[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 104 (Friday, July 26, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H5961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             {time}   0015
                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. ARMEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, let me say, of course, we are all concerned 
about just exactly how we will proceed, and let me give Members the 
best information I have. We have just finished the same day rule. The 
trade promotion bill has been filed so we will now ask the Committee on 
Rules as soon as it is possible within their protocols and courtesies 
that they extend to one another to meet and prepare a rule for 
consideration of the trade promotion bill.
  In the meantime on the floor of the House in just a few minutes, we 
are going to ask the Committee on Financial Services to bring their 
resolution to go to conference on the terrorism reinsurance bill. We 
will take care of that business and any other business we will be able 
to work together on.
  We have been working very hard trying to clear some unanimous consent 
opportunities for several of our Members. We continue to clear as many 
of those as we can. Insofar as we have completed the intervening work 
prior to our ability to reconvene the House for the purposes of the 
rule on trade, we will just have to recess subject to the call of the 
Chair until we can proceed.
  Also, I should advise Members we have an opportunity to address the 
bankruptcy reform conference report, and we are checking on that. So it 
is still possible we might try to consider that before we conclude our 
business. Members should be advised that as we work through the various 
problems and delays we have, all these things are possible and all 
these things are problematic. So we have what is known in Texas as a 
running gun fight, and I will try to report to Members how it is going 
as we move along. That is the best information I have at this time.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ARMEY. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Leader, I listened to the reading of the martial law 
legislation, and it said that we could consider the bankruptcy bill, 
the trade bill, and also the electoral reform bill. Is it the 
gentleman's understanding that the electoral reform bill could go to 
the Committee on Rules for a rule and come to the floor, and I would 
say this evening, but it is now this morning?
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I am advised by the chairman of the committee 
that they have, in fact, just reported out a rule on the trade 
promotion. Maybe we can move more quickly on that on the floor than I 
had anticipated.
  We do not expect a conference report on election reform; but we do 
have a conference report in hand on bankruptcy reform. We are looking 
at all of the options with scheduling that. As near as I can tell, that 
plus going to conference on the anti-terrorism reinsurance bill is the 
work before us.
  If I might ask the Members of this body, we have several Members on 
both sides of the aisle who have an opportunity to put on behalf of 
themselves and their constituents, their district interests, some 
matters before the body by unanimous consent. It is simply a matter of 
us being willing, all of us, to look at those Member requests. We do as 
much as we can to take care of Members on both sides of the aisle as 
possible. Some of these are timely matters. We have one with respect to 
Indiana which simply would be of no consequence or interest to the 
gentlewoman's district if we put it off until after.
  When approached or asked about these, give what consideration Members 
can to colleagues. This is not a matter that the leadership has any 
particular interest in other than helping as many Members as possible. 
If we can get some of those cleared, we will help other Members.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would continue to yield, it 
is my understanding that the bankruptcy conference report, trade 
promotion, and terrorism risk insurance are the three bills that may 
come to the floor tonight?
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman's understanding is correct.
  Ms. PELOSI. And there is nothing beyond that except the unanimous 
consent requests?
  Mr. ARMEY. Right.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ARMEY. I yield to the gentleman from Oregon.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to accommodate the 
request. Earlier this evening there were a number scheduled, including 
one of mine which is unanimously supported by the entire Oregon 
delegation, House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats, to name a new 
courthouse which has just been authorized and appropriated.
  Unfortunately, I was told that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) 
was upset about the debate over the aviation explosive screening, and 
he personally said my bill will not be allowed. And if mine will not be 
allowed, since it was previously scheduled, then I will object to all 
unanimous consent requests.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, for the record, we have not received a 
request from the minority leader relative to the gentleman's bill. We 
can obviously not respond to a request that has not been made. Again, 
let me just say we all have disappointments in our life.




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