[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 110 (Friday, July 8, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4564]
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 gentleman from California (Mr.
McCarthy), for the purpose of inquiring of the majority leader the
schedule for the week to come.
(Mr. McCARTHY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the House will meet at noon for morning-hour
and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30
p.m. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the House will meet at 10
a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Friday, the
House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business.
{time} 1215
Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next
week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business
today.
The House will also consider the fiscal year 2017 Interior
appropriations bill, sponsored by Representative Calvert.
Additionally, the House will consider the Separation of Powers
Restoration Act, sponsored by Representative Ratcliffe, as well as
three bills related to Iran, thanks to the work of Representatives
Pompeo and Royce. The House will also consider the Conscience
Protection Act, authored by Representative Diane Black.
Mr. Speaker, it is likely that several additional items will be added
to the schedule for next week, and Members will be advised of the final
schedule as soon as possible.
Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, normally, the colloquy between the majority leader and
myself on the schedule might be lengthier than it will be today. This
week has been a sobering week, a sad week.
I want to congratulate Speaker Ryan on the comments that he made this
morning. He said that ``every Republican and every Democrat wants to
see less gun violence.'' He then went on to say: ``Sometimes we
disagree on how to get there. Sometimes we disagree passionately on how
to get there.'' He went on to say: ``But in having this debate, let's
not lose sight of the values that unite us. Let's not lose sight in our
common humanity.'' He then said: ``We need to take a moment here for
reflection, for thought, for prayer, for justice, for action.''
Mr. Speaker, the majority leader and I have had a brief conversation
on the floor. He said to me--and I agree--that we need to sit down
together and try to see how we can bring this country and this House
together on a way forward to, as the gentlewoman from Texas said,
decrease the tensions that exist between citizens and law enforcement
officers, to ensure the safety not only of those officers but of Alton
Sterling, who lost his life, and of Philando Castile, who lost his
life--an instance that appeared to be horrifying and unacceptable.
I think all of us in this House and all Americans, Mr. Speaker, like
the majority leader has suggested to me--and I have responded--should
come together to de-escalate the tensions in our society, the
confrontations that we see too often, the rash rhetoric--the hateful
rhetoric in some cases--that is being used. I thank the majority
leader, Mr. Speaker, for what I believe to be his very sincere and
heartfelt thoughts along those lines.
So we will not engage in a colloquy today of differences but in a
colloquy that will, with prayerful consideration, try to serve the
people of this country and each and every individual in this country
towards a safer, more assured life in America.
I yield to my friend.
Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for
his words and our conversation prior.
Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is correct. Too many families are mourning
losses this week. I believe all Americans are praying for the
families--for the innocents who have been murdered in ambush. It is a
time for this Nation to heal; it is a time for this Nation to unite;
and it is a time for justice to be done. I think, for that to start,
this House needs to be an example. I thank the gentleman for being
accepting of and for being willing to work together as we have so many
times before.
As we know in this House, people come from many different parts of
this Nation and have expertise. I have sat and had a conversation with
Dave Reichert, who has tremendous expertise; and I have had
conversations with John Lewis. There is an ability within this House to
help this Nation unite and heal the wounds that are out there, and I
thank the gentleman for being willing to be a part of that.
Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for his comments.
My hope, Mr. Speaker, is that all of us will be willing to be a part
of that solution, not of the problem.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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