On the recordNovember 30, 2010
I must rise in opposition to this bill. This bill includes more than $1 billion to settle the Pigford discrimination suit against USDA, in addition to the billion dollars we have already spent. While I want to see a resolution to the settlement, I cannot, in good conscience, support the process through which we attempted to address these problems. The House passed H.R. 4783, a bill intended to encourage charitable contributions, by voice vote in March. What we have received back from the Senate instead is a bill that will cost the taxpayers more than $5 billion. By using this procedure, we are unable to offer a motion to recommit to change the bill. Additionally, we are considering this legislation under a closed rule, which prevents any Member from offering an amendment. We are rushing through consideration of a massive spending bill. The Senate acted on this 269-page bill 10 days ago, and we are already bringing it to the floor. Let's slow down and ensure that we consider this massive bill in a thorough and deliberative process. Sadly, I must urge my colleagues to vote ``no.``
