[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1240
         SCHEDULING OF HEARINGS CON-CERNING THE MEXICAN BAILOUT

  (Mr. ARMEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, if I might just take a moment of the body's 
time, I want to first begin by observing my appreciation to the 
gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Taylor] and his cosponsors for the 
initiative they have taken, the interest and concern they have 
expressed with this initiative. It is unfortunate that the initiative 
came to the floor in an order that was not, in fact, in order with the 
rules of the House.
  I did want to tell all the Members that the House Republican 
leadership does, in fact, recognize the amount of concern that we have 
on both sides of the aisle on this issue, and that there are 
arrangements being made in the committees to begin hearings to give 
this Congress its legitimate and orderly exercise prerogative to 
examine this issue and the manner in which it is carried out, and the 
Members should be reassured that, in fact, they will have an 
opportunity to address this issue.
  And again, as I said, in all due respect to the effort taken by the 
gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Taylor] and his colleagues, we do 
appreciate their effort.
  Before I yield enough, I would like to make the observation, I 
frankly do not think it is desirable to take up the body's time for an 
extended debate. So for brief comments, I will yield first, to the 
gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. Kaptur].
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I 
will not take a long time.
  Obviously, those of us who strongly supported that resolution are 
extremely disappointed. We consider this to be a historic moment in the 
House because of that ruling, and the fact that we were just silenced 
without even the ability to debate for 1 hour in the full House.
  Now, I understand the gentleman and the majority control the 
committees, and I understand what happened in the committees, and why 
we do not have a bill on this floor today.
  But let me say to the gentleman I encourage you on your efforts in 
the committees. We do not expect anything of consequence to result from 
that. But I know that there are Members along with myself on both sides 
of the aisle who are very concerned about this historic move of the 
House to silence the Membership on the largest use of unappropriated 
dollars in the history of this Nation.
  Mr. ARMEY. Let me just say I do appreciate the gentlewoman's 
disappointment. I have felt it myself many times. But it was, in fact, 
the correct ruling of the Chair.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ARMEY. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Let me just say I share the concern of the 
gentlewoman from Ohio. We will hold extensive hearings on this subject, 
how it will impact on the United States, Mexico and other Latin 
American countries. It will not be just window dressing. We are going 
to hold extensive hearings. The gentlewoman will be included in the 
discussion at the hearing.


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