Well, I don't think we can operate government on a maybe, and I oppose this amendment.

I move to strike the last word. Announcement by the Acting Chair The Acting CHAIR. Members are reminded to address their remarks to the Chair. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.

I yield such myself such time as I may consume. I would like to, first of all, compliment Mr. Kingston, who is chair of this committee. He has come on as the chair, and I have come on as ranking member. We have both been on the committee…

So there is no other amendment? This hasn't to do with an earmark to try to stop closure of--

I am very interested. One of your colleagues just cut the heck out of this Department, and you want to add money back in. I am kind of for that. But I am kind of curious because I understand--and the question is, do you intend in the…

You know, it's very easy to just go through and start cutting these services because they sound like they're sort of bureaucracy offices, but, in fact, we've been on the committee a long time and we get, you know, oversight of these…

I share your concerns, but I'd certainly like to see what we can do to accommodate my colleague. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan…

This amendment cuts ERS by $43 million, and that's the Economic Research Service for Agriculture. Then it goes on to cut another $85 million out of the National Agriculture Statistical Service, which is essentially the census of…

I normally wouldn't oppose this because it cuts from the account that I just tried to cut from, but I only cut $300,000 to pay for something. This amendment cuts $20 million, and it pays for nothing. I just think that that's not a very…

Let me say in this moment, in this allocation of time, that it is about values, and I think the big debate here is not just about how you cut, squeeze, and trim spending. We have Members of Congress who have spoken today whose families…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will be postponed. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will read. The Clerk read as follows…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Page 5, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $342,000)''. Page 5, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert…