Frank Riggs: “Mr. Chairman, at this point I would like to suggest to my colleagues how we on this side would like and intend to…”

“Mr. Chairman, at this point I would like to suggest to my colleagues how we on this side would like and intend to proceed through the remainder of the consideration of the charter school bill and how we propose to dispose of the pending amendments. It is our intent on this side to accept the Pastor amendment, and we are prepared to do so at this time. We are also prepared to accept the Kingston amendment renaming the bill from the Charter Schools Amendments Act of 1997 to the Community Designed Charter Schools Act of 1997. Mr. Chairman, we are also prepared to accept at this time the Traficant Buy America labeling provisions amendment which is also pending before the House. It is my understanding, after talking to the gentleman from Rhode Island [Mr. Weygand] that he will offer and withdraw his amendment pending our engaging in a colloquy, and I hope that the distinguished ranking member of the subcommittee will join us in that colloquy. Finally, Mr. Chairman, we are still trying to work out an understanding with the gentleman from California [Mr. Martinez] as to his two amendments.”