[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12196-12197]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         FEAR OF MAN IS A SNARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Rigell) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RIGELL. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor this morning to call for 
a change in the House calendar.
  Mr. Speaker, leaders set priorities. They identify the challenges and 
opportunities that face their organization, then they assess them and 
put them in the right order, and then they align their organization's 
calendar to make sure that those top priorities get addressed. That's 
what the American people rightfully expect of each of us.
  Overall, our calendar and the priorities of the House are right on 
track. I'm so proud of the legislation that we've passed that would 
move America to energy independence and create hundreds of thousands of 
jobs.
  But in one very critical area we're seriously off track. Our calendar 
does not reflect the challenges and the top priorities of our country. 
Specifically, we're not on track to pass all 12 appropriations bills 
that fund the Federal Government for 2014.
  The fact is, we're not even close to passing those bills. And with 
our current congressional calendar, I cannot possibly see a way that we 
can pass those bills by September 30, which is the end of the current 
fiscal year.
  This is not without consequence. It damages our economy, job 
creation. It damages our military in a very real way. And ultimately, 
it hurts hardworking American families.
  Now, let's look at the status of the 12 bills, and then look at the 
time that remains on the congressional calendar to debate and pass 
those bills in time to avoid what's referred to as a continuing 
resolution.
  And make no mistake here. A continuing resolution is wholly 
inadequate as a financial vehicle to fund this government. It has 
serious adverse consequences, and that's why this topic merits the 
careful attention of this body, and that's why it merits a change in 
our congressional calendar.
  Well, here are the 12 bills that must be passed. We've passed four of 
them. Well, that leaves eight. My math's pretty good--there are 12 
bills, 4 have been completed.
  Now, they're not past due right now, but they surely will be, at 
least some of them.
  As I mentioned, this has serious repercussions. I've spent a 
tremendous amount of time in our district listening to the hardworking 
men and women who keep our country safe and those who support them.
  Every time we pass a continuing resolution, our military reels with 
uncertainty. We have a deep obligation to the young men and women 
around the world who are keeping this country safe to use every dollar 
wisely to ensure that we get the very best equipment and support to 
each of them.
  That's why I feel so strongly about this issue, and it burdens me 
when we fail the American people in this respect.
  Well, let's look on at the calendar and see what we've got to work 
with here.

                              {time}  1015

  Mr. Speaker, we have 15 calendar days. They're indicated right here 
in the teal green color. These areas here represent constituent work 
periods. I work really hard in our constituent work periods. I know 
that every Member here does. It's important that we're in our 
districts. There's value to that--to listen and to be accountable to 
the good folks who sent us here.
  That said, a principal function and what the American people are 
expecting of us is that we pass these 12 appropriations bills. So if 
what is referred to

[[Page 12197]]

as the August recess is brought to this body for a vote, I will vote 
``no.'' I'll encourage every Member of this body to vote ``no,'' 
Democrat and Republican. When an organization is facing profound 
challenges, you do what you must do to set it on a better course. It 
may be House tradition to break, but I submit that it's not wise.
  Mr. Speaker, I really believe we ought to be in session 6 days a 
week, starting at 8 a.m.--earlier, if it were up to me--and then end 
around 7 p.m. Six days a week. I'm convinced that just that pressure 
alone would help us to find some common ground that I know exists in 
this place. That's why I call for a change in the calendar.

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