[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4141-H4143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 279, PROVIDING FOR EXPENSES OF 
    CERTAIN COMMITTEES OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 111TH CONGRESS

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee 
on Rules, I call up House Resolution 294 and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 294

       Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution it 
     shall be in order without intervention of any point of order 
     to consider in the House the resolution (H. Res. 279) 
     providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House 
     of Representatives in the One Hundred Eleventh Congress. The 
     amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
     Committee on House Administration now printed in the 
     resolution shall be considered as adopted. The resolution, as 
     amended, shall be considered as read. The previous question 
     shall be considered as ordered on the resolution, as amended, 
     to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for 
     division of the question except: (1) one hour of debate 
     equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
     minority member of the Committee on House Administration; and 
     (2) one motion to recommit which may not contain 
     instructions.

                              {time}  1245

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for 
1 hour.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. For the purpose of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman, my friend from 
California (Mr. Dreier). All time yielded during consideration of the 
rule is for debate only.
  I yield myself such time as I may consume.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I also ask, Mr. Speaker, unanimous consent 
that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks on House Resolution 294.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 294 provides for 
consideration of the 111th Congress committee funding resolution. As my 
colleagues may know, clause 7 of rule X provides for the interim 
committee funding until the permanent funding resolution is in place. 
That temporary funding expires today. Therefore, it is very important 
that we consider and pass this rule and the underlying resolution 
today.
  The committee funding resolution before us is the result of a 
bipartisan effort between Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Lungren of 
the Committee on House Administration. It was reported from the 
committee by a voice vote, and included an amendment by the ranking 
member to help increase transparency and accountability in the 
committee funding process.
  This is a very fair and modest funding resolution which seeks to keep 
costs down, but still allow committees to fulfill their duties. This 
resolution recommends to the House an authorization to expend 
approximately $149.6 million in the first session and $154.9 million in 
the second session. This totals approximately $12.4 million below the 
combined levels requested by each of the committees.
  It further reflects the commitment of Democrats to fairness and 
bipartisanship. The resolution incorporates an amendment by Ranking 
Member Lungren and carries forward the ``one-third'' rule in which a 
third of committee resources are used to support the work of the 
minority.
  Rather than blindly tying committee funding to inflation or some 
other arbitrary number, this resolution is tailored to meet the unique 
challenges and circumstances facing this Congress.
  As we work to implement the sweeping agenda of Democratic leadership 
and the new Democratic administration while simultaneously addressing 
seemingly unprecedented challenges, this resolution sensibly provides 
targeted increases to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Financial 
Services, Small Business, and Standards of Official Conduct, among 
others.
  The 12 percent increase recommended for the Committee on Financial 
Services is vital, considering the committee's stewardship of our 
Nation's financial recovery. It ensures that the committee not only has 
the resources to develop the legislation necessary to further our 
economic recovery, but also ensures that the committee has the capacity 
to adequately oversee the execution of these policies.
  This increase, as well as the increase in funding for the Committee 
on Small Business, will help ensure that hard-earned taxpayer dollars 
are going into the right hands and helping the right people.
  Additionally, with health care reform a priority for this Congress 
and our new President, H. Res. 279 provides an increase of 11 percent 
for the Committee on Energy and Commerce so we can continue our efforts 
to provide health care for every single American, in addition to 
working to finally achieve energy independence.
  And while Congress continues to take on the task of overseeing our 
Nation's financial industry and the execution of our recovery 
initiatives, this body is ever-more scrutinized by the watchful eye of 
the American public. In order to ensure public trust in Congress, this 
resolution provides for an increase of 10 percent for the Committee on 
Standards of Official Conduct.
  This resolution provides a pragmatic, fiscally prudent approach to 
committee funding, increasing total funding in 2009 by less than 5 
percent, an amount within the D.C. cost of living adjustment.
  Further, it provides a 3.9-percent increase in 2010, to accommodate 
the increased legislative and oversight work load typically seen in the 
second session.
  It also assures adequate oversight by requiring committee chairs and 
ranking members to return to the Committee on House Administration by 
February of 2010 to report on committee spending.
  This funding resolution strikes a responsible balance between the 
expanded oversight duties of the 111th Congress and the realities of 
our current economic climate. It will help this Congress adequately 
meet our economy's pressing needs, while working toward implementing 
the policies that will drive our Nation into the 21st century.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this rule and of the resolution, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by expressing my appreciation 
to my very good friend from Fort Lauderdale, my Rules Committee 
colleague, Mr. Hastings, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes.
  And let me say that the American people are hurting. We know that. 
And Mr. Hastings has alluded to some of the challenges that we have. 
We're dealing with one of the most serious economic challenges that 
we've faced in modern history.

[[Page H4142]]

  And while the American people are facing their economic challenges, I 
think it's very important for us as an institution, especially as the 
body of the people, to realize that it's incumbent upon us to set an 
example.
  We all know that the Federal Government is filled, riddled with 
tremendous waste, fraud and abuse. It's a high level of frustration for 
Americans. And regardless of political party, people regularly talk 
about the challenge of dealing with waste, fraud and abuse.
  And I will say that one of our important responsibilities that too 
often is forgotten is our responsibility for oversight. We have to 
oversee the multifarious programs that have been put forward and 
established by this Congress.
  Now, from my perspective, we have way too many programs. The reach of 
the Federal Government is far beyond what it should be. And as we look 
at the budget which we're going to be debating later this week, the 
notion of having this dramatic increase in spending as a percentage of 
our gross domestic product is something that I find to be 
extraordinarily troubling. And we need to get our economy back on 
track. We need to make sure that we have in place an economic policy 
that will do that.
  And so the American people are clearly looking to this institution, 
they're looking to Washington, to make sure that we set policies that 
will allow them to, once again, keep their homes, meet the obligation 
of paying tuition for their children who are going to college, to pay 
their other bills. That is something that, on a regular basis, we as 
Members of Congress hear from the American people. So this issue of 
committee funding is an important one.
  And I will say that there is some concern that has been voiced on 
this side of the aisle. My California colleague, the ranking member of 
the Oversight Committee, is troubled over the fact that there have been 
increases in a number of other committees, and yet the Oversight and 
Government Reform Committee has not had the kind of increase that he 
believes is important.
  I also want to say that we should take our hats off to the chairman 
of the Administration Committee, Mr. Brady of Philadelphia, as well as 
my California colleague, Mr. Lungren, the gentleman from Sacramento, 
who is the ranking member. We have seen chairmen and ranking members of 
all of the committees go before their committee, and they have been 
deliberative and very thoughtful in this package that they have put 
together. But I do believe that there are, again, concerns that have 
been voiced by a number of our colleagues.
  I want to say that if we look at what has happened in the last couple 
of months, one particular entity that I think needs to have very, very, 
very close scrutiny paid to it when it comes to this issue of oversight 
is the Department of the Treasury. We know there have been programs 
that began last fall with the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the so-
called TARP program, and since that period of time we've had the 1,100-
page stimulus bill, which we know has been flawed.
  And I think it was demonstrated when, the week before last, we had 
the issue of trying to deal with the $167 million in bonuses that have 
been provided in the stimulus package for the executives of AIG. And so 
we have unintended consequences that stem from a dramatic expansion of 
the Federal Government. And everyone acknowledges that that's the case. 
And that's why we, on our side, are regularly trying to, again, limit 
that reach because no one knows exactly what the unintended 
consequences will be.
  Now, Mr. Lungren, the ranking member, informed me yesterday that we 
are going to, in this resolution, have a scrutiny over the action of 
every committee when it comes to the issue of oversight. And I do 
congratulate the members of the Administration Committee for ensuring 
that we do have more scrutiny put into place.
  I also want to mention an item that is included in this measure that 
is, I think, very, very important, and that is funding for a commission 
which I was privileged to found when we were in the majority, and now 
serve as the ranking member under our colleague, David Price, the 
gentleman from North Carolina, who has chaired this commission. It's 
known as the House Democracy Assistance Commission. And our commission 
has basically taken the challenge of building democratic institutions 
in new and re-emerging democracies around the world and worked to share 
our example of the United States Congress with these new and re-
emerging democracies. I mean, we are in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, 
Indonesia, Haiti, Colombia, Lebanon, Liberia, Kenya, Macedonia, 
Georgia, and Ukraine. I mean, we have worked closely with the 
parliaments to try and, again, share our example of the work of the 
United States Congress.
  And I regularly argue, Mr. Speaker, that we clearly don't have the 
answer, because we know that democracy is a work in progress. And I've 
often quipped that if some of these countries see the United States 
Congress in operation they may want to go back to totalitarianism. But 
the fact is we do have a 220-year example to which we can point as our 
work in progress. And this commission is, I believe, making great 
strides in trying to help build the parliaments in these countries so 
that, as we pursue economic growth and the rule of law in those 
countries, this commission is going to remain on the cutting edge of 
that very important work.
  So I will say that, again, there are concerns that have been voiced 
about the level of funding, and I think that there are a number of 
issues that we still do want to ensure that we address.
  But as the American people deal with the economic downturn that we're 
facing today, I think it is imperative that we, as an institution, do 
all that we can, Mr. Speaker, all that we can to ensure that we utilize 
those taxpayer dollars just as cost effectively as possible and, at the 
same time, redouble our efforts when it comes to overseeing this 
massive expansion of the Federal Government that has taken place.
  I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

                              {time}  1300

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I inquire of my good friend 
from California if he has any remaining speakers?
  Mr. DREIER. If the gentleman would yield, I would say to my friend, 
if he would like me to talk for another 15 or 20 minutes, I would be 
more than happy to.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I am the last speaker for this side, so I 
will reserve my time until the gentleman has closed for his side and 
has yielded back his time.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, with that, I will yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address one of 
the concerns that my good friend raised with reference to Oversight and 
Government Reform.
  It remains the second best-funded committee in the House with the 
second largest staff, and Oversight and Government Reform did not use 
$700,000 of their funding last year, showing that they have a good 
cushion of additional funding to use this year.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 297 is a practical resolution that reflects the 
new pressing priorities of the 111th Congress. The funding levels 
authorized in this resolution will provide our committees with the 
resources necessary to carry out Congress' increase in oversight 
responsibilities and to implement the sweeping legislative initiatives 
of the President's and Democrats' in Congress, referencing yet one more 
item raised by my good friend as he references the things that are 
being done.
  When people tell me that we are trying to do too much, I always ask: 
What is it that they would leave out that we should not be doing? Would 
they leave out education? Do they think that energy independence is not 
particularly critical? Is there anyone in this body or anywhere in this 
country who does not understand the critical need for health insurance 
for all Americans?
  One thing is certain: When we are talking about the economy, we are 
talking about health care, and if we do not do things with reference to 
health care, then we are not going to be able to solve our economic 
crisis.
  Mr. DREIER. Would the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Of course, I will yield.
  Mr. DREIER. I thank my good friend for yielding.

[[Page H4143]]

  Mr. Speaker, I would simply say that I completely concur with my 
friend on those two issues that he has just mentioned. Ensuring that we 
have access to quality health care in this country is, I believe, a 
right that needs to be pursued, number 1.
  Number 2, education is going to be critical. As we deal with our 
emergence from this economic downturn, the United States of America 
must remain on the cutting edge. The argument that one would get is 
regarding the exact role the Federal Government should play in every 
one of these things--in dramatically expanding the number of programs 
to deal with it or, in fact, in incentivizing those in the private 
sector. Do we do everything we can to, again, encourage greater access 
to health care and to quality education?
  I thank my friend for yielding.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Reclaiming my time, I am putting a question 
to my colleague, and I will then reference time for him.
  When you said we should incentivize the private sector, who is the 
``we'' that you are talking about?
  Mr. DREIER. Will my friend yield?
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Yes.
  Mr. DREIER. I thank my friend for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, let me just say, by incentivizing, I believe that we as 
an institution, through tax policy, can do everything that we possibly 
can.
  For example, in the area of health care, just to touch on that, I 
believe that a dramatic expansion of medical savings accounts--of which 
we have been on the cutting edge--of encouraging people to put dollars 
aside and to save and plan for their health care needs is a better way 
to go rather than dramatically expanding a government program to deal 
with it. That is the response, I would say, as far as incentivizing.
  I thank my friend for yielding.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Reclaiming my time, it is still the 
government as an institution that you refer to that is going to do 
these things. It is just that somehow or another, I guess, 
ideologically, my good friend and I are opposites when it comes, not 
only to health care, but to a variety of issues of major consequence.
  If this Nation does not face up to its responsibilities having to do 
with Social Security, if we do not significantly address the issues of 
Medicare and Medicaid, then somehow or another, I think we are leaving 
the least of us out of this process. It is one thing to believe that if 
we incentivize the Tax Code that it is going to solve the problem, but 
that is not going to reach those persons at the very bottom.
  For example, I hope that this budget addresses community health 
facilities. I believe this resolution represents the vital first step 
toward adequately addressing health care reform, energy policy and 
climate change, financial regulation and oversight, job growth and the 
recovery and long-term stability of our Nation's economy.
  Now, in spite of the criticism from our friends on the other side, if 
they feel about this rule that it is unfair, perhaps unprecedented, our 
only intention today is to ensure that this resolution is considered in 
a timely manner so that our committees may be adequately funded and so 
that we may continue to do the work of the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on 
the rule.
  I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question 
on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________