Jack Kingston

Reserving the right to object, I want to say to my friend, the ranking member, that I understand the passion on that side and a number of people who want to start speaking, or who have been speaking. But if we are going to start speaking…

I just wanted to make sure that my friends, the ranking member and former ranking member, know that the contingency fund data that we get did come from the USDA.

I thank the gentleman from Arkansas for yielding. I wanted to make a couple of points that I think are very important, Mr. Chairman. Number one, the only budget that has passed is the Ryan budget. The Democrats, for all their crying, have…

I thank the gentleman from Indiana for yielding. I want to make a couple of points. Number one, this bill increases food stamps by $5.6 billion. Now, somebody has said, But that's not as much as the President requested. Well, it is an…

I wanted to explain to my friend about it. I am uncertain about this current amendment, but that departmental account, as unglamorous as they are to all of us, has been cut about 15 percent, and then this cuts it, and then your food safety…

I want to remind you SNAP actually goes up $5.6 billion on this, and you're not talking about it, but school lunch also goes up $1\1/2\ million. So I did want to say that the SNAP portion of this bill does go up $5.6 billion. I thank the…

The gentleman from Florida controls the time, and I recommend that he does yield to you.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I do want to continue the discussion which we've had with our friends on the other side by pointing out something I think is very important. I have the vote from the CLAIMS Act, November 30, 2010, on…

We don't know the percentage food prices are rising, but we do know that this budget would allow with contingencies 9 million to participate, which is above the current level. Now, I'm hoping that the economy does turn around, but I think…

I have a parliamentary inquiry. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his inquiry.

I agree that there is an unknown factor on the rising cost of food that we're not sure about. Will the gentleman also agree with me, though--and we've had a very spirited debate, which I know my friend---- Mr. McGOVERN. But it's not an…

And that is substantial. But let me say this, the numbers that we're operating on, 2010, there were 9.2 million participants. This year, it's 8.9. Next year, the projection is less than that because 450,000 people less are on it. The base…

I reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's amendment. The Acting CHAIR. A point of order is reserved. The gentlewoman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.

Let me reclaim the time, because I wanted to continue the discussion. One of the things that perhaps we could do a better job at is not only explaining to people where these programs are but also coordinating the actual program. Now, the…

Then let me reclaim the time, because I'm trying to have an adult conversation, and I clarified what ``ignorant'' means, and if you don't know about a program, then you're ignorant about its existence. Mr. McGOVERN. If the gentleman will…

First of all, I think it would be real interesting, my friend from Massachusetts, and I mentioned this to you yesterday. I think we would both enjoy to see what the results would be if we googled our hearing and put in the word ``hunger''…

I move to strike the last word. The CHAIR. The gentleman from Georgia is recognized for 5 minutes.

The participation in WIC in 2010 was $9.2 million. Today it's about $8.8 million. This bill, because the level has dropped and is dropping, is at a level of $8.3 million, but can go over $9 million with the contingency. So I believe that…

I have no further requests for time, I move passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. The CHAIR. All time for general debate has expired. Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered read for amendment under the…

I want to comment on that. But that's exactly what we're doing. Ms. DeLAURO. But the----

I just wanted to say that we actually have had one more speaker show up. It sounds like you are closing. You might want to reserve some time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to go back over this food situation. I and the gentleman from California, the ranking member, have had 11 hearings on this. We've had 11 hearings on the Agriculture bill, not on feeding…

I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I wanted to respond to the discussion of the CFTC. It's very interesting to me that there are those Members of Congress who believe that bureaucrats control the price of oil. While…

Let me yield to my friend from Connecticut with the hopes that when my time runs out, my friend will yield to me as well. The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Bishop of Utah). The time of the gentleman has expired.

I thank the gentlewoman for the time. I want to say to my friends from Texas and Connecticut that, number one, the DeLauro amendment which you alluded to that increases WIC $147 million is intact, and that increase has gone on. We do have…