David Obey

this country is going to spend $85 billion to build a new generation of fighter aircraft, the F-22, and we are told that the reason we must do that is because we have sold so many of our F-16's around the world, and so many of our F-15's…

I would point out the bill already contains a small appropriation for prostate cancer research as well, and I would certainly have no objection if in conference this is reallocated so we can provide additional funding for both breast…

let me simply say that we are being asked to spend about $300 billion. And it seems to me that this is not out of line to spend approximately half an hour listening to the arguments against the expenditure of the item under review on this…

I do not argue with that, but unless we are willing to cut the number of systems we buy, then the only choice we have is to pursue what the gentleman is pursuing.

This amendment essentially cuts 331 million from the bill to prevent the production of 9 B-2's that the Pentagon has not even asked for. It would reduce the deficit by $214 million. It would add $105 million for the air National Guard…

I would simply say that what is at issue here is not whether we ought to have a strong defense or not. It is not whether we ought to provide our troops with the best equipment money can buy or not. Obviously we need a strong defense and…

I want to correct the comments of the previous speaker. If he will go back and review the history of the D.C. bill, what happened on that bill, and on several other occasions, is that the gentleman in question asked that the Committee on…

Mr. Chairman, one of the measures of a strong and prosperous nation is its ability and willingness to take care of its neediest communities. I believe, we as a country, have an obligation to address the problems of our most vulnerable…

Mr. Chairman, a propaganda sheet has been circulated by lobbyists who are lobbying against my amendment, claiming that this is an amendment that attacks farmers. That is certainly not true. I represent farmers, I have fought for them all…

Mr. Chairman, let me try to place this debate and discussion in some context. The fact of the matter is that in the last session of the Congress, the Republican majority did not appropriate enough money for the WIC Program, Women, Infants…

Mr. Chairman, 2 years ago, when the majority party tried to cut the School Lunch Program, this Congress and the Nation finally rejected that. Last year, they tried to cut the WIC Program, the feeding program for women, children, and…

since last Friday, this House has been in a virtual stall on appropriations, and a lot of Members in both parties are asking why. I want to take this opportunity to try to explain why I think that is happening. On the Committee on…

I would simply like to take this time to correct the impression left by the previous speaker, the gentleman from New York, about what happened on the House floor tonight. The fact is, the votes on suspensions which occurred tonight, to…

2 years ago this Congress had a major fight because the majority wanted to cut school lunches. Last year the majority tried to cut the WIC program, which is a nutrition program for infants and young mothers. In this bill they are again…

I want to point out that we are not even asking that we meet the administration's request for funding level for WIC. This bill funds WIC at $184 million below the President's request. We are adding only a tiny portion back. That is hardly…

I simply want to say that I find a couple of the last statements bordering on jokes. Just because one repeats a mistake 50 times does not make it a fact. And the fact is that this does not do anything to cut crop insurance. It cuts crop…

I think, in fairness to the chairman, it is important to point out that the reason that my colleague has had so many women objecting to proceeding under regular order today and the reason he has had so many of us join them is because we…

since the gentlewoman indicated that we ought to put support for veterans ahead of everything else, can I assume that she will vote for my amendment to eliminate the pork project in Idaho so we can add money to the veterans health care…

I also think that it is wrong to convey a misinterpretation of what some of our Governors and some of our State legislatures have been able to negotiate by way of agreements with tribes so that they do, in fact, collect the correct amount…

The question is, why should this research proceed under conditions which enable the contractor to obtain sole source noncompetitive contracts? Why should it proceed when there has been no peer review to determine whether or not this is the…

But I would simply observe that, as I said earlier, if this amendment is adopted, then under the rules the next amendment that I would be able to offer will indeed eliminate the earmark for the wind tunnel, which is what the amendment is…

let me first say that I regret very much that I am offering this amendment under these circumstances. But for anyone who happens to be watching, either Members or anyone else, on C-SPAN, I am afraid what they are witnessing is another step…

I would certainly take the gentleman at his word. I would simply ask that he check with his own Whip's office to make certain that that is not the case. If the majority party wants to really blow up this place, that is a good way to do it…

those of you who know me know that I often quote my favorite poet, Archie the Cockroach. It is not my religious bible, but it is my philosophical bible. I want to read my colleagues something that Archie wrote a long time ago: He wrote it…

the amendment before us is not even a serious legislative effort. It is very clear what is going on here is simply ``Operation Cover Your Tail.'' We have had a lot of people in this House who promised to vote for funding the arts, but…