[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H2298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HOUSE EXERCISE FACILITY

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1068) permitting active duty 
members of the Armed Forces who are assigned to a Congressional liaison 
office of the Department of Defense at the House of Representatives to 
obtain membership in the exercise facility established for employees of 
the House of Representatives, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1068

       Resolved, That any active duty member of the Armed Forces 
     who is assigned to a Congressional liaison office of the 
     Armed Forces at the House of Representatives may obtain 
     membership in the exercise facility established for employees 
     of the House of Representatives (as described in section 
     103(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005) in 
     the same manner as an employee of the House of 
     Representatives, in accordance with such regulations as the 
     Committee on House Administration may promulgate.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
on this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 1068 responds to a specific request from the 
liaisons who serve in each branch of the military and assist us daily 
in the House of Representatives. They have just a simple favor to ask 
that they be allowed to use the House staff gym since they work here 
far away from the ordinary military fitness facilities.
  In order to ensure that the military liaisons can maintain the 
physical fitness and readiness while they serve in the House, this 
resolution will allow them to use the House staff gym. The committee 
will adopt regulations for the use of this facility.
  We anticipate that the Armed Forces personnel who use the facility 
would do so consistently with military policy and, to the extent 
possible, during off-peak hours.
  Again, I would like to thank my friend and colleague, the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), for cosponsoring this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1068, which would permit 
military liaisons who are assigned to official duty within the House of 
Representatives to join the House Staff Fitness Center. The center has 
been a welcome benefit to many House employees since it opened in 
December of 2005. Located in the southwest corner of the Rayburn 
building, the fitness center covers 11,000 square feet in which gym 
members can take advantage of health screenings and fitness 
assessments, take part in health wellness workshops and seminars, and 
receive individualized exercise programs, in addition to using the 
state-of-the-art exercise equipment.
  While membership in the House Staff Fitness Center will prove a 
convenient and useful operation to those military personnel who work in 
the House campus, I think it's also important to recognize that these 
gentlemen and women are part of the military. They must remain in shape 
because they may be called into active duty at any time.
  And so I believe this is a good bill, and I thank Chairman Brady for 
his work on the bill.
  I yield back my time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1068, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A resolution permitting active 
duty members of the Armed Forces who are assigned to a Congressional 
liaison office of the Armed Forces at the House of Representatives to 
obtain membership in the exercise facility established for employees of 
the House of Representatives.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________