I wish that our friends who just spoke on an amendment to add $20 million were still around, because their points are well taken. We've already cut 78 percent from this program. The gentleman from Colorado wants to eliminate it entirely…

I am a strong supporter of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It's one of the great environmental success stories of the past 50 years. The $65.8 million that the bill contains for the Land and Water Conservation Fund is in fact, as has…

I claim time in opposition to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Virginia is recognized for 5 minutes.

I'll never forget the day that we voted for the Clinton tax rates. We were told by all of the Republicans that this was going to cause massive job losses, an unbalanced budget, and drive us into recession. And not one Republican voted with…

I do think it might be instructive that Mr. Pombo is no longer among our ranks and the principle reason is the Endangered Species Act authorization that he attempted to write which was so destructive of the original intent of the…

Over the past 1\1/2\ years, we've seen this President take away a lot of our freedoms with big spending and a big health care plan. I want to talk about another risk to American freedom today, and that is the United Nations Arms Trade…

Woman, this is a distinction without a difference. The money still goes away. The argument that was made by the chairman of the committee still stands, as far as I can see. And so even though the amendment may be worded a little…

I think we have a problem in the amendment, itself, because it would specifically designate a study that might be interpreted as some type of earmark, which I don't think it really is. I like what the gentlelady is trying to do. I think…

I want our side to go on record in support of what Mr. Tonko and Mr. Dent are proposing. We have worked with them on this amendment. This is the kind of program that really ought to have unanimous support in the House. I mean, we're…

Well, that's it. Reclaiming my time, the shot across the bow goes right into the heart of the Endangered Species Act. So you are picking winners and losers. You could have picked any number of programs, but you like those. In fact, some of…

I was going to wait until other speakers spoke, but I felt it appropriate to engage in a discussion here with the chairman and to remind him that this bill includes funding for a multitude of expired authorizations. The Bureau of Land…

I have the voting record from February 16. I know the gentleman will recall H.R. 1 and the debate that ensued. In H.R. 1, the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund was zeroed out, and so I had an amendment to restore $50 million to the…

First of all, I'm not sure why you want the Beach Boys to be the issue here. We were just discussing Mr. Watt's tenure as Secretary of the Interior. That was not so successful when he came after the Beach Boys. But be that as it may, what…

Not only were they there but Team 6 that had just dealt with Osama bin Laden in a fairly definitive manner, SEAL Team 6 was there. We couldn't identify them, but we all applauded for them, and they couldn't have been more overjoyed. The…

I move to strike the last word. The Acting CHAIR (Ms. Foxx). The gentleman from Virginia is recognized for 5 minutes.

The gentlelady is smiling, so I will accept her concurrence. We will move forward in that fashion if the gentlelady wouldn't mind withdrawing her amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

I am not necessarily rising to oppose this, but to point out some deficiencies in the amendment itself. The claim is that the purpose of the amendment is to ensure that the National Park Service prioritizes its construction of law…

Reclaiming my time, I understand that the gentleman wants to make that point. I understand the challenges that are faced in the area that he represents. I was similarly confused, though, when there was a substantial amendment to strip…