Ernest Istook

I feel the need to speak a little bit in greater length because of the consequences of this point of order. This point of order would strike the final two provisos in section 218 but leave intact the remainder of that section. Those…

I am very much aware of the need to fund the Richmond Federal courthouse. I am concerned, of course, about the funding needs for all of the Nation's courthouses. As the gentleman is aware, due to budget limitations, we have not provided…

I regret that I cannot agree to the amendment, because I know he has devoted a lot of time to it, but for a couple of reasons. One, of course, is that the National Park Service customarily has its appropriations through the Interior…

Mr. Chairman, people are easily confused about what we are talking about here. And it is a very strange amendment that is being offered because, frankly, the amendment does not really do anything. It is an opportunity for people to get up…

this bill will hasten the day when Medicare will go bankrupt, and it also threatens to unravel our children's future. Medicare is already on shaky financial legs, and this will add enormous extra expenses that will make it worse. Do we…

Mr. Speaker, I think it is always good in exchanges like this that every once in a while we try to come back to reality and discuss what the topic for debate actually is. What we have under consideration is a continuing resolution so that…

what we do in our everyday lives as families, we sit around the kitchen table and we say, this is how much we have, and this is what we would like to accomplish. And we make decisions, tough decisions. I would like for every Member of this…

although I have, frankly, a great amount of sympathy for the amendment offered by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) and I think there is a need for us to do something regarding the accounts of former Presidents, I do not believe…

Mr. Chairman, I believe this is an amendment that is a wolf in sheep's clothing. We heard from its sponsor that this is supposedly to stop people from being arbitrary; to stop people from setting some arbitrary quota, as they call it. The…

Mr. Chairman, I noticed the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) said that the intent is to make sure that, under the laws that we have passed, there is competition for jobs that are commercial in nature so that Federal employees have the…

Despite my great sympathy for the amendment offered by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), I cannot support it. This particular bill, were it subjected to across-the-board cuts, would find that we have significant cuts and reduction…

Mr. Chairman, I think part of the problem with this as part of not being what it is said to be, is that this amendment seeks to outlaw math. It says we cannot adopt a target or a goal for outsourcing jobs if there is a number involved in…

we are both very supportive of the media campaign, and we wish for it to continue; but what I want to make sure that we clarify through the colloquy is that despite what may be the concerns that some may have with the language, the intent…

let me say that I believe that the interest of the gentleman from Georgia and mine in this situation are very akin to each other. What I wanted to do in the colloquy I just had with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) was, frankly, avoid…

to answer the questions posed by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), yes, I think we can definitely work together to address his concerns about postal service in the Bronx. The gentleman is correct that we have included report…

the provision the gentleman refers to, section 504 of the bill, is one that was crafted, I believe, prior to the recommendation for the Department of Homeland Security being formed. It is certainly my intent, and I will endeavor to make…

The committee intention is, as stated, to support the private sector and not to fund the conduct or administration of this program by government employees other than issuing the grant itself.

I rise to address some of the elements relating to homeland security. We did not begin just after September 11 to try to address homeland security. Our subcommittee, among other things, funds the U.S. Customs Service. Even before September…

due to the death of my stepmother last night, I will miss the vote on the farm bill, as I am traveling to Fort Worth, TX, to be with my father and other family. Had I been able to cast my vote on this bill, I would have voted ``no.'' The…

I rise today to commend and to thank the employees of the United States Customs Service in New York City. These dedicated men and women give new meaning to the term public service. On behalf of all Americans, this resolution says to them…

Many of us have a concern, however, that although this addresses with some special funding States who have not been as diligent about updating their electoral machinery, although States which have been more apathetic are rewarded under…

we are often impatient people in the United States; but as the President has reminded us, we must be patient. This will be a long-term effort against terrorism and protecting our homeland. While we are doing these things, we have to make a…

Mr. Speaker, as I have mentioned, this bill tries to meet the needs of Federal law enforcement and border security, although not totally so because there are greater needs that we hope to meet in further legislation coming forward. I think…

the sky is not falling. On October 21 we are not going to be hit by a great rush of jurisdictions saying now we are going to impose taxes on the Internet. We are not under an emergency circumstance on that. We have many emergencies in this…

Mr. Chairman, let me first mention, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez) may or may not have read the executive order and all of the regulations that have been issued pursuant to it from a number of agencies. I have read them, and they…