[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 116 (Thursday, September 23, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H7542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1945
                    APPOINT HOUSE DEFENSE CONFEREES

  (Mr. SKELTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I have a concern, it is a deep concern, 
dealing with the conference between the House and the Senate on the 
defense bill. You see, immediately upon passage of the bill in the 
Senate, the conferees were appointed. We passed our bill here in the 
House a good number of months ago, and, as of yet, we have had no 
official conferees appointed to meet with the Senate.
  Despite that, we are holding informal panel discussions with the 
Senate trying to resolve a number of issues, but it would certainly 
help for us to be legal and have the conferees appointed so we can 
stand in the shoes of the House of Representatives properly.
  I have had no explanation from anyone regarding this. It is something 
I do not understand, and I am not by myself. Others do not understand 
it.
  I would like very much for the appointment of the conferees to come 
just as quick as possible, so we can officially act and officially make 
decisions on behalf of the House regarding national security.

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