[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 168 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8763-H8765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 105, FURTHER 
              CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS, FISCAL YEAR 2011

  Mr. POLIS, from the Committee on Rules, submitted a privileged report 
(Rept. No. 111-689) on the resolution (H. Res. 1776) providing for 
consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 105) making further 
continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2011, and for other purposes, 
which was referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.
  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 1776 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 1776

       Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution it 
     shall be in order to consider in the House the joint 
     resolution (H.J. Res. 105) making further continuing 
     appropriations for fiscal year 2011, and for other purposes. 
     All points of order against consideration of the joint 
     resolution are waived except those arising under clause 10 of 
     rule XXI. The joint resolution shall be considered as read. 
     All points of order against provisions in the joint 
     resolution are waived. The previous question shall be 
     considered as ordered on the joint resolution to final 
     passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of 
     debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and 
     ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations; 
     and (2) one motion to recommit.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Colorado is recognized 
for 1 hour.

                              {time}  1520

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions). All 
time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.


                             General Leave

  Mr. POLIS. I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House 
Resolution 1776.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. POLIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Resolution 1776 provides a closed rule for the consideration of 
H.J. Res. 105, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 
2011, and for other purposes.
  The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by 
the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the joint resolution except those arising under clause 
10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that the joint resolution shall be 
considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against 
provisions of the joint resolution. Finally, the rule provides one 
motion to recommit the joint resolution with or without instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of approving a continuing 
resolution to maintain a level and consistent funding stream for our 
government.
  This resolution is aptly numbered ``1776,'' a patriotic number for a 
patriotic bill that will allow government to continue its normal 
operations until midnight, on Tuesday, to give the Senate a chance to 
complete its deliberations.
  I could take this opportunity to share the frustration of our 
colleagues at the inability of the Senate to complete its work in a 
timely manner; but in the spirit of the season, Mr. Speaker, I will 
simply say that we must pass this continuing resolution to allow the 
Senate to continue its important work and deliberations to create 
either a longer term continuing resolution or an omnibus appropriations 
package that will allow the regular business of government to keep the 
people of America safe to continue.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SESSIONS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank my friend, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) 
not only for his friendship but also for being with us today as we 
approach the floor on H. Res. 1776.
  Mr. Speaker, just last week, I stood right here to do a rule and 
pointed out that my Democrat colleagues continue to use an 
unprecedented restrictive and closed process on the House floor, and I 
am here today to tell the same story.
  At least this is very consistent behavior. For 2 years, we have had 
nothing but closed rules, and here we are today, in fact, in the same 
place, except what we are doing here today, again, is discussing a 
long-term continuing resolution, a resolution that went nowhere in the 
Senate. Yet we are here again today, doing another continuing 
resolution so that our government does not shut down on Saturday.
  Last week, the Rules Committee, under Democrat leadership, reported 
out an unprecedented long-term martial law rule. They gave themselves 
11 days to bring up any bill under a rule that same day, and just 
yesterday, they reported out an additional martial law rule through 
Christmas Eve. This only continues the backroom, closed deals that have 
been pursued throughout the 111th Congress.
  What was promised to be the most ``open, honest, and ethical'' 
Congress by Speaker Nancy Pelosi when she took the gavel has turned 
into the most closed, one-sided Congress in history. We tax too much. 
We spend too much. We regulate too much. We listen too little.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people asked for changes in 2008, and they 
got something that was far worse. In 3 weeks, that will change; but 
until then, I am here to discuss another closed rule for another 
continuing resolution.
  This day continues to bring about more overspending, which has been a 
common theme of the last two Congresses--not just another CR but 
another omnibus. The underlying legislation is a CR to keep the 
government running until Tuesday. That is true. The Democrats provided 
no budget this year, and the President has not signed one 
appropriations bill into law this year. So this legislation and the 
rule is just another tactic to keep the government running until the 
majority can figure out its next priority. Well, I assure you it will 
be all about spending.
  Over the past 3 years, nondefense, non-Homeland Security and non-
Veterans Affairs discretionary spending has increased by a staggering 
88 percent. In the meantime, the Nation's debt has risen to $13.5 
trillion. There have been yearly record deficits since our friends, the 
Democrats, took the majority and record unemployment. The unemployment 
rate has now been

[[Page H8764]]

at or above 9.5 percent for 18 consecutive months.
  Republicans want to take spending levels back to 2008, which would 
save American taxpayers nearly $100 billion in the first year. I think 
the American people are fed up with taxing, borrowing, spending, closed 
rules, and more rules and regulations than we have seen in the past 4 
years, which has brought us nothing but more unemployment, higher debt 
and a monster deficit. Americans have called for an end to the reckless 
spending and for a new era of fiscal discipline. Yet it continues to 
fall on deaf ears even today.
  This country needs leaders who are willing to make tough financial 
decisions and fiscal decisions that will bring back our economy, 
stability, job growth--not just more of the same taxing and spending.
  Mr. Speaker, as if continuing the spending levels from 2010 weren't 
enough, my colleagues on the Democrat side of the aisle are here, 
acting only today to await a possible Senate omnibus bill that has a 
total price tag of $1.1 trillion more to be spent in the next 10 
months. That's not called ``running the government.'' Running the 
government has already been taken care of. This is $1.1 trillion.
  When will the majority recognize that this simply cannot and should 
not continue? When will the Democrats understand that taxing and 
spending and putting our children in an unfavorable position for their 
futures will not be tolerated?
  In true fashion, I know, the Democrats have an agenda, and they need 
to continue it until the very end, and that is what they are doing. 
They have shut out Republican ideas for the past 4 years. They continue 
to shut out the American people. Continuing on the path of reckless 
government spending will only put us, our children, and our future in 
debt. Congress must do better.
  So, on behalf of my party, the Republican Party, we are on the floor 
today to recognize H. Res. 1776. We are going to oppose this rule. We 
are going to oppose the additional spending, and we promise to do 
better.
  Just last week, I stood right here to do a rule and pointed out that 
my democrat colleagues continue to use an unprecedented, restrictive, 
and closed process on the House floor, and here I am again to tell the 
same story. In fact, last week I was standing here before you Mr. 
Speaker discussing a long term Continuing Resolution--a resolution that 
went nowhere in the Senate. Yet, here we are again today, doing another 
Continuing Resolution so our government does not shut down by this 
Saturday. Week after week my friends on the other side of the aisle 
continue to bulldoze their massive spending agenda through the floor of 
the House with no Republican input, and no regular order. Last week the 
Rules Committee, under Democrat leadership, reported out an 
unprecedentedly long martial law rule. They gave themselves eleven days 
to bring up any bill under a rule the same day, and just yesterday they 
reported out an additional martial law rule through Christmas Eve. This 
only continues the backroom, closed deals they have pursued throughout 
the 111th Congress.
  What was promised to be the most ``open, honest and ethical'' 
Congress by Speaker Pelosi when she took the gavel, has been the most 
closed, and one-sided Congress in history. The American people asked 
for change in 2008 and they got something far worse. They received a 
Democrat Congress that doesn't listen to the American people, and a 
Congress that acts on their own interest and not the interest of the 
American taxpayer.
  Mr. Speaker, in three weeks that will change. But until then, I am 
here to discuss another closed rule for another Continuing Resolution. 
The legislation before us continues to over-spend--a common theme over 
the last two Congresses.
  The underlying legislation is a CR to keep the government running 
until Tuesday. The Democrats provided no budget for this year and the 
President has not signed one appropriations bill into law--so this 
legislation and rule is just another tactic to keep the government 
running until the Majority can kick the responsibility to the 
Republicans next Congress.
  Over the past three years, non-defense, non-homeland security, and 
non-veterans affairs discretionary spending has increased by a 
staggering 88 percent. In the meantime, the nation's debt has risen to 
$13.5 trillion, there have been yearly record deficits since the 
Democrats took the Majority, and the unemployment rate has been at or 
above 9.5% for 18 consecutive months.

  This CR does almost nothing to reverse this trend and instead 
continues the unsustainable, high rate of spending passed the Democrat 
Majority last year. This includes more spending for many federal 
agencies that received massive increases with the Democrat Stimulus 
bill in 2009. My Republican colleagues and I have pledged to cut non-
security spending back to the fiscal year 2008 levels which would save 
American taxpayers nearly $100 billion in the first year.
  The American people are fed-up with the tax, borrow and spend 
policies of the past 4 years, which has brought nothing but 
unemployment, debt and deficit. Americans have called for an end to 
reckless spending and a new era of fiscal discipline, yet it continues 
to fall on deaf ears here today. This country needs leaders that are 
willing to make the tough fiscal decisions that will provide economic 
stability and job growth, not just more of the same.
  In true fashion, my democrat colleagues continue to push their own 
agenda on the American people. They have shut out Republicans over the 
past 4 years, and they continue to shut out the American people. 
Continuing on the path of reckless government spending, will only put 
the U.S. further in debt burdening future generations. Congress must do 
better for the American people. I oppose this rule.
  Mr. Speaker, you have heard me say it over and over, but the American 
people we promised an ``open, honest and ethical'' Congress, and that 
is not what they have received. Congress only received the text of this 
legislation a few hours ago. American's have called for transparency 
and bipartisanship and have only seen a secretive dictatorship.
  I ask my colleagues to vote no on the rule. Vote ``no'' to stop the 
reckless fiscal policies that Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats have 
pursued over the last 4 years. It is time to end the idea of Big 
Government and Big Spending.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. POLIS. I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I could certainly discuss how the House has passed two 
appropriations bills this year--the Transportation-HUD appropriations 
bill and the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations 
bill, while the Senate has not passed a single appropriations measure. 
Last year, the House passed all of the appropriations measures.
  I could certainly also discuss how, in the 12 years that the 
Republicans controlled the House, there were a number of years when not 
a single regular appropriations measure was enacted by October 1--in 
1996, in 2002, and in 2003. In fact, in those 12 years, CRs were 
enacted 84 times.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of the season, in the spirit of 
charity, and in the spirit of our colleagues' desire to complete their 
work in this body, I will simply say that it is critical for the basic 
functions of government to continue over the next 5 days, particularly 
during this travel season.
  Where would we be on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year 
if we cut off funding for our air marshals, which the failure of this 
bill would ensue?
  Just yesterday, I was proud that this body passed and sent to the 
President a bill to keep taxes low for all Americans. I supported this 
bill, along with 139 of my Democratic colleagues and 138 of my 
Republican colleagues. In voicing their support for the legislation, 
many of our friends on both sides of the aisle cited the need for 
certainty and stability.
  Well, Mr. Speaker, this bill before us today provides certainty and 
predictability for the basic functions of the Federal Government until 
next Tuesday, at midnight, by which point we will undertake a longer 
term continuing resolution or other measure to allow for the basic 
functions of government to continue.
  I call upon my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying 
legislation, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on 
the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the 
previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

[[Page H8765]]



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