[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 149-156]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   RESOLUTION TO CUT CONGRESS' BUDGET

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 22) reducing the amount 
authorized for salaries and expenses of Member, committee, and 
leadership offices in 2011 and 2012.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.

[[Page 150]]

  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                               H. Res. 22

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. REDUCTION IN MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCE.

       (a) Allowances Adopted in 2011 and 2012.--The amount of any 
     Members' Representational Allowance established in accordance 
     with section 101 of the House of Representatives 
     Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act (2 U.S.C. 
     57b) for 2011 or 2012 may not exceed 95 percent of the amount 
     of the Allowance so established for 2010.
       (b) Interim Reduction Pending Adoption of New Allowance.--
     Until a Members' Representational Allowance is established in 
     accordance with section 101 of the House of Representatives 
     Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act (2 U.S.C. 
     57b) for 2011, the amount of such Allowance, as in effect on 
     the date of the adoption of this resolution, is reduced by 5 
     percent.

     SEC. 2. REDUCTION IN AMOUNT AUTHORIZED FOR SALARIES AND 
                   EXPENSES OF HOUSE LEADERSHIP OFFICES IN 2011 
                   AND 2012.

       (a) Reduction.--The head of any House leadership office may 
     not authorize the disbursement of any amounts appropriated 
     for salaries and expenses of such office during calendar year 
     2011 or fiscal year 2012 at a rate exceeding 95 percent of 
     the rate provided for such salaries and expenses for fiscal 
     year 2010.
       (b) Definition.--In this section, a ``House leadership 
     office'' is any office whose salaries and expenses were 
     appropriated for fiscal year 2010 under the heading ``House 
     leadership offices'' in the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
     Act, 2010.

     SEC. 3. REDUCTION IN AMOUNT AUTHORIZED FOR EXPENSES OF 
                   COMMITTEES IN 2011 AND 2012.

       (a) Primary Expense Resolutions.--The aggregate amount 
     authorized for expenses of committees of the House of 
     Representatives for 2011 and 2012 under primary expense 
     resolutions adopted by the House under clause 6 of rule X of 
     the Rules of the House of Representatives may not exceed 95 
     percent of the aggregate amount provided for expenses of 
     committees under such resolutions for 2009 and 2010.
       (b) Interim Funding Pending Adoption of Primary Expense 
     Resolutions.--Notwithstanding paragraph (c) of clause 7 of 
     rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, each 
     committee described in paragraph (a) of such clause shall be 
     entitled for each month during the period specified in 
     paragraph (a) of such clause to 95 percent of the amount 
     otherwise determined under paragraph (c) of such clause.

     SEC. 4. REDUCTION IN AMOUNT AUTHORIZED FOR SALARIES AND 
                   EXPENSES OF COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS IN 2011 
                   AND 2012.

       The chair of the Committee on Appropriations may not 
     authorize the disbursement of any amounts appropriated for 
     salaries and expenses of the Committee during fiscal year 
     2011 or fiscal year 2012 at a rate exceeding 91 percent of 
     the rate provided for such salaries and expenses for fiscal 
     year 2010.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 5(b) of House Resolution 
5, the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) and the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) each will control 1 hour.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today is a momentous day. We are all here together as 
Members of a new Congress and, more importantly, at the cusp of a new 
era in America's political life. I find it humbling and most 
appropriate that while yesterday we were ceremonially sworn in in this 
historic House Chamber and appropriately voted on a transparency-
enhancing rules package, today we began our proceedings with a reading 
of the United States Constitution. The Constitution not only 
establishes our polity and our framework of government, it enshrines as 
our fundamental law the proper role of government.
  Mr. Speaker, as we promised in our Pledge to America, today's reading 
was an affirmation of our commitment to return this government back to 
its proper role--a smaller, less costly, more accountable one.
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us, introduced by my colleague 
from Oregon, is extremely important to today's affirmation. And it is 
no accident that this is our first piece of legislative business in 
this the 112th Congress.
  This legislation is significant because, along with our other 
activities here on the House floor this week, this bill committing 
ourselves to a more responsible and efficient stewardship of the 
taxpayers' dollars demonstrates, we hope, to the American people that 
we are listening.
  Mr. Speaker, the people's House should act first and lead by example. 
Everybody knows that across this country families and small businesses 
have cut their spending, are paying off their debt, and are striving to 
live within their means. We should do the same, and this legislation is 
a beginning. It will do that by having an immediate impact, and I would 
like to thank the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) and his transition 
team for their hard work and their constructive ideas.
  Under this resolution, each leadership, committee and Member office 
in the 112th Congress will receive no more than 95 percent of its 111th 
Congress funding level. In fiscal year 2011, this will mean a savings 
of $1 million from leadership offices, a savings of $8.1 million from 
committee budgets, and a savings of $26.1 million from, collectively, 
the Members' office budgets. For those who may not know, the Members' 
office budgets are the specific amounts that are given to Members so 
that they can carry out their functions as Members of Congress. It 
includes the ability to communicate with their constituents, it 
includes paying for their staff, it includes paying for their 
transportation from their district to Washington, D.C. and back; it 
includes the rental on their district offices. In other words, it is 
the money that is utilized for Members to carry out their official 
activities. These are important jobs that Members are required to do if 
in fact we are to represent our people appropriately. Nonetheless, even 
though these are important things that we do, we should try to be even 
more efficient in the way that we do them. That is the purpose of this 
legislation before us.
  Mr. Speaker, these are substantial cuts in budgets, in budgets that 
frankly cannot continue indefinitely on an upward trajectory. We must 
all find ways to do more with less, to enhance our productivity, and to 
ferret out waste or inefficiencies wherever they may be. With that 
being said, this initial savings is only a down payment on future 
efforts. My colleagues and I on House Administration are dedicated to 
continuing savings and reductions in spending in other areas as well. 
Thus, for fiscal year 2012, we have committed to keeping this 5 percent 
reduction in place. We are also directing all House officers, such as 
the Clerk, the Sergeant at Arms and the Chief Administrative Officer, 
to find savings within their own organizations without sacrificing 
their services and the excellence they pride themselves on maintaining; 
in other words, to do what all Americans are attempting in their own 
lives, finding ways to do more with less. We look forward to hearing 
from these and other House offices in specificity as to what their 
cost-savings plans will be.
  As has been said by our Speaker, we have committed to cutting 
domestic spending and returning non-security discretionary spending to 
2008 levels. If we could live on that level of spending a mere 2 years 
ago, surely we can find ways to do so again. Again, American families 
are doing it. American businesses are doing it. We must try as well.
  Mr. Speaker, listening to the American people and restoring the 
proper role of government means decreasing spending, ending our deficit 
mentality, and fostering job creation. These are the virtues that have 
made this country great and will sustain us in the future.
  I want to publicly thank my colleague from Oregon (Mr. Walden) and 
his transition team for the efforts that they have put into this 
legislation, and I would urge all of my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.

[[Page 151]]

  Mr. Speaker, as a staunch advocate for strong, accountable 
stewardship of hard-earned taxpayer dollars, I applaud any effort to 
responsibly address this concern. I travel back and forth to my 
district every day in the city of Philadelphia, and I spend a large 
portion of every day listening to constituents as they voice their 
concerns over our economy and the real impact it has on their day-to-
day lives. Certainly this House must take steps to ensure that 
resources are effectively utilized, administered and accounted for. To 
that end, I support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do 
so as well.
  During the 111th Congress, significant steps were taken by the House 
leadership to expand transparency and responsible use of taxpayer 
dollars. At the direction of Speaker Pelosi, the Committee on House 
Administration under my chairmanship worked with the office of the CAO 
to introduce the House statement of disbursements in an online, 
electronic format. For the first time, constituents, the media and 
other concerned individuals could review every penny spent by Members, 
committees and leadership offices.
  Through the Green the Capitol initiative and with the cooperation of 
the Architect of the Capitol, we rolled out enhancements designed to 
increase the energy efficiency of the Capitol Complex, resulting in 
cost savings.
  Under the Democratic majority, we put in place requirements that only 
vehicles meeting lower greenhouse emissions standards were eligible for 
MRA-funded lease payments. Not only does this have a positive 
environmental impact, it also reduces fuel costs, since these vehicles 
are generally more fuel efficient.
  The cost savings that were introduced were done so responsibly and 
with a constant eye on ensuring that Members have the resources they 
need also to be able to serve their constituency. That's ultimately the 
reason why we are here. I look forward to exploring additional, 
responsible cost savings opportunities with Chairman Lungren in the 
spirit of bipartisanship cooperation that we have enjoyed for many 
years, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1240

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes 
to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) who spent an enormous amount 
of time beginning immediately after the elections to bring us to this 
point.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the House 
Administration Committee for his help and assistance as we worked 
through the transition. I also want to thank the ranking member the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) and the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Andrews) as well who were designated by then-Speaker Pelosi 
to be a formal conduit for us on the transition. They were most helpful 
and gave us good insights. And I want to thank all the Members who 
participated and the staff whom we reached out to in a survey across 
this campus to say, How can we do this better? How can we be more 
efficient with our time and the taxpayers' money? Where can we cut 
costs?
  Today is that first installment. There is an old saying that the 
journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Ladies and 
gentlemen, this is a single step forward, but it is a $35 million first 
step. We think we can at least save that in this effort today, and 
leadership really starts at the top.
  The American people have spoken loudly and clearly. They are very 
concerned about the economy and their jobs and their communities and 
they are equally and deeply concerned about the deficits that have been 
racked up by both parties over time. We have to turn that around, or we 
end up looking like some of these countries elsewhere around the globe 
that are facing financial ruin if they don't change. We have to change, 
too, and we are asking ourselves to take the first step here and save 
at least $35 million.
  As the gentleman from Pennsylvania has pointed out and the gentleman 
from California has pointed out, this is the first installment. Our 
management team in this organization is looking at each department on 
how they can achieve additional savings. As you know, we have an 
Inspector General that looks at everything on Capitol Hill and 
identifies ways we can improve safety and security and cut costs and be 
more efficient, so we are letting them do their management piece.
  Now, I was a small business owner for 22 years with my wife out in 
Oregon. I understand that if you don't watch the pennies and the 
nickels, you will never get to the dollars. You have to look at 
everything you do in real time to try and squeeze out efficiency, and I 
think we have done that.
  As Republicans, our pledge to America was to do exactly that across 
the government, and you will see oversight hearings about policy, 
oversight hearings about job-killing regulations because we want to get 
America working again. And I know my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle share that view, that it is the private sector jobs that we 
have to get restored in this country. We have to grow the economy and 
create jobs and put Washington's fiscal house back in order, and we 
will take the first steps today with this legislation and this 
resolution.
  So, specifically, we cut we believe $35 million out of our own 
budgets. It is a 5-percent reduction, except, I should point out, the 
Appropriations Committee will actually suffer a 9-percent reduction, 
and they came forward with that level. I applaud them for that.
  This is firm, but flexible. Members will still determine within their 
budgets how they are spent. We don't micromanage here. We treat you as 
adults, and we are going to treat government agencies as adults. But we 
will expect results because the American people spoke clearly in 
November and said, we want transparency, we want openness, we want 
accountability, we want you to cut deficit spending, and we want you to 
create private sector jobs.
  So, Mr. Chairman, I think we have begun that process today. I thank 
my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for supporting this 
bipartisan effort.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I also would like to thank Mr. Walden for 
allowing us to participate, myself and Mr. Andrews from New Jersey.
  I certainly do not want to get you in any kind of trouble here today, 
but we did have some ideas that happened to fall into and come into 
implementation of your plan. I know that was just great minds thinking 
alike. It wasn't that it was our idea that did that. But I am talking 
especially toward the schedule. I do appreciate that. I appreciate you 
allowing us to participate in what you have done there and look forward 
again to working with you in the future.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. At this time, Mr. Speaker, it is 
my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. 
Rogers), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I thank the chairman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a historic time for this Congress, this House 
and my committee. I can say without a moment's hesitation that this day 
represents a crucial turning point for our Nation as this new Congress 
begins a path to fiscal sanity.
  With this resolution today, Congress will begin immediately to reduce 
spending, starting here and now with our own office budgets and our 
committee budgets and the like.
  To demonstrate my strong commitment to slashing spending, reducing 
our national deficit and getting our economy back on track, I have 
directed my own committee budget to be cut not by 5 percent, Mr. 
Speaker, but by 9 percent, nearly double the amount of reduction 
proposed for other House offices. What the Appropriations Committee is 
saying to all other committees is, we see your five; we raise you four. 
So we are cutting 9 percent.
  This year, the Appropriations Committee will be ground zero for a 
wide range of reductions across the Federal Government; and by cutting 
our own

[[Page 152]]

budget first, Mr. Speaker, we are showing we are willing to lead by 
example.
  This is a critical time for the Appropriations Committee, as we will 
carry out the most expansive reduction of discretionary spending in the 
history of this country. Under my watch, the Appropriations Committee 
will be an instrument of change, to enforce the will of the American 
people.
  My Republican colleagues on the committee and I are ready to stand 
and fight for the American people and show that we are serious about 
our commitment to rein in government spending and control our exploding 
deficits. Yet it is important to remember that slashing spending to 
save taxpayer dollars and reducing the size of government is a means to 
an end. We must always keep our eyes on the ultimate goal--improving 
our economy, getting our people back to work and safeguarding the 
Nation's financial security for the future.
  The one and only mandate that we received from the American people in 
November, in my judgment, was to put our economy and jobs first. This 
is why people came to the polls and voted for a change in this body, 
and this is the duty that we must fulfill.
  To this end, it is clear that this Congress cannot let favored, yet 
troublesome, programs slip by or allow turf battles to cloud our shared 
interest in protecting the taxpayer. Our budget ax will swing wide and 
true, and no area of the Federal Government will be immune from our 
scrutiny and cuts. Sacred cows are, for all intents and purposes, 
extinct.
  Mr. Speaker, we have a big job ahead of us. While this resolution is 
a small step forward, it is a giant leap to show, in a very personal 
and practical way, the commitment we have to reducing spending and 
getting our economy back on track. The first drawn blood is ours.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, at this time I 
yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw).
  Mr. CRENSHAW. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding the time.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution. What does it do? You 
have heard quite simply that it saves the American taxpayers millions 
of dollars. How does it do it? Quite simply, it says we are going to 
spend less money in this House.
  These are difficult times, and we can't just keep on doing things 
like we have always done them. We have got to change things. No more 
perks, no more privileges, no more waste. We have a chance with this 
resolution to, in the House, look at ourselves in the mirror and say we 
are going to lead by example.

                              {time}  1250

  The American people have been making these tough choices all along. I 
think it's time that this House put its own house in order. But we have 
to remember that actions speak louder than words. Difficult times mean 
leaders have to lead. We have a chance to take a bold step to say that 
we're going to try to stop this culture of spending that we've all 
gotten used to and say, Let's start a culture of savings.
  Now, that's not going to be easy. It's going to be hard. It's going 
to be painful. It's going to be difficult. It's going to be tough. But 
we must do it. And that's where we begin to start. That's what this 
resolution does. It says that we're going to take the first step. We're 
going to cut our own spending. We're going to do more with less. And I 
think right now we can do a whole lot more with a whole lot less. I 
know that, you know that, and I think the American people know that. 
But we all know that we need money to provide services.
  Right now, it seems to me that government needs something more. We 
need discipline to rein in spending. We need courage to make the right 
decisions, even when they're hard. And we need to seize the challenge 
to provide services in these difficult times. We've got to make sure 
that every task of government is accomplished more efficiently and more 
effectively than it ever has been before, because if life is going to 
change in America, life has to change here in Washington. And this is 
the first step.
  So I urge the adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. At this time I would like to 
yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Mrs. Roby), a member 
of the transition team.
  Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is on an unsustainable path. Over 
the last 2 years, all we have seen from Washington is more spending, 
more borrowing, and more debt. The American taxpayer has been burdened 
with $3 trillion worth of bailouts and buyouts. Never before has the 
government spent so much while the people received so little. One of 
the goals of the transition team was to restore fiscal responsibility 
to Congress. And I would like to thank the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Walden) for his leadership on that transition team.
  Working families all across America have been forced to tighten their 
belts during this economic downturn. The Congress should be no 
different. Our proposal would cut Members' representational allowances 
by 5 percent. It will save the American taxpayer at least $35 million 
annually over the next year.
  No one is suggesting that this is a silver bullet. In fact, it is far 
from it. Reducing our soaring debt will require this Congress to deeply 
commit to the tough choices that will be required to put our Nation 
back on track. But, in many ways, our budget woes began in this 
Chamber. And so, too, should they end. This resolution is a symbolic 
start to this process.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I 
would yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. On the campaign trail for the last 
several months we've heard two things from people. We've heard: cut 
spending, cut spending, cut spending. And the other thing we heard 
consistently was: live by the decisions that you make in Congress.
  Well, today we have a great opportunity before us. We have an 
opportunity to do both--to start cutting spending--$35 million-plus in 
spending cuts--starting with us. It means that we start first and 
foremost by living with the decisions that we make. A 5-percent 
deduction in our MRAs gives us an opportunity to not spend the money so 
that other folks in families and small businesses have an opportunity 
when not paying taxes to invest more money in the future of their 
country and their families.
  Second, as we consistently live under our own decisions, we tell the 
American people that we are simply ``listening.'' I heard constantly 
that the American people want a Congress that listens; that hears what 
they're saying; that understands their pain and then does something 
about it. The first step in that direction is for us to start living 
within our own means and to tell the American people that we hear them.
  If we want to restore the confidence of the American people in their 
elected officials, we must start by doing things like this--cutting 
ourselves first and asking the rest of the government to follow.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, at this time it is 
my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Gardner), a member of the transition team.
  Mr. GARDNER. I thank the gentleman from California.
  Mr. Speaker, today I am glad to support a resolution that puts away 
the knives of politics and instead pulls out the shears of budget 
cutting. Thank you to Representative Walden for your work on the 
transition committee to again restore accountability and transparency 
by leading by example in one of the most historic institutions this 
world has ever witnessed.
  Throughout my time in the State legislature of Colorado and 
throughout the past several months I have talked to constituents around 
the Fourth Congressional District of Colorado about the need to lead by 
example--the need to start in our own backyard first to

[[Page 153]]

cut our budgets to make sure that we are leading by example. Just a 
couple of rows from here in this Chamber when we took the oath, my 7-
year-old daughter accompanied me to witness the transition of power. 
But that means nothing if we cannot lead by example. And I will have 
failed her as a 7-year-old child, and every child like her, if we do 
not lead by example--and we start today by cutting our own budgets.
  The 5 percent cut to our budget is not massive, but it is monumental. 
And it's something that we must all take seriously, our efforts to 
begin leading the American people. Around this country, citizens of the 
United States are looking to Congress for signs of hope--signs of hope 
that we have learned a lesson that this Congress has spent too much, 
grown too much, and that we will put our own house in order.
  Mr. Speaker, today I have the honor of standing in support of a 
resolution that says to the American people we will indeed lead by 
example. We will begin in our house first.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, at this time it 
gives me a great deal of pleasure to yield 1 minute to the majority 
leader of the House of Representatives, the distinguished gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Cantor).
  Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman from California.
  Mr. Speaker, our new majority will be a results-driven Congress with 
one clear goal: to create jobs and generate economic growth. Our 
defining principle will be ``cut-and-grow.'' Cut spending and job-
killing regulations and grow jobs and the economy.
  Our mission is urgent. For the economy to grow, families, businesses, 
and financial markets need to know that we are serious about cutting 
spending. If we don't act, the threat of future tax increases, 
inflation, and higher borrowing costs will continue to serve as an 
anchor on the economy.
  Beginning the new Republican majority by cutting our own 
congressional operating budgets sends the right message. The days of 
families and small businesses tightening their belts while the Federal 
Government goes on a spending spree are over. This self-imposed 5-
percent cut to our own House operating budgets will save American 
taxpayers more than $35 million immediately. I hope that Federal 
agencies across the spectrum will follow suit and find ways to cut 
their own budgets.
  This legislation is a small, but significant, step toward promoting a 
culture of opportunity, responsibility, and success. I urge my 
colleagues to support it.

                              {time}  1300

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I 
would like to yield 3 minutes to another gentleman who served us well 
on the transition team, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger).
  Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of House Resolution 22. In fact, it is an honor to give my 
first speech in the House of Representatives on this issue.
  When I went around in the campaign, I heard from the people of the 
11th District of Illinois repeatedly about a number of things, but at 
the forefront, it was ``cut spending.'' We have a massive deficit. We 
have lived the last few years acting like we can just spend money and 
never worry about it; but we saw a massive change in the last few 
months, and it is time for us to heed that message. How better to do it 
than to lead by example?
  As well as hearing about our needing to cut spending, I heard about 
humility a lot and about a majority that needs to lead with a sense of 
humbleness. I think this is key, to lead by example, but we need to 
wrestle the beast of spending. I don't have kids yet, but someday I 
will, and when I do, I don't want to live with the responsibility that 
I continue to shovel debt and debt on top of them and make them have to 
handle that now.
  As a member of the military--and I've been doing that for 8 years--I 
also understand what sacrifice is, and I understand that folks have 
been fighting on the outside for the defense of our country. It is time 
for us now to fight on the inside for the defense of our country. $35 
million isn't going to solve all of our budget problems, but it's a 
good first step. This is the first step in a probably very painful 
process where we have to understand and wrestle with this beast and 
where everybody is going to have to sacrifice, but it is the first step 
and a very necessary step to ensure that we are leaving our children a 
Union, a country, far better than the one we inherited.
  So to the people of the 11th District of Illinois and to the people 
of America, let me say the freshman class and the Republican majority 
have heard your voice. We heard what you said on November 2. We are 
going to seriously cut spending, and we are going to start with our own 
budget. We are proud to do it, and we are going to step forward and 
lead and make you proud.
  Thank you so much for the opportunity to address this issue.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. At this time, I would like to 
yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Harper), a 
member of the House Administration Committee.
  Mr. HARPER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I am eager to enact the Republican governing agenda that 
focuses on creating jobs, driving down spending and shrinking the size 
of the Federal Government.
  Republicans will take swift action to turn America from the failed 
economic policies of the last 2 years to the conservative principles to 
promote prosperity through individual freedoms and liberties. Our plan 
includes initiatives to pay down the national debt and put the Federal 
Government back on a path to a balanced budget. This goal can be 
achieved by employing fiscally conservative policies--just like this.
  Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government is broke, borrowing 41 cents of 
every dollar that we spend. Nearly one in 10 American workers is 
unemployed while the Federal Government has added 100,000 new jobs. 
Washington continues to record trillion dollar deficits despite the 
fact that family budgets get smaller and smaller. The government cannot 
continue to grow while Americans' wallets shrink.
  As lawmakers, we must lead by example. For this past Congress, my 
first term, my congressional office has come in under budget, 
voluntarily returning approximately 10 percent of the Members' 
representational allowance. This gesture has not impacted the quality 
of our representation and our constituent services. During this time 
period, my office has replied to over 37,000 emails and letters and has 
connected with nearly 82,000 constituents via teleconference.
  I urge Congress to follow this example by providing taxpayers with a 
fiscally responsible operating budget. Our path to a balanced budget 
begins today, and it begins with this vote.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, at this time, it is 
my privilege to yield 3 minutes a new member of our House 
Administration Committee but a veteran of this House, the gentleman 
from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank 
Mr. Lungren. I thank Mr. Brady. I thank Mr. Walden and the members of 
the transition team, many of whom have spoken on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, clearly, it is time for us--we Members of Congress of 
the House of Representatives--with House Resolution 22, to show good 
faith and regard to tightening our belts. It has been said by other 
Members that cutting the Members' representational allowance is kind of 
routine for a lot of the Members.
  I know that, this past year, I returned something like $160,000 of 
the MRA to the Treasury and, over the course of my 8 years in Congress, 
in the aggregate, some $900,000. Quite honestly, that is more than a 5 
percent cut. So it can be done, and many Members have done that as 
well.
  We have concerns, of course, as to where that money goes to. Does it 
go

[[Page 154]]

to truly reducing the deficit and long-term debt?
  I will be introducing, Mr. Speaker, legislation later on today that 
by law requires that that money that is turned back in goes back to the 
taxpayer. Yet this piece of legislation, House Resolution 22, is 
something that I think will have wide, if not unanimous, bipartisan 
support.
  As I say, the former chairman of this committee, Mr. Brady, now the 
ranking member of the current chairman's committee, my good friend Dan 
Lungren from California, is of the same mind in regard to fiscal 
responsibility and doing what is right for the American people.
  On November 2, they were telling us, Look, we are sick and tired of 
you guys who just keep throwing money at things, like the $1 trillion 
cost of the stimulus bill and another $1 trillion for the Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act. Some people recognize that better 
as ObamaCare. But, you know, when you've got $1.4 trillion worth of 
deficit for 2 or 3 years in a row, no wonder you add $5 trillion to the 
long-term debt, and you get up to something like $14 trillion.
  So, Mr. Speaker, at a time when there is a 9.8 percent unemployment 
rate and when families across the country are forced to tighten their 
belts, I wholeheartedly believe that Congress should lead by example. 
That is what we are doing with this bill.
  I appreciate my colleagues giving me time to weigh in on this. I 
fully support it, and I look forward to being a member of the 
committee.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I 
would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. 
Miller), who has done great work in the past about the operations of 
this House.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, we have a spending problem here in the Congress of the 
United States. We know it. All the Members here know it, and certainly 
the American people know it as well. Over the past few years, we have 
run deficits of over $1 trillion each year, and we have driven our 
national debt to over $14 trillion.
  On November 2, 2010, the American people spoke out in a very loud and 
clear voice: Stop the reckless spending. The Republican majority 
elected on November 2 heard the call of the American people, and we 
will start the spending cuts today by cutting our own budgets by 5 
percent.
  You know, since my election to Congress, I have always tried to be a 
good steward of the money that is appropriated to my budget to serve my 
constituents. In the last Congress, I returned, actually, about 11 
percent of the money that was allotted. In 2009, I returned nearly 8 
percent to the Treasury, and in 2010, I expect that return to be almost 
14 percent. I am sure that many Members can make similar claims here.
  A cut of 5 percent for Members, for leadership offices, and for 
committees is a very important first step in getting our spending under 
control. Some may say that 5 percent doesn't cut nearly enough, but 
certainly, it is a welcomed change, and we are going in the right 
direction rather than in the wrong direction of increasing these 
Members' allowances that we have seen for too many years.
  If we cannot cut our own budgets, how can the American people expect 
us to start cutting spending?
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in sending this important 
message to the American people that we are very serious about cutting 
spending. We get it. We heard what the American people said in this 
last election, and we are starting here, right now, with ourselves.

                              {time}  1310

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I would make an 
inquiry as to whether the gentleman has further requests for time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I don't think so, no.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. If the gentleman is going to 
yield back the balance of his time after his statement, I will do the 
same on this side.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman, my friend from the 
great State of Pennsylvania, who has worked on a bipartisan basis, most 
of the time, and what I mean by that is about 85 percent or 90 percent 
of the work we do on our committee has to do with making this place 
work, helping Members do the job that they were elected to do to 
represent their constituents, and making sure this institution of the 
House of Representatives works. There is a sense of a pride of the 
institution that I think marks our committee, and we try in a very real 
way to work, both on the Democratic and Republican sides, to ensure the 
productivity of the membership here and to ensure that, frankly, the 
people get their money's worth.
  About 10 or 15 percent of what we have to do has to do with election 
law, and I might say that that's not always as obviously bipartisan, 
but we've always done it in the spirit of civility and always done it 
in the spirit of respect for one another, and for that, I would like to 
thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an important vote. In comparison to a trillion-
dollar budget and trillion-dollar deficit people might say this is a 
small amount. It is not a small amount. It is a serious 5 percent cut 
with respect to the operations of this House in very, very significant 
ways. It is a down payment on the future actions of this House with 
respect to other operations of the House, but as we scan across the 
entire Federal Government, this marks the down payment on that new 
vision.
  So I would once again like to thank the Congressman from Oregon (Mr. 
Walden).
  I have just discovered that I do have another speaker here, and with 
the indulgence of my friend on the other side, I would like to yield 3 
minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Walsh).
  Mr. WALSH of Illinois. I apologize. I snuck up on you there.
  I rise today to support H. Res. 22 in the House. We were elected this 
past fall to do what we said we were going to do: To lead by example 
when it comes to spending and tightening our own belts. Following 
through on this key pledge that we made in the Pledge to America I 
think is vital. We're taking the first step before we ask others to 
tighten their own belts, and it's important to understand this is a 
first step, hopefully, in an ongoing effort to continue to cut costs.
  This will impact each and every one of us, and I think it's very 
important to the American people that they see we are talking the talk 
and walking the walk.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong opposition to the 
House Resolution 22, which would cut Congress's budget by five percent 
in 2011 and 2012. The proposed cut undermines Members of Congress's 
ability to serve their constituents and perform official duties.
  Today, many communities around the Nation are recovering from the 
Great Recession. Members' offices are flooded with phone calls from 
constituents who are facing foreclosure and having problems with their 
Social Security and Medicare. Furthermore, millions are looking toward 
Members of Congress for information on government programs, help on 
constituent casework, finding contracting opportunities with the 
federal government, and how to apply for federal grants. Lastly, it is 
imperative constituents can voice their opinion on proposed legislation 
to our staff. Today's draconian attempt to reduce Members of Congress's 
budget would hamper their ability to fulfill these essential tasks for 
our fellow Americans.
  At a time of economic crisis, a well functioning democracy cannot 
survive the ``starve the beast'' syndrome. Specifically, Congress needs 
talented staff to properly and judiciously advise Members on proposed 
legislation and help communicate our work to our constituents. A recent 
article in Politico found that the

[[Page 155]]

majority of congressional staff has not had an effective pay increase 
in many years. If we go down this road, eventually we will not be 
adequately staffed to fulfill the critical needs for Members.
  The resolution today extends the failed mantra that government is the 
problem. In the run up to the Great Recession, many important federal 
regulatory agencies were severely underfunded and could not carry out 
their vital missions. The House of Representatives needs to reflect on 
this lesson and reject this failed right wing philosophy. I urge my 
colleagues to oppose today's proposal.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I voted for H. Res. 22, to cut the 
House operating budget by 5%. It is important for the government to 
lead by example, especially during these tough economic times.
  I would hope that having demonstrated that even the legislature 
itself is not exempt from budget cuts, that the Republican leadership 
would reconsider its decision to declare off limits major areas of 
government spending and savings.
  Repealing the Affordable Care Act would be inconsistent with these 
efforts to reduce costs. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office 
said that repealing health care would cost the American taxpayers $240 
billion over the next 10 years. This is in addition to raising the 
average cost of health care for most Americans and leaving 32 million 
uninsured, and is something our economy cannot afford.
  This is especially important when looking at defense spending. The 
Pentagon budget, growing at a rate far above inflation, is also the 
source of the greatest waste and inefficiency. GAO studies have 
documented tens of billions of dollars of waste, inefficiency, and in 
some cases, money that can't be accounted for at all.
  Even the Pentagon itself is making commitments for budget reduction 
and efficiency. Just today, Secretary Gates reached out to members of 
Congress to outline how he intends to trim $100 billion from within the 
Pentagon over the next five years. I hope these conversations don't 
fall on deaf ears.
  Every part of the budget deserves careful attention. I'm pleased that 
we're starting with the legislative budget; I hope it will serve as a 
symbol that no part of the budget should be off limits, making the 
Defense Department the next source of inquiry, and not the last.
  I look forward to working with all members, on both sides of the 
aisle, to help the government lead by example, improve efficiency and 
improve our fiscal standing.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
resolution to Cut Congress's Budget. The American people are hurting 
and they deserve responsible leadership. This legislation, however, is 
an effort to deceive the American people into thinking that this new 
Congress is making a real effort to reduce the deficit. In fact this 
Congress is on a path to grow the deficit even further without 
providing any help to the American people.
  As families cut their budgets to get their fiscal house in order, 
Congress should do the same. I have returned $109,000 to the Treasury 
since I took office and will take further efforts this year to save 
taxpayer money. That is why I am confident that a five percent 
reduction in the budget for Congress will be manageable for Members and 
staff and good for the United States.
  I understand why this bill is on the floor today and I support this 
bill. Unfortunately, it is a symbolic and purely political gesture.
  This majority recently passed rules that will exempt tax cuts from 
complying with the PayGo rule, guaranteeing a ballooning of the 
government's debt. In addition, they repeal a rule that prohibits 
reconciliation bills from increasing the deficit, further paving the 
way for tax cuts, regardless of the impact on the deficit. The 
hypocrisy continues with an exception for the cost of repealing health 
reform. In fact, repealing health reform explodes the federal deficit 
by $230 billion over the next ten years and $1 trillion over the next 
two decades, while stripping Americans of important benefits. It's pure 
hypocrisy to add $1 trillion to the deficit, and then tell the American 
people we are doing something about the deficit by cutting our own 
budgets by 5%.
  I would remind the new majority that PayGo rules in the 1990s led to 
enormous budget surpluses. It was the Republican controlled Congress 
that repealed the PayGo rules allowing Republicans and President Bush 
to cut taxes and engage in two wars without concern for the deficit. We 
are paying for their mistakes today and we will be paying for them for 
generations. I regret that today's Republican majority appears to be 
the same as the old.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill and then to fight for real 
fiscal responsibility that puts the middle class first.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. 
Res. 22, a resolution that will reduce House budgets by 5% across the 
board for the 112th Congress. I commend the author of this 
legislation--my colleague from the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. 
Walden--for his leadership on this resolution and for the work he has 
done over the past few months in leading the Republican transition 
efforts.
  On November 2, 2010, the American people spoke very clearly at the 
ballot box to stop the out-of-control spending here in Washington. They 
were rightfully tired of the $1 trillion so-called ``Stimulus'' bill 
and the $1 trillion ObamaCare bill.
  As you know, Mr. Speaker, these bills are largely to blame for $1.4 
trillion deficit for Fiscal Year 2010 that has ballooned our national 
debt to $14 trillion.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when there is 9.8% unemployment and families 
across the country are forced to tighten their belts, I wholeheartedly 
believe that Congress should lead by example.
  H. Res. 22 provides for a 5% reduction for each Member's MRA, which 
I--as a new Member of the House Administration Committee--believe is a 
good starting point for us to rein in federal spending.
  I know that some of my colleagues across the aisle will criticize 
this proposal for being an act of political theater or not going far 
enough, so I would ask them a simple question. If--as Members of 
Congress--we cannot support proposals to cut our own budgets, then how 
can the American people trust us to make much more difficult budget 
decisions down the road to reduce our massive debt?
  Mr. Speaker, as families across the country continue to struggle 
financially, it is imperative that we show fiscal restraint, and there 
is no better place to start than here in the halls of Congress.
  I ask all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 22.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution before 
the House today to reduce the budgets for Members' offices as well as 
leadership and committee offices in the House of Representatives.
  At a time when so many of our constituents are struggling to make 
ends meet in a difficult economy, and with the federal deficit as high 
as it is, the House and Senate must keep looking for ways to tighten 
our belts. During the last Congress, under the leadership of Speaker 
Pelosi, we voted to freeze the salaries of Members of Congress in 2010 
and again for 2011. The resolution before the House today would save an 
additional $35 million.
  While this resolution saves $35 million, the Republican leadership 
will be bringing a health care reform repeal bill to the Floor next 
week that will blow a one trillion dollar hole in the budget. Not only 
would the Republican repeal bill turn back the clock on the significant 
reforms and consumer protections and jeopardize health care for 
millions of Americans, their repeal bill would also add $230 billion to 
the deficit over the next 10 years, and a jaw-dropping $1 trillion of 
red ink over 20 years. These are not my figures, but those of the non-
partisan Congressional Budget Office.
  In a word, if cutting $35 million from Congress' budget is a step in 
the right direction towards reducing the deficit, adding $1 trillion to 
the deficit by repealing health care reform takes us about 28,570 steps 
in the wrong direction.
  I urge support for the resolution before the House today and strong 
opposition to the Republican health care repeal bill next week.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members 
to support this resolution. Let's make it a bipartisan effort. Let's 
show that we have the commitment of the membership here towards 
responding to the reality of our times.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Thornberry). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) 
that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 
22.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand 
the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 408, 
nays 13, not voting 11, as follows:

                              [Roll No. 8]

                               YEAS--408

     Adams
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Altmire
     Amash

[[Page 156]]


     Andrews
     Austria
     Baca
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baldwin
     Barletta
     Barrow
     Bartlett
     Barton (TX)
     Bass (CA)
     Bass (NH)
     Becerra
     Benishek
     Berg
     Berkley
     Berman
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Black
     Blackburn
     Blumenauer
     Bonner
     Bono Mack
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boustany
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Braley (IA)
     Brooks
     Broun (GA)
     Brown (FL)
     Buchanan
     Bucshon
     Buerkle
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Butterfield
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Canseco
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson (IN)
     Carter
     Cassidy
     Castor (FL)
     Chabot
     Chaffetz
     Chandler
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clarke (MI)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coffman (CO)
     Cohen
     Cole
     Conaway
     Connolly (VA)
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cravaack
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Critz
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (KY)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     Denham
     Dent
     DesJarlais
     Deutch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Dold
     Donnelly (IN)
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duffy
     Duncan (SC)
     Duncan (TN)
     Edwards
     Ellmers
     Emerson
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Farenthold
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fincher
     Flake
     Fleischmann
     Fleming
     Flores
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Fudge
     Gallegly
     Garamendi
     Gardner
     Garrett
     Gibbs
     Gibson
     Giffords
     Gingrey (GA)
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Goodlatte
     Gosar
     Gowdy
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Griffin (AR)
     Griffith (VA)
     Grijalva
     Grimm
     Guinta
     Guthrie
     Gutierrez
     Hall
     Hanabusa
     Hanna
     Harman
     Harper
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayworth
     Heck
     Heinrich
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Herrera Beutler
     Higgins
     Himes
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Holden
     Holt
     Hoyer
     Huelskamp
     Huizenga (MI)
     Hultgren
     Hunter
     Hurt
     Inslee
     Israel
     Issa
     Jackson Lee (TX)
     Jenkins
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones
     Jordan
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly
     Kildee
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kinzinger (IL)
     Kissell
     Kline
     Kucinich
     Labrador
     Lamborn
     Lance
     Landry
     Langevin
     Lankford
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Latta
     Lee (NY)
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Long
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Lujan
     Lummis
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Maloney
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     Marino
     Markey
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCaul
     McClintock
     McCollum
     McCotter
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinley
     McMorris Rodgers
     McNerney
     Meehan
     Meeks
     Mica
     Michaud
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, Gary
     Miller, George
     Moore
     Mulvaney
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy (PA)
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neugebauer
     Noem
     Nugent
     Nunes
     Nunnelee
     Olson
     Olver
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor (AZ)
     Paulsen
     Pearce
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Peterson
     Petri
     Pingree (ME)
     Pitts
     Platts
     Poe (TX)
     Polis
     Pompeo
     Posey
     Price (GA)
     Price (NC)
     Quayle
     Quigley
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Reed
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renacci
     Reyes
     Ribble
     Richardson
     Richmond
     Rigell
     Roby
     Roe (TN)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Rokita
     Rooney
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross (AR)
     Ross (FL)
     Rothman (NJ)
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Ryan (WI)
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Scalise
     Schiff
     Schilling
     Schmidt
     Schock
     Schrader
     Schwartz
     Schweikert
     Scott (SC)
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, Austin
     Scott, David
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuler
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sires
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Southerland
     Speier
     Stearns
     Stivers
     Stutzman
     Sullivan
     Sutton
     Terry
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Tipton
     Tonko
     Tsongas
     Turner
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walsh (IL)
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watt
     Webster
     Weiner
     Welch
     West
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wilson (FL)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Wolf
     Womack
     Woodall
     Wu
     Yarmuth
     Yoder
     Young (FL)
     Young (IN)

                                NAYS--13

     Ackerman
     Clarke (NY)
     Conyers
     Ellison
     Filner
     Honda
     Jackson (IL)
     Lee (CA)
     Moran
     Payne
     Schakowsky
     Towns
     Woolsey

                             NOT VOTING--11

     Bilirakis
     Gerlach
     Lynch
     Paul
     Pence
     Rivera
     Runyan
     Smith (NE)
     Stark
     Waxman
     Young (AK)

                              {time}  1339

  Messrs. ELLISON, MORAN, and HONDA changed their vote from ``yea'' to 
``nay.''
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida and Mr. MEEKS changed their vote from 
``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and 
the resolution was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 8 I was unavoidably delayed. 
Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''
  Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 8 I was unavoidably 
detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''
  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 8 due to a bell malfunction 
in my office, I was unable to get to the floor to vote. Had I been in 
attendance, I would have voted ``aye.''

                          ____________________