[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 18, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          WE COULD HAVE VOTED TODAY ON SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATION

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, referring to a couple of speakers before 
us, they somehow claim that we are delaying the activities of the 
House. The House is in pro forma session today. That means those of us 
who flew across the United States to attend this session, there will be 
no recorded votes or there should be only procedural matters. There is 
no substantive legislation before us. The unfunded mandates bill is not 
before us, because it has been delayed by the majority. The majority 
told us all bills will come before the House with open rules. Well, if 
you want to bring your unfunded mandate bill up with a open rule, what 
is the problem? We could be in session right now doing unfunded 
mandates, but you have us waiting for the Rules Committee because they 
want to restrict debate on unfunded mandates.
  Where is the balanced budget amendment, the balanced budget amendment 
we were promised you would come forward with?
  I am a cosponsor of a bipartisan version. Where is it? It is hung up 
by the majority because they want to insist on a super majority for 
taxes in that proposal. It is your holdup, not ours.


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