On the recordJune 9, 2016
I understand that my friend has great passion on this issue. What I love about this Chamber is that it allows people to come and express their passions. But I serve on the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee has original jurisdiction of the unfunded mandate point of order, and it is designed to prevent Congress from imposing unfunded mandates--rules that we are not going to pay for--on outside institutions: State governments, local governments, and tribal governments. By definition, this is the legislative branch appropriations bill. It funds the Library of Congress. We are absolutely funding what this bill is asked to do. To debate the merits of the underlying language is absolutely legitimate debate. But to use this point of order, which is almost a textbook definition of what this point of order does not apply to, is a dilatory tactic, Mr. Speaker. I would ask that we vote to dispense with that, oppose this point of order, and get on to the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
