Jerry Lewis: “I had planned to make a 10- minute, maybe even a 20-minute speech this evening expressing my concerns about the…”

“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 holiday, I will submit my written statement for the Record. As I do so, Madam Speaker, I am reminded of the words of my friend Will Rogers, whose statue stands outside the door of this very Chamber. He said, ``Never miss a good chance to shut up.'' With that, I urge a vote to sustain the President's veto, and I yield back the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, here we are on November 15th and only two appropriations bills have been sent to the President--only one of which was enacted. I must confess that I find it quite ironic that the majority party spent the better part of the beginning of this year criticizing Republicans for not getting our work done in a timely fashion when now those same critics find themselves in an identical, or perhaps even worse, situation. For those of us who serve on the Appropriations Committee, this will be the sixth time we have voted on this bill this year. Six times! It is the fourth time the full House will have voted on it. The fiscal year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies bill reflects a fundamental difference in opinion on the level of funding necessary to support the Federal government's role in education, health, and workforce programs.…”