[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 120 (Thursday, September 22, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8325-H8326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the chief deputy whip for the 
purpose of ascertaining the schedule for the following week.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, the House will convene on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. for 
morning hour and at 2 p.m. for legislative business. We will consider 
several measures under suspension of the rules. A final list of those 
bills will be sent to Members' offices by the end of the week. Any 
votes called on these measures will be rolled until 6:30 p.m.
  On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will consider additional 
legislation under suspension of the rules as well as two measures under 
a rule: the Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005; and H.R. 3402, the 
Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chief deputy whip for that 
information.
  If I could call the gentleman's attention to October. Clearly, the 
first two weeks in October, as we all know, have a number of holidays, 
including Columbus Day holiday, which have impacted the schedule. It 
has been announced that we will not have votes the second week of 
October; but we still do not have, as I understand it, a clear picture 
of the first week of October.
  We have a number of Members from the west coast who indicate that 
they will not be able to travel on Wednesday. There has been some 
discussion about possibly meeting Thursday and Friday. Could the 
gentleman give me his thoughts or the thoughts of the majority with 
reference to that particular week, particularly as it relates to 
Wednesday which, as the gentleman probably knows as well as any of us, 
is a problem for some of our Members. I yield to my friend.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for 
yielding. We do plan to be in session that first week of October, the 
week of October 3, after the Rosh Hashana holiday. We would expect to 
have legislative business on both Thursday and Friday of that week.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, let me ask the gentleman, 
if we are in session on Thursday, again, because many of our Members 
will not be able to travel on Wednesday, would I be correct in assuming 
that votes would be delayed until 6:30, as they usually are on a travel 
day? I yield to my friend.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would just say to the gentleman that votes 
will be delayed until the Members have adequate time to return for 
those who live on the west coast.
  Mr. HOYER. Would that be 6:30? I hate to press the point; but, 
obviously, Members, for purposes of planning and travel and 
reservations, need to have pretty precise knowledge of when they have 
to be back here for votes. I yield to my friend.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I cannot tell my friend from Maryland that 
votes will be at 6:30. All I can say is there will be adequate time for 
folks on the west coast to be back here in Washington on Thursday for 
the votes that will be called. I would say further that we will be 
checking flights to ensure that Members will be back in time for the 
votes.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for that information 
and for that concern. I think that would be appropriate.
  Might I suggest that by next week we have some more precise advice in 
terms of time so Members can plan accordingly.
  Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman for that suggestion.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, there was thought that we might meet 
tomorrow; that is obviously not happening. It is my understanding 
Friday is on the schedule for next week. Can the gentleman tell me how 
likely it would be that Friday, while there for contingencies, the 
likelihood of our meeting on Friday? Does the gentleman have any 
thought on that? I yield to my friend.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would 
also note that the end of the fiscal year is next Friday. That looming 
date could lead to a flurry of appropriations activity; and, therefore, 
Members should expect the House to be in session next Friday.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, given that assumption, 
can the gentleman tell me when he would expect to have on the floor a 
continuing resolution, in light of the fact we clearly will not have 
passed most of the appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal 
year? I yield to my friend.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman that I do not 
believe that the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations has 
completed his consultations or made his decisions on the specifics of 
the legislation that we would need to pass next week to continue 
Federal programs after September 30, so I really cannot get into any 
more detail than that, because I do not think the chairman has 
completed his discussions.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, if am I to understand 
about the discussions then as to what would be in the CR, the advice I 
would have, for whatever it might be worth, is that we try to consider 
it prior to Friday, in light of the fact that Friday is the last day, 
and if a glitch occurs, for whatever reasons, I would hope that the 
majority would bring a CR to the floor either Wednesday or Thursday, so 
that if we have a problem that we may be able to deal with that either 
Thursday or Friday.
  But if we have not considered it until Friday and a glitch occurs, we 
are going to be in a bad spot with reference to the end of the fiscal 
year and the lack of funding authority for many agencies at that point.
  I do not know whether the gentleman wants to comment on that or not, 
but I yield to him if he does.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for that suggestion, 
and it will be duly noted.

[[Page H8326]]

  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman. I have noted that all of my 
suggestions are taken with great solemnity and consideration on your 
side of the aisle, and I very much appreciate it.

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