I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the utilization of what you call the curlicue and the other light bulb, I guess the question would remain, in terms of efficiency and sustainability, how long of a lifetime does what…

I claim time in opposition to the gentleman's amendment. The CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.

I thank the chairman for yielding. My daddy used to say that you should really be careful of zealots because they come in hacking and hewing. I think there are a couple of things that the chairman has pointed out that require some study…

The chairman of the subcommittee should be applauded for adequately funding the operations and necessary maintenance work so we do not have a more expensive deferred maintenance in the future, which usually is the result. Now, about…

I believe that there are other amendments forthcoming. I'm just very concerned about it, and I agree with the chairman in making this funding necessary. I know the Botanic Garden. I enjoy it. And I think that the funding that he has…

While I'm not necessarily opposed to the amendment, I think the record should be clear on the funding level in the bill. To suggest that the $600,000 increase in the Botanic Garden is somehow not needed is simply not true. The funding will…

I just want to disclose the same comments I did in the last paragraph, that this amendment suggests that Congress should ease up on requirements providing our workers with a fair and safe working environment. I don't think we should back…

The amendment would cut the Office of Compliance by $467,000, even though the office is cut in the underlying bill by 6.4 percent--the same as the overall bill reduction. I have to question the motives of cutting the Office of Compliance…

I claim time in opposition to this amendment. THE CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.

I thank the gentleman. I really understand that the gentleman from North Carolina is highlighting serious concerns with processes that he sees with the Office of Congressional Ethics, and I share some of his concerns. As well, I share some…

Yes, but let me finish here. I just wanted to make sure that we don't confuse what we call efficiency with sustainability. I think the sustainability is also a piece that we should be looking at. The production of it, I think, is…

I have a written prepared statement I will include for the Record. It talks about California and the need for investments, and I don't think anybody is going to argue with the need for this country to invest in its country or its…