Mr. Chairman, my amendment, in short, prohibits ransom payments to any country. Although the American people consider this to be U.S. policy, given the administration's recent actions, we have to make this prohibition explicit. This…

Two, we don't know the condition of the properties we have.

Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to close. Mr. Chairman, this is an important amendment. We need to codify what we have known for years has been American policy under Democrat Presidents and Republican Presidents that we simply won't pay ransom…

This isn't very glamorous. But just look at the progress we've made.

And then the President's initiative, which I support, better utilization of existing space.

It's just not acceptable. I'm sorry.

Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurship and employee ownership as well. I rise in support of H.R. 5719, the Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act, a bill that will allow certain employee recipients of employer stock to defer paying income…

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 11, after line 21, add the following: SEC. 10. PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PAYMENT…

This is disgraceful, that we have Federal properties around the country--and the Department of Agriculture--again, went out there, visited, requested that we come up with a proposal.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 11, after line 21, add the following: SEC. 10. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO IRANIAN PERSONS THAT…

The Trump Hotel, that's a public-private partnership. We're losing $6 million.

I think we've made a lot of progress--unfortunately, in the wrong direction.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1296) to amend the San Luis Rey Indian Water Rights Settlement Act to clarify certain settlement terms, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the…

I thank the gentleman and my great friend from California. Mr. Speaker, the parties to this settlement have been working towards a resolution for almost 50 years; so I will keep my remarks brief so that we don't delay them any further…

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding me the time. I first want to recognize Congressman Erik Paulsen, my colead in drafting the Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act that we are debating today here on…

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), my good friend and colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, again I want to reiterate, I do appreciate working with Mr. Paulsen on this issue, and there is really no opposition from me in terms of the policy that we are attempting…

Mr. Speaker, I thank both of my friends from California for bringing this bill to the floor today. I am not a member of the requisite committee, but I appreciate the work that was done to bring it to the floor. I thank them both for…