I am really here to talk about managed care reform and the Patients' Bill of Rights and HMO reform, and give a Texas perspective, because we have had since 1977 a very strong HMO reform bill that is in Texas law. Let me give the reasons…

I rise to share some more stories on the devastation left in my hometown of Houston by Tropical Storm Allison. From Tuesday, June 5, when landfall was made through Sunday, June 10, when the rains began to taper off and the water began to…

As a country, we cannot enjoy a growing and cleaner economy without more domestic production of natural gas. It is clear that our Nation's demand for natural gas is growing significantly. If our Nation is to meet its growing demand, then…

whatever time I have left, I know that Storm Allison moved from Texas to Louisiana, and we are seeing that devastation along the Gulf Coast, and I know we will be here to provide that funding.

I rise in support of the authorization that recognizes the United States Coast Guard and provides the necessary funding so that our waterways will continue to be the safest in the world. And I would like to speak briefly about the impact…

I have two children that went to public schools and they did very well. They did not come to D.C., but they went to schools in my own district in urban Houston. This is a good bipartisan bill. It raises the authorization levels to amounts…

the Hyde-Smith Amendment would reinstate the Mexico City anti-international family planning policy known as the global ``gag'' rule. This policy requires that foreign non-government organizations (NGOs) 1. Withhold information from…

I am deeply troubled by this report, as it underscores a critical need for this Congress to modernize Medicare to include a prescription drug benefit. Spending on retail outpatient prescription drugs rose almost 19 percent in 2000, from…

I rise today to continue what is a series of speeches or Special Orders on the need to reform our Nation's managed care industry. In the past I have discussed external and internal appeals processes, medical necessity, and the need for…

Despite our President's promises to end the partisan tenor in Washington, our congressional Republicans continue to use the same old tactics. This does not match the procedure the President stated as his goal. For the last 2 days, Congress…

last night, we heard our President talk all about accountability. He wants our schools and our teachers to be more accountable to their students and the parents. This literally patterns after what is in a lot of our State laws and in the…

today I congratulate Prime Minister- elect Ariel Sharon for his recent victory over Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Israel is facing a very difficult situation in trying to pursue peace with the Palestinians while at the same time trying to…

I have mixed feelings about our new rules package. We have a new president, new House, and new Senate, but we are beginning the new millennium with some of the same partisan divisions. My friends in the Majority want to pass a new rules…

I rise today to voice my opinions on the Labor-HHS-Education portion of the Omnibus package. Now that we have reached an agreement on this bill, I suggest that we take a look at what has changed from the bill that was practically a ``done…

yesterday December 7, 2000, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed rollcall vote 601. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' ____________________

At midnight last night the House leadership came up with a Medicare corrections bill that reminds me of someone who can mess up a one-car funeral. At the end of September, the Committee on Commerce considered and passed a bipartisan bill…

I just wanted a one minute at an unusual time of the day because this House has passed one of the strongest HMO reform bills that I have seen. We passed it over a year ago, and yet this bill still languishes in its House-Senate conference…

I rise today to mourn the brave young men from Texas who died in last week's attack against the U.S.S. Cole--Ronchester M. Santiago of Kingsville, Timothy L. Gauna of Rice, and Gary G. Swenchonis, Jr. of Rockport. These young men, none…

before the end of the 106th Congress, I am hopeful to be able to pass a comprehensive pipeline safety bill. On September 7, the Senate unanimously passed the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2000. This bill is tough and has many public…

I hope we quickly pass this conference report and send it on to our colleagues in the Senate and hopefully the President will sign this vital piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman…

It is amazing too that our seniors who work very hard to make this country prosperous and successful do not have access to affordable drugs. H.R. 1885, the International Prescription Drug Parity Act is one way that we can make it available…

this summer we stood on this floor and pleaded with our Republican leaders not to enact reckless tax bills without securing the future of Medicare, Social Security, education, and to focus on paying down our debt. During the recess I am…

It has been 3 long years and Houston once again has a professional football team, an NFL team. That name last week was decided to be the Houston Texans. Since 1997, when the Oilers left Houston to go on to Tennessee, football fans have…

to follow up on my colleague from Erie, Pennsylvania, where he said this is the last gasp, this is the last gasp to try to make sure we do not raid the Medicare Trust Fund. I know the argument from my colleagues on the other side said…

Mr. Speaker, Internet spam will never go away. However, by passing this legislation we will be taking the first steps towards limiting its impact on the overwhelmed e-mail users everywhere. It is my hope, as the provisions of this…