David Thomas: “To make sure that everyone is perfectly clear, I think we may need to recount what occurred in committee in the…”

“To make sure that everyone is perfectly clear, I think we may need to recount what occurred in committee in the discussion of this bill in front of the full Committee on Ways and Means. There were three Members on the minority side that had indicated that they either wanted to offer amendments or they wanted to discuss points at which they may or may not be prepared to offer amendments. The gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra) raised a point, there was a discussion between staff and Members, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra) terminated his discussion. The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) indicated that he was going to offer amendments. There was a colloquy between the chairman and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal), and he withdrew his amendment. The gentleman from Michigan then offered an amendment and had the clarification, which the Chair is grateful for, which was the subject of his amendment and that is that no money could go to enforcement. The gentleman corrected his statement, although he still believes that perhaps the United States Trade Representative is engaged in gamesmanship and perhaps they would send a dollar to enforcement but that would be all. That was precisely the basis of the discussion that occurred in committee.”