Pete Sessions

I had a call several months ago, before I offered the amendment, from Congressman Duncan Hunter of San Diego, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, and he shared with me his positive view of what the San Diego fencing had meant…

5 minutes would allow me to complete remarks I began earlier this morning when the majority leader and the Democratic leader appeared.

He has another appointment, and I would be glad to yield to him and take the slot you originally had for Senator Shelby.

I will take 30 seconds to say that this amendment would authorize the appropriating committee to pay for the fencing--give them more discretion to pay for it out of the account they deem is appropriate. It would be across the board but…

We are through with all of our speakers that we might have. We will then wait for the gentlewoman from New York to close, and then we will do so.

At this time, I yield all time remaining to the Chairman of the Rules Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier).

It is a real sad day in this House, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt).

And the---- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The gentleman from Texas controls the time.

Well, we just heard it. It's okay to leak classified information. New York Times, it's okay. Democrat Party, no problem. That is what the power of the press should be all about. We need them now more than ever, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I…

We are asking for all Members of Congress to universally say today we believe the leaking of classified information is wrong. And that is what we are here for today. I am disappointed that we have Members of this body that say that is what…

I don't think the Senator will find that objectionable. It dealt with funding allocations, the offsets.

It is not as if they haven't been told that. And they assured us at that time that they understood that, and they felt that responsibility deeply. Is that the impression you got?

Before this permanent government was in place, and I remember you and Senator Levin, along with Senator Salazar and others-- --

I have one more question I want to ask my colleague. I remember--I personally have a vivid recollection of being in a meeting, our delegation was, just a few months ago in Baghdad, with the Sunni leader. Do you remember the insecurity he…

Before the chairman leaves, I want to tell him how much I appreciated his analysis and summary of where we are. He noted that we may have had as many as a million or more people at one time or another investing their very lives in a…

Yes. And I remember you telling the leader of Iraq at that time that they were being challenged and they had to step up and assume responsibility.

I thank the Senator. I would note we wrestled before Y2K as to how many high-skilled foreign workers the U.S. needed to let in for that period--you and I both discussed that in the Judiciary Committee and whether it would adversely impact…

I thank the Senator. I believe care has been taken to comply with the Supreme Court cases. The Department of Defense has gotten the system in a way that has a combatant status review tribunal and an administrative review board, and there…

I certainly respect the Senator's thoughts about that. I must follow up a little bit. First, what happened at Nuremberg happened after the war was over.

With regard to the growth of revenue to our Government--and you had a chart which showed that--as I recall, last year we showed over 14 percent growth, and with this year almost half gone, we are looking at in excess of 11 percent growth…

And even with this long-term 20-, 30-, 60-year projection of larger deficits, if we just contain the growth in the entitlement programs by a realistic amount, we could have a great impact on reducing those projected deficits; isn't that…

The Senator from Georgia is here. I think he would like to offer an amendment. I yield the floor.

One of the problems is that people come into the country and they feel bound. If they come illegally, as they come today oftentimes, they don't feel free to go back and forth. Then there is pressure on them to try to bring their family…

Any of these guest workers that at some point decide they wish to become a citizen or become a permanent resident wouldn't be prohibited from applying under that provision of the bill that we would pass that would allow them to get in that…

Probably longer than that. A good bit; probably 30 or so minutes more. So I would be pleased to yield to the Senator if he is ready and pick up after that. I think I am going to be closing out the Senate when we finish up, anyway.