I thank the gentleman from Florida, and I rise today in support of H.R. 1171, the FOR VETS Act of 2013. This bipartisan legislation will allow veterans service organizations access to Federal surplus property. In December, 2010, President…

I don't know whether to rebut or to agree. I want to begin by thanking Mr. Hoyer, our leader and our whip, and my dear friend Mr. Barrow, a wonderful, courageous gentleman from Georgia, who has to fight very hard to remain here. I am proud…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Let me just say that, while we are obviously here to give honor and recognize the service of Mr. Dingell, the honor, at least from where I stand, the honor is really all mine to be able to participate in…

I appreciate the opportunity today to do a little bragging about Baldwin Street Middle School, which came to visit me today from Hudsonville, Michigan. They came to brag about their excellence and success as being designated a School to…

Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Westview Orchards of Romeo, MI on its 200th anniversary. Since its founding in 1813, the orchard has been a part of Michigan's way of life. It is where families go to pick their own peaches and…

I appreciate the gentlewoman's comments, and I am certainly willing to work with you in the future on this issue, but we are just concerned that we are not going to make food any safer, and it is not going to help the jobs and the cost of…

Madam President, as chair of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, I rise today to speak about the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform. I too, along with the distinguished Senator from New Jersey, wish to indicate…

I would like to thank the chairman for the opportunity to speak on this amendment and to bring this issue to the floor. As many of my constituents and colleagues know, I'm a doctor, not a farmer. So what they taught me in medical school…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of subtitle C of title XII, add the following: SEC. 12317. SCIENTIFIC AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF…

I appreciate the respect, and I understand that. I appreciate the fact that the USDA has a good record of dealing with checkoffs. I'm not necessarily opposed to all checkoffs, but they ought to fit. Growing rocks--marble, granite--just…

May I inquire of the time remaining. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Michigan has 1 minute remaining, and the gentleman from Georgia has 3\1/2\ minutes remaining.

If it weren't for the lateness of the hour, I would be tempted to ask if any of my colleagues have had constituents call or write their offices to ask whether Congress has lost its marbles. I won't do that. But I would point out the fact…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Strike section 12312. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 271, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr…

Propane and oil heat function as checkoff programs under the Department of Commerce and under the Department of Energy. The statutory authority for the USDA checkoff also does not include rock. So I respectfully request that my colleagues…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan will be postponed. amendments en bloc no. 1 offered by mr. lucas

I would suggest that it's not voluntary for all of those in an industry, and I am certain that not all of them in the industry are asking for this checkoff. Again, I understand there may not be the best infrastructure like the agriculture…

Thank you, Ms. Lofgren. I appreciate this important debate and participating in it. Members of the House, by imposing a nationwide ban on abortions performed after 20 weeks, H.R. 1797, the so-called Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection…

I would like to thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for allowing me to be here as well. I rise today in support of the rule for H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and to urge my colleagues to support this…