John Garamendi

Somebody has to break the ice.

It is time to close. We can build America. We can build our infrastructure. The President has laid out a worthy plan, comprehensive, and all of the elements of the infrastructure that we must do. It is fully paid for. It is a good starting…

Representative Tonko, what is happening tomorrow? The Speaker and the leadership of this House are going to do a press conference to talk about suing the President?

I don't know what more to say here. The points of order are useful, I suppose, but not to me. Madam Chair, to this issue, I would love to see a vote on the House floor on whether we really support our maritime industry, on whether we…

I ask to be heard on the point of order. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized.

Well, perhaps I will just wrap, and then we will take up your point of order and see where that goes with it. This is an extremely important issue. It has to do with our relationships with NATO. It has to do with cost-sharing by the NATO…

Reclaiming my time, what I would prefer to do, sir, is to proceed and to continue the discussion. I think this is an important matter. Mr. Chairman, I don't know how much time I have remaining. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from…

Reclaiming my time, I would much prefer if you could say this is really wise and information that we need and that we would add this to the bill somewhere along the process. I yield to the gentleman.

That is true. I intend to withdraw my amendment in hopes that we could, at the end of the bill, undertake a more full report and fence off the $15 million until that comes forward. I am not asking for a commitment now, but as we proceed…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 31, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $15,600,000)''. Page 141, line 4, after the dollar amount…

Would you please be very specific in writing to the committee as to exactly what you need, when you need it, in order to get these things up and operational?

We need to have the nice to and the need to, the absolute have to have, versus what we would--you and us, you and I and perhaps the other members of this committee, would like to have.

The reality is that, in the current state of affairs here within Congress, there isn't going to be money available.

The problem is with this Congress not providing the resources necessary.

The problem lies here, in the Congress. The problem is that this Congress has decided that a small Government is the best thing for this Nation.

The President's budget is a reflection of the Budget Control Act that the House of Representatives and the Senate passed.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 20, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``, of which $50,000,000 shall be for the emergency conservation program…

You have proposed a rule. Is it the final rule?

I have a large agricultural district. I have got plenty of water, like 200 miles of the Sacramento River Valley, including the river, and a lot of questions.

Is it the final rule?

I personally thank you for your efforts to clarify a longstanding controversial issue that has been with this country for well over 40 years now, and that is the application of the Clean Water Act.

When my constituents come to you with--asking for clarification, will you listen to them and will you take that under advice and, if appropriate, make modifications?

Apparently, that has not yet been achieved, at least among the members of this committee and a good portion of the public.

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. 417. None of the funds made available by this Act…

I wish to be heard on the point of order. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized.