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GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE RISE?
MS. PINGREE: MADAM SPEAKER, BY
THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE
ON RULES, I CALL UP HO IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
THE CLERK: HOUSE CAL TAR NUMBER
146.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 976.
RESOLVED, THAT UPON ADOPTION OF
THIS RESOLUTION, IT SHALL BE IN
ORDER TO TAKE FROM THE
SPEAKER'S TABLE THE BILL H.R.
3326, MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR
SEPTEMBER 30, 2010, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
WITH THE SENATE AMENDMENT
THER
HOUSE WITHOT INTERVENTION OF
ANY POINT OF ORDER AGAINST
THOSE ARISING UNDER CLAUSE 10
OF RULE 21 AND A MOTION OFFERED
BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
THAT THE HOUSE CONCUR WITH THE
SENATE AMENDMENT CONSIDERED IN
PART B ACCOMPANYING THIS
RESOLUTION.
THE SENATE AMENDMENT AND THE
MOTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS
READ.
THE MOTION SHALL BE DEBATABLE
FOR ONE HOUR EQUALLY DIVIDED
AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RAING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
MOTION WI
MOTION.
SECTION 2, UPON THE ADOPTION OF
THIS RESOLUTION, IT SHALL BE IN
ORDER TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE
THE JOINT RESOLUTION, HOUSE
JOINT RESOLUTION 64, MAKING
FURTHER CONTINUING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR
2010, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE JOINT
RESOLUTION ARE WAIVED EXCEPT
THOSE ARISING UNDER CLAUSE 9 OR
10 OF RULE 21.
THE JOINT RESOLUTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS READ.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
PROVISIONS IN THE JOINT RESOLUTION ARE WAIVED.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
JOINT RESOLUTION TO FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT INTERVENING
MOTION EXCEPT, ONE, ONE HOUR OF
DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS. AND, TWO, ONE MOTION TO
RECOMMIT.
SECTION 3, UPON THE ADOPTION OF
THIS RESOLUTION, IT SHALL BE IN
ORDER TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE
THE BILL H.R. 4314, TO PERMIT
CONTINUED FINANCING OF
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER OF ORDER
AGAINST CONSIDER OF THE BILL
ARE WAIVED EXCEPT THOSE ARISING
UNDER CLAUSE OF 9 OR 10 OF RULE
.
THE BILL SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS
READ.
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
PROVISIONS IN THE BILL ARE
WAIVED.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
BILL TO FINAL PASSAGE WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION EXCEPT, ONE,
ONE HOUR OF DEBATE CONTROLLED
BY THE CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS.
AND, TWO, ONE MOTION TO
RECOMMIT.
SECTION 4, UPON THE ADOPTION OF
THIS RESOLUTION, IT SHALL BE IN
ORDER TO TAKE FROM THE
SPEAKER'S TABLE THE BILL H.R.
2847, MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCAND
JUSTICE AND SCIENCE AND RELATED
AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2010, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WITH THE SENATE AMENDMENT
THERETO AND TO CONSIDER IN THE
HOUSE WITHOUT INTERVENTION OF
ANY POINT OF ORDER EXCEPT THOSE
ARISING UNDER CLAUSE 10 OF RULE
21.
A MOTION OFFERED BY THE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS OR HIS DESIGNEE
THAT THE HOUSE CONCUR IN THE
SENATE AMENDMENT WITH THE
AMENDMENT PRINTED IN PART B OF
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES.
THE SENATE AMENDMENT AND THE
MOTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS
READ.
THE MOTION SHALL BE DEBATABLE
FOR ONE HOUR EQUALLY DIVIDED
AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE
MOTION TO ITS ADOPTION WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION.
SECTION 5, IN THE ENGROSSMENT
OF THE HOUSE AMENDMENT TO THE
SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2847,
THE CLERK SHALL, A,
TEXT OF H.R. 2920 AS PASSED BY
THE HOUSE AS NEW MATTER AT THE
END OF THE TEXT PROPOSED TO BE
INSERTED BY THE HOUSE
AMENDMENT.
B, ASSIGNED APPROPRIATE
DESIGNATIONS TO PROVISIONS
WITHIN THE ENGROSSMENT OF THE
TEXT PROPOSED BE INSERTED BY
THE HOUSE.
AND, C, CONFORM PROVISIONS FOR
ENGROSSMENT OF THE TEXT
PROPOSED BY THE HOUS
SECTION D, IT SHALL BE IN
ORDERED WITHIN THE REMAINING OF
THE FIRST SESSION OF THE --
THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE
RULES. THE
SHALL CONSULT WITH THE MINORITY
LEADER OR HIS DESIGNEE ON THE
CONSIDERATION PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION.
SECTION 7, THE REQUIREMENT OF
CLAUSE 6-A OF RULE 13 FOR A 2/3
VOTE TO CONSIDER A REPORT FROM
THE COMMITTEE ON RULES ON THE
SAME DAY IT IS PRESENTED TO THE
HOUSE IS WAIVED FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE FIRST SESSION
OF THE 111TH CONGRESS.
SECTION 8, THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS MAY
INSERT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD AND ANYTIME DURING THE
REMAINDER OF THE FIRST SESSION
MATERIAL AS HE MAY DEEM
SPLANTORY OF THE SENATE
AMENDMENT AND THE MOTION
SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST AND
FOURTH SECTIONS OF THIS
RESOLUTION.
SECTION 9, ON ANY LEGISLATIVE
DAY OF THE SECOND SESSION OF
THE 111TH CONGRESS BEFORE
JANUARY 12, 2010, THE SPEAKER
AT ANYTIME MAY DISPENSE WITH
OR
BUSINESS.
SECTION 10, ON ANY LEGISLATIV
DAY OF THE SECOND SESSION OF
THE 111TH CONGRESS BEFORE
JANUARY 12, 2010, THE CHAIR AT
ANYTIME MAY DECLARE THE HOUSE
ADJOURNED OR DECLARE THE HOUSE
ADJOURNED PURSUANT TO
APPLICABLE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION OF ADJOURNMENT.
SECTION 11, A, ON ANY
SESSION OF THE 111TH CONGRESS,
THE SPEAKER MAY AT ANYTIME
DECLARE THE HOUSE ADJOURNED.
B, WHEN THE HOUSE
THE MOTION PURSUANT TO THIS
SUBSECTION OR A DECLARATION
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION A ON THE
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF, ONE,
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2009,
IT SHALL STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL
6:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER
19, 2009.
TWO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER
2009, IT SHALL STAND ADJOURNED
UNTIL NOON ON WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 23, 2009.
THREE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23,
2009, IT SHALL STAND ADJOURNED
UNTIL 10:00 A.M.
DECEMBER 26, 2009.
FOUR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26,
2009, IT SHALL STAND ADJOURNED
UNTIL NOON, DECEMBER 30, 2009.
FIVE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30,
IT SHALL STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL
10:00 A.M. ON SATURDAY, JANUARY
2, 2010.
C, IF DURING ANY ADJOURNMENT
ADDRESSED BY SUBSECTION B THE
HAS APPROVED H.R. 3326.
TWO, A MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE TRANSMITTING ITS PASSAGE
WITHOUT AMENDMENT OF H.R.
AND, THREE, A MESSAGE FROM THE
SENATE TRANSMITTING ITS
CONCURRENCE AND AN APPLICABLE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF
ADJOURNMENT, THE HOUSE SHALL
STAND ADJOURN UNTIL SUCH
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF
ADJOURNMENT.
D, THE SPEAKER MAY APPOINT
MEMBERS TO PERFORM THE DUTIES
OF THE CH
OF THE ADDRESS AS THOUGH UNDER
CLAUSE 8-A OF RULE 1.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA RISE?
MR. FLAKE: MADAM SPEAKER, I
HAVE A POINT OF ORDER BECAUSE
THE RESOLUTION VIOLATES SECTION
426-A OF THE CONGRE
BUDGET ACT. THE RESOLUTION CONTAINS A
WAIVER OF ALL POINTS OF ORDER
AGAINST C
LEGISLATION ICH INCLUDES A
WAIVER OF SECTION 425 OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT WHICH
CAUSES A VIOLATION OF SECTION
426-A.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA MAKES A
POINT OF ORDER THAT THE
RESOLUTION VIOLATES SECTION
426-A OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET ACT OF 1974.
THE GENTLEMAN HAS MET THE
THRESHOLD BURDEN UNDER THE RULE
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA
AND A MEMBER OPPOSED EACH WILL
CONTROL 10 MINUTES OF DEBATE ON
THE QUESTION OF CONSIDERATION.
AFTER THAT DEBATE, THE CHAIR
WILL PUT THE QUESTION OF
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
MR. FLAKE:
APPROXIMATELY 68 YEARS AGO ON
JANUARY -- IN JANUARY OF 1941,
RAYBURN WAS ELECTED TO THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
JUST PRIOR TO SWEARING IN HE
ROSE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND
SAID, YOU HAVE ELEVATED ME TO A
POSITION.
I MUST CONFESS THAT IT HAS BEEN
ONE OTHE AMBITIONS OF MY
LIFETIME.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HAS BEEN MY LIFE AND MY LOVE
FOR THIS MORE THAN A QUARTER OF
A CENTURY.
I LOVE ITS TRADITIONS. I LOVE ITS PRECEDENCE.
I LOVE ITS DIGNITY.
I GLORY IN THE POWER OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
IT IS MY HIGHEST HOPE AND MY
UNSWERVING AIM TO PRESERVE,
PROTECT AND DEFEND THE RIGHTS,
PREROGATIVES AND THE POWER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
.
AS SPEAKER, HE CONSIDERED
HIMSEL A CUSTODIAN OF ITS
TRADITIONS, ITS PRECEDENT, AND
AS HE PUT IT ITS DIGNITY.
YOU MAY ASK WHY I'M TELLING
THIS STORY, WHY I RAISE THIS POINT.
IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT TO
CONSIDER A BILL THAT ENDORSES
AND CONDONES A PRACTICE THAT
HAS PLACED A DARK AND OMINOUS
CLOUD OVER THIS INSTITUTION.
THIS PRACTICE FOR LACK OF A
BETTER TERM CAN BE CALLED
CIRCULAR FUNDRAISING.
IT INVOLVES THE AWARDING OF
EARMARKS WHICH ARE ESSTIALLY
NO-BID CONTRACTS IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO THE RECEIPT OF
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
EARMARKED RECIPIENTS.
THIS LEGISLATION CONTAINS MORE
THAN 500 EARMARKS WHERE A
PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT COMPANY IS
THE INTENDED RECIPIENT.
LET ME REPEAT THAT.
THIS LEGISLATION WE ARE ABOUT
TO CONSIDER CONTAINS MORE THAN
EARMARKS, OR NO-BID
CONTRACTS DIRECT THE --
DIRECTED TO PRIVATE COMPANIES.
IN MANY CASES THE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS SECURING THESE NO-BID
CONTRACTS HAVE EITHER RECEIVED
LEGISLATION IS ENACTED INTO LAW
LARGE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM THE EXECUTIVES OF THE
COMPANIES AND-OR THE LOBBYIST
THAT IS REPRESENT THEM.
BY NOW MY COLLEAGUESARE WELL
AWARE OF THE P.M.A.
WHICH WAS LARGELY CENTERED ON
THE TRACK TISS OF CIRCULAR
FUNDRAISING.
SINCE NEWS BROKE IN 2008 OF THE
F.B.I.'S RAID ON THE P.M.A.
OFFICES, PRESS REPORTS AND
EDITORIALS FROM COAST TO COAST
HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
ACTION OF THAT FIRM AND THE
INTEGRITY OF THIS BODY.
SHOWING PUBLIC DISTRUST AND
TARNISHING THE DIGNITY OF THE HOUSE.
JUST LISTEN TO WHAT IS BEING
SAID OFF THE HILL AND BEYOND
THE BELTWAY.
ABC'S NEWS SITE NOTED THAT,
QUOTE, P.M.A.'S OPERATIONS,
MILLIONS OUT TO LAWMAKERS,
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS BACK FOR
CLIENTS HAVE MADE IT FOR MANY
OBSERVERS THE POSTER CHILD FOR
TACIT PAY TO PLAY POLITICS IN WASHINGTON.
AN EDITORIAL IN THE "NEW YORK
TIMES" ENTITLED POLITICAL
ANIMAL 101 REFERRED TO THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAMPAIGN
DONORS AND THE CUSTOMIZED
APPROPRIATIONS THEY ARE FED BY
GRATEFUL LAWMAKERS AS, QUOTE,
THE ULTIMATE IN SYMBIOTIC
SURVIVAL AND CYNICAL INFLUENCE TRADING.
AN ARTICLE IN THE KANSAS CITY
STAR NOTED THAT, QUOTE, THE
EARMARK GAIN GETS A LITTLE LESS
BAFFLING WHEN TAXPAYERS
CONSIDER THE QUOTE CAMPAIGN
DONORS THAT GREASE POLITICAL
PALMS.
"THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH" SUMMED
IT UP WHEN THEY NOTED CONGRESS
HAS AN ABYSMAL PUBLIC APPROVAL
RATING OF 26%, AND AS OF EARLY
NOVEMBER, AND THE SMELL OF QUID
PRO QUO CERTAINLY DOESN'T HELP.
IT ISN'T JUST LIMITED TO THE
DOMESTIC PRESS.
THE IRISH TIMES NOTED THAT,
QUOTE,
TREAD A FINELINE BETWEEN A
LEGITIMATE POLITICAL
FUNDRAISING AND INFLUENCE
PEDDLING, BETWEEN FRIENDSHIP
WITH LOBBYISTS AND OUTRIGHT
CORRUPTION.
NOW A REPORT COMPARED BY THE
COMMITTEE ON ETHICS IN JULY AND
DETAILED IN YESTERDAY'S
"WASHINGTON POST" HAS PROVIDE
ADD RARE GLIMPSE INTO THE
CESSPOOL OF
POLITICS.
MADAM SPEAKER, I HAVE HERE AN
ARTICLE, THAT ARTICLE REFERRED
TO FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST,"
DATED OCTOBER 30 OF THIS YEAR.
IT NOTES THAT SEVEN MEMBERS WHO
SIT ON THE PRONINGSES COMMITTEE
, THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEFENSE,
ARE, QUOTE, UNDER SCRUTINY BY
ETHICS INVESTIGATORS.
THE ARTICLE NOTES THAT, QUOTE,
TOGETHER THE SEVEN LEGISLATORS
HAVE PERSONALLY STEERED MORE
THAN $200 MILLION IN EARMARKS
TO CLIENTS OF THE P.M.A. GROUP
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND
RECEIVED MORE THAN $6.2 MILLION
IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
P.M.A. AND ITS CLIENTS IN THE
PAST CADE.
ACCORDING TO THE
JOURNAL," MEMBERS WHO SIT ON
THE DEFENSE SUBCOMMITTEE HAD
THIS ISSUE, QUOTE, RE
$141,000 IN CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COMPANIES
THAT RECEIVED EARMARKS FROM THE
LAW MAKERS, UNQUOTE.
HERE WE ARE TODAY,
SPEAKER W. A BACKDROP OF
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE IRK
CIRCULAR FUNDRAISING, BUT WE
ARE POISED TO PASS A DEFENSE
APPROPRIATION BILL THAT
CONTRACTS FOR PRIVATE
COMPANIES.
IN MID JULY OF 2010 WE WILL SEE
A QUARTERLY REPORT FROM THE
OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS
THAT WILL SHED LIGHT INTO THEIR
INVESTIGATIONS, THEREAFTER IT'S
LIKELY OUR OWN ETHICS COMMITTEE
WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
NOTICE OF THEIR ACTIONS RELATED
TO THE
IF THE FUTURE IS ANYTHING LIKE
THE PAST, ADDITIONAL CANLS WILL
SPRING FROM THE EARMARKS THAT
WE APPROVE TODAY.
WE ARE SURELY AS THE POET SAID,
TRAIPSING DOWN A FLOWER STREWN
PATH UNPRICKED BY THORNS OF
REASON.
I SHOULD NOTE THAT CIRCULAR
FUNDRAISING IS NOT A PARTISAN
ISSUE. BOTH PARTIES ENGAGE IN IT.
AND THE CLOUD THAT HANGS OVER
THIS BODY RAINS ON REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE.
IT'S IR TO ASK, WHAT ABOUT
THE DIGNITY OF THIS BODY?
ARE WE APPROPRIATELY CONCERNED
THAT THE WORDS PAY TO PLAY,
QUID PRO QUO, SWAMP AND
CESSPOOL ARE INCREASINGLY
ROUTINE IN ARTICLES DESCRIBING
THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS?
SHOULD WE HAVE NO STANDARD
HIGHER THAN WHETHER THE ABUSE
OF THE PROCESS RISES TO THE
LEVEL OF AN INDICTABLE OFFENSE?
ONE THING IS CLEAR, THE
PRACTICE OF CIRCULAR
FUNDRAISING WILL SOMEDAY END.
THE QUESTION IS, WHO WILL END
IT?
WILL IT TAKE US IN OUR OWN
INITIIVE TO CLEAN OUR OWN
HOUSE OR WILL WE WAIT FOR THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO LAUNCH
MORE INVESTIGATIONS AND TAKE
FURTHER ACTION?
MY OWN HOPE IS THAT THOSE WHO
FIND THEMSELVES IN LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS TODAY WILL SUMMON THE
DORMENT CUSTODIAL SPIRIT OF
THOSE WHO HAVE PROTECTED AND
DEFENDED THIS WONDERFUL
INSTITUTION LONG BEFORE WE
ARRIVED IN THIS CHAMBER.
WE OWE IT TO THEM TO CORRECT
THE PROCESS THAT LED TO THIS
FLAWED PIECE OF LEGISLATION
BEFORE US.
I RESERVE THE BAL
TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA
RESERVES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE RISE?
MS. PINGREE: MADAM SPEAKER, I
RISE TO SPEAK IN RESPONSE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: DOES
THE GENTLEWOMAN CLAIM TIME IN OPPOSITION?
MS. PINGREE: I RISE TO CLAIM
TIME IN OPPOSITION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN QUALIFIES. THE GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED
FOR 10 MINUTES.
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
MADAM SPEAKER, OOSE MY -- AS MY
COLLEAGUES KNOW WE HAVE BEEN
HERE BEFORE.
THIS IS THE SAME POINT OF ORDER
THAT HAS BEEN RAISED AGAINST
ALMOST EVERY APPROPRIATIONS
MEASURE DURING THIS CONGRESS.
AND EACH TIME IT IS USED TO
DISCUSS SOMETHING OTHER THAN
ITS INTENDED PURPOSE.
I WOULD WANT TO RESPOND TO MY
GOOD COLLEAGUE FROM ARIZONA
THAT I, TOO, SHARE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE EARMARKING PROCESS
AND I ENCOURAGE HIM TO BECOME A
CO-SPONSOR ON THE FAIR
ELECTIONS BILL AS WE HAVE IN
MAINE, PUBLIC FINANCING TAKES
AWAY MUCH OF T
AROUND THE LINK BETWEEN
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EARMARKS.
BUT ONCE AGAIN THIS PARTICULAR
DEBATE IS ABOUT DELAYING
CONSIDERATION OF THIS BILL AND
ULTIMATELY STOPPING IT
ALTOGETHER.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL AGAIN
VOTE YES SO WE CAN CONSIDER
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION ON
ITS MERITSND NOT STOP IT ON A
PROCEDURAL MOTION.
THIS RULE PROVIDES FOR
ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION TO
FUND OUR NATION'S DEFENSE, THE
BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE
IN THE MILITARY, PARTICULARLY
THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY AT WAR
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN,
DESERVE A SWIFT ENACTMENT OF
THIS LEGISLATION. THIS LEGISLATION WE WILL TAKE
UP LATER TODAY WILL DIVERT --
ALSO DIVERT TARP MONEY TO
PROGRAMS THAT CREATE AND SAVE
JOBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE DO THIS BY INVESTING $75
BILLION OF TARP MONEY INTO
HIGHWAYS, TRANSIT, SCHOOL
RENOVATION, HIRING TEACHERS,
POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, IN
SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESS,
FUNDING JOB TRAINING, AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND FOR THOSE HARDEST HIT BY
THE RECESSION THIS BILL ALSO
PROVIDES EMERGENCY RELIEF BY
EXTENDING PROGRAMS LIKE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, COBRA,
FMAP, OUR HEALTH CARE FUNDING
FOR THE STATES, AND CHILDCARE
TAX CREDIT.
THOSE WHO OPPOSE THIS MEASURE
CAN VOTE AGAINST IT ON FINAL
PASSAGE.
WE MUST CONSIDER THIS RULE AND
WE MUST PASS THIS CRITICAL
LEGISLATION TODAY.
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE, BUT
IN THE END I WILL URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES AND
CONSIDER THE RULE.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HER
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM AR
RECOGNIZED.
MR. FLAKE: MAY I INQUIRE TO THE
TIME REMAING?
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN CONTROLS THREE REMAING MINUTES.
MR. FLAKE: I THANK THE SPEAKER.
I AM USING PROCEDURAL MEASURE
TO BRING UP EARMARKS AGAIN.
I'LL TELL YOU WHY I'M DOING
THAT.
I'M DOING THAT BECAUSE THIS
YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE
HISTORY OF THIS INSTITUTION
EVERY APPROPRIATION BILL THAT
CAME TO THE FLOOR, INCLUDING
THIS ONE, INCLUDING THE DEFENSE
APPROPRIATION BILL, CAME UNDER
A STRUCTURED OR CLOSED RULE
WITH ONLY CERTAIN AMENDMENTS
BEING OFFERED.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THE
HISTORY OF THIS INSTITUTION
WHERE EVERY APPROPRIATION BILL
HAS COME TO THE FLOOR IN THAT
MANNER. INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF AND
OTHERS WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO
OFFER AMENDMENTS THAT THE OTHER
SIDE WANTED US TO OFFER.
THE ONE THAT IS THEY SAID WE
COULD OFFER RATHER THAN THE
ONES THAT WE OURSELVES WOULD CHOOSE.
I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT I GOT
10 OF THE 550-SOME AMENDMENTS
OFFERED ON THIS BILL, AND I
OFFERED THAT MANY BECAUSE
THAT'S HOW MANY NO-BID
CONTRACTS FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES
ARE CONTAINED IN THE BILL.
I THOUGHT THEY DESERVED SOME SCRUTINY.
I WISH THAT THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE WAS VETTING THESE
EARMARKS.
ARE NOT.
THIS IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF
ARTICLES OUT THERE.
THERE IS ALOUD HANGING OVER
THIS INSTITUTION BECAUSE OF PRIOR DEFENSE BILLS.
THIS IS GOING TO END UP THE
SAME WAY.
WE ARE GUARANTEEING THAT
WILL BE SCANDAL THAT SPNGS
FROM EARMARKS APPROVED IN THIS
BILL.
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
APPROPRIATELY VETTED.
AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BECAUSE
WE WEREN'T ALLOWED A RULE, AN
OPEN RULE, FOR PEOPLE TO BRING TO THE FLOOR AMENDMENTS THAT
THEY WANTED TO OFFER.
I MENTION I WAS FORTUNATE IN
THAT I GOT 10 OF THEM.
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES OFFERED
MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS ON MULTIPLE
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR AND WEREN'T GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER ANY OF
THEM.
NOT ONE.
HERE MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WANTING TO REPRESENT THEIR
CONSTITUENTS AND THROUGH THE
ENTIRE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS,
12 BILLS THIS YEAR, WEREN'T
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER
ONE AMENDMENT.
BECAUSE WE HAD THE EQUIVALENT
OF MARTIAL LAW ON APPROPRIATION
BILLS.
WHY?
BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO
GET IT DONE WE WOULDN'T DO ANY
OMNIBUS BILLS AT THE END OF THE
YEAR.
HERE WE ARE, WE JUST APPROVED A
MASSIVE OMNIBUS BILL LAST WEEK
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY ON --
BECAUSE THE DEFENSE BILL WAS
HELD JUST SO THAT WE COULD TAG
ON ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT PEOPLE
WHO DIDN'T -- WOULDN'T WANT TO
VOTE FOR THEM ANY WAY WOULD
HAVE TO BECAUSE IT'S A DEFENSE
BILL.
THAT'S NO WAY TO CONDUCT
BUSINESS.
THIS INSTITUTION DESERVES
BETTER THAN THIS.
IT DESERVES BETR THAN TO HAVE
A BILL THAT HAS MORE THAN 500
NO-BID CONTRACTS FOR PRIVATE
COMPANIES, OF WHICH ARTICLES
HAVE BEEN WRITTEN AND WILL BE
WRITTEN MAKING A CLOUD HOLD
OVER THIS BODY.
THIS ISN'T A PARTISAN ISSUE.
THIS ISN'T WHERE ONE PARTY IS
RIGHT AND ONE PARTY IS WRONG.
WE ARE BOTH DOING THIS.
WE SHOULDN'T.
IT WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT US
AS SURELY AS O
HAVE IN THE PAST.
WITH THAT
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME. THE THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE
IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: AGAIN
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: TH
GENTLEMAN HAS YIELDED BACK HIS REMAING TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
NOW
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I WANT TO URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
VOTE YES ON THIS MOTION TO
CONSIDER SO THAT WE CAN DEBATE
AND PASS THIS AND THE OTHER
IMPORTANT ITEMS COVERED BY THIS
RULE.
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ALL TIME FOR DEBATE HAS EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS, SHALL THE
HOUSE NOW RESOLUTION.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FA
AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE QUESTION
IS DECIDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE HOUR.
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, BY -- MADAM
SPEAKER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
DEBATE ONLY I YIELD THE
CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA, DR. FOXX.
L TIME YIELDED DURING
CONSIDERATION OF THE RULE IS
FOR DEBATE ONLY. I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
I ALSO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THAT ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS ON HOUSE
RESOLUTION 976.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTIONSO ORDERED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, HOUSE RESOLUTION
976 PROVIDES FOR THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE SENATE
AMENDMENT TO H.R. 3326, HOUSE
JOINT RESOLUTION 64, H.R. 4314,
AND THE
H.R. 2847.
FOR THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO
H.R. 3326, THE RULE MAKES IN
ORDER A MOTION TO CONCUR IN THE
SENATE AMENDMENT WITH THE HOUSE
AMENDMENT.
PROVIDES ONE HOUR OF DEBATE
CONTROLLED BY THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS AND WAIVES ALL
POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF THE MOTION
EXCEPT THOSE ARISING UNDER
CLAUSE 10 OF RULE 11.
THE RULE PROVIDES FOR
CONSIDERATION
UNDER A CLOSEDULE.
PROVIDES FOR ONE HOUR OF DEBATE
CONTROLLED BY THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS.
PROVIDES ONE MOTION TO RECOMMIT
WITH OR WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS.
WAIVES ALL POINTS OF ORDER
AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF THE
JOINT RESOLUTION EXCEPT THOSE
ARISING UNDER CLAU 9 OR 10 OF
RULE 11.
AND WAIVES ALL POINTS OF ORDER
AGAINST PROVISIONS IN THE JOINT
RESOLUTION.
THE RULE PROVIDES FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4314
UNDER A CLOSED RULE.
PROVIDES FOR ONE HOUR OF DEBATE
CONTROLLED BY THE COMMITTEE ON
WAYS AND MEANS, PROVIDES ONE
MOTION TO RECOMMIT WITH OR
WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS, WAIVES
ALL POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL
EXCEPT THOSE ARISING UNDER
CLAUSE 9 OR 10 OF RULE 11, AND WAIVES ALL POINTS OF ORDER
AGAINST PROVISIONS IN THE BILL.
FOR THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO
H.R. 2847, THE RULE MAKES IN
ORDER A MOTION TO CONCUR WI
THE SENATE AMENDMENT WITH THE
HOUSE AMENDMENT, PROVIDES ONE
HOUR OF DEBATE ON THE MOTION
CONTROLLED BY THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS AND WAIVES ALL
POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST
CONSIDERATION OF THE MOTION
EXCEPT THOSE RISING UNDER
CLAUSE 10 OF RULE 11.
.
PROVIDES THAT THE ENGROSSMENT
OF THE HOUSE AMENDMENT TO THE
SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2847,
THE CLERK SHALL ADD THE TEXT OF
H.R. 2920, AS PASSED BY THE
HOUSE.
THE RULE WAIVES THE REQUIREMENT
OF 2/3 VOTE TO CONSIDER A RULE
ON THE SAME DAY AS IT IS
REPORTED FROM THE RULES
COMMITTEE FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE SESSION OF THE 111TH
CONGRESS.
PROVIDES THAT THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS MAY
INSERT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD AT ANY TIME EXPLANATOY
OF THE SENATE AMENDMENTS AND
THE MOTIONS REGARDING H.R. 3326
AND H.R. 2847.
PROVIDES THAT ON ANY
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE SECOND
SESSION OF THE 111TH CONGRESS
BEFORE JANUARY 12, 2010, THE
SPEAKER MAY ANY TIME DISPENSE
WITH ORGANIZATIONAL OR
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS.
IT ALLOWS FOR PRO FORMA
SESSIONS UNTIL THE HOUSE
ADJOURNS SINE DIE.
AND PROVIDES THAT ON ANY
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE FIRST
SESSION OF THE 111TH CONGRESS,
THE SPEAKER MAY DECLARE THE
HOUSE ADJOURNED.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE RULE BEFORE
US TODAY ALLOWS THE HOUSE TO
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2010, WHICH IS THE
LAST APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR
THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT ON
H.R. 3326 PROVIDES OVER $363
BILLION TOWARDS PROTECTING OUR
TROOPS ABROAD AND TAKING BETTER
CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME.
TO HELP PROTECT OUR TROOPS,
THIS BILL PROVIDES INCREASED
FUNDING FOR THE MINE RESISTANCE
AMBUSH VEHICLE FUND AND THE
PROCUREMENT OF NEW HUMVEES AND
NEW HEAVY AND MEDIUM TACTICAL
VEHICLES.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
GIVEN THE CASUALTY RATE AND THE
DIFFICULTIES OUR SOLDIERS ARE
EXPERIENCING IN AFGHANISTAN.
H.R. 3326 INCREASES PAY FOR ALL
SERVICE MEMBERS BY 3.4% AND
FULLY FUNDS THE REQUESTED AND
STRENGTH LEVELS FOR ACTIVE
RESERVE AND SELECTIVE RESERVE
PERSONNEL.
IT PROVIDESVER $29 BILLION
FOR TOP-OF-THE-LINE MEDICAL
CARE, AND INCREASES FUNDING FOR
THE WOUNDED, THE ILL AND THE
INJURED WARRIOR PROGRAMS.
THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT
INCLUDES OVER $472 MILLION FOR
FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAMS AND
FULLY FUNDS THE FAMILY SUPPORT
AND YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAMS.
THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES $20
MILLION FOR THE ARMY NATIONAL
GUARD FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTERS
AND REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS.
THIS BILL CANNOT PROVIDE FOR A
COMMON DEFENSE WITHOUT A COMMON
EFFORT.
IN MY HOME STATE OF MAINE THERE
E WOMEN AND MEN.
THE SKILLED FACTORY WORKERS AND
ASSEMBLYMEN, THE WORLD CLASS
MACHINISTS IN NORTH BURICK,
THIS IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHY
THE BILLS BEFORE US TODAY ARE
SO INTERCONNECTED.
OUR ECONOMIC SECURITY AND OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY ARE
INEXTRICABLY LINKED AND OUR
ECONOMIC SECURITY IS STILL IN
DIRE STRAITS.
MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU WERE
SITTING AT A BOARD ROOM TABLE
ON WALL STREET TODAY YOU MIGHT
HEAR THE EMPLOYEES FROM GOLDMAN
SACHS DISCUSSING THEIR BILLION
DOLLAR PROFITS AND BONUSES OR
CITIGROUP TALKING ABOUT BONUSES
FOR THEIR EXECUTIVE OR THAT THE
STOCK MARKETES THAT GONE UP 60%
SINCE THIS SPRING OR HEAR WORDS LIKE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OR
REBOUND.
SO IF YOU ARE SITTING AT THAT
BOARD ROOM TABLE ON WALL STREET YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THE
ECONOMY IS FULLY BOUNCED BACK AND OUT OF THE WOODS.
YOU MIGHT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
NOTHING BUT SMOOTH SAILING
AHEAD.
BUT IF YOU WERE AT A KITCHEN
TABLE ON MAIN STREET IN MY HOME
STATE OF MAINE YOU WILL HEAR A
DIFFERENT STORY.
RATHER THAN TALK OF LARGE
PROFITS YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT BANK
ACCOUNTS THAT HAS NOTHING.
YOU MIGHT HEAR CUTBACKS ON FOOD
OR HEALTH CARE INSTEAD OF
HEARING TERMS LIKE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY AND REBOUND, YOU'LL HEAR TERMS LIKE HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEBT.
THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY MAY BE AT
HAND.
BUT FOR THE MILLIONS OF
UNEMPLOYED WORKERS AND
THOUSANDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES
THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS STILL
A LONG WAY OFF.
MADAM SPEAKER, IN MY STATE AND
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE
ARE MILLIO
WANT TO GET BACK TO WORK.
BUT THEY NEED US TO LEAD THE --
LEND THE SAME HELPING HAND THAT
WE GAVE TO WALL STREET IN ITS
TIME OF NEED.
THE RULE BEFORE US TODAY ALLOWS
FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE JOBS
FOR MAIN STREET ACT, WHICH WILL
MOVE US DOWN THAT ROAD.
THIS LEGISLATION INVESTS IN OUR
NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND
PUTS MORE AMERICANS BACK TO
WORK BY PROVIDING $48 BILLION
TO REBUILD AND REPAIR OUR
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
THIS INVESTMENT PROVIDES
MEASURABLE RETURN.
NOT ONLY BY CREATING AND
PRESERVING JOBS, BUT BY
LITERALLY BUILDING THE
FOUNDATION FOR A LONG-TERM
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
THIS BILL WILL ALSO PRESERVE
THE JOBS OF TEACHERS, OF POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS.
AND FOR THOSE WHO WERE ALREADY
LOST THEIR JOBS, THE JOBS ACT
EXTENDS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
FOR TWO MONTHS AND MAINTAINS
THE CURRENT COBRA SUBSIDIES.
THESE PROGRAMS, THESE
INVESTMENTS, THE ECONOMIC
LIFELINES HAVE A REAL IMPACT.
JUST THIS WEEK I HEARD FROM A
CONSTITUENT OF MINE WHO SAID
THESE WORDS, "SOMETHING NEEDS
TO BE DONE.
THERE ARE LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS
LEFT FOR MY HUSBAND'S
UNEMPLOYMENT.
AFTER THAT, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO
PAY THE RENT AND WE WILL BE OUT
ON THE STREETS WITH A CHILD
UNDER 2 YEARS OLD.
EVERY DAY I WONDER WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN NEXT, AND I EVEN HAVE
NIGHTMARES.
YOU BAIL OUT THESE LARGE BANKS
WHO THEN ONLY RAISE OUR
INTEREST RATES AND LOWER OUR
CREDIT LINE.
AND FOR WHAT?
THAT DOESN'T HELP THE LITTLE
GUY LIKE US.
DO SOMETHING TO HELP US."
MADAM SPEAKER, WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY AND WE HAVE THE
OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE BAILOUT
MONEY THAT WAS USED AS A
LIFELINE TO WALL STREET AND
GIVE THAT MONEY BACK TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THOSE
WHO'VE BEEN HIT THE HARDEST BY
THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES.
THE COBRA SUBSIDY WE PASSED
THIS SPRING BEGAN EXPIRING A
FEW WEEKS AGO.
IF WE DON'T ACT NOW, IT WILL
COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR BY JANUARY
1.
IN MY STATE, FULL PAYMENT FOR
COBRA USES UP NEARLY 90% OF THE
AVERAGE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.
THAT MEANS AN OUT-OF-WORKER
MAINER ENDS UP ABOUT $150 A
MONTH LEFT AFTER PAYING THE
FULL COST OF THEIR HEALTH
INSURANCE.
WE NEED TO ACT NOW AND FAST TO MAKE SURE THAT MAIN STREET
RECOVERS.
IF WE DO NOT ACT, WE'LL HAVE
ONLY ENSURED THAT WALL STREET KEEPS THEIR BONUSES WHILE
AMERICAN FAMILIES LOSE THEIR
BENEFITS.
WE WILL HAVE ONLY WATCHED WALL
STREET GET RID OF THEIR DEBT
WHILE SMALL BUSINESSES TAKE ON
MORE.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE'VE ALREADY
PUT MORE THAN ENOUGH INTO
SURING UP WALL ST
NOW WE NEED TO FOCUS ON
CREATING
THAT WILL REBUILD OUR ECONOMY
FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE RESERVES
THE BALANCE OF HER TIME. THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MAM
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA.
MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM MAINE FOR YIELDING TIME.
THE DE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2010 IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE EQUIPMENT AND
TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR TROOPS.
OUR COUNTRY'S GREATEST TREASURE
LIES IN THE BRAVERY,
DEDICATION, AND THE ABILITY OF
OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN.
THESE COURAGEOUS INDIVIDUALS
PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS EVERY DAY.
WE THANK THEM AND WE THANK
THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR SUPPORT, DEDICATION AND
SACRIFICE.
THIS BILL PROVIDES TOP OF THE
LINE MEDICAL CARE FOR OUR
TROOPS, INCLUDINFUNDING FOR
FROM A MATIC BRAIN INJURY AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH, FUNDING
FOR WOUNDED ILL AND INJURED
SERVICE MEMBERS AS WELL AS FOR
CANCER RESEARCH.
THIS BILL PROVIDES OUR MILITARY
WITH A PAY INCREASE AND
CONTINUES EFFORTS TO END THE
PRACTICE OF STOP LOSS,
COMPENSATING TROOPS FOR EVERY
MONTH THEIR TERM OF SERVICE
WILL BE INVOLUNTARILY EXTENDED
IN 2010.
THIS BILL INCLUDES FUNDING TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR
COUNTRY'S MILITARY FAMILIES WHO
SACRIFICE EVERY DAY ON BEHALF
OF OUR NATION AND TO WHOM WE
OWE A GREAT DEBT.
THIS BILL PROVIDES OUR TROOPS
WITH FIRST-CLASS MILITARY
EQUIPMENT AND READINESS
TRAING IN SURING THAT THEY
ARE FULLY PREPARED IN THEIR
MISSIONS.
HOWEVER, THIS BILL CONTAINS
SEVERAL IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY
INITIATIVES, I'D BE REMISS IF I
DID NOT MENTION MY
DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE OVERALL
FUNDING LEVELS WHEN COMPARED
WITH THE INCREASES WE'VE SEEN
THROUGHOUT THE APPROPRIATIONS
SEASON THIS YEAR.
ROUGHLY A 4.5% INCREASE OVER
ST YEAR, THIS INCREASE IS NOT
COMPARABLTO NONDEFENSE
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS WE HAVE
VOTED ON THIS YEAR, WHICH
AVERAGE A 12% INCREASE IN
FUNDING LEVELS.
AND AS WE HAVE NOTED BEFORE,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS THE
ONLY UNIT OF GOVERNMENT TO
PROVIDE FOR OUR NATIONAL
CURITY.
THIS REPRESENTS THE LONG
PRIORITIES OF THE DEMOCRATS IN
CHARGE OF THE CONGRESS AND OF
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
INCREASING SPENDI FOR
DOMESTIC PRIORITIES BY DOUBLE
DIGITS WHILE IN C
SHORTCHANGING NATIONAL DEFENSE REPRESENTS A DANGEROUS
NOT RIGHTLY PRIORITIZE THE
SECURITY OF OUR NATION.
THUS, WHILE I AM PLEASED THAT
SEVERAL ITEMS IN THIS BILL ARE EING FUNDED IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE OUR TROOPS WITH THE
TOOLS, TRAINING AND MEDICAL
SERVICES THEY NEE
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT AFTER
INCREASING THE FUNDING LEVELS
FOR DOMESTIC APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS BY AN AVERAGE OF 12%, THE
DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL DECIDED
ONLY TO INCREASE OUR DEFENSE
SPENDING BY 4.5%, LESS THAN
HALF FOR THE COMING YEAR.
THIS IS THE LAST APPROPRIATIONS
BILL, AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT
HAS BEEN HELD IN ORDER FOR THE
MAJORITY TO PUT ON TO IT THINGS
THAT ARE NOT RELATED.
AND I'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT A
BIT MORE.
WITH THE EXTENT OF THE CLOSED
RULE -- THE SUBSTANCE OF THE
D.O.D. APPROPRIATIONS BILL IS
NOT THE SOURCE OF MY CONCERN.
THE EXTENT OF THE CLOSED RULE
BEFORE US TODAY ALLOWS FOR
CONSIDERATION OF A VARIETY OF
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION THAT'S
BEEN COBBLED TOGETHER WIT
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION.
AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID
BEFORE, OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS
THE AISLE HAVE GONE TO GREAT
LENGTHS TO SHUT DOWN DEBATE.
THEREFORE, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO VOTE NO ON THE RULE SO THE
BILL CAN RETURN -- BE RETURNED
AND WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA RESERVES
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES, MR. MCGOVERN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE RECOGNIZED.
MR. MCGOVERN: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR
YIELDING, AND I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS RULE AND SPIFICALLY I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE JOBS FOR
MAIN STREET ACT, WHICH WAS MADE
IN ORDER UNDER THIS RULE.
THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE $48
BILLION FOR HIGHWAYS, TRANSIT
AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS.
$27 BILLION TO HIRE TEACHERS,
POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, AND FOR
OTHER JOB TRAING PROGRAMS.
THAT'S $75 BILLION FOR JOB
CREATING PROGRAMS THAT ARE
PROVEN SUCCESSES AND WILL HELP PUT AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
ON TOP OF THAT, THE JOBS FOR
MAIN REET ACT PROVIDES $79
BILLION IN EMERGENCY RELIEF
FUNDING THAT WILL GO TO
CRITICAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS
LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS,
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR UNEMPLOYED
WORKERS, FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS
FOR MEDICAID, AND FUNDING FOR
THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.
ALL TOLD, MADAM SPEAKER, THE
JOBS FOR MAIN STREET ACT IS A
GOOD BILL, ONE THAT WILL BUILD
ON THE SUCCESS OF THE RECOVERY
ACT THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW
EARLIER THIS YEAR AND ONE THAT
WILL PUT PEOPLE BACK T
WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE
DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES, AND
WE REALIZE THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE IS HURTING.
WITH THE -- AMERICAN PUBLIC IS
HURTING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO STIMULATE
THE ECONOMY, SHRINKING THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND ME
IMPORTANTLY CREATING NEW JOBS.
10 MONTHS AFTER PRESIDENT OBAMA
LAW, WE'VE SEEN REAL RESULTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
ACCORDING TO THE TRANSPORTATION
AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE,
REAL JOBS ARE BEING CREATED BY
THE RECOVERY ACT.
AND WE'RE SEEING THE IMPACT OF
THESE JOBS IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT
FIGURES.
LOOK AT THE RESULTS. BECAUSE OF THE RECOVERY ACT
WE'VE SEEN THE CREATION OF
ALMOST 630,000 DIRECT AND
INDIRECT JOBS IN THE
TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY ALONE.
THAT'S 210,000 DIRECT HIRES
ALONE.
THE RESULT OF THESE DIRECT
HIRES IS A $1.1 BILLION
PAYROLL, IS $179 MILLION IN
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION NOT
SPENT, IS PEOPLE'S INSURANCE
RESTORED, HEALTH INSURANCE
RESTORED AND $230 MILLION IN
PAID FEDERAL TAXES.
ADDITIONAL JOBS HAVE BEEN
CREATED BECAUSE OF THE CLEAN
WATER AND HIGH SPEED RAIL
PROJECTS, ALL TOLD, THE
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMTEE
ESTIMATES THAT THE RECOVERY ACT
HAS CREATED OR SUSTAINED
APPROXIMATELY 857,000 JOBS. ALL THIS UNDERSCORES THE
IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS.
THESE PROJECTS AREN'T FOR THE
SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR
NEIGHBORS BUT THES PROJECTS THAT PUTS THESE
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS BACK TO
WORK.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS CONGRESS IS
ACTING.
THIS HOUSE WILL PASS THE JOBS
FOR MAIN STREET ACT, AND EVEN
MORE JOBS WILL BE CREATED. EARLIER THIS YEAR, MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS CHOSE
POLITICS OVER THE NEEDS OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE -- OVER THE
NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM
OPPOSED THE RECOVERY AND
REINVESTMENT ACT.
THEY LIKE THE SAME OLD SAME
OLD.
WHILE THAT WAS THEIR WAY OF
OF THINKING.
THAT WAY OF THINKING TOOK BILL
CLINTON'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND
CREATING A RECORD NUMBE
AMERICANS JOBS, A RECESSION
THAT -- A RECESSION THAT ADD
BILLIONS AND BILLIONS TO OUR
DEBT.
AND ADD THAT DEBT ON THE BACKS
OF OUR CHILDREN D
GRANDCHILDREN.
MADAM SPEAKER, PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY WANT US TO CREATE JOBS
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
DO.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA.
MISS FOOKS: --
MS. FOXX: I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO MY
DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE FROM
TEXAS, ONE OF ONLY FIVE
C.P.A.'S IN THE HOUSE, MR.
CONYAHWEH.
-- CONAWAY.
MR. CONAWAY: TWO ASPECTS OF THE
RULE, IT SETS UP A VOTE ON A
TRICK THAT ALLOWS US TO VOTE ON
THE STIMULUS BILL THAT WILL BE
COMING BEFORE US LATER THIS
AFTERNOO VOTING HAVING
STRIPPED OUT THE SENATE
AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2847 AND PUT
IN PLACE THIS OTHER
LEGISLATION.
THIS TRICK, WOULD NOT ALLOW A
MOTION TO RECOMMIT OR SUBSTITUTE ON THAT BILL.
THIS LEGISLATION OF SOME $150
BILLION WAS APPARENTLY THROWN
TOGETHER IN THE DARK LAST
NIGHT, POSTED ON THE INTERNET
ABOU 11:10.
WE ARE NOW 12 HOURS AND 35
MINUTES OR 25 MINUTES INTO
BEING ABLE TO STUDY THIS BILL.
AGAIN THROWN TOGETHER.
IT WILL INCREASE THE DEFICIT IN
SPITE OF THE RHETORIC THAT SAYS
WE ARE GOING TO USE TARP MONEY
TO DO THAT.
THE INTENT OF TARP ALL ALONG
WAS ONCE IT WAS PAID BACK WAS
TO BE BACK INTO THE TREASURY TO
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE
HAD TO BORROW AND/OR REDUCE THE DEFICIT.
THERE ARE TWO PROVISIONS IN THE
SLUSH FUND, BILL THAT YOU NEED
TO BE AWARE OF.
ONE IT CREATES ADDITIONAL
BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING IN THE
BARNEY FRANK SLUSH FUND,
HOUSING SLUSH FUND, AND MAKES
ACORN AVAILABLE TO GET BACK IN
THE GAME.
MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF THIS
BODY.
IT ALSO REPLACES THE $2 BILLION
IN CLASH FOR CLUNKERS MONEY
THAT CAME OUT OF THE STIMULUS
BILL LAST SUMMER.
WE WERE ON THE FLOOR WHEN THE
PROPONENTS OF THE CASH OR
CLUNKERS SAID THIS WILL NOT
INCREASE THE DEFICIT BECAUSE
WE'LL TAKE IT OUT OF THE STIMULUS MONEY.
IMMEDIATELY THE SPEAKER CAME TO
THE FLOOR ALONG WITH OTHERS
SAYING CONTRARE, WE'LL FIND A
REPLACEMENT FOR THAT $2 BILLION
IN THIS BILL.
NOW THE STIMULUS BILL, FIRST
STIMULUS, IS UP TO $789 AS YOU
KNOW WE ALL ENJOYED THE CASH
FOR CLUNKERS, BUT THIS MONEY IS
BACK IN THE BILL WITH RESPECT
TO THIS NEW STIMULUS.
THE OTHER BILL I'D LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT IS THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
APPROPRIATIONS BILL, THIS BILL
WAIVES THE DEMAND, REQUIREMENT,
THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE POST
ON THE INTERNET THE EARMARKS
AND/OR PLUSUPS DEPENDING HOW
YOU WANT TO CALL THOSE IN THIS BILL.
SOME 1,700 OF THEM WE ARE TOLD.
SOME GOOD, SOME BAD.
WE OUGHT TO KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE.
THEY WERE SHORTLY POSTED ON THE
INTERNET LAST NIGHT FOR A BRIEF
PERIOD OF TIME AND TAKEN DOWN.
MADAM SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW WHAT'S IN THIS BILL THAT
EMBARRASSES THE MAJORITY.
THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THIS
TRANSPARENCY TO COME BEFORE US
FOR US TO LOOK AT IT.
LIKE I SAID
OR ANY OF THOSE, BUT WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
BY NOT POSTING THEM UNTIL AFTER
THIS BILL IS VOTED ON SOMETIME
BETWEEN NOW AND THE INDOF THE
YEAR WE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING
BLIND ONE MORE TIME AT THE
SPECIFIC REQUEST OF THE
MAJORITY.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY,
MADAM CHAIRMAN, THROUGH YOUR --
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO
HAVE POSTED THESE EARMARKS ON
THE INTERNET SO THAT THOSE OF
US COULD LOOK AT THEM AND SEE THEM.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THOSE.
WHAT HAS BEEN STUCK IN HERE IN
THE DARK OF NIGHT BETWEEN LAST
NIGHT WHEN WE PASSED THE BILL
AND WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON
THIS AFTERNOON?
WHY IS THERE THINGS IN THERE
THAT'S GOING TO EMBARRASS THE MAJORITY?
MADAM SPEAKER, I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE AGAINST THIS
RULE AND AGAINST THE UNDERYING
BILL ON
I YIELD BACK. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA RESERVES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, A
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RULES, MR.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
MR. ARCURI: I'D LIKE TO THANK
MY COLLEAGUE FROM MAINE FOR
YIELDING. I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3326, THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
APPROPRIATIONS ACT AN THE
UNDERLYING RULE.
NOT FOR THE REASONS JUST STATED
BY MY FRIEND FROM TEXAS, BUT
BECAUSE THE BILL ENSURES THAT
OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE
IN THE MILITARY ARE PAID WHAT
THEY DESERVE TO BE PAID FOR
DEFENDING US.
THEY HAVE THE TOOLS TO FIGHT
E WAR ON TERROR AND THAT THEY
ARE ABLE TO DO THE THING THAT
WE ASK THEM TO DO AND THAT IS
TO FIGHT TERROR TO KEEP US
SAFE.
THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT THIS BILL
AND THE UNDERLYING RULE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND
COMMEND THE MEMBERS OF THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IN THE
HOUSE AND SENATE, THEIR
COUNTERPARTS, FOR BRINGING
BEFORE US THIS BIPARTISAN
APPROACH THAT PUTS THE
PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY OF OUR
TROOPS FIRST.
AND ALSO CONTINUES PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S PLEDGE TO PUT THE COST
OF THE WAR ON THE BOOKS.
THE BILL DOES NOT INCLUDE
FUNDING FOR AN ESCALATION OF
TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN AND I
HAVE HEARD SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
THE AISLE CRITICIZE THAT WE MAY
HAVE TO CONSIDER A SUPPLEMENTAL
MEASURE TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR,
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
REQUESTING SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING
TO ADDRESS CHA
GROUND AND SIMPLY USING THE
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ACT
TO FUND THE MAJORITY OF THE
WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AS
WE HAVE DONE UNDER THE PRIOR
ADMINISTRATION.
THE HOUSE
THE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT
ON JULY 30 OF THIS YEAR.
AT THAT TIME WE DETERMINED THAT
THE AMOUNT OF SPENDING
NECESSARY FOTHE ONGOINGP
OPERATION IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
SINCE THAT TIME OUR GENERALS
HAVE STATED THAT THEY BELIEVE
CONDITIONS IN AFGHANISTAN
WARRANT ADDITIONAL TROOPS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA IS LISTENING TO
THOSE GENERALS IN THE FIELD AND
MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
HOWEVER, THAT IS WHAT A
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT
ARE INTENDED FOR --
TO CHANGES AND CIRCUMSTANCES
FUNDING ONGOING OPERATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO ENSURING THAT
OUR TROOPS HAVE FIRST CLASS
WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT, THE BILL
ALSO INCLUDES OTHER IMPORTANT
ASPECTS THAT IMPROVE
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
OF THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
FOR INSTANCE, CONGRESSIONAL
EARMARK ACCOUNT FOR ONLY 1% OF
THE TOTAL FUNDING OF THIS BILL.
IN ADDITION, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HOUSE-SENATE AGREEMENT
RETAINS THE REQUIREMENT THAT
HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN EVERY
HOUSE PASSED APPROPRIATION BILL
THIS YEAR THAT REQUIRES ANY
EARMARK FOR A PRIVATE COMPANY
TO BE C
I APPLAUD THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR
SIDE OF THE CAPOL TO
INSTITUTE THIS IMPORTANT NEW
MEASURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN
THE EARMARK PROCESS, AND I HOPE
IT WILL BECOME A PART OF ALL
FINAL SPENDING BILLS AS WE GO FORWARD.
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS RULE AND THE BILL AND I
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I NOW WOULD LIKE TO YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO
DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE FROM
TEXAS, MR. HENSARLING.
THE SPEAKER PRO T
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
MR. HENSARLING: THANK YOU,
MADAM SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLELADY FOR
YIELDING.
MADAM SPEAKER, APPARENTLY THE
HOUSE IS DUE TO ADJOURN FOR THE
YEAR TODAY.
BUT BEFORE IT DOES, THE HOUSE
APPARENTLY WILL PRESUME THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE -- PRESENT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH A NUMBER
OF CHRISTMAS GIFTS WRAPPED UP
IN ONE NICE, NEAT LITTLE
PACKAGE REPRESENTED BY THIS
RULE.
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT
THE MAJORITY IS GIVING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IS THE FIFTH,
FIFTH INCREASE IN THE DEBT
CEILING SINCE THEY TOOK CONTROL
OF CONGRESS.
RAISG THE DEBT CEILING AN
ADDITIONAL $290 BILLION, MORE
DEBT TO BE PLACED UPON THE
BACKS OF OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
THE SECOND GIFT FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AT
CHRISTMASTIME IS, GUESS WHAT?
YET ANOTHER STIMULUS BILL.
THIS ONE WEIGHING IN AT $150
BILLION.
I LOSE TRACK, MADAM SPEAKER,
DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS STIMULUS
FOUR, STIMULUS FIVE, IT'S A
LITTLE BIT LIKE THOSE OLD
FRIDAY THE 13TH MOVIES.
IT JUST DOESN'T GO AWAY.
THE NEXT GIFT, MADAM SPEAKER,
IS KIND OF A RECYCLED GIFT.
ONE THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ALL YEAR AND
THAT IS UNEMPLOYMENT.
DOUBLE-DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT UNDER
THE ECONOMIC POLICIES OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION, UNDER THIS
DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED CONGRESS.
THEY CONTINUE TO GIVE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE DOUBLE-DIGIT
UNEMPLOYMENT.
THE RULE THAT IS BEFORE US,
MADAM SPEAKER, ALLOWS FOR MORE
OF THE SAME.
I WOULD HOPE, I WOULD HOPE THAT
ONE DAY FOR THE SAKE OF THE
COUNTRY THAT MY FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WILL
REALIZE THAT YOU CANNOT SPEND
YOU CANNOT BORROW YOUR WAY INTO
MORE JOBS.
YOU CANNOT BAIL OUT YOUR WAY
INTO MORE JOBS.
THAT IS NOT THE RECIPE.
WE SUFFER FROM DOUBLE-DIGIT
UNEMPLOYMENT NOT THROUGH A LACK
OF BAILOUTS AND SPENDING AND
DEBT, WHICH IS THE HALLMARK OF THIS CONGRESS.
IF WE TRULY WANT TO CREATE
JOBS, MADAM SPEAKER, THE FIRST
THING WE HAVE TO DO IS SHOW THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE ARE
INK.
NOBODY WANTS TO LAUNCH A NEW
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE IN AN
ECONOMY THAT'S GOING TO BE
SOCKED WITH DEBT AND TAXES AND
POSSIBLE DOUBLE-DIGIT INFLATION
AS THE DEBT HAS TO BE
MONETIZED.
THE UNCERTAINTY AND COST OF A
NATIONALIZED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
WHICH IS GOING TO COST THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THEIR FREEDOMS,
THEIR OPPORTUNITIES, NOT TO
MENTION $1 TRILLION.
A $600 BILLION ENERGY TAX
PASSED BY THE MAJORITY.
LAST WEEK WE JUST PASSED THE
PERPETUAL WALL STREET BAILOUT
AND CREDIT CONTRACTION ACT OF
2009.
MADAM SPEAKER, WHERE DOES IT
ALL END?
IF WE WANT JOBS, WE HAVE TO
REJECT THE FAILED POLICIES.
THIS RULE BRINGS MORE OF THE
ME.
LET'S VOTE AGAINST THE
SPENDING, AGAINST THE DEBT,
AGAINS
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA RESERVES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
BEFORE I YIELD TO ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES I DO
ONE POINT OF CONCERN I HAVE IN
THE BILL.
THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT ON
H.R. 3326 IS THE FIRST STEP
TOWARDS CUTTING WASTEFUL
DEFENSE SPENDING, BUT IT IS BY
NO MEANS PERFECT.
AND IT IS BY NO MEANS THE LAST
STEP WE MUST TAKE.
THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT
PROVIDES $465 MILLION FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF AN ALTERNATIVE
ENGINE FOR THE F-35 JOINT
STRIKE FIGHTER.
THIS PROVISION REPRESENTS
BUSINESS AS USUAL IN WASHINGTON
BY PROVIDING FUNDS FOR AN
ENGINE THAT'S ALREADY BEING
BUILT AND BUILT WELL.
THERE IS NO NEED TO DEVOTE OUR
PRECIOUS FEDERAL DOLLARS TO A
WASTEFUL ALTERNATIVE ENGINE
PROGRAM AT THIS TIME WHEN
AMERICANS ARE STRUGGLING TO
FIND JOBS TO PAY THEIR MEDICAL
BILLS AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
EVERY DEFENSE DOLLAR THAT WE
SPEND WISELY CONTRIBUTES TO OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY AND EVERY
DEFENSE DOLLAR WE WASTE HAMPERS
OUR ECONOMIC SECUTY.
MADAM SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR. HARE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. HARE: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
RULE AND THE UNDERLYING BILL,
THE JOBS FOR MIN STREET ACT.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE
MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERSHIP FOR THEIR HARD WORK
IN PUTTING TOGETHER A JOBS
BILL, THE JOBS FOR MAIN STREET
ACT.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.
AS WE ALL KNOW SINCE DECEMBER
OF 2007, OUR NATION HAS FACED
THE GREATEST ECONOMIC CRISIS
SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
AS A RESULT, 15 MILLION OR 10%
OF OUR AMERICANS ARE OUT OF WORK.
THE JOBS FOR MAIN STREET ACT IS
AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN
RE-EMPLOYING AMERICA AND MAKING
OUR FAMILIES MORE SECURE.
SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO CALL
ATTENTION TO SEVERAL PRINCIPLES
THAT I HAVE CHAMPIONED THAT
HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS BILL.
SUCH AS EXTENDING THE COBRA
SUBSIDY, THIS IS A CRITICAL
SAFETY NET FOR THE MILLIONS OF
UNEMPLOYED ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
PROTECTING AND EXPANDING OUR
NATION'S CRITICAL PUBLICORK
FORCE WITH TEACHERS, POLICE, FIFIGHTERS.
PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK TO
IMPROVE AND REHABILITATE OUR
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
PUBLIC LANDS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND
CHAIRMAN OBERSTAR FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PORTION OF THIS
BILL.
THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO
INVEST IN OUR ECONOMY AND
CREATE JOBS THAN BY INVESTING
IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONLY 4% OF THE
UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF
CHAIRMAN OBERSTAR.
HOWEVER THAT 4% HAS CREATED 25%
OF THE JOBS UNDER THE RECOVERY ACT.
THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF INVESTING IN
INFRASTRUCTURE.
OVER HALF OF THIS BILL IS
DEDICATED TO INVESTING IN OUR
ROADS, BRIDGES, TRAILS, TRANSIT
SYSTEMS, AIRPORTS AND
WATERWAYS. MADAM SPEAKER, I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH LEADERSHIP TO
ENSURE THAT THIS CONGRESS
PASSES THIS BILAND TAKES
FURTHER ACTION IN THE NEXT
SESSION TO PUT AMERICANS BACK
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMP
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE RESERVES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I'D NOW LI YIELD TO A
THIRD COLLEAGUE FROM TEXAS WHO
HAS COME TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS
RULE, ONE OF THE MOST FISCALLY
CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE, MR.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: HOW
MUCH TIME DOES THE GENTLEWOMAN YIELD?
MS. FOXX: SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME.
THANK YOU, MADM SPEAKER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. CULBERSON: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
SLOW DOWN FOR JUST A MINUTE AND
THINK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING
HERE TODAY.
THE HOUSE IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE
TODAY ON A PACKAGE OF FOUR
MASSIVE BILLS, SPENDING OVER
$1.1 TRILLION HARD-EARNED TAX
DOLLARS.
THAT WILL BE PAID FOR BY
ADDITIONAL DEBT THAT OUR
CHILDREN MUST REPAY.
WORST OF ALL THESE BILLS WERE
ONLY POSTED ON THE INTERNET
LAST NIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE TO SEE ABOUT 11:00.
SO LITERALLY
PUBLIC, FOR THE TAXPAYERS, FOR
THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
THESE BILLS, SPENDING OVER
$1,100,000,000,000, AND THE
ONLY COPY OF THE BILL BEFORE
US, THE DEFENSE BILL ANYONE CAN
FIND, IS THE ONE ON THE CLERK'S
DESK.
THESE BILLS WERE PUT UP THERE
13 HOURS AGO.
THEY ARE NOT EVEN OUTSIDE IN
THE HOUSE LOBBY.
IT'S ALWAYS TRADITION AT
ABSOLUTE MINIMUM THAT MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS WOULD BE ABLE TO
PHYSICALLY READ THE
OUTSIDE IN THE LOBBY, BUT THIS
IS ALL I FOUND.
THIS EMPTY BOX OUTSIDE THE
LOBBY IS ALL WE HAVE. BEFORE US TODAY.
.
WHY ARE WE RUSHING TO DO THIS?
SO SPEAKER PELOSI CAN CATCH A
PLANE TO COPENHAGEN.
WE'RE SPENDING $1.1 TRILLION ON
TOP OF THE $6.7 TRILLION THAT
THIS LIBERAL MAJORITY HAS
ALREADY SPENT THIS YEAR.
THAT MEANS IN THE COURSE OF 12
MONTHS THIS LIBERAL MAJORITY IN
CONGRESS HAS ALREADY SPENT, IN
THIS HOUSE, NEARLY $8 TRILLION
IN 12 MONTHS.
IT'S UNPRECEDENTED, IT'S
UNSUPPORTABLE, IT WILL BANKRUPT
THIS NATION AND CRUSH OUR
CHILDREN UNDER A BURDEN OF DEBT
THAT THEY CANNOT POSSIBLY REPAY
WITHOUT CRUSHING TAX BURDENS
AND MASSIVE SACK NICES.
WE MAY BE THE FIRST YEN RATION
IN AMERICAN HISTORY THAT LEAVES
OUR CHILDREN WORSE OFF THAN WE
-- THAN THE WORLD WE INHERITED
FROM OUR PARENTS.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND
OUTRAGEOUS.
AND AS MY COLLEAGUE AND I
INTRODUCED LEGISLATION EARLIER
THIS YEAR TO REQUIRE THE HOUSE
TO LAY THESE BILLS OUT, EVERY
BILL, FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS
BEFORE THEY CAN BE VOTED ON ON
THE FLOOR.
I WANT TO ASK THE SPEAKER A SIMPLE QUESTION.
WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, GIVING
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TIME TO
READ THESE BILLS TO GIVE THE
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TIME TO
READ THESE BILLS, OR TO CATCH
AN AIRPLANE TO A GLOBAL WARMING
CONFERENCE?
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE
TODAY.
I WOULD ASK SPEAKER PELOSI IN
ALL SINCERITY, MADAM SPEAKER,
PLEASE, CANCEL YOUR FLIGHT.
GI THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TIME
TO READ THESE SPENDING BILLS
AND IT'S TIME TO STOP
CONGRESS TO VOTE BLIND.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: I YIELD TWO
WASHINGTON A MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PREMISES,
DICKS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
MR. DICKS: I WANTED TO DISCUSS
A CHANGE MADE THIS YEAR IN THE
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS.
I WANT TO READ IT INTO TH
RECORD TO CORRECT SOMETHING
SAID EARLIER.
EACH ITEM SPECIFIED IN THIS
ACT, THE DEFENSE BILL, OR THE
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT REGARDI
THIS ACT, ALSO IDENTIFIED IN
SENATE REPORT 111-74, AND
INTENDED TO AWARD TO A
FOR-PROFIT ENTITY, SHALL BE
SUBJECT TO ACQUISITION
REGULATIONS FOR FULL AND OPEN
COMPETION ON THE SAME BASIS
AS EACH SPENDING ITEM INTENDED
FOR A NOT FOR PROFIT ENTITY
CONTAINED IN THE BUDGET REQUEST
OF THE PRESIDENT.
EXCEPTIONS, THEY SHALL NOT
APPLY TO ANY CONTRACT AWARDED
BY A MEANS THAT IS REQUIRED BY
FEDERAL STATUTE, INCLUDING FOR
A PURCHASE MADE UNDER A
MANDATED PREFERENTIAL PROGRAM,
TWO, PURSUANT TO THE SMALL
BUSINESS ACT 15RK U.S.C. 631,
OR IN AN AMOUNT LESS THAN THE
SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
THRESHOLD DESCRIBED IN SECTION
302-AA OF THE FEDERAL PROPERTY
AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ACT
OF 1949.
ANY CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED
SPENDING ITEM SPECIFIED IN THIS
ACT OR THE EXPLANATORY
STATEMENT REGARDING THIS ACT
THAT IS INTENDED FOR AWARDO A
FOR-PRIT ENTITY AND IS NOT
COVERED BY THE COMPETITION
REQUIREMENT SPECIFIED IN
SECTION A SHALL BE AWARDED IN
FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
EXCEPT ANY CONTRACT AWARDED
UNDER FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
THAT REMAINS IN EFFECT IN
FISCAL YEAR 2010 SHALL BE
CONSIDERED TO HAVE SATISFIED
THE CONDITIONS OF FULL AND OPEN
COMPETITION.
IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM
CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED
SPENDING ITEM MEANS THE
FOLLOWING A CONGRESSIONALLY
DIRECTED SPENDING ITEM
FINED IN RULL XLI-5 OF THE
STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE A
CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK FOR
PURPOSES OF RULE 21 OF THE
HOUSE OF
I THINK THIS CLARIFIES THE
MISSTATEMENT THAT WAS MADE
PREVIOUSLY BY THE GENTLEMAN
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
THE WEST CONTINUES TO BE
WELL-REPRESENTED HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO OUR COLLEAGUE FROM
ARIZONA, MR. FLAKE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA FOR THREE MINUTES.
MR. FLAKE: I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR YIELDING.
I HAD HOPED THE GENTLEMAN WOULD
RISE AND EXPLAIN WHAT HE JUST
EXPLAINED.
NOW I WILL GLADLY YIELD HIM
SUCH TIME AS HE NEEDS TO
EXPLAIN WHY THIS WOULD ONLY
APPLY TO EARMARKS BY HOUSE
MEMBERS ALONE AND WHY THE
COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS DON'T
APPLY TO EARMARKS THAT ARE
JOINTLY REQUESTED BY A HOUSE
AND SENATE MEMBER?
IF WE'RE HANGING OUR HAT ON
LANGUAGE THAT REQUIRES THAT
THESE EARMARKS BE SUBJECT TO
COMPETITION, THEN SURELY WE
WOULD EXTEND IT TO ANYTHING
THAT HAD OUR NAME ON IT, BUT
WE'RE NOT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
LANGUAGE ONLY APPLIES TO THOSE
EARMARKS THAT ARE REQUESTED
SOLELY BY A HOUSE MEMBER AND
THAT IF YOU HAVE A SENATE
MEMBER ON YOU
THEN IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO
COMPETION.
THE LANGUAGE JUST EXPLAINED
DOES NOT APPLY TO IT.
SO YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
I WILL ARGUE IT DOESN'T MATTER
ANYWAY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IF YOU TALK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE, AND I HAVE, WE'VE HELD
MEETINGS IN MY OFFICE WITH THE
PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS, WE'VE
ASKED THEM, HOW DOES THIS WORK
WHEN THE EARMARKS COME OVER?
ARE THEY SUBJECT TO
COMPETITION, THEY SAID, YES.
WE FOLLOW THE RULES.
YES.
-- YET, WHEN YOU ASK THEM TO DO
A CURSORY EXAMINATION OF THOSE
YEARS, YOU'LL FIND AN UNCANNY
ALIGNMENT, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT,
AND THOSE WHO ACTUALLY GOOD THE
EARMARKS IN THE END.
YOU CAN SAY, YEAH
TO SUBJECT THESE TO FULL AND
OPEN COMPETITION, THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ALREADY
SAYS THAT AND THESE ARTICLES I
TALKED ABOUT, THE SCANDALS
CURRENTLY UNDER WAY ARE UNDER A
POLICY WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE ALREADY SAYS WE SUBJECT
THESE TO FULL AND OPEN
COMPETITION.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU IF AN
EARMARK COMES OVER FROM A
MEMBER OF CONGRESS,
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, I
SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT THE
MAJORITY OF EASE EARMARKS, A --
OF THESE EARMARKS
DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER ARE
FROM THE POWERFUL MEMBERS ON
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE,
BELIEVE ME, THOSE PROCUREMENT
OFFICIALS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
THEY KNOW WHO BUTTERS THEIR
BREAD AND THEY KNOW THEY BETTER
AWARD THIS CONTRACT TO THE
INTENDED RECIPIENT OR THEY
MIGHT NOT GET FUNDED THE NEXT
YEAR.
IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, WHY
HAVE WE SEEN SO MUCH, AN
UNCANNY ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE
INTENDED RECIPIENT AND THOSE
WHO GOT THE EARMARK IN THE
FIRST PLACE?
FIRST, AGAIN, LET ME SAY, IF
WE'RE HANGING OUR HAT ON THE
LANGUAGE THAT THESE ARE SUBJECT
TO COMPETITION, WHY WOULDN'T WE
APPLY IT TO EVERY EARMARK
THAT'S CONTAINED IN THIS BILL.
DOESN'T APPLY TO SENATE
EARMARKS NOR DOES IT APPLY TO
EARMARKS REESTED BY BOTH
SENATE AND HOUSE MEMBERS.
ARE WE GOING TO SAY, WE'RE
GOING
COMPETION AND THES
YEAH, IT'S OK
WORK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: I YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
MR. DICKS: THIS IS AN
INITIATIVE MR. OBEY PUT INTO
PLACE THIS YEAR, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE HAD IN
INITIATIVE.
IT SAYS IF AN EARMARK IS
DIRECTED TO A FOR-PROFIT
COMPANY
COMPETION.
IN THE CONFERENCE THAT WAS
EXTENDED TO THE UNITED STATES
SENATE AS WELL SYSTEM OF AGAIN,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA
MISSPEAKS AND MISLEADS THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON A
VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY
SENSITIVE MATTER AND THERE
OUGHT TO BE COMPETITION ON
THESE THINGS AND I THOUGHT THE
GENTLEMAN WOULD RECOGNIZE HOW
IMPOR
MR. OBEY FOR HIS INITIATIVE,
BUT I DENT HEAR THAT.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. FOXX: MADAM SPEAKER, HAVING
A CHARGE OF MISSPEAKING IS VERY
SERIOUS.
I WOULD LIKE THEREFORE TO ALLOW
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA TO
SPEAK AGAIN ON THE RULE.
FOR SUCH TIME AS HE MAY
CONSUME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. FLAKE: I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR HER INDULGENCE,
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
I ASKHE GENTLEMAN, IF I YIELD
HIM TIME TO RESPOND, IS IT YOUR
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS
LANGUAGE, THIS NEW COMPETITION
EARMARKS AS WELL AS EARMARKS
REQUESTED BY BOTH HOUSE AND
SENATE MEMBERS.
MR. DICKS: IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS
LANGUAGE APPLIES BOTH TO THE
HOUSE AND SENATE EARMARKS FOR
FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES REQUIRING COMPETITION.
THERE ARE SOME LITTLE
VARIATIONS ON -- BECAUSE OF
SECTION 8-A AND OTHER
RESTRICTIONS THAT THE SENATE
STILL CLAIMS THAT SHOULD BE
FOLLOWED, BUTHIS IS A MAJOR
STEP FORWARD AND I THINK MR.
OBEY DESERVES GREAT CREDIT FOR
THIS.
I JUST WANT TO CLEAR THIS UP.
ON FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES, THERE
IS FULL AND OPEN COMPETI
THESE EARMARKS.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
MR. FLAKE: T ME SIMPLY Y,
CONFLICT WITH THE AGREEMENT WE
UNDERSTAND BE IN EFFECT.
THE AGREEMENT WE UNDSTAND TO
BE IN EFFECT, WHAT I WAS TOLD
IS THAT ONLY THOSE EARMARKS
THAT ARE REQUESTED SOLELY BY A
HOUSE MEMBER HAVE THE LANGUAGE
THAT APPLIES TO COMPETITION.
IF IT IS AN EARMARK REQUESTED
BY BOTH A HOUSE AND SENATE
MEMBER, IT DOES NOT APP THIS
YEAR AND SUPPOSEDLY IT WILL
NEXT YEAR, THOUGH THERE ARE NO
GUARANTEES AND THE SENATE
DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS AT ALL. THAT'S WHAT WE UNDERSTAND.
IF THERE IS SOME DIFFERENCE
THERE, THEN PLEASE LET'S HAVE
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
PROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
EXPLAIN IT.
BUT AGAIN, THE QUESTION IS,
THAT LANGUAGE IS SO IMPORTANT,
WHY WOULDN'T IT APPLY ACROSS
THE BOARD?
AND DOESN'T IT STRIKE A LITTLE
BIT -- STRIKE EVERYBODY A
LITTLE BIT FUNNY THAT YOU HAVE
AN EARMARK THAT WHENTHE MEMBER
REQUES IT FROM THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, THE
SAY THIS EARMARK OF THIS
AMOUNT, $500,000, $2 MILLION,
WHATEVER, IS TO GO TO THIS
COMPANY AT THIS ADDRESS.
IT'S THAT SPECIFIC.
IT GOES TO THAT COMPANY AT THAT
ADDRESS.
NOW THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE WILL SAY, WE'RE J
PROVIDING A LOOK-SEE, SO THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CAN SAY,
WELL, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT
COMPANY EXISTED, BUT NOW WE DO.
AND WE'RE DOING NOTHING MORE
THAN GIVE THEMMING A LOOK-SEE
AND GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO SEE
WHICH COMPANIES THOSE ARE.
I THINK THAT DOESN'T QUITE PASS
THE TEST.
MR. DICKS: WILL THE GENTLEMAN
YIELD?
I THINK THE GENTLEMAN IS TRYING TO CONFUSE HIMSELF.
CLEARLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HERE IS THAT THERE HAS
BEEN A DECISION TO HAVE FULL
AND OPEN COMPETITION.
THE GENTLEMAN HAS BEEN AN
ADVOCATE FOR THAT, IT DOESN'T
MATTER HOW IT'S WRITTEN IN, THE
LAW SAYS FULL AND OPEN
COMPETION, SO PLEASE DON'T
TRY TO CONFUSE YOURSELF AND THE
HOUSE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THIS IS A REFORM YOU'VE BEEN
ADVOCANG FOR.
YOU OUGHT TO BE SAYING, THANK
YOU FOR DOING IT.
AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
BUT YOU'D RATHER HAVE THE ISSUE
TROUBLE THAN TO RESOLVE
SOMETHING.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
MR. FLAKE: I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR EXPLAING MY
MOTIVES.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS NO
MORE EARMARKS IN THE DEFENSE
BILL BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE
EARMARKS, YOU DON'T HAVE FULL
AND OPEN COMPETITION.
MR. DICKS: THE GENTLEMAN KNOWS
FULL WELL --
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA CROLS
THE TIME.
MR. FLAKE: I WOULD NOT LIKE TO
SEE IN-BID CONTRACTS FOR
PRIVATE COMPANIES IN THE
DEFENSE BILL.
WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, I DON'T
KNOW HOW IN THE WORLD YOU CAN
SAY WE HAVE FULL AND OPEN
COMPETITION.
LIKE I SAY, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT LANGUAGE MEANS MUCH AT
ALL.
TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU BELIEVE
IT DOES MEAN SOMETHING, AT
LEAST YOU SHOULD APPLY IT
ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST TO
EARMARKS SOUGHT BY MEMBERS OF
THE HOUSE SOLELY, BUT THOSE
EARMARKS THAT ARE REQUESTED BY
SENATE MEMBERS AS WELL.
HOW CAN WE SAY WITH ATRAIGHT
FACE, HEY, WE'RE DOING THINGS RIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE APPLYING
THAT COMPETITION LANGUAGE TO
US, BUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
GET A SENATE MEMBER TO REQUEST
IT ALONG WITH US YAO AND YOU
DO'T HAVE TO SUBJECT IT TO
FULL AND
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, MADAM SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLELADYOR HER
INDULGENCE AND I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKE
GENTLELADY FROM NORTH CAROLINA RESERVES.
THE CHAIR REMINDS MEMBERS TO
ADDRESS THEIR REMARKS TO THE
CHAIR.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
JACKSON LEE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS -- M
PINGREEI YIELD THREE MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM TEXAS, MS. JACKSON LEE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
MS. JACKSON LEE: LET ME THANK
THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLELADY
FROM MAINE AND THA THE
SPEAKER.
I WISH TO START BY WISHING
AMERICA A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND
TO OTHER AMERICANS A HAPPY
HOLIDAY AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY
THANKS TO THE RULES COMMITTEE
AND THE STAFF OF THE RULES
COMMITTEE FOR DOING AN ENORMOUS
JOB.
OUR CHAIRWOMAN, LOUISE
SLAUGHTER, HAS BEEN AT THE
FOREFRONT OF THE MAJOR
SUCCESSES WE HAVE HAD ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
.
I OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO
MR. MURTHA AS WELL.
MANY OF US TODAY SUPPORT THE
DEFINANCE APPROPRIATION BILLS
EVEN AS WE CONSIDER THE NEXT
STEPS IN AFGHANISTAN.
BUT WHY AM I STANDING HERE
TODAY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK
COLLEAGUES AND THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE?
ONE, BECAUSE HISTORY GETS DISTORTED.
WE ARE IN THIS PREDICAMENT
BECAUSE THE LAST ADMINISTRATION
OF REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP TOOK
AWAY OUR SURPLUS THAT HAD BEEN
CREATED IN THE 1990'S.
THEY DASHED AND DASHED AND
DESTROYED AND DEVASTATED.
ISN'T IT I
COME NOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A
LEADERSHIP, PRESIDENT AND KEMIC
-- DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN
CONGRESS THAT HAVE HAD TO MAKE
THE POLITICAL SACRIFICE TO
ENSURE THAT AMERICANS CAN WORK?
SO LET ME JUST SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND
REINVESTMENT ACT THAT SECURED
NO REPUBLICAN VOTES, CREATED
3.5 MILLION JOBS, AND GAVE 95%
OF AMERICAN WORKERS A TAX CUT.
AND TODAY AS WE SPEAK WE ARE
CUTTING THE JOB LOSS EVERY
SINGLE MONTH.
WHY I'M STANDING HERE TODAY IS
BECAUSE I'M ENTHUSIASTICALLY
SUPPORTING THIS RULE BECAUSE WE
WILL THEN PASS A JOBS
AND I WILL BE ABLE TO GO HOME
TO THOSE IN THE 18TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHO TOLD
ME OVER THE THANKSGIVING
HOLIDAY AS I WAS PARTICIPATING
IN FEEDING THOSE ON
THANKSGIVING DAY, I LOST MY JOB
FOR A MAJOR CORPORATION.
I'M GOING TO TELL THEM THAT
BECAUSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE
FUNDING, $48 BILLION IN FACT,
WE WILL BE ABLE TO INVEST IN
HIGHWAYS AND MASS TRANSIT, $1
BILLION IN FEDERAL INVESTMENTS
TO HIGHWAYS, CREATES 27,800 JOBS.
IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT?
THE WRONGNESS OF IT IS THAT THE
OTHER SIDE IS NOT THINKING
ABOUT THE AMER
HAS NOT HAD A GOOD THOUGHT
ABOUT HOW TO INVEST IN AMERICA.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS JOBS BILL IS
GOING TO DO?
IT'S GOING TO KEEP STATES FROM
CUTTING TEACHERS AND POLICE AND
FIREFIGHTERS AND IT'S GOING TO
PROVIDE JOB TRAING.
I AM PROUD THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN
MY IDEAS AND MANY OF OUR IDEAS
ON WORK I HAVE DONE ON SUMMER
YOUTH JOBS.
THEY ARE GOING TO PUT $150,000
PEOPLE -- 150,000 PEOPLE IN JOB
TRAINING POSITIONS AND ONE OF
THE IDEAS THAT CAN BE INCORPORATED THAT I HAVE PUT
FORWARD IN A BILL IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN KEEP THEIR
UNEMPLOYMENT WHILE THEY ARE IN
A JOB TRAING AND RECEIVE A
STIPEND.
DIGNITY, JOBS IS WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN MY SMALL BUSINESS
FRIEND, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ENGAGE --
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MS. JACK
30 SECONDS.
MS. PINGREE: 15 SECONDS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
15 SECONDS.
MS. JACKSON LEE: ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT GETTING LOANS.
BUT THE G THING IS, RIVERSIDE
GENERAL HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THE
ASTUTENESS OF THOSE WHO WK ON
THE DEFENSE BILL, WILL GET
MILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME.
A AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOSPITAL, TO
HELP OUR SOLDIERS WITH
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM A
VERY VALUABLE INPUT ON THE
ISSUE OF EARMARKS AND SAY THAT
I JOIN HIM IN OPPOSING ALL
EARMARKS IN ANY OF OUR BILLS
UNTIL WE FIX THIS BROKEN
SYSTEM.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED IS A STUDY
OF HOW THESE SPECIFIC EARMARKS
THEN GET AWARDED STINS THERE
SEEMS TO BE OPEN COMPETION.
I WOULD WELCOME THE MAJORITY TO
INSTITUTE SUCH A STUDY AND JUST
SEE HOW OPEN THE COMPETITION
IS.
I NOW YIELD THREE MINUTES TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM IOWA, MR. KING.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA FOR THREE MINUTES.
MR. KIDGE: THANK Y
SPEAKER. --
MR. KING: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLELADY FROM
NORTH CAROLINA FOR YIELDING.
BEFORE I TAKE UP THE SUBJECT
THAT I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT,
I CAN'T HELP BUT REMARK
THE GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS SAID
THAT THE PEOPLE ON OUR SIDE HAD
NOT HAD A GOOD THOUGHT ABOUT
HOW TO INVEST IN AMERICA.
NOT A GOOD THOUGHT.
I'LL SUBMIT, THAT WOULD BE A
DIRECT QUOTE, I WOULD SUBMIT
THAT THE GOOD THOUGH
RIGHT THERE ON THE IMMIGRATION
NATURALIZATION FLASH CARDS.
WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM OF
AMERICA?
FLIP THE CART OVERIF YOU WANT
TO BE NATURALIZED AS A CITIZEN
YOU NEED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION
THIS WAY, FREE ENTERPRISE
CAPITALISM. FREE ENTERPRISE CAPITALISM HAS
BEEN THE ENEMY OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
TIM GEITHNER SAID THAT FREE
ENTERPRISE CAPITALISM IS WHAT
BROUGHT US TO THE BRINK OF
RUIN.
CAN YOU IMAGINE TEARING ASUNDER
THE VERY FOUNDATION, ONE OF THE
PRINCIPAL PILLARS OF
AMERICANISM, SOMEHOW HADN'T HAD
A GOOD THOUGHT ABOUT AMERICA.
AND I'D ASK AGAIN, WHY DO WE
NEED AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOSPITALS?
WH
THAT TAKE CARE OF GOD'S CHILDREN?
WHY CAN'T WE ALL BE MEMBERS OF
THE HUMAN RACE?
WHY IS THERE ANY LEGISLATION
THAT'S BROUGHT INTO THIS
CONGRESS THAT SETS ASIDE
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR PEOPLE
BASED UPONHE -- THEIR SKIN
COLOR RATHER THAN THE CONTENT
OF THE CHARACTER?
I THINK THIS IS A WRONG PATH.
WE HAVE TO EMBRACE EACH OTHER AS INDIVIDUALS.
THIS WALLOWING IN SELF-GUILT
HAS GONE ON AND ON, MADAM SPEAKER.
AND WE HAD A PRESIDENT CLINTON
THAT WENT AND APOLOGIZED TO
ENTIRE CONTINENTS.
NOW WE HAVE A PRESIDENT OBAMA
THAT HAS APOLOGIZED TO ENTIRE
CONTINENTS AS WELL FOR
AMERICANIS
IN THIS BILL ON PAGE 109 OF THE
BILL WE HAVE ANOTHER APOLOGY.
APOLOGY FROM CONGRESS THAT
SAYS, FIRST THINGS IN THERE.
TALKS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS,
RECOGNIZES SPECIAL LEGAL AND
POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP THAT
INDIAN TRIPES HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THAT'S GOOD.
IT COMMENDS THE NATIVE PEOPLE
FOR THE THOUSANDS OF YEARS THEY PROTECTED THIS LAND.
PART OF THAT'S REAL GOOD.
PART OF THAT RECORD'S NOT REAL GOOD.
THIS DOESN'T SAY SO.
THE THIRD PIECE SAYS IT
RECOGNIZES THERE HAVE BEEN
YEARS OF OFFICIAL DEPP PRA
DAYSES, ILL-CONCEIVED POLICIES,
AND BREAKING OF COVENANTS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
REGARDING INDIAN TRIBES.
THAT'S TRUE.
THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER SIDE TO
THAT THING THAT ISN'T NEGATIVE.
NOW IT SAYS, 109 OF THE BILL,
IT SAYS WE AS CONGRES ASK THE
PRESIDENT, THE UNITED STATES, ACTING THROUGH CONGRESS,
ACTUALLY, TO APOLOGIZE ON
BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES, TO ALL NATIVE
PEOPLE FOR THE MANY INSTANCES
OF VIOLENCE, MISTREATMENT, AND
NEGLECT INFLICTED UPON NATIVE
PEOPLE BY HE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITD STATES.
AS IF THERE WERE NO GUILT ON
THE OTHER SIDE. MADAM SPEAKER, I DIRECT THE
ATTENTION OF THIS BODY TO THE
DECLARATION OF
THERE IN PARAGRAPH 29 OF 32 AS
I COUNT THEM IT SAYS, AND I'M
GOING TO STOP SHORT OF
VIOLATING THE POLITICAL
CORRECTNESS, BUT I'M GOING TO
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
SPEAKING OF GEORGE, EXCITED
DOMESTIC INSURRECTIONS AMONG US
AND HAS ENDEAVORED TO BRING ON
THE INHABITANTS OF OUR FOR WHAT
PURPOSE DOES TIERS. THER
AND COMMEND THE TEXT OF THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
WHICH APPARENTLY VIOLATES THIS BILL.
I URGE A REJECTION OF THIS RULE
FOR THIS AND MANY OTHER
REASONS. I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD TWO
MARYLAND, MR.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
MR. CUMMINGS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.
I RISEDA SUPPORT OF THE
RULE AND THE UNDERLYING BILL,
THE JOBS FOR MAIN STREET ACT.
AS A MEMBER OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE AND
CHAIRMAN OF THE COASTUARD AND
MARITIME TRANSPORTATION
SUBCOMMITTEE, I HAVE SEEN
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS
CREATED THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE
AND FUNDING.
I HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS
CREATED BY THAT FUNDING SLOW
THE RECESSION AND HELP BEGIN
OUR RECOVERY.
HOWEVER, THAT RECOVERY IS
SIMPLY NOT COMPLETE.
WE STILL HAVE FAR TOO MANY
AMERICANS WITHOUT JOBS.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND FOOD STAMP
EXTENSIONS IN THIS BILL ARE
UCIAL TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE
IN NEED OR WHO HAVE LOST A JOB
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
THESE FALL LIFELINES CAN BE
IMMENSE TO THOSE WHO A SUFFERING.
FOR SOME AMERICANS WHO STILL
FACE FORECLOSURE, THIS FUNDING
CAN HELP KEEP THEM IN THEIR HOMES.
SO THAT THLOSS OF THEIR JOB
DOES NOT RESULT IN THE FURTHER
DEVASTATION OF AN ENTIRE
FAMILY.
FINALLY, THE JOBS WE CREATE
THROUGH OUR WORK TODAY MUST BE
OPEN TO ALL AMERICANS, INCLUDING THE MINORITY
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE BEING
PARTICULARLY DECIMATED BY
UNEMPLOYMENT, FORECLOSURE, AND
CRISIS OF CREDIT.
BEFORE WE PASS THE RECOVERY
ACT, I REQUESTED BONDING
ASSISTANCE ALLOWING SMALL AND
DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES TO
OBTAIN THE INSURANCE THEY
NEEDED TO WIN CONTRACTS.
TO BECOME PRIME CONTRACTORS AND
TO HIRE WKERS.
THE BONDING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
CREATED IN THAT ACT LED TO MUCH
NEEDED JOBS AND MINORITY
COMMUNITIES AND SO I REQUESTED
FURTHER SUCH ASSISTANCE IN THIS
ACT.
THE $20 MILLION INCLUDED IN
THIS BILL TODAY WILL ENSURE
THAT JOBS CREATED WILL BE
AVAILABLE TO I EVER AMERICAN
AND EVERY BUSINESS AND EVERY
COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN COMPETE
ON AN INPLAYING FIELD.
I SUPPORT THE FAIR COMPETITION
FOR GOVERNMENT PROJECTS AND THE
JOBS THAT THEY WILL CREATE.
I ENCOURAGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT THE UNDERLNG BILL
AND THE RULE THAT WILL BRING
THIS MATTER TO THE FLOOR.
WITH THAT, MADAM CHAIR, I
BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: TH
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.
MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO
THE CROCODILE TEARS,
PARTICULARLY OF MY COLLEAGUE
FROM MAINE, WHO SPOKE EARLIER
ABOUT THE MANY PEOPLE IN HER
DISTRICT WHO
AND IT IS THE VERY MOLCIES --
POLICIES TH SHE AND HER PARTY
HAVE PASSED IN THIS SESSION OF
CONGRESS THAT HAVE CAUSED THOSE
PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR JOBS.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LET THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE KEEP THEIR
MONEY. THEIR MONEY.
IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S MONEY.
IT IS THE
THOSE WHO WORK IN THIS COUNTRY.
LET ME POINT
OBAMA HAS SAID, AND I'M GOING
TO QUOTE, NOVEMBER 18, 2009, IT
IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IF WE
KEEP ON ADDING TO THE DEBT EVEN
IN THE MIDST OF THIS RECOVERY
THAT AT SOME POINT PEOPLE COULD
LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE U.S.
ECONOMY IN A WAY THAT CAN
ACTUALLY RECESSION.
BUWHAT ARE WE DOING TODAY?
ADDING TO THE DEBT WITH THE
SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT.
DO THEY THINK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE NOTPAYING ATTENTION
TO
TO THE CONTRARY, MORE THAN EVER
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE PAYING
ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN
THIS CONGRESS.
AND THEY HAVE SPOKEN IN MANY,
MANY WAYS.
THEY HAVE SPOKEN THROUGH THE
POLLS.
THEY HAVE SPOKEN THROUGH
ELECTION POLLS IN TERMS OF
AND THEY ARE TELLING US EVERY
DAY THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY WANT
THIS CONGRESS TO BE DOING.
THEY ALSO ARE AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT THIS CONGRESS IS BREAKING
EVERY PROMISE THAT IT MADE
BEFORE THE MAJORITY WAS
ELECTED.
AND I WANT TO SAY WITH
APOLOGIES TO ELIZABETH BROWNING
AND HER SONNET NUMBER 43, HOW
MANY WAYS CAN WE COUNT THE
PROMISES THA
MANY, MANY WAYS.
TOO MANY WAYS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
BUT LET ME GIVE SOME EXAMPLES.
ONE FROM MAJORITY LEADER HOYER.
I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
PURSUIT.
OUR COMMITTEES AND MEMBERS ARE
SERVED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE BY PURSUING REGULAR
ORDER.
REGULAR ORDER GIVES TO
EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS IN A
FASHION WHICH WILL AFFECT, IN
MY OPINION, THE MOST CONSENSUS
AND BEST PRODUCT.
AGAIN FROM SENATOR -- A LETTER
TO MAJORITY LEADER HOYER FROM
MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRAT BLUE
DOG AND NEW DEMOCRATIC CAUCUSES
WHICH SAID COMMITTEES MUST
FUNCTION THOROUGHLY AND
INCLUSIVELY AND COOPERATION
MUST ENSUE BETWEEN THE PARTIES
AND THE HOUSES TO ENSURE THAT
OUR LEGISLATIVE TACTICS ENABLE
RATHER THAN IMPEDE PROGRESS.
IN GENERAL, WE MUST ENGENDER AN
ATMOSPHERTHAT ALLOWS PARTISAN
GAMES TO CEASE AND
COLLABORATION TO SUCCEED.
WE LOOK FORWARTO WORKING WITH
YOU TO RESTORE THIS INSTITUTION.
AND WHAT ARE WE GETTING?
JUST THE OPPOSITE.
EVEN SPEAKER PELOSI ENDORSED
THE IDEA OF REGULAR ORDER
HER SPOKESPERSON STATING AT THE
TIME, THE SPEAKER PREFERS TO
CONSIDER LEGISLATION IN REGULAR
ORDER AND THE COMMITTEES OF
JURISDICTION HELD -- HOLD
HEARINGS AND MARKUP ON THE
CURRENT ECONOMIC RECERY BILL.
HE SAID, IN A FEW CASES BECAUSE
OF URGEENT FINANCIAL CRISES,
THE LEADERSHIP AGREED TO USE
EXPEDITED PROCEDURES.
LESS WE -- LEST WE FORGOT
PROMISES THE DEMOCRATS MADE
WHICH PROMISED THAT BILL SHOULD
BE DEVELOPED FOLLOWING FULL
HEARINGS AND OPEN SUBCOMMITTEE
AND COMMITTEE MARKUPS.
WITH APPROPRIATE REFERRALS TO
OTHER COMMITTEES.
MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 24
HOURS TO EXAMINE A BILL.
WE POINTED OUT IT'S BLARE BEEN
12 HOURS SINCE THE BI
BILL UNDERLYING THIS RULE, WAS
PRESENTED.
BILLS SHOULD COME TO THE FLOOR
UNDER A PROCEDURE THAT ALLOWS
OPEN, FULL, AND FAIR DEBATE
CONSISTING OF A FULL AMENDMENT
PROCESS THAT GRANTS THE
MINORITY THE RIGHT TO OFFER ITS
ALTERNATI
SUBSTITUTE.
AS MR. DREIER POINTED OUT
EARLIER, THE FIRST CONGRESS IN
THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY
THAT HAS NOT ALLOWED THAT.
MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 24
HOURS TO EXAMINE A BILL AND
CONFERENCE REPORT TEXT PRIOR TO
RULES GOVERNING FLOOR DEBATE
MUST BE REPORTED BEFORE 10:00
P.M. FOR A BILL TO BE
CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING DAY.
WE CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON
ABOUT PROMISES BROKEN.
THE PRESIDENT SAID BILLS WOULD
BE AVAILABLE FOR 72 HOURS.
THE PRESIDENT PROMISED HE WOULD
POST BILLS FIVE DAYS BEFORE
SIGNING THEM.
HE SAID HE WOULD READ EVERY
BILL LINE FOR LINE AND HE ID
THERE WOULD BE NO EARMARKS.
HE WOULD VETO BILLS WITH EARMARKS.
THIS IS A BILL WITH 1,700
EARMARKS IN IT.
IS HE GOING TO VETO THE BILL?
I DOUBT
SO HERE WE HAVE
AFTER ANOTHER THAT'S BROKEN.
HOW CAN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT IS SAID
BY THE OTHER SIDE AFTER THIS?
. AGAIN, THEY'RE PAYING
ATTENTION, I KNOW THEY'RE
PAYING ATTENTION, AND THERE
WILL BE CONSEQUENCES TO THE
FACT THESE PROMISES HAVE BEEN
BROKEN.
MADAM SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO
ENTER INTO THE RECORD A LETTER
WRITTEN BY REPUBLICANS, 173 OF
US, SPE
11, 2009, ASKING THAT WE
CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MS. FOXX: WITH THAT, I RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZE.
MS. PINGREE: THANYOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I RISE TO DISCUSS AT LEAST ONE
THING MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND
FROM NORTH CAROLINA MENTIONED.
I'M A NORTHERNER, I CAN'T CLAIM
TO BE AN EXPERT ON CROCODILES.
BUT I HAVE SEEN WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT CROCODILE TEARS
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING
INSINCERE AND I JUST WANT TO
SAY I RECEIVE LETTER FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS EVERY DAY ABOUT
THE URGENCY WE HAVE TO DO, AND
I CANNOT GET THROUGH THAT PILE
OF LETTERS WITHOUT CRYING REAL
TEARS.
IT'S SADDENING TO HEAR THE
PROBMS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH,
LOSING JOBS AND EVERYTHING.
I WANT TO READ ONE OF THEM THAT
IS IN FRONT OF ME BEFORE I
YIELD A LITTLE TIME TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM CALIFORNIA.
THIS ONE SAYS, MY HUSBAND AND I
WERE BOTH LAID OFF -- MY HOUSE
MATE AND I WERE LAID OFF, ME IN
DECEMBER OF 2008 AND SHE IN
JANUARY OF 2009.
WE HAD TO CASH IN OUR MEAGER
401K'S AND HAVE BEEN THANKFULLY
FOR THE -- THANKFUL FOR THE
COBRA SUBSIDIES SO WE COULD
AFFORD INSURANCE IN THIS MOST
HARSH OF TIMES.
THE SUBSIDY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE
AND WE CANNOT AFFORD THE HUGE
JUMP IN PREMIUMS.
MORTGAGE AND THE THE INSURANCE.
WE CANNOT AFFORD OUR
PRESCRIPTIONS AND OUR HEALTH
CARE WILL BE AT STAKE, AS IF
THINGS AREN BAD ENOUGH WE
WILL ALSO LOSE OUR HOME.
PLEASE HELP PUSH THROUGH THE
COBRA EXTENSION AND
CONTINUATION OF THE ARRA COBRA
SUBSIDY.
IT IS AN IMMEDIATE FIX FOR SO
MANY FAMILIES WHO WILL SURELY
GAIN EMPLOYMENT OVER THE NEXT
SIX MONTHS, NOW THAT THE
ECONOMY HAS FINALLY TAKEN AN
UPSWING.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE
US ALL CRY REAL TEARS AND MAKES
WASN'T TO PASS THIS RULE AND GO
TONTON PASSING THIS
LEGISLATION.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZING THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. MCNERNEY: I THINK WE
PROMISE OUR CONSTITUENTS TO DO
EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY COULD TO
SEE THAT THEY WERE WELL CARED
FOR AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS
ACTING ON THEIR BEHALF.
IF WE ARE LOOKING AT A RULE AND
WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE
APPLIED AND THAT BECOMES THE
MOST IMPORTANT PROMISE OF ALL,
WE HAVE FERGETTING ABOUT THE
WHOM THERE ARE 35 MILLION
UNPLOYED AND THERE ARE TENS OF
THOUSANDS UNEMPLOYED OR
UNDEREMPLOYED MY PROMISE TO
THOSE PEOPLE IS THAT I WILL DO
EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN TO
SEE THAT THEY HAVE A JOB.
THIS RULE ALLOWS US TO GET TO
THAT.
IT ALLOWS US TO GET TO THE
POINT OF PROVIDING A JOBS
PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE
AT LEAST $35 BILLION FOR
HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT, THAT'S
GOING TO PROVIDE SOOM 500,00
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SUMMER JOBS
TO EXPAND AMERICORPS SO PEOPLE
CAN PROVIDE SERVICES AND
EMPLOYMENT.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO TAKE CARE OF
THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED WHO
HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES OUT OF A
JOB.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO STAND FOR
THEM AND IT'S FRANKLY TIME FOR
US TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE MOTION
OF JUST PROVIDING THOSE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO
PROVIDING A JOB.
FAR BETTER THAT THERE BE
TAXPAYERS THAN TAX RECEIVERS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DO THAT AND WE WILL DO
EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN ON
OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE TO MAKE
THE FUNDAMENTAL PROMISE OF
MAKING SURE THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS DOINGVERYTHING
IT POIBLY CAN TO PROVIDE JOBS
AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
BUSINESSES, FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND
FOR TAXPAYERS TO ACTUALLY HAVE
A JOB SO THAT THEY CAN PAY
TAXES.
I YIELD THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
IS RECOGNIZE.
MS. FOXX: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IT'S
NOT THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE JOBS.
IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO TAKE MONEY
FROM SOME AND GIVE TO OTHERS TO
TRY TO MAKE THEM DEPEND
THE GOVERNMENT.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES, MADAM
SPEAKER TO DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION SO AN AMENDMENT CAN BE
ADDED TO THE RULE, THE
AMENDMENT TO THE RULE WOULD
PROVIDE FOR SEPARATE
CONSIDERING OF H. RIZZ 554 A
RESOLUTION -- H.RES. 554, A
RESOLUTION TO REQUIRE THAT
REPORTS BE AVAILABLE FOR
EXAMINATION FOR 72 HOURS BEFORE
VOTING.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO
ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, THE
RULE AND YIELD BACK THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDE
THE GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK HER
REMAINING TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED.
MS. PINGREE: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE LEGISLATION
WE ARE CONSIDERING TODAY IS
ABOUT INVESTING IN JOBS.
IT'S ABOUT INVESTING IN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT'S ABOUT
REBALANCING OUR ECONOMY SO IT'S
NOT JUST THE BIG BANKS AND WALL
STREET FIRMS THAT BENEFIT FROM
AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
THIS BILL IS ABOUT HELPING THE
AMERICAN FAMILY THIS WEEK, THE
"NEW YORK TIMES"/CBS NEWS POLLS
SURVEYED UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS.
NOT SURPRISINGLY THEY FOUND
THAT BEING UNEMPLOYED TAKE AS A
TOLL FAR BEYOND WHAT CAN BE
MEASURED IN DOLLARS AND CENTS.
HALF THE PEOPLE SURVEYED SAID
THEY SUFFERED FROM DEPRESSION
AND ANXIETY.
HALF SAID THE RECESSION CAUSED
THEM TO MAKE MAJOR LIFE CHANGES
AND NEARLY HALF SAID THEY'D
SEEN CHANGES IN THEIR
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR THEY KNOW
IS A RESULT OF THEIR DIFFICULT FINANCIAL SITUATION.
WE ARE NOT JUST HELPING MEN AND
WOMEN WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS,
WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM
EMOTIONAL PAIN AND INDIGNATION
BUT WE ARE HELPING THEIR
FAMILIES AND WE ARE HELPING
THEIR CHILDREN.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO INVEST IN
THE JOBS AND POLICIES THAT WILL
GET THE AMERICAN DREAM BACK ON
TRACK AND RESTORE THE PROMISE
OF OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY
FORERN.
I URGE A YES VOTE ON THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION AND ON THE
RULE AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME AND MOVE THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE
RESOLUTION.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: ALL
TIME FOR DEBATE HAVING EXPIRED,
THE QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON
RESOLUTION.
THOSE I
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
MS. FOXX: MADAM SPEAKER, ON
THAT I REQUEST THE YEAS AND
NAYS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: E
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE
YEAS ANDAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 AND CL
9 OF RULE 20, THIS 15-MINUTE
VOTE ON ORDERING THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
FIVE-MINUTE VOTES ON ADOPTION
OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 976, IF
ORDERED, AND SUSPENSION OF THE
RULES WITH REGARD TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 905.
S THAT 15-MINUTE VOTE.