[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H3249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. CANTOR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland, 
the majority leader, for the purposes of announcing next week's 
schedule.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the Republican whip for yielding.
  On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:30 p.m. for morning-hour debate 
and 2 p.m. for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30 
p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for 
legislative business. On Friday, no votes are expected.
  We will consider several bills under suspension of the rules. The 
complete list of suspension bills will be announced by the close of 
business tomorrow. In addition, we will consider H.R. 5116, the America 
COMPETES Act.
  Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman.
  Madam Speaker, I noticed that the gentleman from Maryland, the 
majority leader, did not mention the budget or the Afghan-Iraq 
supplemental for next week's schedule. And I know that in our last 
week's colloquy the majority leader, the gentleman from Maryland, 
stated that he would consider these two items as soon as possible. So I 
would ask the gentleman if he has an update about floor consideration 
for either the budget resolution or the supplemental bill for 
Afghanistan and Iraq.
  Mr. HOYER. We are still working on the budget. I will hopefully bring 
that forward when it is ready, obviously when the Budget Committee 
considers it. As it relates to the Afghan-Pakistan supplemental, the 
President requested, as you know, approximately $33 billion in his 
budget at the beginning of the year. The Defense Department says that 
the money that they have will be depleted sometime this summer. It's 
important, obviously, therefore, that we move soon. And I hope to do 
that.
  I would hope that when we move this bill forward that we will see 
bipartisan support for it, obviously to support our troops in harm's 
way, carrying out a policy that I know, as the gentleman has observed 
before, the Republican whip himself and others have indicated their 
support of the President's policy in Afghanistan. This money for 
Afghanistan and Pakistan will fund those efforts. And I am hopeful when 
we do bring it forward that we will have bipartisan support for that 
piece of legislation.
  Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman.
  Just to clarify, Madam Speaker, does the gentleman expect either of 
these items to come to the floor prior to the Memorial Day recess?
  Mr. HOYER. I am hopeful that that will be the case, yes.
  Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman.
  I would ask the gentleman also, Madam Speaker, when does he expect 
the tax extender bill to come to the floor? I know Chairman Levin has 
alluded to it coming to the floor any time within the next 2 weeks. I 
would further ask the gentleman, Madam Speaker, does he expect that to 
be a 1- or a 2-year extension?
  Mr. HOYER. The committee has not acted, so I can't answer the second 
question per se on the 1 or 2 years. I will tell the gentleman that it 
is still my expectation, as Chairman Levin said, that that bill, the 
jobs bill with the extenders in it, will come forward within the next 2 
weeks.
  Chairman Baucus and Chairman Levin are discussing that bill. I am 
hopeful that they will reach agreement and can reach agreement on a 
bipartisan basis in the House and in the Senate. We are working toward 
that end. We believe this will be an important bill for business, an 
important bill for job growth, and an important bill to extend some of 
those items that, as the gentleman knows, some of them will expire in 
terms of authorization either by the end of this month or by June 2.
  Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman for that, and would inquire 
further, Madam Speaker, from the gentleman, I don't know if I am 
asking, Madam Speaker, whether it is his sense or preference about the 
length of the extension and whether we can expect or he would expect 
there to be a 1- or 2-year extension.
  Mr. HOYER. I would prefer that perhaps we do it for a longer period 
of time than 1 year. Two years would be acceptable. However, the 
problem, of course, is paying for things. As the gentleman knows, when 
these bills were considered, one of the things that the minority did 
with their MTR was to include more spending in and strike the pay-fors, 
which exacerbated the bill to the tune of about $100 billion. So I 
think the committee is dealing with what they can pay for.
  There will be some things, obviously, that we have accepted as 
emergencies caused by the severe economic downturn. But I think the 
length of time will probably be dictated by the issue of how we pay for 
things.
  Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman.
  I would reiterate, Madam Speaker, to the gentleman that Republicans 
stand ready to work with him in terms of trying to live up to the 
expectations that families across this country are having to live up 
to, which is to work in a fiscally responsible manner on a budget 
blueprint for the year, and am hopeful that Congress can deliver on 
that prior to the Memorial Day break.
  With nothing further, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.

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