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SUPPORT THIS STRONG, STRONGLY
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION, AND
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME AND I MOVE
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE
RESOLUTION.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE
RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
MR. SPEAKER, I
ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE -- THOSE
FAVORING A VOTE BY THE YEAS AND
NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 AND CLAUSE
9 OF RULE 20, THIS 15-MINUTE
VOTE ON ORDERING THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
FIVE-MINUTE VOTES ON THE
ADOPTION OF HOUSE RESOLUTION
466 IF ORDERED AND ADOPTION OF
HOUSE RESOLUTION 467.
THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 243.
THE NAYS ARE 173.
MOTION IS AGREED TO.
THE QUESTION IS ON ADOPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE AYES HAVE IT.
ON THAT I ASK FOR THE YEAS
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
ON THAT I ASK FOR
THE YEAS AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE
RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 248.
THE NAYS ARE 169.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION
TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE
TABLE.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
VOTE ON ADOPTION OF HOUSE
RESOLUTION 467 ON WHICH THE
YEAS AND NAYS WERE ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
HOUSE CALENDAR
NUMBER 92, HOUSE RESOLUTION
467, RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR
CONSIDERATION OF THE CONFERENCE
REPORT TO ACCOMPANY THE BILL
H.R. 2112, MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE,
RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND
DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND RELATED
AGENCIES PROGRAMS FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER
30, 2012, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
THE
RESOLUTION.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 262.
THE NAYS ARE 156.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION
TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE
TABLE.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CLEAR THE WELL.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN WHICH TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
AND INCLUDE TABULAR AND
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON THE
CONFERENCE REPORT TO ACCOMPANY
H.R. 2112.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MEMBERS PLEASE STEAK THEIR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
-- TAKE THEIR CONVERSATIONS OFF
THE FLOOR.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER,
PURSUANT TO --
MR. SPEAKER,
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
467 AGREED TO EARLIER TODAY, I
CALLP THE CONFERENCE REPORT TO
ACCOMPANY THE BILL H.R. 2112, A
BILL MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
COMMERCE, JUSTICE,
TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED
PROGRAMS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING SEPTEMBER --
COULD WE HAVE ORDER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS CORRECT.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY MAY
RELATED PROGRAMS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
SEPTEMBER 0, 2012, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES, AND ASK FOR ITS
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
THE
THE BILL.
H.R. 2112, AN ACT
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT,
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION,
AND RELATED AGENCIES PROGRAMS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2012, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
467, THE CONFERENCE REPORT IS
CONSIDERED AS READ.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY,
MR. ROGERS, AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM WASHINGTON, MR. DICKS,
EACH WILL CONTROL 30 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF FIVE MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TODAY TO PRESENT THE CONFERENCE
REPORT ON H.R. -- THE FISCAL
YEAR 2012 CONSOLIDATED AND
FURTHER CONTINUING
APPROPRIATIONS ACT.
THE HOUSE PASSED H.R. 2012, THE
BILL MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE,
RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND
DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND
RELATED AGENCIES ON JUNE 16.
THE BILL HAS SINCE BEEN AMENDED
TO INCLUDE THE COMMERCE,
JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND THE
TRANSPORTATION, H.U.D.
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, AS WELL
AS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO
KEEP THE REST OF THE GOVERNMENT
OPERATING UNTIL DECEMBER 16.
WITH THE HELP OF OUR RANKING
MEMBER, NORM DICKS, WE
SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED WITH
OUR SENATE COUNTERPARTS TO
CRAFT THIS AGREEMENT.
WHICH IS THE FIRST
APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE
REPORT TO HIT THIS FLOOR SINCE
2009.
THIS REPORT IS THE NEXT STEP IN
MEETING THE SPENDING TARGETS
SET BY THE BUDGET CONTROL ACT
WHICH WILL SAVE THE TAXPAYERS
BILLIONS AND HELP CONTINUE THE
EFFORT TO BRING THE NATION'S
DEFICIT UNDER CONTROL.
KEEPS US ON
TRACK TO CUT REGULAR
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING BY $98
BILLION COMPARED TO THE
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR REQUEST
, AND SOME $47 BILLION BELOW
THE FISCAL 2010 LEVEL.
WHEN ALL APPROPRIATIONS WORK
THIS YEAR IS COMPLETED, IT WILL
BE THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
THAT WE HAVE REDUCED TOTAL
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, A
REMARKABLE AND HISTORIC
ACHIEVEMENT.
YET WHILE WE MADE SIGNIFICANT
CUTS WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO FUND
IMPORTANT PRIORITIES SUCH AS
FOOD AND DRUG SAFETY, FEDERAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT, AGRICULTURAL
AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, TRADE,
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE HELPING
COMMUNITIES, STATES,
BUSINESSES, AND FAMILIES DEEPLY
AFFECTED BY A RECORD BREAKING
YEAR OF DESTRUCTIVE NATURAL
DISASTERS AND CATASTROPHES.
WE HAVE SCRUBBED THE
INFORMATION FROM THE AGENCIES,
WE ARE ABLE TO REDUCE THE
DISASTER SPENDING IN THIS BILL
BY $850 MILLION, COMPARED TO
THE SENATE PASSED BILL.
THESE FUNDS ARE ONLY FOR
DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND DO NOT
GROW THE BASELINE BUDGETS OR
THE SCOPE OF THE FEDERAL
AGENCIES.
THIS BILL, MR. SPEAKER, IS THE
NEXT STEP IN BREAKING THE
STATUS QUO OF EXCESSIVE FEDERAL
SPENDING THAT'S THROWING OUR
BUDGETS OUT OF WHACK.
OUR HOUSE CONFEREES THOROUGHLY
EXAMINED EACH AND EVERY PROGRAM
AND AGENCY TO ENSURE THAT WE
ARE REDUCING SPENDING WHEREVER
POSSIBLE IN THIS BILL, THIS
INCLUDES TERMINATING WASTEFUL,
POORLY PLANNED, AND
CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS
HIGH-SPEED RAIL, NOAA'S CLIMATE
CHANGE OFFICE, AND THE LIVABLE
COMMUNITIES PROGRAM.
MR. SPEAKER, WE
TERMINATED 20 PROGRAMS FOR A
SAVINGS OF $456 MILLION.
THIS LEGISLATION ALSO REINS IN
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OVERREACH BY
INCLUDING SEVERAL IMPORTANT
POLICY ITEMS.
THESE PROVISIONS KILL
JOB-KILLING REGULATIONS THAT
CREATE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY,
AND LIMIT GOVERNMENT
INVOLVEMENT IN ISSUES OF LIFE
AND LIBERTY.
INCLUDING SEVERAL PROVISIONS
PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE AND THE
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO KEEP
AND BEAR ARMS.
FINALLY THIS LEGISLATION
INCLUDES A CONTINUING
RESOLUTION THAT WILL KEEP THE
REMAINDER OF THE GOVERNMENT
OPERATING UNTIL DECEMBER 16.
ALLOWING US AN APPROPRIATE
AMOUNT OF TIME, I THINK, TO
FINISH NEGOTIATIONS ON THE
REMAINING NINE APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS SO THAT WE WILL HAVE 2012
OUT OF THE WAY, LEAVING THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE CLEAR
SAILING IN JANUARY TO BRING TO
THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE 12
SEPARATE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.
I'M VERY PLEASED THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THIS
BILL.
IT'S BECOME ALL TOO A RARE
THING IN THIS CONGRESS TO COME
TO AN AGREEMENT SUCH AS THIS,
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THIS
CONFERENCE REPORT WAS APPROVED
BY ALL BUT ONE OF THE 38 HOUSE
AND SENATE CONFEREES FROM BOTH
PARTIES.
WHICH ALL GOES TO SHOW US WE
WORK BEST WHEN WE WORK
TOGETHER.
WHILE THERE ARE NO DOUBT ITEMS
WHERE MEMBERS MIGHT DISAGREE IN
THE BILL, THERE ARE MANY
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS BILL OF
WHICH WE CAN BE JUSTLY PROUD.
HOWEVER WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE
THIS WITHOUT THE TREMENDOUS
HELP FROM OUR RANKING MEMBER,
NORM DICKS, AS WELL AS THE
DEDICATED CONFEREES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE FROM BOTH
CHAMBERS, CHAIRMAN WOLF,
CHAIRMAN KINGSTON, CHAIRMAN
RANKING MEMBERS FARR,
FATTAH, AND OLVER, AS WELL AS
OUR DEDICATED STAFF HAVE WORKED
TIRELESSLY OVER THE LAST FEW
WEEKS TO BRING THIS BILL TO
COMPLETION, AND THEY HAVE ALL
OF OUR SINCERE THANKS AND
APPRECIATION FOR A JOB WELL
DONE.
I YIELD MYSELF ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
I'M PROUD, MR.
SPEAKER, THAT YOUR
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IS
PRESENTING TO YOU THE FIRST
APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE
REPORT SINCE 2009 AND THE FIRST
CONFERENCE REPORT OF THIS
CONGRESS.
YOUR APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
IS WORKING.
IN CLOSING I STRONGLY URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL.
IT'S VITAL WE PASS THIS BILL TO
PREVENT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN,
REIN IN OVERSELLOUS
REGULATIONS, AND HELP PUT OUR
BUDGETS -- OVERZEALOUS
REGULATIONS, AND HELP PUT OUR
TRACK.
I RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE --
APPROPRIATIONS BILL WE WILL
CONSIDER TODAY INCLUDES WITHIN
IT THREE BILLS -- AGRICULTURE,
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SIGH TENSE,
AND TRANSPORTATION -- SCIENCE,
WITH A CLEAN CONTINUING
RESOLUTION COVERING THE
REMAINING NINE BILLS.
THE C.R. PREVENTS A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN.
IT IS A SIMPLE DATE CHANGE TO
DECEMBER 16.
NO ANOMALIES ARE ADDED.
EVERYTHING BUT THE DATE IS
CARRIED FORWARD FROM THE LAST
C.R.
THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES DISASTER
RELIEF OF $2.3 BILLION,
INCLUDING THE FULL AMOUNT
NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG
OF ELIGIBLE DISASTER REPAIRS
FOR HIGHWAYS, ROADS, AND
BRIDGES, AND FUNDS TO ADDRESS
AGRICULTURAL DISASTERS.
THE CONFERENCE REPORT ALSO
DROPS CONTROVERSIAL RIDERS ON
DODD-FRANK, FINANCIAL REFORM,
WOMEN'S HEALTH, AND CLIMATE
CHANGE.
THE MINI BUS RESTORES FUNDING
CUT IN THE OFFICIAL HOUSE BILL
TO NUTRITION AND FOOD SAFETY
PROGRAMS, THE CONFERENCE
AGREEMENTS PROVIDE $6.6 BILLION
FOR THE WOMEN AND INFANT CARE
PROGRAM, W.I.C., AND N AN I
CREASE OF 5P 0 OVER THE LEVEL
AT THIS LEVEL W.I.C. CAN
PROVIDE FOR THE ESTIMATED
700,000 WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND
INFANTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
TURNED AWAY UNDER THE PREVIOUS
THE IMPACT OF FOOD PRICES WILL
STILL NEED TO BE MONITORED TO
ENSURE THE PROGRAM HAS
SUFFICIENT FUNDING.
THE CONFERENCE REPORT PROVIDES
$177 MILLION FOR THE
COMMODITIES SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD
PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES FOOD
ASSISTANCE TO PARTICULARLY
VULNERABLE LOW-INCOME ELDERLY,
AS WELL AS MOTHERS AND YOUNG
CHILDREN.
AT THIS LEVEL THE PROGRAM WILL
AVOID DROPPING THE 100,000
APPLICANTS AS WOULD HAVE BEEN
IN THE HOUSE BILL.
THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT
RESTORES FUNDING TO F.D.A., 334
MILLION INTO THE HOUSE PASSED
BILL TO ALLOW IMPLEMENTATION OF
FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION AND
PROVIDES $1 BILLION FOR THE
FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION
SERVICE, $332 MILLION OVER THE
HOUSE LEVEL, TO MAINTAIN THE
CURRENT WORK FORCE OF MEAT
INSPECTORS.
THE AGREEMENT RESTORES FUNDING
FOR THE COPS PROGRAM THAT WAS
ZEROED OUT IN THE HOUSE
REPORTED BILL.
COPS GRANTS ENABLE STATE AND
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
TO HIRE AND RETAIN POLICE
OFFICERS, PROVIDE EQUIPMENT TO
TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES, AND PROVIDE TRAINING
ON COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING.
THE AGREEMENT RESTORES MUCH
NEEDED FUNDING FOR SCIENCE AND
INNOVATION MUCH THE CONFERENCE
AGREEMENT PROVIDES $7 BILLION
FOR THE NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION, AN INCREASE OF $173
MILLION ABOVE THE F.Y. 2011
LEVEL IN THE HOUSE REPORTED
WHILE WE NEED TO BE INVESTING
MUCH MORE IN BASIC RESEARCH AT
N.S.F., THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING
IN THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT IS
AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT
PROVIDES $924 MILLION FOR THE
NOAA JOINT POLAR SATELLITE
SYSTEM WHILE STILL BELOW THE
REQUEST THE CONFERENCE LEVEL
WILL GO FARTHER THAN EITHER THE
HOUSE OR SENATE LEVELS IN
HELPING TO MINIMIZE THE
GAPS.
THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING
FOR NASA'S JAMES WEBB SPACE
TELESCOPE WHICH THE HOUSE HAD
ZEROED OUT.
THE NEW TELESCOPE WILL BE 100
TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN THE
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE,
ALLOWING US TO SEE IMAGES OF
THE FIRST GLOWS AFTER THE BIG
***.
AND GREATLY ENHANCING OUR
UNIVERSE.
FINALLY, THE MINI BUS RESTORES
FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION AND
HOUSING PROGRAMS.
THE MINI BUS INCLUDES $12
BILLION MORE FOR THE HOUSE
SUBCOMMITTEE BILL FOR THE
FEDERAL AID TO HIGHWAY PROGRAM,
CONSISTENT WITH THE ANNUAL
FUNDING LEVELS ASSUMED IN THE
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
EXTENSION ACT.
THE BILL INCLUDES $10.5 BILL
FOR TRANSIT PROGRAMS, AND $2.5
BILLION MORE THAN EARLIER BILL.
THE AGREEMENT ALSO INCLUDES
$1.4 BILLION FOR AMTRAK CAPITAL
AND OPERATING GRANTS AND
DELETES ONEROUS LANGUAGE FROM
THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE PASSED
BILL WHICH WOULD HAVE
ELIMINATED SERVICE ON 26 SHORT
DISTANCE ROUTES, AFFECTING 15
STATES AND MORE THAN NINE
MILLION PASSENGERS.
THE BILL INCLUDES FUNDING FOR
THE TIGER GRANT PROGRAM WHICH
WILL HELP ADVANCE NATIONAL AND
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH
PASSENGER AND FREIGHT MOBILITY,
AS WELL AS CREATE JOBS.
THIS BILL WILL CREATE A LOT OF
THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT
PROVIDES $45 MILLION IN FUNDING
FOR HOUSING COUNSELING
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANT
FUNDS TO LOCAL NONPROFIT
AGENCIES FOR REVERSE MORTGAGE,
RENTAL, HOME PREPURCHASE, AND
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION
CONSULATE.
THIS PROGRAM HAD BEEN
ELIMINATED IN 2011.
THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD
INITIATIVE IS FUNDED AT 120
MILLION IN THE CONFERENCE
AGREEMENT CHOICES A GRANT
PROGRAM TO REVITALIZE PUBLIC
HOUSING AND BLIGHTED HOUSING IN
MIXED INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES QUALITY
LOW-INCOME HOUSING WHILE THE
VAST MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS
JOBS.
THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE BILL
PROPOSED ELIMINATING THE
PROGRAM.
THE INNER AGENCY COUNCIL ON
HOMELESS THEST IS GUNDED AT 3.3
MILLION IN THE AGREEMENT.
IT WAS ALSO ELIMB NAMED THE
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE BILL.
THE COUNCIL ENHANCES THE
FEDERAL RESPONSE TO
HOMELESSNESS BY COORDINATION
BETWEEN AGENCIES ADDRESSING
DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS AND
IDENTIFYING BEST PRACTICES.
THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT
PROVIDES $75 MILLION FOR THE
VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING PROGRAM.
BUDGETS REQUEST.
PROVIDES LONG-TERM HOUSING TO
HOMELESS VETERANS.
THIS IS AN INCREASE OF $25
MILLION OVER THE F.Y. 2011
SO I'M NOT HAPPY WITH EVERY
SINGLE ELEMENT OF THIS, BUT I
HAVEN'T SEEN A BILL AROUND HERE
YET THAT IS PERFECT.
BUT ALSO WANT TO SAY WE DID GET
A GOOD COMPROMISE ON THE LEGAL
SERVICES CORPORATION, I WISH WE
COULD DO MORE BECAUSE THERE IS
A JUSTICE GAP IN THIS COUNTRY,
BUT I WANT TO COMMEND THE
CHAIRMAN AND HIS STAFF, BOTH
THE MAJORITY STAFF AND THE
MINORITY STAFF WHO I THINK
WORKED VERY WELL TOGETHER WITH
THE OTHER BODY IN REACHING
RESOLUTIONS IN A VERY TIMELY
WAY ON THESE THREE BILLS.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE CHAIRMAN
FOR BRINGING SIX BILLS.
I COULD MAKE THE CASE THAT WE
ACTUALLY DID 18 BILLS BECAUSE
WE HAD 12 BILLS IN THE 11
OMNIBUS, THE H.R. 1, THAT TOOK
US A WHOLE WEEK IF YOU
REMEMBER, TO GO THROUGH 12
SEPARATE BILLS.
SO 12 AND SIX IS 18, THAT'S A
PRETTY GOOD DAY FOR THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
AND I YIELD TO THE CHAIRMAN.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2011 OMNIBUS
BILL, AS YOU RECOLLECT, WE HAD
SOME 500 AMENDMENTS.
THAT --
EVERYBODY GOT A
SHOT.
EVERYBODY.
I WANT TO COMMEND
THE CHAIRMAN FOR HIS COMMITMENT
TO REGULAR ORDER AND OPENNESS.
I HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR WE CAN
REALLY DO ALL 12 BILLS, IF WE
CAN GET DONE THIS YEAR IN
SEPTEMBER, THEN WE CAN FOCUS ON
THE 12 BILLS FOR NEXT YEAR AND
HOPEFULLY BRING THEM ALL TO THE
FLOOR SO MEMBERS HAVE A CHANCE
TO VOTE.
IT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK, AND I
THINK THE FACT THAT SO MANY
PEOPLE WANTED TO OFFER AN
AMENDMENT INDICATES THAT THE
MEMBERSHIP OF THE HOUSE WANTS
TO SEE AN OPEN PROCESS AND IT
CERTAINLY IS IMPORTANT FOR THE
MINORITY, TOO, TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER
AMENDMENTS.
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY.
I YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMERCE JUSTICE AND SCIENCE
COMMITTEE, VERY HARDWORKING
CHAIRMAN, WHO HAPPENS TO BE A
COLLEAGUE OF MINE IN THE CLASS
OF 1980, THE SO-CALLED REAGAN
AUTS.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE
CONFERENCE REPORT WHICH
INCLUDES 2012 COMMERCE, JUSTICE
AND RELATED AGENCIES ACT.
I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUE AND RANKING MEMBER
MR. FATTAH FOR HIS SUPPORT
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, I WANT
TO THANK OUR SENATE
COUNTERPARTS, SENATORS
MCCULLKEY AND HOUSE'.
THIS WAS A VERY, VERY -- AND
HUSKIE.
STAFF,
STEPHANIE ALBRIGHT, COLIN
SAMPLES, SCOTT, AS WELL AS TOM
AT MY OFFICE AND DERRICK KNEWBY
STAFF.
WE WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE A
DISCRETIONARY ACT WHILE THE
SUPERCOMMITTEE WORKS TO CONTROL
PRIMARY SPENDING, THE PRIMARY
DRIVER OF OUR UNSUSTAINABLE
DEBT AND REFORM THE TAX CODE.
THE FINAL C.G.S. BILL BEFORE
THE HOUSE IS $583 MILLION BELOW
FISCAL YEAR 2011 AND 8.5% BELOW
THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST.
SINCE REPUBLICANS ASSUMED THE
MAJORITY, WE WE REDUCED
SPENDING BY MORE THAN $11
BILLION FOR AGENCIES FUNDING --
FUNDED IN THIS APPROPRIATIONS
BILL.
THE BILL PROVIDES FUNDING FOR A
VARIETY OF CRITICAL NATIONAL
PRIORITIES.
F.B.I. AT
$8.1 BILLION TO PROTECT THE
NATION FROM FURTHER TERRORIST
THE BILL INCLUDES INCREASES FOR
NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMS AND
THE INVESTIGATION OF
IT ALSO MAKES IMPORTANT
PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
THE HORRIBLE AND PERVASIVE
CRIME OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS SPREADING
THROUGH THIS NATION AND THIS
FUNDING BILL WOULD FOCUS ALL
STATE AND LOCAL HUMAN
TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES.
IT WILL REQUIRE EACH U.S.
ATTORNEY TO ESTABLISH A HUMAN
TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE.
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, THE
CONFLICT AGREEMENT INCLUDES NEW
INITIATIVES TO BRING JOBS BACK
TO AMERICA.
INCLUDING A JOB REPATRIATION
TASK FORCE AND NEW GRANT
PROGRAM TO ENABLE U.S.
COMPANIES TO BRING OFFSHORE
ACTIVITIES BACK TO ECONOMICALLY
DISTRESSED REGIONS OF THIS
NATION.
FOR THESE AMERICAN
COMPANIES WHO HAVE GONE TO
CHINA AND MEXICO TO RETURN
HOME.
PARTICULARLY LET ME SAY, G.E.
WHO JUST MOVED THEIR HEALTH
CARE FACILITIES FROM WISCONSIN
TO BEIJING, SHOULD COME BACK TO
WISCONSIN.
THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES
IMPORTANT INCREASES FOR
RESEARCH.
$7 BILLION IS INCLUDED FOR THE
N.S.F., AN INCREASE OF $173
MILLION TO RECEIVE AN INCREASE
OF OVER 10%.
MATH, SCIENCE, PHYSICS,
CHEMISTRY, DOING THE THINGS
THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO
CREATE JOBS.
RESEARCH IS A PRIMARY DRIVER OF
INNOVATION GROWTH AND JOB
CREATION.
THESE MUST BE PRESERVED.
THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT
INCLUDES $17.8 BILLION FOR
NASA, INCLUDING FUNDING ABOVE
THE REQUEST FOR AMERICA'S NEXT
GENERATION OF SPACE EXPLORATION
TECHNOLOGY.
AS OTHER COUNTRIES
ARE CHALLENGING U.S. LEADERSHIP
IN SPACE, THIS INCLUDES FUNDING
FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
OF NASA'S STRATEGIC DIRECTION
TO CHART A FUTURE COURSE THAT'S
BOLD AND ACHIEVEABLE.
I URGE SUPPORT FOR THE BILL AND
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I YIELD FIVE MINUTES
TO THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE
APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON