If you would yield, the infrastructure bank is a great idea, and it is one which allows us to build immediately. And over time, as those projects pay off, they repay the loans. It is a very, very wise investment to create an infrastructure…

Mr. Cicilline, it does not surprise me at all that you have a passion for this issue. You come from a part of the United States that really started the industrial revolution, the Northeast, and your State in particular, the industrial…

I only want to take a second here. I notice one of our colleagues from Texas has joined us. She is a strong advocate of returning American manufacturing. I want to thank our colleague from the great State of Hawaii for bring to our…

If anyone understands the history and the importance of manufacturing, it's the gentleman from Rhode Island. The Black River down through Rhode Island was the very first place that America started its manufacturing base, using water as a…

I voice my strong opposition to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2012, H.R. 1540. Unfortunately during a busy legislative day, I missed the roll call for this important bill, which passed the House of…

I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am delighted to hear that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle agree there is a problem. I would suggest to them that we put this amendment into the bill so that we have the opportunity…

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 title VIII, add the following new section: SEC. 845. REQUIREMENT TO SET ASIDE WORK FOR LOCAL…

I am shocked, absolutely shocked that my Republican friend isn't standing firm for small businesses in their communities. Would you like 61 or 60,000 miles? Whatever it is, we want the small contractors to have a shot at it. Be happy to…

I think the gentleman from Texas missed the point entirely. It is not about mileage. It is about giving local contractors the opportunity. The offer I made to my colleagues on the right, my Republican colleagues, is put this amendment…

I raise a point of order against House Resolution 276 because the resolution violates section 426(a) of the Congressional Budget Act. This resolution contains a waiver of all points of order, which includes a waiver of section 425 of the…

I raise this point of order not necessarily out of concern for the unfunded and unmet mandates, although there are many in this bill. I raise this point of order because we have one of the very few opportunities to actually talk about one…

This is a very simple amendment. This is about local jobs for local companies. Many of us have in our districts military facilities of large and small size. All too often those facilities and the work done on those facilities, performed by…