I would like to thank Chairman Upton; Ranking Member Pallone; Messrs. Guthrie, Katko, and Himes; Eleanor Holmes Norton; and Congressman Jolly, all for helping to bring this bipartisan bill up today in order to officially identify these…

I want to concur with the comments of my colleagues Mr. Thompson and Mr. Barletta in opposition to this amendment. I work closely with our friends in Germany. I am chair of the Congressional Study Group on Germany. I also have been very…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. He is obviously a very thoughtful member of the Committee on Rules and a fine member of our Committee on Appropriations. I believe we have something really important to discuss today, and that is that…

I wanted to commend Chairman Cole for his efforts on this issue. I serve with him on the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. I know he has been in constant communication with our friends at…

We support the amendment. We appreciate the good work that my friend from New York (Mr. Gibson) has done to advocate on behalf of all veterans, and particularly his commitment to helping those who suffered from Agent Orange exposure, as…

I just want to state I have no objection to the gentleman's amendment. The Department of Defense has awarded one construction contract, that is the explosives-handling wharf in Kitsap, Washington--I believe, in the gentleman's…

I make a point of order against this amendment. Although it is a very well-intended amendment, and I am very sympathetic to what he wants to do, I think there might be a way, if the gentleman withdraws and tries to perfect that amendment…

The gentlewoman has offered the amendment in previous years, and we have accepted it. I have no objection to it being included again in the bill this year. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

I claim time in opposition, but I am not opposed. The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment. The CHAIR. A point of order is reserved. The Clerk will continue to read. The Clerk continued to read. The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 736, the gentleman from Washington and…

I understand the gentleman's concerns about starting this large, new office at the VA. As you can see from our report, we cut the request for General Administration by $81.3 million, largely because of our concerns about funding this large…

On the point of order, the point I am trying to make is this: if the amendment is withdrawn, it can be reworked so that it would be in order. We believe that there is a way to do that even today. That is the offer I am making to you. If…

I understand there is a great demand throughout our Nation for State veterans' homes, and I wish we had the allocation to provide more for this program than we did. I do want to raise a concern with the language that it might--I say…

No one shares the gentleman's concerns more than I do about the inappropriate relocation incentive payments the VA initially paid to two executives at the Philadelphia regional office. The VA has since reformed its policies, and I hope we…

I claim the time to speak in opposition, but I am not opposed to the amendment. The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I support the amendment, and I certainly oppose discrimination in any way, shape, or form, particularly as, in this case, it relates to Federal contracting. I do support the amendment.

I claim the time in opposition, but I am not opposed to the gentleman's amendment. The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment. The CHAIR. A point of order is reserved.

This amendment is familiar to us since the gentleman offered it last year. I am not sure it is necessary to repeat the language this year since we know the VA has rescinded the Fast Letter guidance. After all, with the IG investigation…

This money, I guess, would strike the OCO funding for the Navy. The money for the Navy is going to be used in Djibouti, I believe, for a runway and also for a medical and dental facility for our troops. So I, again, respectfully oppose the…

I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriation bill and, accordingly, violates clause 2 of rule XXI. The rule states in pertinent part: ``An…

There are no projects in the FY 17 request for this purpose in the United States. There is $33 million in funds to support the naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, at the request of SOCOM, Southern Command, to deal with various issues of…

Again, I have no objection to the gentleman's amendment. He offered the same amendment last year, and it passed by voice vote. So I certainly urge adoption of the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

I claim time in opposition, but I do not oppose the amendment. The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, but I do not oppose the amendment. The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.