history is being made today in the U.S. House of Representatives. Yesterday, Democrat leaders and the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee chose for a record-setting, a record-setting 50th time to consider legislation under a completely…

Mr. Speaker, there's been a lot of discussion here today on the underlying bill, the subject of which has broad support. The issues are the PAYGO and the issues are the denial, denial of the Democrat leadership in this House to allow a…

I am worried about what we call the pay-for part of that because it would have a detrimental effect, as I mentioned, on doctor-owned facilities, particularly in my district, but also in other parts of the country. Since this issue came up…

Mr. Speaker, the intent of the original 1978 FISA law was to enhance Americans' security while at the same time protecting Americans' privacy. Recognizing that no responsibility of the Federal Government is more important than providing…

Mr. Speaker, today Congress is engaged in an important debate, perhaps the most important debate certainly in recent years. Our most solemn obligation to this country is to protect the American citizenry. In my view our colleagues on the…

Mr. Speaker, the tragic events of September 11, 2001 taught us many lessons. One of the lessons we learned that day was that our Nation must remain aggressive in our fight against international terrorism. We must always stay one step ahead…

A decade ago, the last time we renewed the Higher Education Act, it was debated under an open rule that allowed every Member the opportunity for full participation. On an issue so important to our Nation's continued success, I would expect…

it is imperative that the over 200,000 miners in the United States work in a safe environment. Tragedies in recent years have highlighted the need to improve mine safety. In an effort to improve mine safety and prevent future tragedies, I…

The American people, and especially the parents of all current and former pages, are entitled to know how this situation was handled.

I just want to clarify the point, that it is your intent, as the subcommittee chairman and the chairman of the committee, that you will not proceed on this sort of legislation without the concurrence of the States that are affected, which…

I will insert in the Record the letter that was sent to us by 43 Governors, including Governor George Pataki and Governor Jeb Bush, in support of funding for AmeriCorps. I would only say to my colleagues, if Members do not want to listen…

this amendment proposes that the House of Representatives arbitrarily declare what crops a farmer can and cannot grow. I am concerned that this amendment is being sponsored by those who do not represent the areas affected--members who are…

Mr. Speaker, my, my, my, what a heated debate we are having today. I came to the well to talk about what this debate is all about. A lot has been left out by those Members on the other side of the aisle because they are afraid for the…

I would say I think the rule is very well structured. The rules takes into account all of the different parties that have come together on this bill and some of the parties who oppose this bill. It gives ample opportunity for those who…

I also would like to say, Mr. Speaker, that the war in Iraq, I think, has awakened America to a need that we have to be more energy independent. This bill, this comprehensive bill, I think, allows for that in a long-term planning way, and…

My understanding of the provision in the rules of the House means that an adoption of this budget this year will raise the debt ceiling, which, of course, we are running deficits because of the war effort and the downturn of the economy…

No. However, if our rules continue to have the provision that allows a budget vote to raise the debt, then we will take this up next year. But my understanding is this is for this year.

I find that the arguments that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle were using were interesting arguments. They were based on the whole process of what we are supposed to do here in the House, or in the Congress. They, of course…

Mr. Speaker, this day has been a long time coming. The omnibus appropriations measure that we will take up in a few minutes has followed a long and torturous path to enactment. But rather than point fingers and try to assign blame for…

Mr. Speaker, we are in this extraordinary circumstance for a variety of reasons that we have talked about on the floor many times when we were debating prior continuing resolutions. Part of it, without trying to point fingers because that…

Mr. Speaker, each of us comes to Congress for the first time with hopes and dreams of what lies ahead while we serve as Members of this great institution. But surely none of us here today and none who came before us could possibly have…

Mr. Speaker, I have to agree with the gentleman and the points that were made by several Members that have spoken today, it does not do us any good to point fingers; but there are some things that have happened that we cannot ignore that…

Mr. Speaker, this is a day that each of us hoped would never come, and we pray that it will not come again. Simply put, there is absolutely no satisfaction in judging one of our own. But the Constitution makes clear that we are the only…

I have to say that when I see somebody from an urban area sponsoring an amendment that deals with rural America, I get a little bit antsy, and I think that is the case that is happening right here. I was down at Klamath Basin a little over…

Mr. Speaker, the massive wildfires burning out of control in Arizona today are on the front pages of newspapers all across America reminding people in other parts of the country of the enormous threat these dangerous fires pose to both…