OBEY: I'D LIKE TO THANK THE 1942 01:00:14,001 --> 01:00:15,000 GENTLEWOMAN FOR THE TIME. 1943 01:00:15,001 --> 01:00:16,000 I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE 1944 01:00:16,001 --> 01:00:18,000 FICTION THAT I HAVE JUST HEARD 1945 01:00:18,001 --> 01:00:19,000 FROM THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER. 1946 01:00:19,001 --> 01:00:21,000 THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER INDICATED 1947 01:00:21,001 --> 01:00:23,000 THAT NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF 1948 01:00:23,001 --> 01:00:27,000 THE CONGRESS HAVE WE HAD 1949 01:00:27,001 --> 01:00:31,000 STRUCTURED RULES FOR APPROPRIATION BILLS. 1950 01:00:31,001 --> 01:00:33,000 I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT HE 1951 01:00:33,001 --> 01:00:37,000 OUGHT TO READ A LITTLE HISTORY. 1952 01:00:37,001 --> 01:00:38,000 HE WILL FIND -- WE HAVE 12 1953 01:00:38,001 --> 01:00:40,000 APPROPRIATION BILLS WE HAVE TO 1954 01:00:40,001 --> 01:00:43,000 BRING TO THE FLOOR EACH YEAR. 1955 01:00:43,001 --> 01:00:45,000 HE WILL FIND THAT DURING THE 1956 01:00:45,001 --> 01:00:48,000 REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THIS 1957 01:00:48,001 --> 01:00:51,000 HOUSE AT LEAST SIX OF THE 12 1958 01:00:51,001 --> 01:00:53,000 BILLS WERE BROUGHT TO THIS 1959 01:00:53,001 --> 01:00:57,000 FLOOR UNDER STRUCTURED RULES. 1960 01:00:57,001 --> 01:01:01,000 HE WILL FIND THAT ALMOST 20 1961 01:01:01,001 --> 01:01:05,000 TIMES THAT IS THE CASE. 1962 01:01:05,001 --> 01:01:07,000 I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO -- 1963 01:01:07,001 --> 01:01:08,000 >> WILL THE GENTLEMAN YIELD? 1964 01:01:08,001 --> 01:01:10,000 MR. OBEY:. 1965 01:01:10,001 --> 01:01:11,000 NO. 1966 01:01:11,001 --> 01:01:13,000 I HAVE FIVE MINUTES. YOU ATTACKED ME. 1967 01:01:13,001 --> 01:01:15,000 I'D ASK THE CHAIR TO PREVENT 1968 01:01:15,001 --> 01:01:16,000 FURTHER INTERRUPTIONS. 1969 01:01:16,001 --> 01:01:18,000 THE FACT IS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK 1970 01:01:18,001 --> 01:01:22,000 THE HOUSE QUESTION. 1971 01:01:22,001 --> 01:01:24,000 WHY IS IT THAT SOME MEMBERS OF 1972 01:01:24,001 --> 01:01:28,000 THIS HOUSE BELIEVE THAT THE 1973 01:01:28,001 --> 01:01:32,000 BRING BILLS TO THE FLOOR THAT 1974 01:01:32,001 --> 01:01:34,000 ARE TOTALLY OPEN WHEN THE WAYS 1975 01:01:34,001 --> 01:01:37,000 AND MEANS COMMITTEE WHEN IT 1976 01:01:37,001 --> 01:01:40,000 BRINGS TAX BILLS TO THE FLOOR 1977 01:01:40,001 --> 01:01:42,000 IS ENTITLED TO HAVE A TOTALLY 1978 01:01:42,001 --> 01:01:45,000 CLOSED RULE? 1979 01:01:45,001 --> 01:01:47,000 NOW, THERE IS NO INHERENT 1980 01:01:47,001 --> 01:01:50,000 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, BUT 1981 01:01:50,001 --> 01:01:52,000 THERE IS ONE HISTORICAL 1982 01:01:52,001 --> 01:01:54,000 DIFFERENCE, AND THAT IS THAT 1983 01:01:54,001 --> 01:01:57,000 THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE 1984 01:01:57,001 --> 01:01:58,000 USED TO BE T 1985 01:01:58,001 --> 01:02:00,000 HANDED OUT COMMITTEE 1986 01:02:00,001 --> 01:02:01,000 ASSIGNMENTS TO MEMBERS OF THE 1987 01:02:01,001 --> 01:02:03,000 HOUSE. 1988 01:02:03,001 --> 01:02:05,000 AND SO THE MESSAGE WENT OUT, 1989 01:02:05,001 --> 01:02:08,000 DON'T MESS WITH THE WAYAND 1990 01:02:08,001 --> 01:02:10,000 MEANS COMMITTEE BECAUSE THEY 1991 01:02:10,001 --> 01:02:11,000 DETERMINE YOUR CAREER PATH IN 1992 01:02:11,001 --> 01:02:14,000 THIS INSTITUTION. 1993 01:02:14,001 --> 01:02:22,000 THERE IS NO GREAT HISTORICAL OR 1994 01:02:22,001 --> 01:02:25,000 HAVE THAT DIFFERENTIATION. 1995 01:02:25,001 --> 01:02:27,000 IT'S SIMPLY A QUESTION OF POWER 1996 01:02:27,001 --> 01:02:29,000 RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HOUSE THAT 1997 01:02:29,001 --> 01:02:30,000 DETERMINED THAT. 1998 01:02:30,001 --> 01:02:32,000 I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT, 1999 01:02:32,001 --> 01:02:34,000 THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE 2000 01:02:34,001 --> 01:02:36,000 HAS THE RIGHT TO BRING TO THE 2001 01:02:36,001 --> 01:02:37,000 FLOOR ITS APPROPRIATION BILLS 2002 01:02:37,001 --> 01:02:40,000 WITHOUT EVER GOING TO THE RULES 2003 01:02:40,001 --> 01:02:41,000 COMMITTEE. 2004 01:02:41,001 --> 01:02:43,000 AND IN FACT WE'VE HAD 2005 01:02:43,001 --> 01:02:45,000 SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS WHO'VE DONE 2006 01:02:45,001 --> 01:02:47,000 THAT. THE ADVANTAGE TO THE 2007 01:02:47,001 --> 01:02:49,000 APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IN 2008 01:02:49,001 --> 01:02:51,000 DOING THAT IS THAT WHEN THE 2009 01:02:51,001 --> 01:02:52,000 BILLS COME TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT 2010 01:02:52,001 --> 01:02:54,000 GOING TO THE RULES COMMITTEE 2011 01:02:54,001 --> 01:02:57,000 WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT ANY 2012 01:02:57,001 --> 01:02:59,000 LE 2013 01:02:59,001 --> 01:03:05,000 BILL, WHICH UNDER THE HOUSE 2014 01:03:05,001 --> 01:03:06,000 RULES IS OFF-LIMITS, ANY 2015 01:03:06,001 --> 01:03:08,000 LEGISLATION WILL BE STRICKEN 2016 01:03:08,001 --> 01:03:11,000 OUT OF POINT OF ORDER. 2017 01:03:11,001 --> 01:03:12,000 I REMEMBER WHEN NEAL SMITH 2018 01:03:12,001 --> 01:03:14,000 WOULD BRING HIS BILL TO THE 2019 01:03:14,001 --> 01:03:16,000 FLOOR AND WITHIN 20 MINUTES THE 2020 01:03:16,001 --> 01:03:17,000 BILL WAS SHREDDED. 2021 01:03:17,001 --> 01:03:18,000 THERE WERE A FEW PARAGRAPHS 2022 01:03:18,001 --> 01:03:19,000 LEFT IN THE BILL. 2023 01:03:19,001 --> 01:03:21,000 IT TOOK OUT AN HOUR TO FINISH 2024 01:03:21,001 --> 01:03:23,000 THE BILL AND THEN NEAL COULD GO 2025 01:03:23,001 --> 01:03:25,000 OUT AND HAVE A CONFERENCE WITH 2026 01:03:25,001 --> 01:03:26,000 THE SENATE AND DO ANYTHING HE 2027 01:03:26,001 --> 01:03:27,000 WANTED TO DO BECAUSE THERE WERE 2028 01:03:27,001 --> 01:03:33,000 NO LIMITATIONS. 2029 01:03:33,001 --> 01:03:34,000 SO I WOULD -- SO IT HAS BEEN AN 2030 01:03:34,001 --> 01:03:36,000 ADVANTAGE TO INDIVIDUAL HOUSE 2031 01:03:36,001 --> 01:03:38,000 MEMBERS FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS 2032 01:03:38,001 --> 01:03:39,000 COMMITTEE TO GO TO THE RULES 2033 01:03:39,001 --> 01:03:40,000 COMMITTEE. 2034 01:03:40,001 --> 01:03:42,000 WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A 2035 01:03:42,001 --> 01:03:44,000 TOTALLY OPEN RULE OR WHETHER 2036 01:03:44,001 --> 01:03:45,000 THERE'S A STRUCTURED RULE, 2037 01:03:45,001 --> 01:03:46,000 BECAUSE AT LEAST THEN 2038 01:03:46,001 --> 01:03:48,000 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS HAVE SOME 2039 01:03:48,001 --> 01:03:51,000 CAPACITY TO INFLUENCE THE RESULTS. 2040 01:03:51,001 --> 01:03:52,000 NOW, WE HAVE MADE QUITE CLEAR 2041 01:03:52,001 --> 01:03:56,000 TO THE MINORITY SIDE WE WOULD 2042 01:03:56,001 --> 01:03:58,000 LIKE TO PROCEED IN AS OPEN A 2043 01:03:58,001 --> 01:04:00,000 FASHION AS 2044 01:04:00,001 --> 01:04:02,000 MR. HOYER, THE MAJORITY LEADER, 2045 01:04:02,001 --> 01:04:05,000 AND I WENT TO THE REPUBLICAN 2046 01:04:05,001 --> 01:04:07,000 LEADERSHIP WEEKS AND WEEKS AGO 2047 01:04:07,001 --> 01:04:09,000 AND ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS 2048 01:04:09,001 --> 01:04:11,000 SO 2049 01:04:11,001 --> 01:04:13,000 AGREEMENTS SO THAT WE COULD 2050 01:04:13,001 --> 01:04:14,000 FINISH THESE 12 BILLS BEFORE WE 2051 01:04:14,001 --> 01:04:16,000 GO HOME FOR THE AUGUST RECESS. 2052 01:04:16,001 --> 01:04:17,000 THE MINORITY SAYS THEY WANT US 2053 01:04:17,001 --> 01:04:20,000 TO DO ALL OF THESE BILLS 2054 01:04:20,001 --> 01:04:23,000 INDIVIDUALLY, NOT WRAP THEM UP INTO C.R. 2055 01:04:23,001 --> 01:04:25,000 BUT THEN THEY PROCEED TO DEMAND 2056 01:04:25,001 --> 01:04:26,000 A PROCEDURE WHICH WILL IN THE 2057 01:04:26,001 --> 01:04:28,000 END RESULT IN BILLS GOING INTO 2058 01:04:28,001 --> 01:04:31,000 A C.R. 2059 01:04:31,001 --> 01:04:33,000 AND SO WE ASK THE MINORITY 2060 01:04:33,001 --> 01:04:35,000 LEADERSHIP, WILL YOU AGREE TO 2061 01:04:35,001 --> 01:04:36,000 TIME LIMITS? 2062 01:04:36,001 --> 01:04:39,000 AND THE RESPONSE WAS, WELL, IF 2063 01:04:39,001 --> 01:04:40,000 WE DID THAT, OUR CAUCUS WOULD 2064 01:04:40,001 --> 01:04:44,000 ELECT SOMEBODY ELSE. 2065 01:04:44,001 --> 01:04:46,000 WE ASKED -- NO, I WILL NOT 2066 01:04:46,001 --> 01:04:49,000 YIELD. 2067 01:04:49,001 --> 01:04:50,000 WE ASKED THE LEADERSHIP, WOULD 2068 01:04:50,001 --> 01:04:54,000 YOU BE WILLING TO BUY A PROCESS 2069 01:04:54,001 --> 01:04:56,000 IN WHICH WE'LL GIVE YOU THE 2070 01:04:56,001 --> 01:04:58,000 OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER 10 OR 15 2071 01:04:58,001 --> 01:04:59,000 AMENDMENTS, THE MAJORITY PARTY 2072 01:04:59,001 --> 01:05:01,000 WILL OFFER FIVE OR SIX, YOU 2073 01:05:01,001 --> 01:05:03,000 PICK THE AMENDMENTS? 2074 01:05:03,001 --> 01:05:05,000 AND THEY SAID, NO, THEY DIDN'T 2075 01:05:05,001 --> 01:05:06,000 WANT TO DO THAT. 2076 01:05:06,001 --> 01:05:07,000 THERE ARE A LIMIT NUMBER OF 2077 01:05:07,001 --> 01:05:08,000 HOURS BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME 2078 01:05:08,001 --> 01:05:10,000 WE RECESS. 2079 01:05:10,001 --> 01:05:11,000 IF WE WANT TO GET OUR WORK 2080 01:05:11,001 --> 01:05:13,000 DONE, WE HAVE TO LIMIT THE 2081 01:05:13,001 --> 01:05:15,000 DEBATE TIME AT WE SPEND ON 2082 01:05:15,001 --> 01:05:17,000 THESE BILLS. 2083 01:05:17,001 --> 01:05:19,000 SO THERE'S NOTHING RADCALLY NEW 2084 01:05:19,001 --> 01:05:21,000 ABOUT THIS. 2085 01:05:21,001 --> 01:05:22,000 WE'RE SI 2086 01:05:22,001 --> 01:05:23,000 JOB DONE, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO 2087 01:05:23,001 --> 01:05:26,000 THAT IF IT TAKES ALL SUMMER. 2088 01:05:26,001 --> 01:05:28,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS 2089 01:05:28,001 --> 01:05:29,000 EXPIRED. 2090 01:05:29,001 --> 01:05:31,000 THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, FOR 2091 01:05:31,001 --> 01:05:32,000 WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 2092 01:05:32,001 --> 01:05:33,000 MR. SESSIONS: MR. SPEAKER, 2093 01:05:33,001 --> 01:05:34,000 THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 2094 01:05:34,001 --> 01:05:35,000 I'M DELIGHTED TODAY TO YIELD TO 2095 01:05:35,001 --> 01:05:42,000 THE DISTINGUISH YOUNG GENTLEMAN 2096 01:05:42,001 --> 01:05:43,000 FROM CALIFORNIA, 2097 01:05:43,001 --> 01:05:44,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2098 01:05:44,001 --> 01:05:46,000 GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 2099 01:05:46,001 --> 01:05:47,000 MR. DREIER: I'LL YIELD TO HIM 2100 01:05:47,001 --> 01:05:48,000 AFTER I MAKE A COUE OF 2101 01:05:48,001 --> 01:05:49,000 POINTS. 2102 01:05:49,001 --> 01:05:50,000 FIRST, THE GENTLEMAN HAS ENDED 2103 01:05:50,001 --> 01:05:52,000 HIS REMARKS BY TALKING ABOUT 2104 01:05:52,001 --> 01:05:54,000 THE NEED FOR SOME KIND OF OUTSIDE ME LIMIT. 2105 01:05:54,001 --> 01:05:56,000 IN FACT, JUST YESTERDAY I 2106 01:05:56,001 --> 01:05:57,000 PULLED OUT OF MY COAT POCKET 2107 01:05:57,001 --> 01:05:58,000 THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE SEEN, 2108 01:05:58,001 --> 01:06:00,000 AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT 2109 01:06:00,001 --> 01:06:01,000 GETTING THE APPROPRIATIONS WORK 2110 01:06:01,001 --> 01:06:02,000 DONE IS IMPOANT. 2111 01:06:02,001 --> 01:06:03,000 IT'S A PRIORITY FOR DEMOCRATS 2112 01:06:03,001 --> 01:06:05,000 AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE. 2113 01:06:05,001 --> 01:06:08,000 THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE 2114 01:06:08,001 --> 01:06:10,000 RULES COMMITTEE WITH A GREAT 2115 01:06:10,001 --> 01:06:13,000 DEAL OF EASE COULD IN FACT 2116 01:06:13,001 --> 01:06:14,000 SIMPLY REPORT OUT A SPECIAL 2117 01:06:14,001 --> 01:06:18,000 RULE WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH AN 2118 01:06:18,001 --> 01:06:20,000 OUTSIDE TIME LIMIT ON THE 2119 01:06:20,001 --> 01:06:21,000 AMENDMENT PROCESS AT ALL AND WE 2120 01:06:21,001 --> 01:06:23,000 COULD PROCEED AS HAS BEEN THE 2121 01:06:23,001 --> 01:06:25,000 CASE FOTHE LAST 220 YEARS 2122 01:06:25,001 --> 01:06:27,000 WITH AN OPEN AMENDMENT PROCESS. 2123 01:06:27,001 --> 01:06:28,000 NOW, MY FRIEND ALSO REFERRED TO 2124 01:06:28,001 --> 01:06:31,000 THE FACT THAT -- AND I KNOW 2125 01:06:31,001 --> 01:06:33,000 THAT MY FRIEND FROM MARIETTA 2126 01:06:33,001 --> 01:06:35,000 SAID -- HE DIDN'T SAY IT WAS 2127 01:06:35,001 --> 01:06:36,000 UNPRECEDTED TO HAVE 2128 01:06:36,001 --> 01:06:38,000 STRUCTURED RULES WHEN WE DEAL 2129 01:06:38,001 --> 01:06:40,000 WITH APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, BUT 2130 01:06:40,001 --> 01:06:41,000 IT IS UNUSUAL. 2131 01:06:41,001 --> 01:06:44,000 AND I WILL REMIND MY FRIEND WHO 2132 01:06:44,001 --> 01:06:48,000 TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY THAT 2133 01:06:48,001 --> 01:06:50,000 BACK IN 1997 WHEN WE DID IN 2134 01:06:50,001 --> 01:06:51,000 FACT HAVE FIVE APPROPRIATIONS 2135 01:06:51,001 --> 01:06:52,000 BILLS CONSIDERED UNDER 2136 01:06:52,001 --> 01:06:55,000 STRUCTURED RULES, IT WAS DONE 2137 01:06:55,001 --> 01:06:59,000 SO AFTER IN THE CASE OF 2138 01:06:59,001 --> 01:07:00,000 CAME TO THE FLOOR AS OUR LATE 2139 01:07:00,001 --> 01:07:03,000 COLLEAGUE, THE FORMER CHAIRMAN 2140 01:07:03,001 --> 01:07:05,000 OF 2141 01:07:05,001 --> 01:07:06,000 SAID BILLS SHOULD ALWAYS BE 2142 01:07:06,001 --> 01:07:07,000 CONSIDERED AS PRIVILEGED. 2143 01:07:07,001 --> 01:07:09,000 THE DISPARITY BETWEEN A MEASURE 2144 01:07:09,001 --> 01:07:12,000 EMERGING FROM THE WAYS AND 2145 01:07:12,001 --> 01:07:15,000 MEANCOMMITTEE AND THE PRIVILEGED STRUCTURE FOR 2146 01:07:15,001 --> 01:07:17,000 CONSIDERATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 2147 01:07:17,001 --> 01:07:19,000 BILLS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY 2148 01:07:19,001 --> 01:07:20,000 EASILY UNDERSTOOD IN THE RULES 2149 01:07:20,001 --> 01:07:21,000 OF THE HOUSE OF 2150 01:07:21,001 --> 01:07:23,000 REPRESENTATIVES. 2151 01:07:23,001 --> 01:07:24,000 AND SO I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO 2152 01:07:24,001 --> 01:07:26,000 MY FRIEND IF HE'D LIKE TO 2153 01:07:26,001 --> 01:07:27,000 RESPOND TO THE NOTION OF THE 2154 01:07:27,001 --> 01:07:30,000 FACT THAT WE BEGAN THOSE 2155 01:07:30,001 --> 01:07:31,000 MEASURES THAT ULTIMATELY WOULD 2156 01:07:31,001 --> 01:07:34,000 BE CONSIDERED UNDER STRUCTURED 2157 01:07:34,001 --> 01:07:36,000 RULES, WE BEGAN THEM AS -- ONE, 2158 01:07:36,001 --> 01:07:38,000 UNDER A PRIVILEGED STRUCTURE, 2159 01:07:38,001 --> 01:07:39,000 WHICH MEANT THAT THE RULES 2160 01:07:39,001 --> 01:07:41,000 COMMITTEE DID NOT EVEN NEED TO 2161 01:07:41,001 --> 01:07:42,000 ACT BECAUSE POINTS OF ORDER 2162 01:07:42,001 --> 01:07:44,000 COULD BE RAISED AGAINST THE 2163 01:07:44,001 --> 01:07:45,000 WORK PRODUCT OF THE MEASURE 2164 01:07:45,001 --> 01:07:47,000 ITSELF. 2165 01:07:47,001 --> 01:07:48,000 AND ALSO TO THE POINT OF TIME 2166 01:07:48,001 --> 01:07:50,000 LIMITS. THE RULES COMMITTEE COULD 2167 01:07:50,001 --> 01:07:52,000 EASILY REPORT OUT OF THE RULE 2168 01:07:52,001 --> 01:07:53,000 THAT COULD ESTABLISH AN OUTSIDE 2169 01:07:53,001 --> 01:07:54,000 TIME LIMIT. 2170 01:07:54,001 --> 01:07:57,000 THAT 2171 01:07:57,001 --> 01:07:58,000 UNDER AN OPEN AMENDMENT 2172 01:07:58,001 --> 01:07:59,000 PROCESS. 2173 01:07:59,001 --> 01:08:00,000 I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO MY 2174 01:08:00,001 --> 01:08:02,000 FRIEND. 2175 01:08:02,001 --> 01:08:03,000 MR. OBEY: LET ME SIMPLY SAY TO 2176 01:08:03,001 --> 01:08:04,000 THE GENTLEMAN, I DON'T SEE ANY 2177 01:08:04,001 --> 01:08:05,000 NEED TO CONTINUE CHEWING THIS 2178 01:08:05,001 --> 01:08:07,000 CUT OVER AND OVER AND OVER 2179 01:08:07,001 --> 01:08:08,000 AGAIN. 2180 01:08:08,001 --> 01:08:10,000 MR. DREIER: RECLAIMING MY TIME, 2181 01:08:10,001 --> 01:08:11,000 MR. SPEAKER. 2182 01:08:11,001 --> 01:08:12,000 IF I COULD RECLAIM MY TIME -- 2183 01:08:12,001 --> 01:08:13,000 MR. OBEY: I DIDN'T ASK FOR THE 2184 01:08:13,001 --> 01:08:15,000 TIME. 2185 01:08:15,001 --> 01:08:17,000 YOU OFFERED IT TO ME AND I'M ACCEPTING IT. 2186 01:08:17,001 --> 01:08:18,000 MR. DREIER: MY FRIEND STOOD UP 2187 01:08:18,001 --> 01:08:19,000 AND BEGAN SAYING WE CONSIDERED 2188 01:08:19,001 --> 01:08:21,000 MEASURES UNDER A STRUCTURED 2189 01:08:21,001 --> 01:08:24,000 RULES IN THE PAST, AND IT'S 2190 01:08:24,001 --> 01:08:25,000 NAME OF DEMOCRATS AND 2191 01:08:25,001 --> 01:08:27,000 REPUBLICANS ALIKE WHO ARE 2192 01:08:27,001 --> 01:08:28,000 DENIED AMENDMENTS AND THE 2193 01:08:28,001 --> 01:08:30,000 AMERICAN PEOPLE WHOSE 2194 01:08:30,001 --> 01:08:31,000 REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOT ABLE TO 2195 01:08:31,001 --> 01:08:33,000 PARTICIPATE IN THE VERY 2196 01:08:33,001 --> 01:08:35,000 IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL 2197 01:08:35,001 --> 01:08:37,000 ARTICLE 1, SECTION 9 RESPONSIBILITY OF 2198 01:08:37,001 --> 01:08:39,000 APPROPRIATIONS HERE. 2199 01:08:39,001 --> 01:08:41,000 THAT'S WHY THERE IS IN FACT 2200 01:08:41,001 --> 01:08:42,000 BIPARTISAN CONCERN ON THIS 2201 01:08:42,001 --> 01:08:44,000 ISSUE, MR. SPEAKER. 2202 01:08:44,001 --> 01:08:45,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2203 01:08:45,001 --> 01:08:47,000 TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS 2204 01:08:47,001 --> 01:08:48,000 EXPIRED. 2205 01:08:48,001 --> 01:08:49,000 WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION AT THIS 2206 01:08:49,001 --> 01:08:50,000 TIME? 2207 01:08:50,001 --> 01:08:52,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE. 2208 01:08:52,001 --> 01:08:53,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES. 2209 01:08:53,001 --> 01:08:54,000 THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. 2210 01:08:54,001 --> 01:08:55,000 MR. SESSIONS: THANK YOU, MR. 2211 01:08:55,001 --> 01:08:57,000 SPEAKER. 2212 01:08:57,001 --> 01:08:58,000 MR. SPEAKER, AT THIS TIMWE 2213 01:08:58,001 --> 01:09:00,000 HAVE A YOUNG MAN WHO 2214 01:09:00,001 --> 01:09:03,000 COACH OF OUR BASEBALL TEAM BUT 2215 01:09:03,001 --> 01:09:09,000 PERHAPS EVEN BETTER THAN THAT, 2216 01:09:09,001 --> 01:09:11,000 JUST SHOWING HIMSELF AS AN 2217 01:09:11,001 --> 01:09:12,000 ALL-AMERICAN, MR. BUYER, WHO IS 2218 01:09:12,001 --> 01:09:14,000 A DEDICATED VETERAN OF THE 2219 01:09:14,001 --> 01:09:15,000 FIRST GULF WAR AND SERVED AS A 2220 01:09:15,001 --> 01:09:16,000 COLONEL IN THE UNITED STATES 2221 01:09:16,001 --> 01:09:18,000 ARMY RESERVES AND HE'S THE 2222 01:09:18,001 --> 01:09:19,000 RANKING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE 2223 01:09:19,001 --> 01:09:20,000 VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. 2224 01:09:20,001 --> 01:09:23,000 I'D LIKE TO YIELD FIVE MINUTES 2225 01:09:23,001 --> 01:09:25,000 TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 2226 01:09:25,001 --> 01:09:26,000 MONTICELLO, INDIANA. 2227 01:09:26,001 --> 01:09:27,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2228 01:09:27,001 --> 01:09:28,000 GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 2229 01:09:28,001 --> 01:09:30,000 MR. BUYER: THANK YOU, MR. 2230 01:09:30,001 --> 01:09:31,000 SPEAKER. 2231 01:09:31,001 --> 01:09:34,000 I RISE TODAY IN OPPOSITION OF 2232 01:09:34,001 --> 01:09:35,000 THIS RULE BECAUSE H.R. 3082 2233 01:09:35,001 --> 01:09:38,000 REPRESENTS A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN 2234 01:09:38,001 --> 01:09:39,000 THE WAY THAT WE PROVIDE FUNDING 2235 01:09:39,001 --> 01:09:41,000 FOR V.A. MEDICAL CARE BY 2236 01:09:41,001 --> 01:09:42,000 PROVIDING ADVANCED 2237 01:09:42,001 --> 01:09:43,000 APPROPRIATIONS FOR MEDICAL 2238 01:09:43,001 --> 01:09:45,000 SERVICES, MEDICAL FACILITIES 2239 01:09:45,001 --> 01:09:46,000 AND MEDICAL SUPPORTS AND 2240 01:09:46,001 --> 01:09:49,000 COMPLIANCE ACCOUNTS. 2241 01:09:49,001 --> 01:09:50,000 NOW, I HAVE SOME GREAT CONCERNS 2242 01:09:50,001 --> 01:09:55,000 BECAUSE OF THE STRESS PLACED ON 2243 01:09:55,001 --> 01:10:01,000 THE BUDGET MODEL 2244 01:10:01,001 --> 01:10:02,000 IN THE V.A. SUPPLEMENTAL 2245 01:10:02,001 --> 01:10:05,000 BUSINESS. 2246 01:10:05,001 --> 01:10:08,000 IT ALSO LEAVES OUT THE I.T. AND 2247 01:10:08,001 --> 01:10:09,000 MEDICAL RESEARCH ACCOUNTS. 2248 01:10:09,001 --> 01:10:11,000 SO MY AMENDMENT THAT WAS NOT 2249 01:10:11,001 --> 01:10:13,000 MADE INRDER UNDER THIS RULE 2250 01:10:13,001 --> 01:10:16,000 TRIED TO CORRECT WHAT I VIEWED 2251 01:10:16,001 --> 01:10:17,000 AS A FLAWED PROCESS. 2252 01:10:17,001 --> 01:10:19,000 THE AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE ADDED 2253 01:10:19,001 --> 01:10:20,000 THE V.A. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 2254 01:10:20,001 --> 01:10:22,000 SYSTEMS AND THE V.A. MEDICAL 2255 01:10:22,001 --> 01:10:23,000 AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH 2256 01:10:23,001 --> 01:10:25,000 ACCOUNTS TO THE OTHER V.A. 2257 01:10:25,001 --> 01:10:28,000 MEDICAL CARE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE 2258 01:10:28,001 --> 01:10:29,000 INCLUDED IN THE ADVANCED 2259 01:10:29,001 --> 01:10:30,000 APPROPRIATION SECTION. 2260 01:10:30,001 --> 01:10:33,000 NOW, MANY ISSUES WERRAISED 2261 01:10:33,001 --> 01:10:37,000 ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE 2262 01:10:37,001 --> 01:10:40,000 PROPOSALS THAT HAD ADVANCED 2263 01:10:40,001 --> 01:10:41,000 ITEMS ON THE COMMITTEE ON 2264 01:10:41,001 --> 01:10:44,000 VETERANS' AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT 2265 01:10:44,001 --> 01:10:45,000 HEARING INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING 2266 01:10:45,001 --> 01:10:47,000 -- FUNDING SOME ACCOUNTS UNDER 2267 01:10:47,001 --> 01:10:49,000 ADVANCED APPROPRIATION AND SOME 2268 01:10:49,001 --> 01:10:51,000 ACCOUNTS UNDER FISCAL 2269 01:10:51,001 --> 01:10:54,000 APPROPRIATION COULD POTENTIALLY 2270 01:10:54,001 --> 01:10:56,000 CREATE ACCOUNTING 2271 01:10:56,001 --> 01:11:00,000 SECRETARY SHINSEKI EXPRESSED 2272 01:11:00,001 --> 01:11:01,000 CONCERN THAT THE V.A. I.T. IS 2273 01:11:01,001 --> 01:11:03,000 INTEGRATED INTO THE ACCOUNTS 2274 01:11:03,001 --> 01:11:04,000 AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR 2275 01:11:04,001 --> 01:11:06,000 ADVANCED APPROPRIATION. 2276 01:11:06,001 --> 01:11:08,000 THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE OBSERVED THAT NOT 2277 01:11:08,001 --> 01:11:10,000 INCLUDING I.T. IN ADVANCED 2278 01:11:10,001 --> 01:11:12,000 APPROPRIATIONS COULD, QUOTE, 2279 01:11:12,001 --> 01:11:14,000 CREATE A SITUATION WHEREBY, FOR 2280 01:11:14,001 --> 01:11:15,000 EXAMPLE, V.H.A. COULD NOT 2281 01:11:15,001 --> 01:11:18,000 PURCHASE COMPUTER SOFTWARE 2282 01:11:18,001 --> 01:11:19,000 ALTHOUGH IT HAS PROCURED 2283 01:11:19,001 --> 01:11:21,000 MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT NEEDS 2284 01:11:21,001 --> 01:11:22,000 THE I.T. SOFTWARE, END QUOTE. 2285 01:11:22,001 --> 01:11:24,000 OR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE 2286 01:11:24,001 --> 01:11:27,000 THE NECESSARY I.T. 2287 01:11:27,001 --> 01:11:29,000 INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEW 2288 01:11:29,001 --> 01:11:31,000 COMMUNITY BASED OUTPATIENT 2289 01:11:31,001 --> 01:11:32,000 CLINICS. 2290 01:11:32,001 --> 01:11:34,000 THEY ALSO POINTED OUT THE 2291 01:11:34,001 --> 01:11:36,000 FAILURE TO INCLUDE PROSTHETIC 2292 01:11:36,001 --> 01:11:38,000 RESEARCH COULD RAISE PROBLEMS 2293 01:11:38,001 --> 01:11:39,000 FOR FUNDING RESEARCH PROJECTS 2294 01:11:39,001 --> 01:11:41,000 AND RESEARCH SUPPORT, SUCH AS 2295 01:11:41,001 --> 01:11:42,000 PERSONNEL COSTS AND 2296 01:11:42,001 --> 01:11:44,000 ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. 2297 01:11:44,001 --> 01:11:45,000 WHEN I OFFERED A SIMILAR 2298 01:11:45,001 --> 01:11:48,000 AMENDMENT AT THE FULL COMMITTEE 2299 01:11:48,001 --> 01:11:49,000 MARKUP OF H.R. 1016, AS 2300 01:11:49,001 --> 01:11:51,000 AMENDED, WHICH IS -- WHICH IS 2301 01:11:51,001 --> 01:11:52,000 THE BILL THAT AUTHORIZED THE 2302 01:11:52,001 --> 01:11:55,000 ADVANCED APPROPRIATIONS 2303 01:11:55,001 --> 01:11:57,000 PROPOSAL, IT RECEIVED BROAD 2304 01:11:57,001 --> 01:11:58,000 BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND PASSED 2305 01:11:58,001 --> 01:12:00,000 THE VETERANS' AFFAIRS 2306 01:12:00,001 --> 01:12:01,000 AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE 17-8. 2307 01:12:01,001 --> 01:12:03,000 SINCE THE LANGUAGE OF MY 2308 01:12:03,001 --> 01:12:06,000 AMENDMENT WAS A ALSO PART 2309 01:12:06,001 --> 01:12:07,000 THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BILL 2310 01:12:07,001 --> 01:12:10,000 WHEN IT PASSED THE HOUSE, ALL I 2311 01:12:10,001 --> 01:12:12,000 WAS TRYING TO DO WAS BRING 2312 01:12:12,001 --> 01:12:13,000 CONSISTENCY BETWEEN H.R. 1016, 2313 01:12:13,001 --> 01:12:15,000 AS AMENDED, AND THE BILL BEFORE 2314 01:12:15,001 --> 01:12:18,000 US TOD. EVERY MEMBER OF THE RULES 2315 01:12:18,001 --> 01:12:19,000 COMMITTEE VOTED IN FAVOR OF 2316 01:12:19,001 --> 01:12:20,000 1016, SO I'M DISAPPOINTED TO 2317 01:12:20,001 --> 01:12:24,000 SEE THAT THE VERY SAME 2318 01:12:24,001 --> 01:12:26,000 PROVISION WAS NOT MADE IN 2319 01:12:26,001 --> 01:12:27,000 ORDER. 2320 01:12:27,001 --> 01:12:29,000 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, 2321 01:12:29,001 --> 01:12:30,000 PARTICULARLY THE VETERANS, 2322 01:12:30,001 --> 01:12:31,000 DESERVES A FAIR AND OPEN 2323 01:12:31,001 --> 01:12:33,000 PROCESS AND DEBATE ON THIS 2324 01:12:33,001 --> 01:12:34,000 ISSUE, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE 2325 01:12:34,001 --> 01:12:35,000 THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN 2326 01:12:35,001 --> 01:12:36,000 BLOCKED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE 2327 01:12:36,001 --> 01:12:38,000 FOR PARTISAN REASONS. 2328 01:12:38,001 --> 01:12:39,000 SINCE OPEN DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE 2329 01:12:39,001 --> 01:12:41,000 WAS DISALLOWED, IT'S MY HOPE TO 2330 01:12:41,001 --> 01:12:42,000 CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CHAIRMAN 2331 01:12:42,001 --> 01:12:43,000 EDWARDS AND RANKING MEMBER WAMP 2332 01:12:43,001 --> 01:12:45,000 TO INCLUDE THESE ACCOUNTS IN 2333 01:12:45,001 --> 01:12:47,000 NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET RESOLUTION 2334 01:12:47,001 --> 01:12:49,000 AND THEN IN THE 2011'S 2335 01:12:49,001 --> 01:12:50,000 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS. 2336 01:12:50,001 --> 01:12:53,000 THAT'S THE ONLY CHOICE THAT I 2337 01:12:53,001 --> 01:12:54,000 NOW HAVE. 2338 01:12:54,001 --> 01:12:56,000 SO I'LL WORK -- ATTEMPT TO WORK 2339 01:12:56,001 --> 01:12:57,000 WITH YOU IF YOU WANT TO WORK 2340 01:12:57,001 --> 01:12:58,000 WITH ME. 2341 01:12:58,001 --> 01:12:59,000 WHAT I'VE LEARNED AROUND THIS 2342 01:12:59,001 --> 01:13:00,000 PLACE IS BIPARTISANSHIP IS A 2343 01:13:00,001 --> 01:13:02,000 CHOICE. 2344 01:13:02,001 --> 01:13:04,000 IT'S A CHOICE. 2345 01:13:04,001 --> 01:13:06,000 AND I'VE BEEN HERE NOW FOR 17 2346 01:13:06,001 --> 01:13:10,000 YEARS, AND I'VE LISTENED TO 2347 01:13:10,001 --> 01:13:11,000 CHAIRMAN OBEY, NOT ONLY IN THE 2348 01:13:11,001 --> 01:13:12,000 MAJORITY, IN THE MINORITY AND 2349 01:13:12,001 --> 01:13:13,000 NOW BACK IN THE MAJORITY. 2350 01:13:13,001 --> 01:13:16,000 AND BEING CONSISTENT TO MY GOOD 2351 01:13:16,001 --> 01:13:20,000 SO IF YOU CAN REMEMBER WHAT YOU 2352 01:13:20,001 --> 01:13:21,000 WERE LIKE IN THE MINORITY, BE 2353 01:13:21,001 --> 01:13:23,000 CONSISTENT TO HOW YOU'RE LIKE 2354 01:13:23,001 --> 01:13:24,000 IN TH 2355 01:13:24,001 --> 01:13:26,000 YOU ENDURE RESPECT FROM ALL OF 2356 01:13:26,001 --> 01:13:28,000 US. 2357 01:13:28,001 --> 01:13:29,000 THAT'S MY GOOD COUNSEL TO MY 2358 01:13:29,001 --> 01:13:31,000 GOOD FRIEND. 2359 01:13:31,001 --> 01:13:32,000 I YIELD BACK. 2360 01:13:32,001 --> 01:13:33,000 THE SPKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2361 01:13:33,001 --> 01:13:34,000 GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 2362 01:13:34,001 --> 01:13:36,000 WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION? 2363 01:13:36,001 --> 01:13:38,000 THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE. MS. PINGREE: I YIELD TWO 2364 01:13:38,001 --> 01:13:40,000 MINUTES TO THE G 2365 01:13:40,001 --> 01:13:42,000 COLORADO, A MEMBER OF THE RULES COMMITTEE, MR. POLIS. 2366 01:13:42,001 --> 01:13:44,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2367 01:13:44,001 --> 01:13:46,000 GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. 2368 01:13:46,001 --> 01:13:47,000 MR. POLIS: THANK YOU, MR. 2369 01:13:47,001 --> 01:13:49,000 SPEAKER. 2370 01:13:49,001 --> 01:13:50,000 I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2371 01:13:50,001 --> 01:13:51,000 3082, THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION 2372 01:13:51,001 --> 01:13:53,000 AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS 2373 01:13:53,001 --> 01:13:54,000 APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL 2374 01:13:54,001 --> 01:13:55,000 YEAR 2010, AND THE RULE. 2375 01:13:55,001 --> 01:13:56,000 I'D LIKE TO THANCHAIRMAN 2376 01:13:56,001 --> 01:13:58,000 EDWARDS OF THE MILITARY 2377 01:13:58,001 --> 01:14:00,000 CONSTRTION AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS 2378 01:14:00,001 --> 01:14:02,000 COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS CHAIRMAN 2379 01:14:02,001 --> 01:14:03,000 OBEY, FOR THEIR HARD WORK AS 2380 01:14:03,001 --> 01:14:04,000 WELL AS THE DEDICATED WORK OF 2381 01:14:04,001 --> 01:14:06,000 THEIR STAFF IN BRINGING THIS 2382 01:14:06,001 --> 01:14:07,000 BILL BEFORE US. 2383 01:14:07,001 --> 01:14:08,000 THIS LEGISLATION TRULY REFLECTS 2384 01:14:08,001 --> 01:14:10,000 OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE 2385 01:14:10,001 --> 01:14:11,000 QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SERVICE 2386 01:14:11,001 --> 01:14:12,000 MEN AND WOMEN AS WELL AS OUR 2387 01:14:12,001 --> 01:14:14,000 VETERANS WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH 2388 01:14:14,001 --> 01:14:15,000 TO DEFEND THE FREEDOMS THAT WE 2389 01:14:15,001 --> 01:14:16,000 ENJOY EVERY DAY. 2390 01:14:16,001 --> 01:14:17,000 IN THE MIDST OF AN ECONOMIC 2391 01:14:17,001 --> 01:14:19,000 CRIS AND A WAR ON TWO FRONTS, 2392 01:14:19,001 --> 01:14:20,000 FULLY FUNDING THE VETERANS' 2393 01:14:20,001 --> 01:14:21,000 AFFAIRS BILL IS CRITICAL TO OUR 2394 01:14:21,001 --> 01:14:23,000 COUNTRY'S ABILITY TO ADDRESS 2395 01:14:23,001 --> 01:14:25,000 THE NEEDS OF OUR VETERANS AND OUR MILITARY FAMILIES. 2396 01:14:25,001 --> 01:14:27,000 THIS BILL AUTHORIZES FUNDING 2397 01:14:27,001 --> 01:14:29,000 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TO FUND A NUMBER OF 2398 01:14:29,001 --> 01:14:30,000 WORTHY PROJECTS, SUCH AS 2399 01:14:30,001 --> 01:14:32,000 BUILDING HOUSING FOR OUR 2400 01:14:32,001 --> 01:14:33,000 TROOPS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 2401 01:14:33,001 --> 01:14:35,000 AND GRANTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION 2402 01:14:35,001 --> 01:14:36,000 OF EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES AND 2403 01:14:36,001 --> 01:14:37,000 VETERANS CEMETERIES. 2404 01:14:37,001 --> 01:14:39,000 AS A COLORADAN, I'M 2405 01:14:39,001 --> 01:14:42,000 PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO SEE 2406 01:14:42,001 --> 01:14:44,000 THAT THE FITZSIMMONS VETERANS' 2407 01:14:44,001 --> 01:14:45,000 AFFAIRS HOSPITAL IN AURORA WILL 2408 01:14:45,001 --> 01:14:47,000 RECEIVE $19 MILLION AS PART OF 2409 01:14:47,001 --> 01:14:48,000 THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION BILL. 2410 01:14:48,001 --> 01:14:50,000 IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR THE 2411 01:14:50,001 --> 01:14:51,000 STATE OF COLORADO AND FOR THE 2412 01:14:51,001 --> 01:14:54,000 VETERANS IN MY DISTRICT TO HAVE 2413 01:14:54,001 --> 01:14:57,000 ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE CLOSE TO THEIR HOME. 2414 01:14:57,001 --> 01:14:59,000 I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO SECRETARY 2415 01:14:59,001 --> 01:15:00,000 SHINSEKI WHO INVITED US FROM 2416 01:15:00,001 --> 01:15:02,000 THE COLORADO DELEGATION TO THE 2417 01:15:02,001 --> 01:15:03,000 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS 2418 01:15:03,001 --> 01:15:04,000 TO MAKE THIS AOUNCEMENT LAST 2419 01:15:04,001 --> 01:15:05,000 MONTH AND HIS STAFF. 2420 01:15:05,001 --> 01:15:07,000 THEY'VE TRULY RECOGNIZED THE 2421 01:15:07,001 --> 01:15:09,000 URGENCY OF COMPLETING A PROJECT 2422 01:15:09,001 --> 01:15:10,000 THAT'S BEEN TORN BY UNCERTAINTY 2423 01:15:10,001 --> 01:15:13,000 AND GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING 2424 01:15:13,001 --> 01:15:14,000 BOARD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND 2425 01:15:14,001 --> 01:15:16,000 FINALLY MOVE FORWARD AND 2426 01:15:16,001 --> 01:15:18,000 FUNDING THIS MILITARY 2427 01:15:18,001 --> 01:15:19,000 CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS' 2428 01:15:19,001 --> 01:15:20,000 AFFAIRS ACT. 2429 01:15:20,001 --> 01:15:21,000 THIS BILL WILL HELP ENSURE THE 2430 01:15:21,001 --> 01:15:23,000 OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES 2431 01:15:23,001 --> 01:15:24,000 TO MOVE QUICKLY FORWARD, AND I 2432 01:15:24,001 --> 01:15:26,000 URGE 2433 01:15:26,001 --> 01:15:28,000 ON THE RULE AND VOTE YES ON THE 2434 01:15:28,001 --> 01:15:29,000 FINAL PASSAGE OF 3082. 2435 01:15:29,001 --> 01:15:30,000 THANK YOU, AND I YIELD BACK THE 2436 01:15:30,001 --> 01:15:31,000 BALANCE OF MY TIME. 2437 01:15:31,001 --> 01:15:33,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2438 01:15:33,001 --> 01:15:34,000 GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. 2439 01:15:34,001 --> 01:15:35,000 THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, FOR 2440 01:15:35,001 --> 01:15:37,000 WHAT PURPOSE DO YOU RISE? 2441 01:15:37,001 --> 01:15:38,000 MR. SESSIONS: I'D LIKE TO YIELD 2442 01:15:38,001 --> 01:15:39,000 TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN 2443 01:15:39,001 --> 01:15:41,000 FROM OKLAHOMA. 2444 01:15:41,001 --> 01:15:42,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2445 01:15:42,001 --> 01:15:43,000 GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 2446 01:15:43,001 --> 01:15:44,000 MINUTES. 2447 01:15:44,001 --> 01:15:45,000 >> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. 2448 01:15:45,001 --> 01:15:47,000 I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE 2449 01:15:47,001 --> 01:15:48,000 RULE. 2450 01:15:48,001 --> 01:15:49,000 AS CONGRESS MOVES FORWARD IN 2451 01:15:49,001 --> 01:15:51,000 THE DEBATE ON HEALTH CARE, WE 2452 01:15:51,001 --> 01:15:53,000 SHOULD ENSURE THAT ANY NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN 2453 01:15:53,001 --> 01:15:55,000 PRESERVES THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF 2454 01:15:55,001 --> 01:15:56,000 OUR VETERANS AND SERVICE 2455 01:15:56,001 --> 01:15:57,000 MEMBERS AS WELL AS PROTECTS THE 2456 01:15:57,001 --> 01:15:58,000 UNIQUE IDENTITY AND ROLE OF THE 2457 01:15:58,001 --> 01:16:00,000 SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS AN 2458 01:16:00,001 --> 01:16:01,000 ASSURANCES THEY DEPEND ON. 2459 01:16:01,001 --> 01:16:04,000 IF WE SUBJECT THESE BENEFITS TO 2460 01:16:04,001 --> 01:16:06,000 NEW TAXATION OR IF WE FOLD THEM 2461 01:16:06,001 --> 01:16:07,000 INTO A LARGE GOVERNMENT-RUN 2462 01:16:07,001 --> 01:16:09,000 PROGRAM, THE QUALITY AND 2463 01:16:09,001 --> 01:16:11,000 AVAILABILITY OF CARE FOR OUR 2464 01:16:11,001 --> 01:16:15,000 NATION'S VETERANS WILL SUFFER. 2465 01:16:15,001 --> 01:16:17,000 IT COULD UNDERMINE RECRUITING, RETENTION AND ULTIMATELY 2466 01:16:17,001 --> 01:16:18,000 NATIONAL SECURITY. 2467 01:16:18,001 --> 01:16:20,000 I HOPED TODAY TO OFFER AN 2468 01:16:20,001 --> 01:16:21,000 AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY 2469 01:16:21,001 --> 01:16:23,000 NEW HEALTH CARE PROGRAM WOULD 2470 01:16:23,001 --> 01:16:25,000 NOT UNDERCUT THE SERVICES 2471 01:16:25,001 --> 01:16:26,000 CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR OUR MEN 2472 01:16:26,001 --> 01:16:28,000 AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM. 2473 01:16:28,001 --> 01:16:29,000 UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT 2474 01:16:29,001 --> 01:16:30,000 ALLOWED TO DO SO TODAY BECAUSE 2475 01:16:30,001 --> 01:16:31,000 OF THE CLOSED RULE. 2476 01:16:31,001 --> 01:16:34,000 IT IS FRUSTRATING WHEN GOOD 2477 01:16:34,001 --> 01:16:37,000 IDEAS CANNOT MOVE FORWARD. MR. SPEAKER, THE SERVICE 2478 01:16:37,001 --> 01:16:38,000 MEMBERS AND VETERANS IN OUR 2479 01:16:38,001 --> 01:16:39,000 COUNTRY WHO HAVE SERVED R 2480 01:16:39,001 --> 01:16:41,000 NATION, THEY HAVE UNIQUE HEALTH 2481 01:16:41,001 --> 01:16:43,000 CARE NEEDS. 2482 01:16:43,001 --> 01:16:44,000 WE FULFILL THEM THROUGH 2483 01:16:44,001 --> 01:16:49,000 SPECIFIC MECHANISMS, SUCH AS 2484 01:16:49,001 --> 01:16:51,000 THE V.A., TRICARE, AND OTHERS. 2485 01:16:51,001 --> 01:16:53,000 THESE ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING 2486 01:16:53,001 --> 01:16:56,000 SURE WE MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS TO 2487 01:16:56,001 --> 01:16:58,000 THOSE SERVING IN UNIFORM AND 2488 01:16:58,001 --> 01:16:59,000 THAT WE DO SO IN A PERSONAL AND 2489 01:16:59,001 --> 01:17:00,000 EFFECTIVE WAY. 2490 01:17:00,001 --> 01:17:02,000 THEY PROVIDE SPECIFIC NEED 2491 01:17:02,001 --> 01:17:04,000 COVERAGE THAT RECOGNIZES THE 2492 01:17:04,001 --> 01:17:06,000 EXTRAORDINARY SACRIFICES THAT 2493 01:17:06,001 --> 01:17:07,000 ARE INHERENT TO THOSE WHO SERVE 2494 01:17:07,001 --> 01:17:09,000 IN OUR MILITARY. 2495 01:17:09,001 --> 01:17:10,000 SIMILARLY, THERE ARE UNIQUE AND 2496 01:17:10,001 --> 01:17:12,000 SPECIALIZED V.A. PROGRAM THIS 2497 01:17:12,001 --> 01:17:13,000 IS A RECOGNIZE THE SPECIAL 2498 01:17:13,001 --> 01:17:16,000 GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES TO 2499 01:17:16,001 --> 01:17:17,000 THOSE WHO INCUR INJURIES AND 2500 01:17:17,001 --> 01:17:19,000 ILLNESS AS A RESULT OF THEIR 2501 01:17:19,001 --> 01:17:20,000 SERVICE. 2502 01:17:20,001 --> 01:17:21,000 MOREOVER, SPECIFIC SERVICES AND 2503 01:17:21,001 --> 01:17:23,000 PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES OF THOSE 2504 01:17:23,001 --> 01:17:25,000 WHO HELPED SERVE THE GRATEFUL 2505 01:17:25,001 --> 01:17:26,000 NATION TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE 2506 01:17:26,001 --> 01:17:28,000 WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR 2507 01:17:28,001 --> 01:17:29,000 ALL OF US. 2508 01:17:29,001 --> 01:17:32,000 IT'S TOO BAD WE ARE UNABLE TO 2509 01:17:32,001 --> 01:17:36,000 MOVE FORWARD ON MY AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE 2510 01:17:36,001 --> 01:17:37,000 RECOGNIZED AND PROTECTED THE 2511 01:17:37,001 --> 01:17:40,000 RESPONSIBILITY TOSSER VIS 2512 01:17:40,001 --> 01:17:42,000 MEMBERS AND VETERANS IN ANY 2513 01:17:42,001 --> 01:17:44,000 HEALTH CARE PACKAGE MOVING THROUGH CONGRESS. 2514 01:17:44,001 --> 01:17:45,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2515 01:17:45,001 --> 01:17:47,000 GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE. 2516 01:17:47,001 --> 01:17:49,000 MS. PINGREE: I RESERVE. 2517 01:17:49,001 --> 01:17:50,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2518 01:17:50,001 --> 01:17:54,000 GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. 2519 01:17:54,001 --> 01:17:56,000 MR. SESSIONS: I WOULD LIKE TO 2520 01:17:56,001 --> 01:17:57,000 ADVISE THE GENTLEWOMAN I HAVE A 2521 01:17:57,001 --> 01:18:03,000 FEW MINUTES LEFT, I WOULD 2522 01:18:03,001 --> 01:18:05,000 RESERVE MY TIME. 2523 01:18:05,001 --> 01:18:06,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2524 01:18:06,001 --> 01:18:09,000 GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE. 2525 01:18:09,001 --> 01:18:10,000 MS. PINGREE: I'M THE LAST 2526 01:18:10,001 --> 01:18:12,000 SPEAKER FOR THIS SIDE, I'LL 2527 01:18:12,001 --> 01:18:14,000 RESERVE. 2528 01:18:14,001 --> 01:18:15,000 MR. SESSIONS: I THINK IT'S 2529 01:18:15,001 --> 01:18:16,000 INTERESTING THAT TWO OF OUR 2530 01:18:16,001 --> 01:18:18,000 NEWEST MEMBERS FROM COLORADO 2531 01:18:18,001 --> 01:18:19,000 AND MAINE HAVE NEVER SEEN AN 2532 01:18:19,001 --> 01:18:21,000 OPEN RULE. 2533 01:18:21,001 --> 01:18:22,000 THEY'VE ONLY SERVED FOR SIX 2534 01:18:22,001 --> 01:18:24,000 MONTHS BUT THEY COULD HAVE 2535 01:18:24,001 --> 01:18:26,000 SERVED FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. 2536 01:18:26,001 --> 01:18:29,000 NEVER WOULD HAVE SEEN AN OPEN 2537 01:18:29,001 --> 01:18:30,000 RULE ON THIS FLOOR. 2538 01:18:30,001 --> 01:18:31,000 THAT'S REALLY THE MEASURE OF 2539 01:18:31,001 --> 01:18:33,000 WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO 2540 01:18:33,001 --> 01:18:34,000 TALK ABOUT. 2541 01:18:34,001 --> 01:18:36,000 WE'RE TEACHING OUR NEWEST YOUNG 2542 01:18:36,001 --> 01:18:38,000 MEMBERS WHAT TNGS SHOULDN'T 2543 01:18:38,001 --> 01:18:40,000 LOOK LIKE. 2544 01:18:40,001 --> 01:18:42,000 SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE. 2545 01:18:42,001 --> 01:18:43,000 WE NEED OPEN RULES. 2546 01:18:43,001 --> 01:18:45,000 AS A RESULT OF THAT, MR. 2547 01:18:45,001 --> 01:18:47,000 SPEAKER, I'M GOING TO BE ASKING FOR A NO VOTE. 2548 01:18:47,001 --> 01:18:49,000 NO VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS 2549 01:18:49,001 --> 01:18:50,000 QUESTION, WE CAN AMEND THIS RULE AND ALLOW FOR AN OPEN 2550 01:18:50,001 --> 01:18:54,000 RULE. 2551 01:18:54,001 --> 01:18:55,000 THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD TEACH 2552 01:18:55,001 --> 01:18:57,000 ESPECIALLY NEW MEMBER THAT OPEN 2553 01:18:57,001 --> 01:18:58,000 RULES SHOULD BE PART OF A 2554 01:18:58,001 --> 01:19:00,000 REGULAR PROCESS. 2555 01:19:00,001 --> 01:19:02,000 THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE 2556 01:19:02,001 --> 01:19:04,000 RULE THE MAJORITY BRINGS FORTH 2557 01:19:04,001 --> 01:19:05,000 TODAY WILL ONLY CEMENT THE 2558 01:19:05,001 --> 01:19:07,000 DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT THE 2559 01:19:07,001 --> 01:19:08,000 MAJORITY HAS BEEN SETTING NOW 2560 01:19:08,001 --> 01:19:11,000 FOR OVER TWO YEARS. 2561 01:19:11,001 --> 01:19:12,000 IT WILL ONLY DAMAGE 2562 01:19:12,001 --> 01:19:13,000 BIPARTISANSHIP AND IT HARMS US 2563 01:19:13,001 --> 01:19:19,000 IN OUR COMMITTEES. 2564 01:19:19,001 --> 01:19:21,000 IN COMMITTEES ABOUT WHAT THIS 2565 01:19:21,001 --> 01:19:23,000 SPEAKER IS DOING. 2566 01:19:23,001 --> 01:19:25,000 I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO 2567 01:19:25,001 --> 01:19:28,000 AND VOTE NO, TO SAY NO TO THIS. 2568 01:19:28,001 --> 01:19:30,000 SO WE CAN ALLOW FREE AND OPEN 2569 01:19:30,001 --> 01:19:31,000 DEBATE ON APPROPRIATIONS BILLS 2570 01:19:31,001 --> 01:19:33,000 AND UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF 2571 01:19:33,001 --> 01:19:34,000 MILLIONS OF MESHES AND NOT JUST 2572 01:19:34,001 --> 01:19:37,000 REPUBLICAN BUS DEMOCRATS ALSO. 2573 01:19:37,001 --> 01:19:38,000 BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING SHUT 2574 01:19:38,001 --> 01:19:41,000 ALSO BY THEIR OWN PARTY. 2575 01:19:41,001 --> 01:19:42,000 THIS IS NOT OPEN, IT'S NOT 2576 01:19:42,001 --> 01:19:43,000 HONEST, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S 2577 01:19:43,001 --> 01:19:45,000 ETHICAL. 2578 01:19:45,001 --> 01:19:46,000 I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY WILL 2579 01:19:46,001 --> 01:19:48,000 COME TO REGRET THIS DECISION TO 2580 01:19:48,001 --> 01:19:51,000 CLOSE DOWN THIS DELIBERATIVE 2581 01:19:51,001 --> 01:19:53,000 PROCESS HERE IN THIS FLOOR 2582 01:19:53,001 --> 01:19:56,000 DURING APPROPRIATIONS SEASONS. 2583 01:19:56,001 --> 01:19:59,000 I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 2584 01:19:59,001 --> 01:20:01,000 SUBMIT THE TEXT OF MY MATERIAL 2585 01:20:01,001 --> 01:20:02,000 AND OTHER EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL 2586 01:20:02,001 --> 01:20:04,000 IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE VOTE 2587 01:20:04,001 --> 01:20:05,000 ON THE QUESTION. 2588 01:20:05,001 --> 01:20:07,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 2589 01:20:07,001 --> 01:20:09,000 WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. SESSIONS: THANK YOU. 2590 01:20:09,001 --> 01:20:11,000 I URGE A NO VOTE ON THE RULE. 2591 01:20:11,001 --> 01:20:13,000 REPUBLICAN TODAY. 2592 01:20:13,001 --> 01:20:15,000 WE BELIEVE IT'S -- NOT JUST OUR 2593 01:20:15,001 --> 01:20:16,000 RIGHT, BUT THE RIGHT THING TO 2594 01:20:16,001 --> 01:20:18,000 DO TO COME AND SPEAK 2595 01:20:18,001 --> 01:20:19,000 FORTHRIGHTLY ABOUT OUR IDEAS 2596 01:20:19,001 --> 01:20:21,000 ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, 2597 01:20:21,001 --> 01:20:25,000 ABOUT V.A. HOSPITALS THAT ARE 2598 01:20:25,001 --> 01:20:27,000 IN OUR DISTRICTS, ABOUT 2599 01:20:27,001 --> 01:20:28,000 VETERANS AFFAIRS CENTERS THAT 2600 01:20:28,001 --> 01:20:29,000 NEED TO OPERATE IN A MORE 2601 01:20:29,001 --> 01:20:31,000 EFFICIENT WAY. 2602 01:20:31,001 --> 01:20:32,000 WE'RE PROUD OF THE MEN AND 2603 01:20:32,001 --> 01:20:35,000 WOMEN THAT SERVE OUR MILITARY. 2604 01:20:35,001 --> 01:20:37,000 I WAS PROUD TO HAVE THE 2605 01:20:37,001 --> 01:20:39,000 GENTLEMAN, MR. BUYER, GULF WAR 2606 01:20:39,001 --> 01:20:41,000 VETERAN, COME AND SPEAK 2607 01:20:41,001 --> 01:20:45,000 FORTHRIGHTLY ABOUT WHAT WE THINK OUGHT TO HAPPEN. 2608 01:20:45,001 --> 01:20:46,000 PROUD OF OUR MILITARY. 2609 01:20:46,001 --> 01:20:47,000 BUT WE THINK WE ALSO TO MAKE 2610 01:20:47,001 --> 01:20:48,000 MORE DELIBERATIVE DECISIONS IN 2611 01:20:48,001 --> 01:20:50,000 THIS HOUSE. 2612 01:20:50,001 --> 01:20:51,000 YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 2613 01:20:51,001 --> 01:20:52,000 TIME. 2614 01:20:52,001 --> 01:20:53,000 THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPO 2615 01:20:53,001 --> 01:20:55,000 GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS 2616 01:20:55,001 --> 01:20:56,000 RECOGNIZED. 2617 01:20:56,001 --> 01:20:58,000 MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MR. 2618 01:20:58,001 --> 01:20:59,000 SPEAKER. 2619 01:20:59,001 --> 01:21:00,000 I WANT TO POINT OUT, AS WE'RE 2620 01:21:00,001 --> 01:21:01,000 CLOSING, THERE'S BEEN A 2621 01:21:01,001 --> 01:21:03,000 TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF 2622 01:21:03,001 --> 01:21:05,000 CONVERSATION ON THE FLOOR ABOUT THE OPEN RULE, ABOUT THE 2623 01:21:05,001 --> 01:21:07,000 PROCESS HERE, I WANT TO POINT 2624 01:21:07,001 --> 01:21:10,000 OUT TO MEMBERS THAT EVEN UNDER 2625 01:21:10,001 --> 01:21:12,000 AN OPEN RULE, NEARLY 2/3 OF THE 2626 01:21:12,001 --> 01:21:13,000 AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE 2627 01:21:13,001 --> 01:21:14,000 RULES COMMITTEE WERE IN 2628 01:21:14,001 --> 01:21:15,000 VIOLATION OF HOUSE RULES AND 2629 01:21:15,001 --> 01:21:17,000 WOULD HAVE BEEN -- WOULD HAVE 2630 01:21:17,001 --> 01:21:18,000 BEEN SUBJECT TO POINTS OF 2631 01:21:18,001 --> 01:21:20,000 ORDER, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN 2632 01:21:20,001 --> 01:21:22,000 ABLE TO PROCEED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. 2633 01:21:22,001 --> 01:21:24,000 THE MAJORITY OF AMENDMENTS 2634 01:21:24,001 --> 01:21:26,000 YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS MORNING FROM MY GOOD FRIEND IN 2635 01:21:26,001 --> 01:21:28,000 MINNESOTA, FROM MY COLLEAGUE IN 2636 01:21:28,001 --> 01:21:29,000 GEORGIA, THOSE ARE RULE THIS IS 2637 01:21:29,001 --> 01:21:31,000 A WOULD HAVE BEEN -- THOSE WERE 2638 01:21:31,001 --> 01:21:32,000 AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 2639 01:21:32,001 --> 01:21:34,000 IN VIOLATION OF HOUSE RULES, 2640 01:21:34,001 --> 01:21:36,000 WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO A 2641 01:21:36,001 --> 01:21:37,000 POINT OF ORDER, AND WHILE THEY 2642 01:21:37,001 --> 01:21:40,000 MADE GOOD POINTS ABOUT WHY THEY 2643 01:21:40,001 --> 01:21:42,000 WANT TO HAVE HAD THEIR 2644 01:21:42,001 --> 01:21:43,000 AMENDMENT MOVED FORWARD, THE 2645 01:21:43,001 --> 01:21:46,000 POINT IS, THAT WOULDN'T HAVE 2646 01:21:46,001 --> 01:21:49,000 HAPPENED TODAY ANYWAY, EVEN IF 2647 01:21:49,001 --> 01:21:51,000 WE'D BEEN UNDER OPEN RULE. 2648 01:21:51,001 --> 01:21:53,000 MY COLLEAGUE FROM TEXAS 2649 01:21:53,001 --> 01:21:56,000 MENTIONED A FEW OF US WHO ARE NEW HERE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN 2650 01:21:56,001 --> 01:21:57,000 THROUGH THE APPROPRIATIONS 2651 01:21:57,001 --> 01:21:59,000 PROCESS UNDER OPEN RULES. 2652 01:21:59,001 --> 01:22:01,000 I WILL SAY THAT MOST OF THE 2653 01:22:01,001 --> 01:22:02,000 BILLS OTHAT COME TO THE FLOOR 2654 01:22:02,001 --> 01:22:03,000 COME UNDER STRUCTURED RULE. 2655 01:22:03,001 --> 01:22:05,000 THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A TRADITION 2656 01:22:05,001 --> 01:22:06,000 IN THE PAST OF APPROPRTIONS 2657 01:22:06,001 --> 01:22:08,000 BILLS COMING UNDER MORE OF AN 2658 01:22:08,001 --> 01:22:10,000 OPEN RULE, BUT I'VE BALANCED 2659 01:22:10,001 --> 01:22:12,000 THAT WITH THE REMARKS OF OUR 2660 01:22:12,001 --> 01:22:13,000 COLLEAGUE FROM THE 2661 01:22:13,001 --> 01:22:15,000 APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, MR. 2662 01:22:15,001 --> 01:22:16,000 OBEY, WHO TALKED TO US ABOUT 2663 01:22:16,001 --> 01:22:17,000 THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK 2664 01:22:17,001 --> 01:22:19,000 WE'RE EXPECTED TO GET DONE. 2665 01:22:19,001 --> 01:22:20,000 I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY 2666 01:22:20,001 --> 01:22:21,000 CONSTITUENTS BACK IN THE STATE 2667 01:22:21,001 --> 01:22:23,000 OF MAINE, THEY SAY, YOU'VE GOT 2668 01:22:23,001 --> 01:22:24,000 A LOT OF WORK TO DO, ON 2669 01:22:24,001 --> 01:22:26,000 RENEWABLENERGY, ON HEALTH 2670 01:22:26,001 --> 01:22:27,000 CARE, WE WT TO SEE YOU MOVE 2671 01:22:27,001 --> 01:22:28,000 FORWARD ON THOSE ISSUES WE WANT 2672 01:22:28,001 --> 01:22:30,000 TO SEE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS 2673 01:22:30,001 --> 01:22:31,000 LIKE THE ONE WE'RE TALKING 2674 01:22:31,001 --> 01:22:34,000 ABOUT TODAY, THAT ARE GOING TO 2675 01:22:34,001 --> 01:22:36,000 PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES FOR 2676 01:22:36,001 --> 01:22:39,000 VETERAN, WE WANT TO SEE THOSE GET DONE. 2677 01:22:39,001 --> 01:22:41,000 WE DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO YOU 2678 01:22:41,001 --> 01:22:42,000 WITH HOURS OF ENDLESS DEBATE, 2679 01:22:42,001 --> 01:22:43,000 PARTICULARLY ON THING THIS IS A 2680 01:22:43,001 --> 01:22:45,000 WOULD BE SUBJECT TO POINTS OF 2681 01:22:45,001 --> 01:22:46,000 ORDER AND WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED 2682 01:22:46,001 --> 01:22:47,000 TO BE DISCUSSED. 2683 01:22:47,001 --> 01:22:48,000 WE WANT TO SEE YOU GET YOUR 2684 01:22:48,001 --> 01:22:50,000 WORK DONE. 2685 01:22:50,001 --> 01:22:51,000 AS A VERY PROUD MEMBER OF THE 2686 01:22:51,001 --> 01:22:53,000 RULES COMMITTEE, I HAVE THE 2687 01:22:53,001 --> 01:22:54,000 OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO A 2688 01:22:54,001 --> 01:22:55,000 TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF AMENDMENT 2689 01:22:55,001 --> 01:22:57,000 THIS IS A COME BEFORE US. 2690 01:22:57,001 --> 01:22:58,000 I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE WAY 2691 01:22:58,001 --> 01:23:00,000 WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR 2692 01:23:00,001 --> 01:23:02,000 WORK AND ABOUT THE CHALLENGE 2693 01:23:02,001 --> 01:23:04,000 THIS IS A WE ARE FACING FOR THE 2694 01:23:04,001 --> 01:23:05,000 AMERICAN PUBLIC, ALL THAT IS 2695 01:23:05,001 --> 01:23:07,000 BEFORE US, AND THE IMPORTANCE 2696 01:23:07,001 --> 01:23:09,000 OF GETTING OUR WORK DONE. 2697 01:23:09,001 --> 01:23:11,000 I DO WANT TO REMIND US TODAY 2698 01:23:11,001 --> 01:23:12,000 THAT IN SPITE OF ALL THE OTHER 2699 01:23:12,001 --> 01:23:15,000 CONVERSATION THAT'S GONE ON 2700 01:23:15,001 --> 01:23:16,000 THIS PARTICULAR RULE IS A VITAL 2701 01:23:16,001 --> 01:23:19,000 STEP FORWARD TOWARD IMPROVING 2702 01:23:19,001 --> 01:23:20,000 OUR MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND 2703 01:23:20,001 --> 01:23:22,000 INSURANCE -- ENSURING THE 2704 01:23:22,001 --> 01:23:24,000 QUALITY CARE OF OUR VETERANS 2705 01:23:24,001 --> 01:23:25,000 AND THEIR FAMILIES, MAKING SURE 2706 01:23:25,001 --> 01:23:26,000 IT IS WORTHY OF THEIR 2707 01:23:26,001 --> 01:23:28,000 SACRIFICE. 2708 01:23:28,001 --> 01:23:29,000 THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE ON THE 2709 01:23:29,001 --> 01:23:30,000 FLOOR THIS MORNING, TO TALK 2710 01:23:30,001 --> 01:23:33,000 ABOUT OUR VETERANS TO TALK 2711 01:23:33,001 --> 01:23:34,000 ABOUT MILITARY CONSTRUCTION TO 2712 01:23:34,001 --> 01:23:36,000 TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE 2713 01:23:36,001 --> 01:23:37,000 ARE THERE FOR THEM. 2714 01:23:37,001 --> 01:23:39,000 MY HOME STATE OF MAINE HAS ONE 2715 01:23:39,001 --> 01:23:41,000 OF THE HIGHEST POPULATION OF 2716 01:23:41,001 --> 01:23:43,000 VETERANS IN THE COUNTRY. 2717 01:23:43,001 --> 01:23:45,000 IN A STATE OF NOT EVEN TWO 2718 01:23:45,001 --> 01:23:49,000 MILLION PEOPLE, MAINE IS HOME 2719 01:23:49,001 --> 01:23:50,000 TO OVER 155,000 VETERANS, 2720 01:23:50,001 --> 01:23:52,000 NEARLY 1/5 OF OUR POPULATION. 2721 01:23:52,001 --> 01:23:55,000 THEY HAVE SERVED WITHOUT 2722 01:23:55,001 --> 01:23:57,000 QUESTION, WITHOUT POLITICS, AND 2723 01:23:57,001 --> 01:23:58,000 CERTAINLY WITHOUT DELAY. 2724 01:23:58,001 --> 01:24:01,000 WE MUST MAKE A PROMISE TO THEM 2725 01:24:01,001 --> 01:24:02,000 AND ALL OF OUR VETERAN THIS 2726 01:24:02,001 --> 01:24:04,000 IS A WE WILL DO THE SAME. 2727 01:24:04,001 --> 01:24:06,000 WE MUST PROVIDE THEM WITH 2728 01:24:06,001 --> 01:24:09,000 HEALTH CARE AND THE BENEFITS 2729 01:24:09,001 --> 01:24:10,000 THEY DESERVE WITHOUT QUESTION, 2730 01:24:10,001 --> 01:24:11,000 WITHOUT POLITICS, AND WITHOUT 2731 01:24:11,001 --> 01:24:14,000 DELAY. 2732 01:24:14,001 --> 01:24:16,000 PASSING H.R. 3082, WE WILL 2733 01:24:16,001 --> 01:24:18,000 BEGIN TO KEEP THAT PROMISE. 2734 01:24:18,001 --> 01:24:20,000 I URGE A YES VOTE ON THE 2735 01:24:20,001 --> 01:24:22,000 PREVIOUS QUESTION AND ON THE 2736 01:24:22,001 --> 01:24:23,000 RULE, AND I YIELD BACK 2737 01:24:23,001 --> 01:24:28,000 OBALANCE OF MY TIME. 2738 01:24:28,001 --> 01:24:32,000 I MOVE THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE RESOLUTION. 2739 01:24:32,001 --> 01:24:33,000 QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE 2740 01:24:33,001 --> 01:24:34,000 PREVIOUS QUESTION. 2741 01:24:34,001 --> 01:24:35,000 THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 2742 01:24:35,001 --> 01:24:37,000 THOSE OPPOSED, NO. 2743 01:24:37,001 --> 01:24:38,000 THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. 2744 01:24:38,001 --> 01:24:40,000 MR. SESSIONS: I ASK FOR THE 2745 01:24:40,001 --> 01:24:42,000 YEAS AND NAYS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE 2746 01:24:42,001 --> 01:24:43,000 YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED. 2747 01:24:43,001 --> 01:24:44,000 THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE 2748 01:24:44,001 --> 01:24:46,000 YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE. 2749 01:24:46,001 --> 01:24:47,000 A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING 2750 01:24:47,001 --> 01:24:48,000 RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE 2751 01:24:48,001 --> 01:24:49,000 ORDERED. 2752 01:24:49,001 --> 01:24:51,000 MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES 2753 01:24:51,001 --> 01:24:52,000 BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. 2754 01:24:52,001 --> 01:24:53,000 PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 9 OF RULE 2755 01:24:53,001 --> 01:24:55,000 20, THE CHAIR E CHAIR WILL REDUCE TO 2756 01:24:55,001 --> 01:24:56,000 FIVE MINUTES THE MINIMUM TIME