Feb 13, 2009
Mr. Speaker, we just received official scoring of the $792 billion bill at 12:04 p.m. Unfortunately, we didn't receive this critical information until one-third of our very limited debate time was over. While portions of the bill were…
Jerry Lewis
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by number of sources- I very much appreciate my chairman yielding this time to me, and I want to take just a moment to express my personal deep appreciation for the work of both our chairman and the ranking member, the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Dicks]. I would further like to say that within this committee the atmosphere of growing almost nonpartisanship is a very refreshing development in the Congress, indeed an area that is so critical to the United States, our intelligence programing, to have people working together in a fashion that recognizes that the importance and strength of the country is what we are about is very, very encouraging to me. I would like to compliment our staff on both sides of the aisle for their very fine work they have done throughout developing this measure. Stepping aside for a moment and reacting to the discussions regarding the DARO and airborne reconnaissance programs, I must say I believe this committee has done a fabulous job over some time at highlighting the importance of these reconnaissance programs, and the work of the DARO is the result of the efforts of this committee, and indeed a great deal of progress we have made in this area is a direct result of the efforts of the committee.4 sources1997govinfo.gov
- I rise to express my deep appreciation to the Committee on Appropriations and the House for the very rapid way in which they are responding to the people in southern California. Much of the debate today will swirl around a series of amendments that address the question of offsets to the cost of this disaster. Many Members have ideas as to how we might best cut individual programs to pay for the expenditure that must go forward in order to address this tragedy. I want the House to know that in the past I have voted against offsets that relate to other disasters like the one in Florida or the flood relief. Everybody has their own idea as to which program ought to be cut to pay for a disaster. When the country faces a crisis, it is very important that the Congress respond and not slow down that response by what can be an endless debate about Federal spending and deficit priorities. Indeed, the Speaker is in the process of establishing a task force that will take on the responsibility of trying to develop such formulas relative to national disasters. I wish that task force had already met and completed its work. It has not. Their work will go forward, and it will be very important work. In the meantime, I would urge the House to be very cautious about what is the best formula to offset this disaster expenditure.2 sources1994govinfo.gov
- I rise with great reluctance to oppose the amendment of my colleague from Indiana. I oppose it largely for two reasons. First, this is an urgent bill designed to provide assistance to the victims of the disaster in southern California. To suggest that, when we face such a disaster, one can quickly with much policy forethought effectively offset a sizable number of dollars without having the appropriate hearings, the analysis by the various committees involved, and time to deliberate and perfect, is a bewildering thought to me. To just arbitrarily suggest that we take $400 million out of CDBG's to our local communities, should give us all pause to reconsider. This could very well lead to cuts that could have a significant impact upon towns that I know nothing about. I would be very, very hesitant to just arbitrarily say $400 million is the appropriate figure. I strongly urge the House to be very careful about an amendment like this.2 sources1994govinfo.gov
- first let me say I very much appreciate the interest of the gentleman from California [Mr. Cunningham] in this very important subject area. I appreciate also or as well his commitment to America's children. I agree that our Federal agencies should cooperate with one another and with State and local governments to continue fighting lead contamination in homes with children. We all know about lead-based paint, and we have taken action against it through public information campaigns and the HUD office of lead-based paint. Furthermore, all consumers have a responsibility to take informed and appropriate action against this new lead hazard of vinyl miniblinds, and in many cases these miniblinds can be replaced for about $10 per window. In the interests of our children's health, I agree that the CPSC should work to keep the Nation's housing agencies informed about this issue, to stay in close cooperation with them and to help end lead poisoning among America's children.2 sources1996govinfo.gov
- reluctantly, I rise in opposition to the amendment of my colleague. Mr. Chairman, I believe the body knows that we have not had any significant funding for this program since 1995. The reason for that is that the voucher program essentially has been in serious disarray. It has not delivered service or money in a way that really made sense to those of us who know that we have challenges here in terms of serving poor people, but at the same time, as we try to meet those challenges, we would like to have the programs involved to work effectively. This current year is the first year for some time we have provided significant dollars. There is some $100 million in the current fiscal year. That involves some 17,600 vouchers. We are really taking a hard look at the way HUD is implementing this program. We want to measure whether or not they will get the job done this time. What this amendment suggests is that before that measurement actually takes place we ought to kind of double the program. We would go from 17,600 vouchers to 34,800. We would go from $100 million to $197 million. Now while I have a good deal of empathy for what we are attempting to do here, frankly, I think we ought to deal as much as we can in the real world. The other body is more skeptical than we. They are providing some $40 million in their proposal this year, frankly, in no small part because they have some of those questions from the past still remaining.…2 sources1998govinfo.gov
govinfo.gov
Feb 13, 2009
I will be voting ``no'' on this legislation. Over the next few minutes, I would like to share my concerns about this bill as it is currently written. The President, whom I respect a great deal, is a fine salesman. But as I have said on…
Feb 10, 2009
Madam Speaker, before we continue with a stimulus policy that has consistently failed to stimulate anything other than the government, I think the supporters of this program need to answer some very simple questions. For example, the…
Jun 19, 2008
Mr. Speaker, today is the 500th day since the President's fiscal year 2008 emergency supplemental request first arrived on the Hill. Oft times we make the mistake of assuming that we're doing the Lord's work in this body. But I remind my…
May 21, 2008
I have only one good thing to say about the Democrat majority's budget resolution. Unlike the only other budget-related legislation considered by the House this year, at least this resolution, the budget resolution, follows regular order…
May 15, 2008
The American people know that, once again, Congress is putting partisan political considerations ahead of the needs of the American people. In my view, the quickest way to end this political nonsense is to vote `no' on this bill so that we…
May 15, 2008
Congress still holds the power of the purse. If the war is not funded, the war cannot continue. That's perhaps a position I disagree with, but it is a factual matter. If you are serious about this, you would do that. Or you would have a…
May 15, 2008
This program will cost about $30 billion if it follows that path. Yet despite pledges in this House to adhere to the letter and spirit of PAYGO, this bill does neither. Our colleagues' argument is that today's economic conditions…
May 15, 2008
Perhaps the most important counsel I have ever received came from my dear friend and mentor, Dr. Adeline Gunther. ``Gram,'' as we called her, was the founder and guiding light of the University Religious Conference located near the UCLA…
May 15, 2008
I can't help but wonder if maybe there is some lack of commitment to regular order that I had never perceived before. For example, my colleague from San Diego, the chairman of the VA Subcommittee, if he had been given an opportunity, could…
May 15, 2008
Mr. Speaker, one of the delights of this process, preparing for this bill, has been to go back through the process of the past and look at some of the protestations and expressions of concern by my colleague, now the chairman of the full…
Jan 16, 2008
as we begin our work in the new year, I want to take a few moments to reflect on the passing of a good friend of mine. Richard Henry ``Dick'' White, Jr., a fixture in Washington for four decades, lost his fight against cancer on December…
Dec 13, 2007
Mr. Speaker, it is kind of hard to believe that Christmas is less than 2 weeks away and that David Obey provides me with material for my own presentation one more time. While most Americans are Christmas shopping and decorating their…
Nov 15, 2007
I had planned to make a 10- minute, maybe even a 20-minute speech this evening expressing my concerns about the Labor-HHS conference report. However, given the late hour and Members' desire to join their families for the Thanksgiving Day…
Nov 14, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the wheels have finally come off the appropriations process. One need only to look at the sorry state of affairs in which we find ourselves as we address these appropriations bills. Earlier today, the House passed a…
Oct 31, 2007
I would speak just for a moment by way of saying that I think in many ways we have demonstrated if we are not careful with our rhetoric, we can undermine the opportunity we have for bipartisan consideration of very important work in the…
Oct 31, 2007
But in the meantime, we are talking about regular order, trying to change the appropriations process so it makes sense, not destroy our committee. I would suggest we are on a pathway to destroy this committee.
Oct 31, 2007
I just might mention that during the time that the chairman and I have worked together in the Appropriations Committee, we have talked many a time about process where we both happen to think it is very important. But the fact is that all…
Oct 31, 2007
What I am suggesting, Mr. Obey, is that there are, in this place even, there are people who sometimes use data and statistics for their purposes versus other purposes. This is our committee and I would hope we would run it in regular order.
Oct 31, 2007
I wanted to mention it is very interesting to see my colleague, the chairman, to use statistics and data for his own purposes. We have, over the last 12 years, had nine omnibus appropriations bills, and where those bills were put together…
Oct 31, 2007
I can't help but mention that the preceding discussion must be very enlightening to Americans across the country who may be interested in what we have to say here. It's always been my personal belief that the vast percentage of problems…
Oct 23, 2007
I will not use anywhere near 10 minutes. But let me say that my colleagues have already expressed their support for the phenomenal work that has taken place over the recent years as we have learned from past tragedies like this. The law…
Sep 26, 2007
this simple motion is to recommend or recommit. It is a sense of the Congress resolution that recognizes the service of General David Petraeus as well as all other members of our Armed Forces. It expresses our appreciation for his personal…
Aug 4, 2007
It is a fabulous program, using the money very well, and I urge a ``no'' vote on the gentleman's amendment.
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