Expressing appreciation to the people and Government of Canada for their long history of friendship and cooperation with the people and Government of the United States and congratulating Canada as it celebrates "Canada Day".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 519) expressing appreciation to the people and Government of Canada for their long history of friendship and cooperation with the people and Government of the United States and congratulating Canada as it celebrates ``Canada Day''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Let me begin by thanking the gentleman from Michigan, Bart Stupak, for introducing this important resolution and for his steadfast leadership in support of a strong U.S.-Canada relationship.

H. Res. 519 congratulates the Canadian people and their government on Canada Day, the anniversary of the establishment of the union of the British North American provinces in a federation called Canada. It also expresses the appreciation of both the people and the Government of the United States for the longstanding cooperation and shared history with their Canadian counterparts. This provides an important opportunity for all Americans to recognize the common ideals and beliefs that unite our two nations economically, socially and politically.

Canada's sacrifices in Afghanistan are only the latest examples of the strong bond between our two nations. Since their initial deployment in 2002, Canadian troops have worked tirelessly to maintain security and to rebuild in Afghanistan, particularly in Kandahar province.

Canada has also been a leader in the global effort to promote a solution to worldwide carbon reduction, an issue which affects us all and which draws us even closer together as nations that share a common border. Canada's plan to reduce carbon emissions and their work through the United Nations' Framework Convention On Climate Change has been a significant step in the right direction.

The recent negotiations that took place between Canada and the United States concerning the water quality in the Great Lakes region further solidifies the bond between us as we must work collectively to improve the condition of that shared natural resource.

My district in south Florida benefits from a strong U.S.-Canadian relationship. Canada is Florida's top trading partner, and it is Florida's number one source of inbound tourism. According to a recent Canadian Government study, the Canada-Florida relationship is responsible for 432,000 direct and indirect jobs in Florida, representing 5.4 percent of all of Florida's employment.

This resolution advances the continued partnership that the United States hopes to maintain with the Canadian people and with their government. I would like to extend my personal congratulations and gratitude to the Canadian people, and I would urge all of my colleagues to do the same by supporting H. Res. 519.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I request just 1 minute of time to close.

Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to thank Mr. Stupak. Also having grown up in Cleveland, Ohio, and right over the border from Canada, I had the opportunity to spend many great years visiting.

I would also like to acknowledge the consul general from Miami, Marcy

Grossman, who I had the opportunity to visit with recently before she left to return.

This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our two countries on this special Canada Day.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House and offer the resolution previously noticed.

I do, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this House operates under rules, or it's supposed to operate under rules, rules that have been longstanding in the House and that are incorporated in written form. And rule IX of those rules of the House states specifically, Members may raise questions ``affecting the rights of the House collectively, its safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings'' and those affecting the rights of Members individually in their representative capacity.

So the question is, Mr. Speaker, what is more fundamental to the rights of the Members of this House than the ability to represent their constituents and to affect the legislation that's brought to the floor?

The Democrat majority, under Speaker Pelosi, has unilaterally--some would say brazenly, some would say repressively--ended a 220-year tradition of allowing any Member to allow a spending bill.

And that's precisely what I'm attempting to do, Mr. Speaker.

When my constituents sent me here to Congress, they didn't send me here to just push buttons. What they sent me here to do was to exercise every single ability that a Member of the House is granted. And one of the abilities that the Member of the House is granted is the opportunity to affect legislation.

And under rule IX, which states, Mr. Speaker, that the proceedings should not affect the rights of the Members individually in their Representative capacity, so if being denied the ability to offer an amendment doesn't affect the rights of this House, if it doesn't affect the dignity and integrity of its proceedings, if it doesn't affect my rights as a Representative, then I don't know what does, Mr. Speaker.

I don't know what does. If Members are not allowed to offer amendments, then the Member, him or herself, is unable to represent their constituents and consequently is disenfranchising every single American.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would contend respectfully that the inability of Members to offer amendments is an indignity upon the House and makes it so that Members are not able to exercise their representative capacity.

And I appeal to the Chair to see the light of day and allow this privileged resolution to move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I appeal the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 519. I am happy to be one of the cosponsors, but it was introduced by my good friend and colleague, Bart Stupak, expressing appreciation to Canada for its long history of friendship with the United States and congratulating Canada on its celebration of Canada Day.

Canada Day, otherwise known as ``Canada's birthday,'' celebrates the 1867 enactment of the British North America Act, which united Canada as a confederation of four provinces. One of our closest friends and allies, I would like to thank the people of Canada and the government for their friendship and steadfast support of this country over many, many years.

The relationship between the U.S. and Canada is among the closest and most extensive in the world. Our two countries maintain the world's largest trading relationship, exchanging the equivalent of $1.5 billion in goods each day. Canada is the single largest foreign supplier of energy to the U.S., including oil, uranium, natural gas, and electricity. In 2008, the U.S. imported energy from Canada worth $111 billion, and every day about 300,000 people cross our shared border.

In both the First and Second World Wars, we fought on the same side against tyranny and fought for freedom and peace and against threats to international security. When the U.S. was faced with the horrors of 9/ 11, Canada, who also lost lives in the attack, stood by our side. In Afghanistan, Canada is our key NATO ally and is the leading contributor of combat forces to the alliances' International Security Assistance Force. The friendship and partnership between the countries is warm and enduring, and this resolution tries to recognize that, so I thank Mr. Stupak for authoring it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 519 and join with our neighbors to the North in celebration of Canada Day.

On July 1st, 1867, the British North America Act went into effect, officially uniting the British North American colonies into one self- governing federation called Canada.

Earlier this month, Canadians across North America celebrated the anniversary of their country's birth, their long tradition of democracy, and their national achievements.

The United States shares in the celebration of this special day because we have strong economic, political and cultural ties with Canada.

Washington State's 2nd Congressional District, which I represent, contains over 60 miles of our common border with Canada. As a member of the Northern Border Caucus, I view our partnership with Canada as one that is vital to both of our countries' national security and economic prosperity.

With nearly $600 billion in goods and millions of people crossing the border each year, Canada is not only the United States' largest trading partner, but also a key international ally.

In addition to sharing a common border that spans more than 5,500 miles, the United States and Canada share a deep commitment to democratic principles. It is because of this commitment that our governments have worked so closely to address the common challenges we face, such as narcotics and terrorism. And it is in defense of these same democratic principles that our servicemen and women have fought side by side in Afghanistan and throughout the world.

I congratulate Canada on the occasion of the 142nd Canada Day and I look forward to celebrating with them for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 519, Expressing appreciation to the people and Government of Canada for their long history of friendship and cooperation and congratulating Canada as it celebrates Canada Day. I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution, and I'd like to thank my good friend Bart Stupak for offering it.

On July 1st, 1867 with the enactment of the British North America Act, Canada was united as a single country. Over the next 142 years, Canada has become one of our closest friends, our largest trading partner and a steadfast ally.

And in the wake of 9/11, Canada has been a stalwart partner, sending troops to Afghanistan as part of the NATO coalition. They have stood shoulder to shoulder with us as we conduct our difficult mission to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban and give the Afghanis hope for a life free from tyranny and repression.

Our Canadian friends have been vital as we work to secure the homeland on our shared waterways and long land borders. Cooperation is the key to securing the homeland along the Northern Border, and I'm pleased to say that we have a great partner in Canada.

In southeast Michigan, cross-border communities symbolize the relationship we share with our Canadian neighbors. Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario jointly celebrate Canada Day and the United States' Independence Day with the International River Days.

This festival lasts several weeks, culminating in one of the largest and most spectacular fireworks displays in North America.

I want to wish our neighbors and friends in Canada a happy and prosperous Canada Day.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.