I thank the gentleman, and I thank the House for listening to me. I ask for a positive vote. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne). The…

I appreciate the gentlewoman's positive words about the underlying bill. She pointed out a number of things about this bill that are very good indeed. I hear that she disagrees with the use of the overseas contingency account for funding…

I listened to the gentleman's comments, and I have to tell you, if there is enough in this bill for the reporting, why did the Treasury not say that to us? They didn't say that to us because they know there needs to be a report done. They…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 116, after line 10, insert the following: SEC. 411. REPORT ON TERRITORIAL DEBT. (a) Report…

As we have heard over and over again today, this Congress has plenary authority over our territories. Over the course of the last century, this body has rightly delegated this power to provide for home rule for our territories. However, it…

I thank Chairman Bishop for his leadership on this issue. This has not been an easy task, but he has provided great leadership, and I appreciate it. I also thank Mr. Graves of Louisiana and Mr. Polis for their amendment at the committee…

I appreciate the remarks of the gentleman from Puerto Rico. I hope he was in the Chamber and he heard words that I said. Everybody in this House stands with the people of Puerto Rico. Our hearts go out for them. This is a very difficult…

The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), my colleague on the Committee on Rules, brings up two very important issues. Indeed, nothing in this bill would require people to pay the subminimum wage. It simply allows it. It provides it as an…

House Resolution 770 provides for consideration of H.R. 5278, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, or PROMESA. The resolution provides for a structured rule and makes in order eight amendments. This bill…

By direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 770 and ask for its immediate consideration. The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: H. Res. 770 Resolved, That at any time after adoption of this resolution the Speaker…

I didn't know anything about this, and the vast majority of the Members didn't know anything about this problem before it was thrust upon us over the last several weeks. The irresponsibility of the Treasury Department in not giving this…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 115, line 20, strike ``The'' and insert ``Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. In allocating funds made available by this…

I want to make very clear that my amendment says not one single thing about discrimination. It talks about religious freedom. We treat religious freedom sometimes in this country like it is a secondary right. It is not. It is a fundamental…

Unlike our European forebears, the Framers made clear that our Nation would have no state church. Instead, under the First Amendment, all will be protected in the free exercise of the religion of their choosing, and we have a proud…

I appreciate the gentleman's remarks. I accept his offer. I look forward to working with him. We have got to start somewhere, and this is a good place to start. I heard the gentlewoman's remarks. The Wall Street Journal reported that this…

My amendment would prohibit any funding from going to the Energy Information Administration, which under this bill is set to receive $122 million in taxpayer money. Mr. Chairman, rule XXI of the House rules prohibits funding programs that…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. (a) None of the funds made available by this…

My amendment would allow for a number of important Army Corps of Engineers projects in my home district of coastal Alabama to move forward. In many areas, our Nation's waterways are the lifeblood of the economy. Being from a port city, I…

I appreciate the gentleman's words. He is a man of his word. I appreciate his understanding the importance of these projects. Having heard his words, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act…

2 years ago the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act regarding religious freedom. Many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have attempted to use this amendment as…

My colleague from Massachusetts raises some very important points. It would be appropriate for our Foreign Affairs Committee to take up those points and consider them after we have had a lot of hearings, including an opportunity for a…

I appreciate the gentleman's comment. This is something that we had some significant discussion about last night in the Committee on Rules. Let's make sure that the facts are straight. There is not one single thing in this bill that…

I appreciate the comments of the gentleman from Maryland. He wasn't on the floor when I spoke earlier. Perhaps he didn't hear that, between the Committee on Armed Services and on this floor, 429 amendments have been made in order--181 for…