Steny Hoyer

I would inquire of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) whether or not he is opposed to the conference report.

I'm not playing gotcha. I want to figure out whether this is a jobs bill. We haven't had a jobs bill in over 400 days. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

I thank the gentleman for his comment. Am I to take it, therefore, he disagrees with Speaker Boehner when Speaker Boehner said, just a few days ago, We're not making the claim that spending taxpayer money on transportation projects creates…

It's my understanding, Mr. Leader, this bill is over 1,000 pages long. It was marked up just shortly after it was introduced and finalized. Is the gentleman concerned by the length of that bill and the short time that Members have to…

I appreciate the gentleman's answer. It doesn't surprise me, but he didn't answer my question. My question was: you amended your rules in this House so that the extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts did not have to be paid for. I'm…

I thank the gentleman for his recommitment to that proposition. Let me ask the gentleman, therefore, given the fact, am I correct that you do not believe the extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts need to be paid for? Is that still your…

Erin Conaton stands out from this group as a proven leader who has been especially adept at helping bring the Pentagon and Congress together on important issues.

I am not objective with respect to this nominee. What you are going to hear from me is totally subjective.

I think that all of us, hopefully, agree with what the leader has just said. We clearly want to make sure the American public has confidence and trust in the actions we take in that they are not driven by personal interests but by public…

The gentleman knows that a number of those proposals had bipartisan support in this House, I think have bipartisan support over in the Senate. But they need to be paid for, and that's where the contention comes, as the gentleman knows. Let…

For the purpose of inquiring about the schedule for the week to come, I am pleased to yield to my friend from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the majority leader.

I simply don't think this bill or any other bill will get us to that end if we do not have the courage and, your word, ``discipline,'' to effect that end.

I thank my friend for yielding. Frankly, this issue is of such importance, it is a shame we don't have a lot of time to discuss it because I think in many respects we do agree. Where we disagree, however, is when you say that body that is…

I was just going to kid him that he's just now trying to get to things that we can all agree on.

I thank Mr. Van Hollen for yielding. If Members in fact, not for political gamesmanship, want to vote to restrain and eliminate their COLA this year, they have an opportunity to do that segregated from any other issue on the previous…

Then I tell my friends what we ought to do is we ought to pass a big deal. We ought to pass a $4 trillion to $5 trillion to $6 trillion big deal to get the fiscal house of the United States of America in order. It ought to include all…

Gabby, we love you. We have missed you.

I thank the gentleman for his comments. And I want to thank him for his participation in addressing this issue. And frankly, in my opinion, he was one of the 100 signatories that we had saying let's get a big deal, we have to get a handle…

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the majority leader's observations. I don't think I got an answer to the question. But having said that, if in fact an agreement is not reached prior to, say, the middle of next week, is the…

Reclaiming my time, I understand the majority leader's position, but he didn't answer my question as to whether his Members intend to go home this afternoon.

I thank the gentlelady for withdrawing her objection. I have just been handed a--it may have been sent out earlier--a Members' advisory which says: The House will be in session as necessary to consider a conference report on H.R. 3630, the…

Just to clarify, it is my understanding, therefore, that we do intend, before we leave for the year, to address the House-passed bill or a Senate version thereof. I thank my friend for yielding.

I, therefore, urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. Yes, it will keep government open, which is essential; but it will also do the most fundamental job that this Congress has to do every year, and that is to fund appropriately…

So I can conclude. Yes, the gentleman asked for regular order. I lament the fact that we are not pursuing regular order. We could act in a responsible, bipartisan fashion to accomplish the three objectives I set forth and the…

I thank the gentleman. I was quoting, not imputing. Mr. Jordan's comments seem to be pretty clear. Before we conclude, the STOCK Act, Tim Walz had a bill that was ready for markup in the committee. We understand that was pulled. As you…