[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 120 (Wednesday, September 29, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7778-H7786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page H7778]]
CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 802,
I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 107) making continuing
appropriations for the fiscal year 2005, and for other purposes, and
ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The text of House Joint Resolution 107 is as follows:
H.J. Res. 107
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of
applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds,
for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and
other organizational units of Government for fiscal year
2005, and for other purposes, namely:
Sec. 101. Such amounts as may be necessary under the
authority and conditions provided in the applicable
appropriations Act for fiscal year 2004 for continuing
projects or activities including the costs of direct loans
and loan guarantees (not otherwise specifically provided for
in this joint resolution) which were conducted in fiscal year
2004, at a rate for operations not exceeding the current
rate, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority
was made available in the following appropriations Acts:
(1) The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2004.
(2) The Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the
Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004,
notwithstanding section 15 of the State Department Basic
Authorities Act of 1956, section 313 of the Foreign Relations
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public Law
103-236), and section 504(a)(1) of the National Security Act
of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 414(a)(1)).
(3) The District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2004.
(4) The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act,
2004, notwithstanding section 504(a)(1) of the National
Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 414(a)(1)).
(5) The Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related
Programs Appropriations Act, 2004, notwithstanding section 10
of Public Law 91-672 and section 15 of the State Department
Basic Authorities Act of 1956.
(6) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act,
2004.
(7) The Department of the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2004.
(8) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004.
(9) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2004.
(10) The Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2004.
(11) The Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2004.
(12) The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and
Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2004.
Sec. 102. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be
available to the extent and in the manner which would be
provided by the pertinent appropriations Act.
Sec. 103. The appropriations Acts listed in section 101
shall be deemed to include miscellaneous and supplemental
appropriation laws enacted during fiscal year 2004.
Sec. 104. No appropriation or funds made available or
authority granted pursuant to section 101 shall be used to
initiate or resume any project or activity for which
appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available
during fiscal year 2004.
Sec. 105. Appropriations made and authority granted
pursuant to this joint resolution shall cover all obligations
or expenditures incurred for any program, project, or
activity during the period for which funds or authority for
such project or activity are available under this joint
resolution.
Sec. 106. Activities authorized for 2004 by sections
1902(a)(10)(E)(iv) and 1933 of the Social Security Act shall
continue through the date specified in section 107(c) of this
joint resolution: Provided, That for purposes of the budget
scoring guidance in effect for the Congress and the Executive
branch respectively, and notwithstanding rule 3 of the Budget
Scorekeeping Guidelines set forth in the joint explanatory
statement of the committee of conference accompanying
Conference Report 105-217, the provisions of this section
shall be deemed to be direct spending.
Sec. 107. Unless otherwise provided for in this joint
resolution or in the applicable appropriations Act,
appropriations and funds made available and authority granted
pursuant to this joint resolution shall be available until
(a) enactment into law of an appropriation for any project or
activity provided for in this joint resolution, or (b) the
enactment into law of the applicable appropriations Act by
both Houses without any provision for such project or
activity, or (c) November 20, 2004, whichever first occurs.
Sec. 108. Expenditures made pursuant to this joint
resolution shall be charged to the applicable appropriation,
fund, or authorization whenever a bill in which such
applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is contained
is enacted into law.
Sec. 109. Appropriations and funds made available by or
authority granted pursuant to this joint resolution may be
used without regard to the time limitations for submission
and approval of apportionments set forth in section 1513 of
title 31, United States Code, but nothing herein shall be
construed to waive any other provision of law governing the
apportionment of funds.
Sec. 110. Notwithstanding any other provision of this joint
resolution, except section 107, for those programs that had
high initial rates of operation or complete distribution of
fiscal year 2004 appropriations at the beginning of that
fiscal year because of distributions of funding to States,
foreign countries, grantees or others, similar distributions
of funds for fiscal year 2005 shall not be made and no grants
shall be awarded for such programs funded by this resolution
that would impinge on final funding prerogatives.
Sec. 111. This joint resolution shall be implemented so
that only the most limited funding action of that permitted
in the joint resolution shall be taken in order to provide
for continuation of projects and activities.
Sec. 112. Activities authorized by section 403(f) of Public
Law 103-356, as amended by section 632 of the Transportation,
Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004
(Public Law 108-199, division F), and activities authorized
under the heading ``Treasury Franchise Fund'' in the Treasury
Department Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-208,
division A, section 101(f)), as amended by section 123 of the
Treasury Department Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108-
7, division J), may continue through the date specified in
section 107(c) of this joint resolution.
Sec. 113. The authority provided by section 2808 of the
Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004
(division B of Public Law 108-136; 117 Stat. 1723) shall
continue in effect through the date specified in section
107(c) of this joint resolution: Provided, That such
authority shall not be available until after the date on
which the Secretary of Defense submits all of the quarterly
reports required for fiscal year 2004 under subsection (d) of
such section 2808.
Sec. 114. Notwithstanding any other provision of this joint
resolution, except sections 107 and 108, amounts are made
available for the Strategic National Stockpile (``SNS'') at a
rate for operations not exceeding the lower of the amount
which would be made available under H.R. 5006, as passed by
the House of Representatives on September 9, 2004, or S.
2810, as reported by the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate on September 15, 2004: Provided, That no funds shall
be made available for the SNS to the Department of Homeland
Security under this joint resolution: Provided further, That
amounts made available to the Department of Homeland Security
under this joint resolution are reduced by the amount
otherwise attributable to funding for the SNS: Provided
further, That the terms and conditions of H.R. 5006 shall
apply to funds made available under this section.
Sec. 115. Section 503(f) of the Small Business Investment
Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 697(f)) shall be applied by
substituting the date specified in section 107(c) of this
joint resolution for ``October 1, 2004''.
Sec. 116. The authorities provided by sections 344, 1023,
and 1306 of Public Law 108-136, sections 1318 and 1319 of
Public Law 108-11, and section 302j(a) of title 37, United
States Code, shall continue in effect through the date
specified in section 107(c) of this joint resolution or the
date of enactment into law of a defense authorization Act for
fiscal year 2005, whichever is earlier.
Sec. 117. Section 6 of Public Law 107-57, as amended by
section 2213 of Public Law 108-106, shall be applied by
substituting the date specified in section 107(c) of this
joint resolution for ``October 1, 2004'', and sections 508
and 512 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law 108-
199, division D), as made applicable to fiscal year 2005 by
the provisions of this joint resolution, shall not apply with
respect to Pakistan through the date specified in section
107(c) of this joint resolution.
Sec. 118. Programs, activities, eligibility requirements,
and advisory committees authorized under the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) through fiscal year
2004, shall remain in effect through the date specified in
section 107(c) of this joint resolution.
Sec. 119. (a) Section 616(d) of the Foreign Operations,
Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act,
2004 (Public Law 108-199, division D) shall apply to funds
made available by this joint resolution pursuant to section
619(a) of such Act: Provided, That for purposes of funds made
available by this joint resolution that are used to carry out
section 616(d) of such Act, a candidate country is a country
that satisfies the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B)
of section 606(a)(2) of such Act.
Sec. 120. Notwithstanding any other provision of this joint
resolution, except section 107, the District of Columbia may
expend local funds for programs and activities under the
heading, ``District of Columbia Funds--Operating Expenses''
at the rate set forth for such programs and activities under
title II of H.R. 4850 of the 108th Congress, as passed by the
House of Representatives: Provided, That section 2302 of the
Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003
(Public Law 108-11) shall be applied by substituting the date
specified in section 107(c) of this joint resolution for
``September 30, 2004''.
[[Page H7779]]
Sec. 121. Section 1302 of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22
U.S.C. 3712) is amended by adding the following new
subsection at the end:
``(e)(1) The Panama Canal Commission and the Office of
Transition Administration (described in section 3504 of
Public Law 106-65) shall terminate on October 1, 2004.
``(2) Upon termination pursuant to paragraph (1), the
Panama Canal Revolving Fund shall be transferred to the
General Services Administration (GSA). GSA shall use the
amounts in the Fund to make payments of any outstanding
liabilities of the Commission, as well as any expenses
associated with the termination of the Office of Transition
Administration and the Commission. The fund shall be the
exclusive source available for payment of any outstanding
liabilities of the Commission.''.
Sec. 122. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or
of this joint resolution, except section 107, such amounts as
may be necessary for administrative expenses of the following
operating administrations shall be available to the Secretary
of Transportation out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than
the Mass Transit Account) at a rate for operations not
exceeding the current rate and for which authority was made
available under the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004:
(1) Federal Highway Administration, for purposes described
in 23 U.S.C. 104(a)(1)(A);
(2) Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in accordance with
49 U.S.C. 111;
(3) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in
accordance with chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code,
and part C of subtitle VI of title 49, United States Code;
(4) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in
accordance with 23 U.S.C. 402, 403, 405, 410 and chapter 303
of title 49, United States Code; and
(5) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, for
purposes described in 23 U.S.C. 104(a)(1)(B):
Provided, That funds authorized under this subsection shall
be available for obligation in the same manner as if the
funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United
States Code: Provided further, That paragraphs (1), (2), and
(3) of this subsection shall be subject to any limitation on
obligations for Federal-aid highways and highway safety
construction programs.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or of this
joint resolution, except section 107, such amounts as may be
necessary for administrative expenses of the Federal Transit
Administration, in accordance with the Federal Transit
Administration's programs authorized by chapter 53 of title
49, United States Code, shall be available to the Secretary
of Transportation out of the Mass Transit Account of the
Highway Trust Fund at a rate for operations not exceeding the
current rate and for which authority was made available under
the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2004: Provided, That funds authorized
under this subsection shall be available for obligation in
the same manner provided under section 5338(g) of title 49,
United States Code.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or of this
joint resolution, except section 107, such amounts as may be
necessary for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
to make grants to and enter into contracts with States for
personnel costs for implementation of 49 U.S.C. 31102,
commercial driver's license program improvements, border
enforcement operations, and section 210 of Public Law 106-159
shall be available to the Secretary of Transportation out of
the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account)
at a rate not exceeding the current rate and for which
authority was made available under the Transportation,
Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004:
Provided, That funds authorized under this subsection shall
be available for obligation in the same manner as if the
funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United
States Code and shall be subject to any limitation on
obligations for Federal-aid highways and highway safety
construction programs.
(d) For purposes of the budget scoring guidance in effect
for the Congress and the Executive branch respectively, and
notwithstanding rule 3 of the Budget Scorekeeping Guidelines
set forth in the joint explanatory statement of the committee
of conference accompanying Conference Report 105-217, the
provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) with regard to
contract authority shall be deemed to be direct spending.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts
shall continue to be appropriated or credited to the Highway
Trust Fund after the date of any expenditure pursuant to this
joint resolution.
Sec. 123. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation is authorized to
undertake any program authorized by title IV of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 in Iraq, subject to the regular
notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations,
through the date specified in section 107(c) of this joint
resolution.
Sec. 124. Notwithstanding any other provision of this joint
resolution, and notwithstanding the language in the paragraph
under the heading ``Housing for Persons With
Disabilities'' in title II of the Departments of Veterans
Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004, the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development shall make $14,610,000 from
amounts appropriated under such heading in fiscal year
2004 available for amendments to existing tenant-based
assistance contracts entered into prior to fiscal year
2004 pursuant to section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez
National Affordable Housing Act (with only one amendment
authorized for any such contract).
Sec. 125. Section 402(b) of the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1232(b)) shall be applied
by substituting the date specified in section 107(c) of this
joint resolution for ``September 30, 2004''.
Sec. 126. For entitlements and other mandatory payments
whose budget authority was provided in appropriations Acts
for fiscal year 2004, and for activities under the Food Stamp
Act of 1977, activities shall be continued at the rate to
maintain program levels under current law, under the
authority and conditions provided in the applicable
appropriations Act for fiscal year 2004, to be continued
through the date specified in section 107(c): Provided, That
notwithstanding section 107, funds shall be available and
obligations for mandatory payments due on or about November 1
and December 1, 2004, may continue to be made.
Sec. 127. Notwithstanding section 101 of this joint
resolution, amounts are provided for ``Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC),'' at
a rate for operations not to exceed $5,087,000,000.
Sec. 128. Notwithstanding section 101 of this joint
resolution, amounts are provided for ``Election Assistance
Commission--Salaries and Expenses'', at a rate for operations
not to exceed $7,800,000: Provided, That such amounts may be
apportioned to reflect the agency activities associated with
a Federal election.
Sec. 129. Funds available under this joint resolution for
``Bureau of Indian Affairs--Indian Land and Water Claims
Settlements and Miscellaneous Payments to Indians'' shall be
available for payments by the United States pursuant to the
settlement of Seneca Nation of Indians v. State of New York.
Sec. 130. Amounts available under this joint resolution to
carry out subtitle D of title XXXVI of Public Law 106-398
shall be deemed to include transfers of funds from other
accounts made during fiscal year 2004 to carry out the
purposes of the subtitle and the amounts available under this
joint resolution for the accounts from which funds were
transferred shall be adjusted for the transfer.
Sec. 131. For the purposes of the Ricky Ray Hemophilia
Relief Fund Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-369), the term
``expended'' in section 101(d) of such Act and the term
``payment'' in section 103 of such Act shall mean ``delivered
orders-obligations unpaid'' as defined in the United States
Standard General Ledger Accounts and Definitions.
Sec. 132. Notwithstanding any other provision of this joint
resolution, except section 108, for expenses necessary to
carry out the Presidential Transition Act of 1963,
$2,500,000.
Sec. 133. Title II of Public Law 108-106 is amended under
the heading ``Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund'' by--
(1) striking ``$3,243,000,000'' and inserting
``$5,090,000,000'' for security and law enforcement;
(2) striking ``$1,318,000,000'' and inserting
``$1,960,000,000'' for justice, public safety infrastructure,
and civil society;
(3) striking ``$5,560,000,000'' and inserting
``$4,455,000,000'' for the electric sector;
(4) striking ``$1,890,000,000'' and inserting
``$1,723,000,000'' for oil infrastructure;
(5) striking ``$4,332,000,000'' and inserting
``$2,361,000,000'' for water resources and sanitation;
(6) striking ``$153,000,000'' and inserting
``$845,000,000'' for private sector development; and
(7) striking ``$280,000,000'' and inserting
``$342,000,000'' for education, refugees, human rights and
governance.
Sec. 134. Title II of Public Law 108-106 is amended under
the heading ``Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund''--
(1) in the sixth proviso, by striking ``$29,000,000'' and
inserting ``$119,000,000''; and
(2) in the seventh proviso by--
(A) striking ``Coalition Provisional Authority'' and
inserting ``United States Agency for International
Development''; and
(B) striking ``to fully pay for its'' and inserting
``for''.
Sec. 135. Sections 569 and 574 of H.R. 4818, as passed by
the House of Representatives on July 15, 2004, are hereby
enacted into law: Provided, That not to exceed $360,000,000
of the funds made available by Public Law 108-106 under the
heading ``Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund'' may be made
available for the purposes of such section 569.
Sec. 136. During the portion of fiscal year 2005 covered by
this joint resolution, the Corps of Engineers shall continue
work on all uncompleted projects underway in fiscal year
2004, notwithstanding budget proposals to withhold funding
for shore protection and certain construction projects, and
shall not divert funds into any reserve fund not specifically
authorized by an Act of Congress.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 802, the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Wisconsin
(Mr. Obey) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young).
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
[[Page H7780]]
Mr. Speaker, I am doing something today that I had hoped throughout
the year could have been avoided, and that is a continuing resolution
because the Congress has not completed all of its appropriations bills.
Before I get into that, though, I think it is important that I say just
a brief word about the Committee on Appropriations in the House and the
House of Representatives.
The House Committee on Appropriations reported every one of its bills
by July 22. Today is September 29. The House has passed 12 of those
bills, and all of those bills have been at a level within the budget
resolution, the budget resolution which in fact we do not really have.
We did not pass a budget resolution this year, and finally about 6
weeks after we should have passed it, we passed a deeming resolution
that did allow us to set a 302(a) allocation and our 302(b)
allocations.
{time} 1500
The House has done a good job. Unfortunately, only one of those bills
has actually become law because the House and the Senate must agree on
legislation before it can be sent to the desk of the President for his
signature. That has only happened on one bill, despite the fact the
House has passed 12 appropriations bills and several supplementals.
This continuing resolution would keep the government functioning at
existing levels until November 20, 2004. This will allow Congress to
recess for a brief period of campaigning for the election which happens
on November 2. But we will be back. We will be back the week of
November 15 in order to conclude the balance of the appropriations
bills.
The Senate has passed a total of six appropriations bills. We will
have one of those in conference, hopefully tomorrow, the homeland
security bill. There are four other bills that we believe we can
conference and report to the House sometime next week before we adjourn
for the election. In the meantime, an omnibus bill is going to be
necessary. Between the October 8 recess and November 15, the
appropriations committees in both Houses will work to conclude the work
on an omnibus bill so the Members will have a chance to vote on it
prior to sine die adjournment.
The CR includes a continuation of funding for all agencies except
those included in the Defense appropriations bill because it has
already been enacted into law. We are continuing to work on the other
bills, as I mentioned.
Let me say something about what is included in this CR, because there
are some anomalies that are time sensitive that must be taken care of.
As I said, the CR will go to November 20. As in past continuing
resolutions, it does not permit any new starts, and it restricts
obligations on high initial spend-out programs so the annualized
funding levels in this bill will not impinge on our final budget
deliberations.
It includes provisions that allow for the continuation of programs
and fee collections that would otherwise expire, such as entitlements
under the food stamp program, Medicare part B premium assistance,
certain child nutrition programs, the WIC program, and certain SBA loan
programs.
The CR also allows for continuation of Department of Defense
authorities that expire on September 30. We have worked with the
Committee on Armed Services to ensure that these authorities are
extended through the period of the CR, and they include something very
important to the families of those of our military who were wounded in
Iraq, Afghanistan and who are in hospitals or in VA hospitals getting
treatment for their wounds. The authority to pay for travel and
transportation benefits for those family members and clothing
allowances for the military personnel injured during these operations
would expire on September 30, tomorrow, at midnight. We provide a
correction for that by extending that provision for the period of this
CR.
We also extend the authority to provide prepaid phone cards to all of
our troops in certain combat zones. Also authority for bonuses and
special pay for certain military personnel is extended. Authority for
DOD to use funds available for drug interdiction and counterdrug
activities to provide assistance to the government of Colombia in
support of ongoing counterterrorism efforts is extended. And also
authority for a chemical weapons destruction facility in Russia is
extended.
A provision is also included that reallocates funds provided under
the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund in response to the request
submitted to the Congress by the Secretary of State on September 14,
2004, and through a reallocation of existing funds provides sufficient
funding for operating costs of the Agency for International
Development, continuation of oversight and Iraq debt forgiveness.
The CR also allows the District of Columbia to spend local funds
through the period of the CR at the budget levels passed by the House.
The CR ensures that funding is available to conduct administrative
oversight and to pay certain Department of Transportation personnel
managing surface programs in the absence of reauthorizations for such
programs. It also ensures sufficient funding for the Election
Assistance Commission and funding for Presidential transition staff, if
necessary, to be available immediately following the Presidential
election.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think this is a controversial CR at all, but it
does include these important items that I mentioned. But it is
important because tomorrow at midnight, the government runs out of
money, so it is important to pass this continuing resolution, get it to
the other body, and get it to the President. I hope we can pass this
expeditiously.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Lowey).
Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express some concerns about the
provisions in the continuing resolution allowing for the reprogramming
of $3.46 billion in Iraq reconstruction funds.
I would first like to take a moment to express my appreciation and
respect for all military, civilian, and contractor personnel stationed
in Iraq today. They are working to bring democracy and stability to
Iraq in an atmosphere of extreme danger, and I have great admiration
for their courage. We owe them a great deal for their sacrifices.
This bill addresses the administration's request to shift $3.46
billion within the $18 billion Congress approved for the reconstruction
of Iraq. This shift moves funds away from essential rebuilding efforts
in the water and electricity sectors to deal with the deteriorating
security situation in Iraq and the upcoming elections. The bill
specifies new amounts for the various sectors of reconstruction
assistance while retaining the underlying set of requirements for
congressional notification and reporting.
I have great respect for General Petraeus and his staff who have put
together this new plan. I am hopeful that the reprogramming will help
address the dire security situation that has hindered much of our
reconstruction work. But if we examine the facts, we find that since
the start of combat operations in Iraq, 1,050 soldiers have been
killed, 7,532 wounded; and since the end of major combat operations
which the President declared on May 1, 2003, 909 have been killed and
6,990 wounded.
The statistics on the security situation are equally as staggering.
In March of this year there were an average of 20 insurgent engagements
per day. By September that number had increased more than fourfold, to
87 per day.
President Bush said earlier this month, and I quote, ``What is
critical is that the President of the United States speak clearly and
consistently at this time of great threat in our world, and not change
positions because of expediency or pressure.'' We have given the
President what he requested because we need to move aggressively to
address the security situation. However, the administration must be
honest with the American people.
Before the war, we had the distinct impression from both the
President and Vice President that the length of U.S. deployment and the
cost of reconstruction would be minimal. Their assessments were
hopelessly naive and ignored the lessons of history. Today, 1 year
after Congress provided the $18 billion in reconstruction funds, only
slightly more than $1 billion has been spent. The insecure environment
has
[[Page H7781]]
slowed the pace of reconstruction to a crawl. It has become crystal
clear that we have no coherent plan to win the peace.
The administration claims that there are 100,000 Iraqi security
forces trained and operating in Iraq today and that 145,000 will be
trained by January. The facts are that 22,700 security personnel have
received enough basic training to make them minimally effective at
their tasks. Only 8,200 police have even received a basic 8-week
training course. At the current pace of training, we will not have the
current 90,000-man force trained until February 2006. Today, only 4,800
Iraqi Army personnel have been trained and equipped. By mid-October we
may reach 8,000. Only eight of the 45 existing Iraqi National Guard
battalions have reached initial operating capability. No border
enforcement personnel have received centralized training.
Despite administration claims to the contrary, Iraq is becoming less
secure. The difficulties in training and recruiting Iraqi security
forces means even these modest goals will be difficult to attain.
Holding elections in January has become a cornerstone of the
President's plan to democratize Iraq and has been a critical factor in
gaining support across Iraqi society for the interim government.
However, a stalemate between the Electoral Commission and the
Ministry of Finance has meant that the commission has received only $7
million of the $232 million in Iraqi funds set aside for them. Many of
the critical elements for conduct of the elections, such as procurement
of vehicles, voting equipment and ballots are incomplete and voter
lists have not even been created yet. No actual parties have formed.
There is no process in place for that to happen. The U.N. has yet to
deploy enough people to Iraq to supervise the process. We all know of
the necessity of these promised elections, but many obstacles remain.
Beneath these numbers is the sad fact that overhead costs on all
reconstruction activities in Iraq are now ranging between 30 and 50
percent. This means that for every dollar we appropriate for
reconstruction, we only get 50 cents' worth.
We need to get this right. The battle for global stability and
security is larger than Iraq. If American strategists cannot outsmart
the terrorist insurgents, if we let them derail the bright future we
have promised the Iraqi people, there will be serious consequences for
U.S. national security objectives.
I hope that this shift in funds helps to win the peace in Iraq and
that this plan will succeed where others have failed. I remain firmly
committed to bringing stability to Iraq and fighting terror. American
lives are at stake. But we must be honest with each other about the
pace at which progress can occur and stop the deliberate distortions.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), the distinguished chairman of the
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related
Programs.
Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time, and I do rise in support of House Joint Resolution 107 to provide
continuing resolutions for the operations of the United States
Government. A number of sections in this continuing resolution do apply
to the foreign operations appropriations and many of these items have a
direct bearing in our war on terrorism.
Section 117 allows Pakistan, our vital ally in the war on terror, to
continue to be eligible for U.S. assistance during the period of the
CR. As we know, Pakistan's active participation in the war on terror is
critical to U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. Section 119 allows the
Millennium Challenge Corporation to offer a limited assistance to those
countries that meet some of the criteria for MCC assistance but cannot
yet get over the threshold of the criteria that is required for that.
The administration is working more slowly than I think a lot of us
would like to establish which countries would be eligible for this
additional special assistance.
Section 123 allows the Overseas Private Investment Corporation to
follow through on transactions to promote the private sector and
greater employment opportunities for Iraqis during the period of the
CR. Ideally, these transactions will help create some of the
preconditions for stability as Iraq moves towards elections in January.
The heart, Mr. Speaker, is section 133. This will enable the
Secretary of State to rebalance the assistance in the Iraq Relief and
Reconstruction Fund with a significantly greater amount, $1.8 billion,
going to train and equip Iraq's security forces. The legislated change
is necessary because the supplemental enacted last November allocated
funding for specific sectors with flexibility for transfers between
sectors. This sectoral allocation was intended to provide transparency
and to improve oversight of the use of the funds.
However, due to circumstances that have developed on the ground, the
flexibility in current law is insufficient to allow the State
Department to provide significantly greater funding for security and
employment activities, and I think we all understand that security must
be the top priority.
{time} 1515
Section 134 provides the Agency for International Development with
the authority to use $90 million from within already appropriated
amounts for the costs of operating its assistance programs in Iraq.
Effective implementation of these programs is important if we are to
help Iraq's economic and political systems evolve.
Finally, section 135 allows the U.S. to continue its leadership in
pushing for reduction of Iraq's debt. It provides former Secretary of
State James Baker with the tools for upcoming debt negotiations in the
Paris Club this fall. It would enable the U.S. to forgive nearly $4
billion of debt owed by Iraq, thus spurring vastly greater amounts of
debt forgiveness by Iraq's other creditors. This section also makes the
modest technical changes to allow the Secretary of State to take
responsibility for future reports to Congress on Iraq's reconstruction
and to enable greater congressional oversight over the use of agency
administrative expenses in Iraq.
On balance, I think this is a good bill and provides some important
considerations to keep the foreign policy of the United States moving
forward. I urge my colleagues to support this joint resolution.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished minority whip.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, today, our Republican friends are waving a white flag,
announcing what has become so obvious to so many, that they have
surrendered to their own intransigence, that they cannot get their work
done.
The sad fact is that the gentleman presenting this bill is not
responsible for this failure. In fact, his leadership of the committee
was consistent with doing our work on time. But his colleagues did not
assist him in that effort.
This continuing resolution is nothing less than an admission of
failure by the House Republican leadership. But it is a fitting
capstone to the least productive session of Congress that I have been a
part of since I was elected to this body in 1981.
We are setting a record today, Mr. Speaker, but not a record that any
of us can be proud of. So far, and all of my colleagues ought to listen
to this, so far in this second session of the 108th Congress, we are on
course to work fewer days, 93 as of today, than any other single
session since 1948; 1948 was the famous ``Do Nothing Congress.'' This
Congress is doing even less than the ``Do Nothing Congress.''
Yet while this Republican Congress keeps banker's hours, it has
failed to enact a budget. It has failed to enact a comprehensive energy
bill. It has failed to enact intelligence reform. It has failed to
enact a bill to eliminate European Union trade sanctions on American
manufacturers. And it has failed to enact and pass a highway bill, a
reauthorization which would create 42,000 American jobs for every $1
billion spent on repairing and building highways, repairing and
building bridges, and fixing and providing for mass transit systems in
America so that commerce and people could move effectively.
And now, now, this Republican leadership must pass this continuing
resolution because it has enacted only one
[[Page H7782]]
of 13 appropriation bills within the time frame established for it.
This is the leadership that said in the Contract with America that we
are going to bring efficiency and effectiveness to the management of
the House of Representatives.
Joe Scarborough the other day said in an article, ``We said all this
and we lied.'' Joe Scarborough, conservative Republican from Florida.
I intend to vote, of course, Mr. Speaker, for this continuing
resolution, as the chairman will, because it is necessary and
responsible to do so. But let no one be mistaken, this CR is far more
than a mere formality. The Republicans' failure to pass appropriation
bills on time has real-world consequences to real people, to States,
localities, municipalities and every individual.
Because they failed to enact the Homeland Security bill, critical
funding for the SAFER program is not available, money to hire
additional firefighters and emergency response teams. That means fire
departments across the Nation will be delayed in their efforts to hire,
recruit and retain firefighters.
Because they have failed to enact the Transportation-Treasury bill,
nearly $1 billion in airport improvement grants is not available. That
means airport security fencing and the construction of airport rescue
and firefighting stations will be delayed. Because they failed to enact
the Commerce, Justice, and State bill, $658 million in worldwide
security upgrades at U.S. facilities, for instance, in Kabul,
Afghanistan, are not available.
Mr. Speaker, the list goes on. The majority's failure to pass
appropriation bills on time will delay funding for everything from
construction at Veterans' Administration facilities to humanitarian
assistance to the victims of genocide in Sudan, to additional funding
for food safety inspections here at home.
Mr. Speaker, in February, former House majority leader, the majority
leader in the last Congress, commented ``Republicans own the town
now.'' What he meant was Republicans control the presidency, the House
and the Senate. Democrats cannot stop and, frankly, cannot get it to go
so that the failure lies solely at the desk and feet of the Republican
leadership in both Houses. But everyone can see today their record is
not an enviable one, notwithstanding the fact that they own the town.
It is an embarrassment. The American people deserve better.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, I will vote for this continuing resolution.
It was originally scheduled to be until October 8. The gentleman from
Texas (Mr. DeLay) and I have a colloquy at the end of every week, and
in that colloquy last week, I asked the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
DeLay) how long this CR was going to be. He said he did not know
specifically but he thought October 8. But they have decided, no, it
will be November 20, after the election, after the American people will
be able to make a judgment on what they are really going to do. How
sad. How failing in our responsibility to this institution, to the
American people and to our Nation.
And I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 8 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, the basic job of Congress is to pass the annual budget
and appropriation bills in order to keep the government running and to
fund the most important functions of government. To do that under our
processes, we are first supposed to pass a budget resolution which sets
the outline for spending for the coming year, and then we are supposed
to follow that on by passing 13 appropriation bills which fill in the
blanks in detail.
This continuing resolution is here because, on the domestic side of
the budget, none of that has happened. We have passed only one of the
13 appropriation bills that were supposed to pass by the end of the
fiscal year. That is for the Department of Defense. But even other
national security bills have not been passed, and certainly, nothing
has been passed that meets our obligations on the domestic side of the
ledger.
The majority party controls this body by a very narrow margin.
Ordinarily, if this institution were being run in a rational way, that
would mean that the majority leadership would try to reach out, broaden
its base of support for basic legislation by making an occasional
compromise here and there so that we can broaden the number of people
who are willing to support whatever products they bring to the floor.
That has not happened either.
When I chaired this committee, we had a bipartisan allocation between
the 13 subcommittees. Both parties agreed on how much should go into
each of those 13 appropriation bills. That is why we were able that
year to finish every single appropriation bill by the end of the fiscal
year. The minority has not been afforded that opportunity this year
because the majority leadership has been held captive by the most
extreme members of the majority party caucus. As a result, they have
produced highly ideological appropriation bills which have provided
little incentive for other members of their own party to support those
bills.
The domestic appropriations have been so stingy in the area of
education, in the area of health care, in the area of veterans' health,
in the area of law enforcement, and in the area of transportation that
their Republican counterparts in the Senate have not wanted to pass
those bills. If we take a look at the appropriation bills that have
passed the Senate, those bills contain about $7 billion more on the
domestic side of the ledger than the appropriation bills in this House.
We could probably have reached bipartisan agreement if that $7 billion
had been made available here. But oh, no, it was so necessary for the
majority party to preserve every single dollar to provide $128,000 tax
cuts for people who make a million bucks a year that they were not
willing to provide additional funding in the area of health and
education and the like.
So now we have what I call a duck-and-run approach to governance. The
majority party does not want a vote on the level of veterans' health
care funding, so the veterans' appropriation bill is not even coming to
the floor. And the majority party is avoiding having to choose between
the wishes on the Senate side and the wishes on the House side by
simply going to a continuing resolution which ducks all of these
questions until after the election. This strategy is being followed
either by design or as the result of sheer incompetence, and I am not
sure which.
I want to make it clear, as did the minority whip, that that does not
apply to the gentleman who chairs the committee. He got every single
bill out of his committee on time and passed them out of the House
except for VA/HUD, and even though they were extremely short on
necessary funding, on the minority side, we indicated that even though
we strenuously objected to the stringent limitation of funding in a
number of areas, we still procedurally cooperated with the majority
party to toss those bills over to the Senate in the hopes that
rationality would prevail and we would wind up with a product that
could be supported when those bills came by the conference.
{time} 1530
But at this point, I guess the bill that passed the House last week
is a perfect metaphor for this session, because there was an internal
triangular fight within the majority party in this House on that
transportation bill, and, as a result, we passed a transportation bill
that had been stripped of aid to states for highways, it had been
stripped of the mass transit programs, it had been stripped of the
funding for airport construction and development. So the only thing
left in the transportation bill was the title of the bill.
If you take a look at other legislation, national parks, the
President made a promise when he campaigned 4 years ago that he would
send down a 5-year plan to attack the maintenance backlog in our
national parks. Well, it is 4 years later, folks, and what has
happened? The President and this Congress have provided only 12 percent
of the funding needed to meet those backlog needs.
As the gentleman from Maryland indicated, we have done nothing to
deal with the problems of 45 million Americans who have no health
insurance. We have done nothing to expand Pell grants, even though the
President in
[[Page H7783]]
his spectacularly disingenuous performance at the Republican Convention
told the world that we needed more money for Pell grants, even though
his administration has blocked the increase in Pell grants for the last
2 years.
So, Mr. Speaker, the fact that this continuing resolution is here
today is a monument to ideological zealotry. It is also a monument to
institutional failure. This Congress is failing to meet even the most
basic and minimal expectations that the country has for it by way of
doing our routine business. This is governing in a pitiful way, and I
wish that I could say something more positive about it, but, indeed, I
cannot.
We have no choice but to vote for this resolution in order to keep
the government functioning, but this is a pitiful way to run a railroad
or a legislative body.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I think earlier my first comment was that I am doing
something today that I am reluctant to do and I hoped I would not have
to do it, and that is to ask the House to pass a continuing resolution
inasmuch as the appropriations process has not been concluded.
There have been some criticisms of the majority party leadership in
the House. It is easy to criticize anybody, but I would suggest that
our leadership has done a pretty good job, considering the fact that we
are a bicameral legislature. We have two bodies in this Congress, and
one body cannot determine totally the legislative program, any more
than the other one can. So as hard as our leaders have struggled to try
to make the process work, they have had some difficulties with their
counterparts in the other body.
I want to make sure that the Members know that the Committee on
Appropriations, and I will repeat this from what I said earlier,
completed all of its work, reported all of its bills, by the 22nd of
July. That was quite a long time ago. We passed 12 of the
appropriations bills, plus a supplemental. There is still one other
appropriations bill remaining that has some difficulties that will be
dealt with at a later time, probably in the omnibus bill.
And we have worked in a bipartisan fashion. We have tried to keep the
minority party at the subcommittee level advised every step of the way.
We have tried to make sure they knew what we were planning to do, and
to get their input. We did not surprise anybody.
I think that good proof of that bipartisanship, Mr. Speaker, is that
we have developed a pretty good record here in the committee and in the
House. For example, our appropriations bill for Interior passed on June
17 with a vote of 334 to 86. The Homeland Security bill passed on June
18 with a vote of 400 to 5. On June 22 we passed the defense
appropriations bill, 403 to 17. The conference report later was passed
with a vote of 410 to 12. On June 25, the energy and water bill passed
370 to 16.
On the 8th of July the Commerce-Justice-State Department bill passed
with a vote of 397 to 18. On July 12, the legislative branch bill
passed with a vote of 327 to 43. The agriculture bill passed on the
13th of July, 389 to 31. On the 15th of July, the foreign ops bill
passed 365 to 41. On the 20th of July, the District of Columbia bill
passed 371 to 54. On the 22nd of July, the military construction bill
passed 420 to 1.
We then passed on September 7 a supplemental to deal with Hurricane
Charlie, which was devastating to certain parts of my State of Florida.
We passed that on a voice vote. On the 9th of September we passed the
Labor-HHS bill, 388 to 13. On the 22nd of September we passed the
transportation appropriations bill, 397 to 12.
So I make the case that the House has worked together very well,
majority party and minority party. The committee has worked together
very well, majority party and minority party. But we are only half of
the equation. We are the House of Representatives. We are the people's
House. The other body, for whatever their reasons, did not pass these
bills, and we cannot pass a bill in the House and send it to the
President without having the other body agree to it, or at least go to
conference and have an agreement on what that conference decides.
So, all in all, the criticisms of the House leadership I think are
not really in order, but I understand that we are getting close to
election time, so I am not offended by that. I just do not think that
the criticisms really stand.
Our leadership has worked hard with us to pass these good bills with
good votes. I do not like the fact that we did not complete our work.
But I would say, again, the House Committee on Appropriations and the
House of Representatives, we completed our work, except for one bill
that will be held to become part of the omnibus appropriations bill.
So, all in all, criticize if you like, but the House has done a really
good job in getting its work done.
Now, because we have not concluded the bicameral work on these bills,
it is important that we pass this continuing resolution. None of us
want the government to shut down, and, without a CR, as of midnight
tomorrow night the end of the fiscal year comes and goes, and without
an appropriations bill, people would not be reporting to work on
Friday.
So we are going to pass this CR now, the other body is going to pass
this CR, and we are going to get it to the President in plenty of time
so there will not be a government shutdown. We are just not going to do
that anymore. We had an experience with that some years back. We are
not going to do that again. That is not responsible, and it is
important that we meet our responsibility.
Mr. Speaker, I would just appeal for a good strong vote on this
continuing resolution. I ask for a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Foley). All time for debate has expired.
The joint resolution is considered as having been read for amendment.
Pursuant to House Resolution 802, the previous question is ordered.
The question is on engrossment and third reading of the joint
resolution.
The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third
time, and was read the third time.
Motion to Recommit Offered by Mr. Obey
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the joint
resolution?
Mr. OBEY. For the moment I am, yes.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to
recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Obey moves to recommit the joint resolution, H. J. Res.
107, to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to
report the same back to the House promptly with the following
amendments:
At the end of the bill, add the following new section:
``Sec. . Section 2883(g)(1) of title 10, United States
Code, is amended by striking `$850,000,000' and inserting
`$1,350,000,000'.''
At the appropriate place in the bill, add the following new
section:
``Sec. . Notwithstanding section 101 of this joint
resolution, amounts provided to the Department of Veterans
Affairs under the heading ``Veterans Health Administration,
Medical Services'' in Public Law 108-199, in the first
proviso, delete `$17,867,220,000' and insert
`20,798,600,000'.''
At the appropriate place in the bill, add the following new
section:
``Sec. . Notwithstanding any other provision of law or of
this joint resolution, the State Children's Health Insurance
Program authorized under title XXI of the Social Security Act
shall be implemented under the terms and conditions of H.R.
4936, the Children's Health Protection and Improvement Act of
2004.''
At the appropriate place in the bill, add the following new
section:
``Sec. . Special Allowance for Loans From the Proceeds of
Tax Exempt Issues--Section 438(b)(2)(B) of the Higher
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1087-1(b)(2)(B)) is amended--
``(1) in clause (iv), by inserting `or refunded on or after
October 1, 2004 and before October 1, 2005,' after `October
1, 1993'.; and
``(2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
`` `(v) Notwithstanding clause (i) and (ii), the quarterly
rate of the special allowance shall be the rate determined
under subparagraph (A), (E), (F), (G), (H), or (I) of this
paragraph, or paragraph (4), as the case may be, for loans--
`` `(I) originated, transferred, or purchased between
October 1, 2004 and October 1, 2005;
`` `(II) financed by an obligation that has matured, been
retired, or defeased on or after October 1, 2004 and on or
before September 30, 2005;
`` `(III) which the special allowance was determined under
such paragraphs on or after October 1, 2004 and on or before
September 30, 2005;
[[Page H7784]]
`` `(IV) for which the maturity date of the obligation from
which funds were obtained for such loans was extended on or
after October 1, 2004 and on or before September 30, 2005; or
`` `(V) sold or transferred to any other holder on or after
October 1, 2004 and on or before September 30, 2005.'.''
At the appropriate place in the bill, add the following new
section:
``Sec. . Notwithstanding section 101 of this joint
resolution, amounts provided to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation for counterterrorism and counterintelligence
activities shall be provided at a rate of operations which is
the higher of the following:
`` `H.R. 4754, as passed by the House on July 8, 2004; or
`` `S. 2809 as passed by the Senate Committee on
Appropriations on September 15, 2004.'.''
At the appropriate place in the bill, add the following new
section:
``Sec. . Notwithstanding section 101 of this joint
resolution, amounts provided for education, health and other
programs, projects and activities shall be continued at a
rate of operations which is the higher of the amounts which
would be made available under the following:
`` `H.R. 5006, as passed by the House of Representatives on
September 9, 2004; or
`` `S. 2810 as reported by the Senate Committee on
Appropriations on September 15, 2004.'.''
At the appropriate place in the bill, add the following new
section:
``Sec. . Public Law 108-217 shall be applied by
substituting the date specified in section 107 of this joint
resolution for `September 30, 2004' each place it appears and
by substituting the date specified in section 107 of this
joint resolution for `October 1, 2004' and the provisions of
Sec. 6(a)(1) of Public Law 107-100 shall continue in effect
through the date specified in section 107 of the joint
resolution.''
Mr. OBEY (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that the motion to recommit be considered as read and printed in the
Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) is
recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, if Members oppose this motion to recommit,
they will deny 28,165 renovated homes for military families throughout
the military housing privatization initiative. If they oppose this
motion to recommit, they will deny many of America's veterans access to
VA health care, which ought to be their right. This motion would
provide an additional $2.5 billion above the President's request to
help cut waiting lists, renovate crumbling VA facilities and ensure
timely quality health care for America's veterans.
The FBI is the Nation's lead agency for domestic counterterrorism,
yet it is the only component of our national security apparatus that
will not have its funding for fiscal year 2005 in place. The motion
would ensure that the FBI gets its funding now, not later.
Failure to pass this motion to recommit would also shut down the
Terrorist Threat Integration Center and the Terrorist Screening Center.
Neither received funding in last year's spending bill, so neither would
have their funding extended by the continuing resolution without this
motion.
The motion to recommit, Mr. Speaker, would also eliminate the nearly
$1 billion in special student loan subsidies being paid to lenders that
instead could be put to better use by helping students and families
afford a college education. This House passed that amendment earlier
this month on the Labor-HHS bill in the form of the Kildee amendment.
Also, Mr. Speaker, failure to pass this motion to recommit would deny
health insurance to 750,000 children who could be covered under the
State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. Currently $1.1
billion of SCHIP funds are available to States to provide health
insurance to children. These funds were accumulated while the SCHIP
programs were just being organized, but current law requires that these
funds be returned to the Treasury if they are not used by October 1.
With more than 8 million children lacking health coverage, it makes
sense to give States more time to use these funds and enroll children
in the SCHIP programs. We ought not be robbing these funds from
children's health insurance programs because of an arbitrary deadline.
We also by this motion would provide additional funding for education
and health care programs funded by the Labor-HHS-Education bill. We ask
that in each case in the education and health area that this bill be
adjusted to reflect the higher of the numbers between the House and the
Senate bill. The result of that, for instance, would be to add $367
million to NIH to maintain momentum in research on diseases like
cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, et cetera. We also would try to deal
with the section 7 small business loan program that was dealt with by
this House on a similar motion several weeks ago.
Mr. Speaker, I would urge support for the motion to recommit.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to the motion to
recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for
5 minutes.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this motion to recommit actually
would be an appropriations bill. The continuing resolution merely
extends existing appropriations. All of the issues in this motion are
in the process of being considered on regular appropriations bills.
{time} 1545
For example, I would remind the Members that we had the issue of the
military housing cap in our appropriations bill that our committee
strongly supported; but on a point of order raised by the Committee on
the Budget, we lost that section of the military construction bill. But
as we produce the military construction bill in conference, that
provision will be in there.
The other issues in this motion are VA medical, children's health,
higher education; all of these issues are being addressed as we address
the balance of the appropriations bills.
So this motion to recommit, if it were successful, and I hope it will
not be, would actually turn this into an appropriations bill that would
likely require conferencing and probably would not be concluded by
midnight tomorrow night, just because of the amount of time it takes to
conference a bill and go to the other body and then come back here for
conference, and then to appoint the conferees. We are running a
deadline as of midnight tomorrow night.
So I would hope that while all of these are very important issues in
this motion, and, frankly, I am supportive of all of the issues that
the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) would have in this motion to
instruct, this is not the place to do it. This is a continuing
resolution that has to be on the President's desk and signed before
midnight tomorrow night. We just really do not have the time to deal
with these issues on this bill. We will deal with all of those issues
on the other bills that will be working through the Congress in the
next few weeks.
So, Mr. Speaker, having said that, basically all I can say is that I
would urge the Members to oppose this motion and to get on with the
passage of the continuing resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Foley). Without objection, the previous
question is ordered on the motion to recommit.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the noes appeared to have it.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, the Chair will reduce to 5 minutes
the minimum time for any electronic vote on the question of passage.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 200,
nays 221, not voting 11, as follows:
[Roll No. 478]
YEAS--200
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allen
Andrews
Baca
Baird
Baldwin
Becerra
Bell
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brown (OH)
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Cardoza
Carson (IN)
Carson (OK)
Case
Chandler
[[Page H7785]]
Clay
Clyburn
Conyers
Cooper
Costello
Cramer
Crowley
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (TN)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Deutsch
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Dooley (CA)
Doyle
Edwards
Emanuel
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Ford
Frank (MA)
Frost
Gonzalez
Gordon
Green (TX)
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Harman
Herseth
Hill
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley (OR)
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
John
Johnson, E. B.
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy (RI)
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind
Kleczka
Kucinich
Lampson
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Leach
Lee
Levin
Lipinski
Lofgren
Lowey
Lucas (KY)
Lynch
Majette
Maloney
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McNulty
Meehan
Meeks (NY)
Menendez
Michaud
Millender-McDonald
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moore
Moran (VA)
Murtha
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Pelosi
Pomeroy
Price (NC)
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Rodriguez
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sabo
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sanders
Sandlin
Schakowsky
Schiff
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sherman
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Spratt
Stark
Stenholm
Strickland
Stupak
Tanner
Tauscher
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Towns
Turner (TX)
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Wexler
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
NAYS--221
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Bachus
Baker
Ballenger
Barrett (SC)
Bartlett (MD)
Barton (TX)
Bass
Beauprez
Biggert
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonner
Bono
Boozman
Bradley (NH)
Brady (TX)
Brown (SC)
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Burgess
Burns
Burr
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Castle
Chabot
Chocola
Coble
Cole
Collins
Cox
Crane
Crenshaw
Cubin
Culberson
Cunningham
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
DeLay
DeMint
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Doolittle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Ehlers
Emerson
English
Everett
Feeney
Ferguson
Flake
Foley
Forbes
Fossella
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gingrey
Goode
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves
Green (WI)
Greenwood
Gutknecht
Hall
Harris
Hart
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Hensarling
Herger
Hobson
Hoekstra
Hostettler
Houghton
Hulshof
Hunter
Hyde
Isakson
Issa
Istook
Jenkins
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Keller
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline
Knollenberg
Kolbe
LaHood
Latham
LaTourette
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
LoBiondo
Lucas (OK)
Manzullo
McCotter
McCrery
McHugh
McInnis
McKeon
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Moran (KS)
Murphy
Musgrave
Myrick
Neugebauer
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nunes
Nussle
Osborne
Ose
Otter
Oxley
Paul
Pearce
Pence
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Pombo
Porter
Portman
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich
Ramstad
Regula
Rehberg
Renzi
Reynolds
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Saxton
Schrock
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherwood
Shimkus
Shuster
Simmons
Simpson
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Souder
Stearns
Sullivan
Sweeney
Tancredo
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Toomey
Turner (OH)
Upton
Vitter
Walden (OR)
Walsh
Wamp
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOT VOTING--11
Boehlert
Cannon
Gephardt
Hastings (FL)
Hoeffel
Lewis (GA)
Meek (FL)
Nethercutt
Putnam
Tauzin
Weldon (FL)
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Foley) (during the vote). Members are
advised there are 2 minutes remaining in this vote.
{time} 1610
Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania changed his vote from ``yea'' to
``nay.''
So the motion to recommit was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the joint resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 389,
noes 32, not voting 11, as follows:
[Roll No. 479]
AYES--389
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Alexander
Allen
Andrews
Baca
Bachus
Baird
Baker
Baldwin
Ballenger
Barton (TX)
Bass
Becerra
Bell
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Biggert
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonner
Bono
Boozman
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Bradley (NH)
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brown (OH)
Brown (SC)
Brown, Corrine
Burgess
Burns
Burr
Burton (IN)
Butterfield
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Cantor
Capito
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Cardoza
Carson (IN)
Carson (OK)
Carter
Case
Castle
Chandler
Chocola
Clay
Clyburn
Coble
Cole
Collins
Conyers
Costello
Cox
Cramer
Crane
Crenshaw
Crowley
Culberson
Cummings
Cunningham
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (TN)
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
DeLay
DeMint
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Dooley (CA)
Doolittle
Doyle
Dreier
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Emanuel
Emerson
Engel
English
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Everett
Farr
Fattah
Ferguson
Filner
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fossella
Frank (MA)
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Gallegly
Gerlach
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gingrey
Gonzalez
Goode
Goodlatte
Gordon
Granger
Graves
Green (TX)
Greenwood
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hall
Harman
Harris
Hart
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Herger
Herseth
Hill
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoekstra
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley (OR)
Houghton
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hyde
Inslee
Isakson
Israel
Issa
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jenkins
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Keller
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
Kennedy (RI)
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kleczka
Kline
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kucinich
LaHood
Lampson
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Lee
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Lowey
Lucas (KY)
Lucas (OK)
Lynch
Majette
Maloney
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McCotter
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHugh
McInnis
McIntyre
McKeon
McNulty
Meehan
Meeks (NY)
Menendez
Mica
Michaud
Millender-McDonald
Miller (MI)
Miller (NC)
Miller, Gary
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moore
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Murphy
Murtha
Musgrave
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Neugebauer
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nunes
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Osborne
Ose
Otter
Owens
Oxley
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Pearce
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Pickering
Platts
Pombo
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Rehberg
Renzi
Reyes
Reynolds
Rodriguez
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Ryun (KS)
Sabo
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sanders
Sandlin
Saxton
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrock
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sessions
Shaw
Shays
Sherman
Sherwood
Shimkus
Shuster
Simmons
Simpson
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Souder
Spratt
Stark
Stenholm
Strickland
Stupak
Sullivan
Sweeney
Tancredo
Tanner
Tauscher
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Terry
[[Page H7786]]
Thomas
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Tierney
Towns
Turner (OH)
Turner (TX)
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Upton
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Vitter
Walden (OR)
Walsh
Wamp
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOES--32
Akin
Barrett (SC)
Bartlett (MD)
Beauprez
Chabot
Cooper
Cubin
Duncan
Feeney
Flake
Franks (AZ)
Garrett (NJ)
Green (WI)
Gutknecht
Hensarling
Hostettler
Jones (NC)
King (IA)
Manzullo
Miller (FL)
Myrick
Paul
Pence
Petri
Pitts
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Sensenbrenner
Shadegg
Smith (MI)
Stearns
Toomey
NOT VOTING--11
Boehlert
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Cannon
Gephardt
Hastings (FL)
Hoeffel
Meek (FL)
Nethercutt
Putnam
Tauzin
Weldon (FL)
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). Members are advised there
are 2 minutes remaining in this vote.
{time} 1619
Mr. DeMINT changed his vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the joint resolution was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________