Tom Cole

The gentleman from Wisconsin is a good friend. We serve on the Budget Committee together, and, frankly, I know how sincere his concern about the issues that he lays out is. I know how hard he fought on that committee, and oftentimes we…

Having yielded to people on both sides of the debate, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey). The question was taken; and the Acting…

May I inquire as to how much time I have remaining. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Oklahoma has 3\1/2\ minutes remaining.

I appreciate the gentleman's concern. He raises, I think, a genuinely important issue. Our committee understands the value of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program, which is why we did not accept the…

I appreciate the gentlewoman's concern for programs that support vulnerable seniors. Frankly, my committee has provided increases for these programs in prior years because, like her, we understand how valuable and important they are to…

I don't rise to oppose. I just wanted to commend my friend for bringing this issue and highlighting it. We think it is very important. We wanted to note that we support what he is trying to do. We certainly accept the amendment, and we…

I claim the time in opposition. The Acting CHAIR (Ms. Foxx). The gentleman from Oklahoma is recognized for 5 minutes.

I wish to advise my friend we certainly intend to accept his amendment, and I look forward to working with him as we go forward on the bill. I think there are some other areas where we can increase funding, as well, that would fit with my…

I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Oklahoma is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I want to thank the gentlewoman for working with us on this, and I want to assure that we will work with her. I appreciate her concern for the Community Services Block Grant program. As my good friend from New York knows, that program was…

Frankly, there is considerable merit to the amendment the gentlewoman is suggesting. The amendment offered is for an increase to the workforce training program. Our committee understands the value of this program, which is why we did not…

The gentleman's amendment has no net impact on the funding of the bill, so I do not oppose the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

I claim the time in opposition, although I do not object to it. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Oklahoma is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Oklahoma is…

I claim the time in opposition. The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois). The gentleman from Oklahoma is recognized for 5 minutes.

I appreciate the gentleman's amendment, and I agree that worker safety is one of the Department of Labor's most important functions. I think, however, we just disagree on the most effective ways the Federal Government can help with that…

I claim the time in opposition to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Oklahoma is recognized for 5 minutes.

I thank the gentleman for raising this issue. Along with Congressman Woodall and Congresswoman Handel, you have been leaders in this effort. I appreciate what you are doing and will stay in touch as progress is made.

I will also note that this is an initial allocation and the beginning of the congressional funding process. As always, I look forward to working with our counterparts in the Senate and my friends across the aisle to see if there are…

There's a common perception we're not doing much when we're actually doing quite a bit. Most people back home aren't even aware. They're caught up on the sort of daily distractions that they go on, coming out of the White House.

I want to assure you, you see this is a committee that is a pretty spirited committee.

But I will also remind you that, as one of my colleagues referred, these are treaty obligations. They are not generous grants.

I want to commend the President for making it crystal clear... we are going to have to have a deal that is better for the United States.

If it was a good deal, they would have put it in front of the United States Senate.

It was a bad deal for the United States.

I do not think we have given you anywhere near the resources to do the job at hand.