I thank the gentleman for his comments. I disagree with his conclusion because, clearly, what we're dealing with is a cost-of-living increase similar to that which is given to Social Security recipients and others to make sure that the pay…

In reclaiming my time, the gentleman, respectfully, misstates what I said. There are a lot of people sacrificing and a lot of people who don't have jobs. I want to talk a little bit about that as we deal--or don't deal--with the sequester…

And the President of the United States, for contrast, I tell my friend from Georgia, supports this exact alternative. Will he support others in a compromise? He will. But this is the alternative that he supports, so it's the contrast that…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Price of Georgia said what the American people want. What the American people don't want is games. This is a game. This is a sham. This is a shame. What the American people want is honest legislation…

But I say to all of us, you will not get there with gimmicks. You will not get there with pretense. You will not get there with irresponsibility and kick the can down the road. I understand what you have done. You've taken your most…

The other problem with this, of course, is we're now going to spend till 12:30 today discussing this critically important issue. We treat it like just a throwaway. I can't discuss the substance of this issue in the time allotted to me, nor…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to say to the Speaker before he leaves the floor, I believe the Speaker wants to get to a responsible agreement between our parties, between the House and the Senate, and between the Congress and…

I thank the ranking member, Mrs. Lowey, and I thank Mr. Rogers for his work, as well, on bringing this bill to the floor. I rise not only in support of the chairman's mark at $17 billion, but also for the Frelinghuysen amendment. I think…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to congratulate all of the Members who represent New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and other jurisdictions who have been united in a bipartisan way to say, let us reach out; let us…

It was to my profound disappointment that I learned last night that the House would adjourn the 112th Congress without providing assistance to the victims of Superstorm Sandy. I am joined today, Mr. Speaker, by many of my colleagues from…

Is it in order to ask unanimous consent to extend that time for 1 minute? The SPEAKER pro tempore. Unfortunately, the Chair cannot entertain that request during morning-hour debate. ____________________

I have just been informed that we will be having perhaps no further votes in this Congress. I am deeply disappointed at that information. We have millions of our fellow citizens who have been badly damaged by a storm called Sandy…