May 2, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I support the rule and I support the bill. The bill is not a perfect bill, but there is no perfect piece of legislation that I have ever seen pass the Congress or pass the House of Representatives. But this is an important…
Tony Hall
The Public Record
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June 14, 2017
These famines that we are facing today are manmade and it was a failure of leadership that led to these crises, and it will take global leadership to respond.
— Tony Hall
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by number of sources- I rise in opposition to House Resolution 83, the rule limiting debate on the National Security Revitalization Act. As my colleague on the other side of the aisle well knows, the bill before us today is the most far-reaching foreign policy legislation to come before the House of Representatives in several years. In addition to radically altering the way we conduct foreign policy, the bill requires the development of a national missile defense system, like star wars, at the earliest practical date. These changes, which are enormous in magnitude, costing taxpayers up to $30 billion, are being rushed to the floor under a rule which allows only 10 hours of debate for amendments. This time cap, Mr. Speaker, is particularly disappointing when we consider the scope and breadth of this bill. The last major defense bill took 31 hours on the floor of the House. The Desert Storm legislation alone--a single peacekeeping effort--took 30 hours. All our constituents deserve more from this Congress than ramming bills through to meet an arbitrary Contract-With-America deadline. The changes outlined in this bill will have an effect on every single one of our constituents' pocketbooks. It could also affect those Americans with children who could be sent overseas to fight wars. We should slow down the process on this bill and allow major amendments on the many area of concern.2 sources1995govinfo.gov
- Mr. Speaker, this rule allows for the consideration of the conference report on the legislative branch appropriations bill for fiscal year 2002, and it waives all points of order. The bill appropriates money for the operations of the House and Senate and the maintenance of the Capitol complex. It also funds legislative branch agencies that support Congress, including the Library of Congress, the Congressional Budget Office, and the General Accounting Office. In the aftermath of September 11, the American people I think have found increased confidence in the Federal Government and Congress in particular, and I believe that the confidence is well-founded. The men and women who serve as Members of Congress, and I do not speak of myself, but I speak of my colleagues, are an extraordinary group of dedicated individuals. They are served by a corps of talented and hard-working staff, and I am very proud to serve with them. Representative democracy is never easy, and it is even more difficult in times of crisis, but I am proud to support this bill, which allows our vital work to continue. I urge the adoption of the rule and of the bill.2 sources2001govinfo.gov
- I rise in support of the Hall- Boehlert Amendment which contains a series of sense-of-the Congress expressions directing the Department of Defense to focus more attention to long-term scientific research. It also requires the Secretary of Defense to initiate a study and recommend minimum requirements to maintain a defense technology base that is sufficient to project superiority in air and space weapons systems and information technology. The amendment urges that the Defense Department give science and technology attention equal to the level received by program acquisition; that the secretary of each military department ensure that a senior member of the department holds the appropriate title and responsibility to ensure effective oversight and emphasis on science and technology; and that annual reviews should be conducted to ensure a sufficient percentage of science and technology funds are directed toward new technology areas. In the past, establishing science and technology as a priority for our military has effectively contributed to our National defense and it will be even more important in the future.2 sources1998govinfo.gov
- I rise in support of S. 2206, the Community Opportunities & Educational Services Act. I support many of the provisions in this bill which reauthorizes the Head Start, Community Services Block Grant and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Programs. However, I want to focus my remarks on the new demonstration program which will be created if this bill becomes law. Mr. Chairman, S. 2206 includes the text of H.R. 2849, the Assets for Independence Act which I introduced with Representative John Kasich. The language was added by an amendment offered in the Education and Work Committee by Representatives Mark Souder and Lynn Woolsey. This legislation authorizes $25 million for four years for the creation of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for poor families and individuals. IDAs are dedicated savings accounts, similar in structure to Individual Retirement Accounts, that can be used for purchasing a first home, paying for post-secondary education, or capitalizing a business. IDAs are managed by community organizations and are held at local financial institutions. Low income individuals make a contribution to the account which is then matched by private or public funds. Under the legislation, participants can have no more than $10,000 in assets (excluding their car and home) to qualify for the program. Federal money can only be used to match private money. In this way, the bill would leverage more private money and local involvement.2 sources1998govinfo.gov
govinfo.gov
Nov 7, 2001
The bill expresses the support of Congress for expanding the number of members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It recognizes the importance of admitting seven specific nations in Central and Eastern Europe. This legislation is…
Oct 31, 2001
Mr. Speaker, this rule allows for the consideration of the conference report on the legislative branch appropriations bill for fiscal year 2002, and it waives all points of order. The bill appropriates money for the operations of the House…
Oct 3, 2001
my amendment makes a slight technical change to the Food for Peace, P.L. 480 Program. This is one of our primary food aid programs, along with section 416(b) and Food for Progress. These vital programs allow the bounty our farmers produce…
Sep 20, 2001
I think the longer that we keep this piece of legislation from passing in this Congress the more kinds of civil wars we are going to see in Africa; and it is just horrendous, when you see these people, how they have had their lives…
Sep 20, 2001
The substantive part of the bill which they are sending back to the Senate has to do with blood diamonds. Blood diamonds are diamonds that are used to really fund wars in Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone, in Angola, and in the Congo…
Jul 31, 2001
This is a restrictive rule. It will allow for the consideration of H.R. 2647, which is a bill that funds Congress and its legislative branch agencies in fiscal year 2002. [...] I think if the American public saw how the process really…
Jul 19, 2001
I did not have to think too long or hard about it because I have had a lot of experience with faith-based programs and people of faith. I admire them and what they do. I am involved with this issue because I am determined to see an end to…
Jul 19, 2001
Mr. Speaker, before I yield back the balance of my time, I would simply say that if I were to believe what has been said in the past few days, even the past couple weeks, even some of the stories I have read in the news, if I were to…
Jul 19, 2001
Mr. Speaker, foreign assistance is important to all Americans. As the last superpower of the world, the United States is the only Nation with the ability to provide significant humanitarian assistance throughout this world. This helps…
Jul 19, 2001
I have heard a lot of interesting stories today. Some of the speakers, I think, have pointed out worst-case scenarios. These scenarios have never actually come about. They have never happened. We have voted on this four times in the…
Jun 13, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I would simply say that the rule is a good rule. It is in good shape. It is open. The bill is not a perfect bill. It is very hard to pass a perfect bill on an issue like Sudan, where millions of people have died. They have…
May 16, 2001
Mr. Speaker, middle- and working-class families need and deserve a tax cut this year. Democrats believe that we should cut taxes for all families within the framework of a fiscally responsible budget that strengthens Social Security…
Feb 13, 2001
In the year 1980, the national debt was less than $1 trillion. Today it is $5.7 trillion, six times as much. I do not want to go back to the days of deficit spending. Let us look at the figures we are talking about in the budget proposal…
Oct 26, 2000
I want to also stand up, like the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) has just done, my friend, and talk about conflict diamonds. There is a section in the bill that deals with the issue, section 406. It is an amendment that is supposed to…
Oct 25, 2000
I consider these programs funded by this bill to be our first line of national defense. I believe the goodwill and friendship created by these programs helps prevent international tensions that, if left unresolved, might lead to more…
Sep 26, 2000
The purpose of the park is to preserve, as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hobson) said, the legacy of the Wright Brothers, who invented the airplane in Dayton, Ohio. It also honors their friend, African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar…
Sep 21, 2000
I think the problem that I see and some people on the Committee on Rules see is that when we pass a bill originally in a conference or in a suspension package which does not go to any committee, it is under $100 million, it goes over to…
Jul 12, 2000
I want really the people that listen in and watch the Congress in action, because so many people are under the misunderstanding that we spend so much of our total budget on foreign aid, to understand that the fact is that is not true. If…
Jun 22, 2000
Mr. Speaker, we live in a time of unparalleled economic growth. Never before has any nation experienced the prosperity this country now enjoys. We can afford investing in our future. However, once again, we are faced with an appropriations…
Jun 19, 2000
today, on a date African Americans celebrate as their second Independence Day, I am introducing a resolution. This bill would put Congress on record as apologizing for all of our country and this institution and what they did to promote…
Jun 14, 2000
I rise today to respectfully challenge Secretary Donna Shalala. Madam Secretary, there is something sad out there that I would like you to see. At the National Nutrition Summit, you said: ``Except for a few isolated pockets, we have…
Jun 13, 2000
I have drafted an amendment to the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations (H.R. 4577) we are considering today but, in deference to Mr. Obey I will not offer it. My amendment aimed to increase the funding for "Meals on Wheels" and other…
Jun 7, 2000
last week, I went on a hunger tour in Appalachia in parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia; and I heard about a man by the name of Tom Nelson who is one of the tens of millions of poor Americans we do not see. He was a senior citizen…
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