Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 346, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize a close friend, former classmate and fraternity brother of mine, Mr. John B. Carter Jr., on his recent retirement. On June 30, 2013, John retired as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Tech Foundation (GTF). The Georgia Tech Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation which manages the philanthropic gifts given to the Georgia Institute of Technology by alumni, corporations, foundations, staff, faculty, students, family, and friends in support of academic excellence and tradition.

John graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1970. For the past 14 years, he has led the Foundation's day-to-day operations and has been responsible for 175,000 alumni data records, accounting and financial reporting, legal issues and negotiations, administration, and Executive, Committee, Board, and Trustee relations. Prior to leading the Foundation, John served 16 years as Vice President and Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association and served our nation for six years in the U.S. Navy. His 30 years of dedicated service to our alma mater is rare and to be commended. John's leadership has influenced many through his devotion, fortitude, and kindness, and will be set apart in the years to come. I am grateful for his example of service and for his friendship.

The Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia Tech Foundation are fortunate to have such dedicated and innovative alumnus professionals as John B. Carter Jr. His commitment to excellence, leadership and service is to be admired, and may it inspire others to follow in his footsteps. My sincerest wishes and congratulations to him on his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize two students, Alexander Miranda of Davenport, Florida, and Angel Valverde of Orlando, Florida, on their acceptance to attend a People to People World Leadership Forum next week in Washington, D.C.

The People to People Leadership Ambassadors program brings together middle and high school students from over 140 countries and offers unique, hands on educational experiences that prepare students to assume the mantle of leadership in the future. While in Washington, D.C., students will participate in daily educational activities constructed around a leadership development-focused curriculum to assist students in identifying and applying their personal leadership style.

To be selected for a People to People World Leadership Forum, these students have demonstrated the requirements of academic excellence, leadership potential and exemplary citizenship. Their commitment of time and dedication to their education and future is outstanding. I wish the best for Alexander and Angel as they continue to advance toward even higher pursuits.

On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, I am pleased to congratulate Alexander Miranda and Angel Valverde on their acceptance to a People to People World Leadership Forum this summer. May their hard work and steadfastness inspire many to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to take this opportunity to recognize a close friend of mine and a highly regarded public servant of the Florida House of Representatives, Sergeant at Arms Earnest ``Ernie'' W. Sumner. Mr. Sumner will retire from his post this summer after a long and accomplished career in the Florida Legislature.

The past and present Florida House of Representatives and entire Florida Legislature has been fortunate to have such a dedicated and compassionate colleague and friend. In 1971, Ernie began his career with the Florida House of Representatives. As Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, I was pleased to have had the privilege to appoint Mr. Sumner as Sergeant at Arms of the Florida House of Representatives on July 1, 1998. A committee meeting room, 404 House Office Building, has been named ``Sumner Hall'' in honor of Mr. Sumner.

The intangible guidance and skillfulness that Mr. Sumner has displayed to the Florida House of Representatives, its Members, its staff, and the public is to be commended. His leadership has influenced many through his devotion, fortitude, and kindness, and will be set apart in the years to come.

Mr. Sumner has had an outstanding career, and he deserves special recognition for this achievement. I am honored to recognize him for the distinguished service and counsel he has provided the State of Florida, and thank him for his hard work and many contributions. After more than four decades and 138 legislative sessions, his commitment to excellence, leadership and service is to be admired. My sincerest wishes and congratulations to Ernie and his family on his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to congratulate Berkley Charter School of Polk, Florida on earning the SupportMusic Merit Award for academic excellence. The SupportMusic Merit Award is a national designation sponsored by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation

(NAMM Foundation), which acknowledges communities throughout America that support and advance musical education curriculum.

In order for communities and schools to be awarded this designation, they must first complete a rigorous application process. Berkley Charter School was selected by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation due to their high quality music education program. The Central Florida community is blessed to have an educational institution such as Berkley Charter School that is committed the educational development and successes of its students.

On behalf of the Central Florida community, I am pleased to recognize Berkley Charter School, and I congratulate the students and faculty on their accomplishment of achieving excellence in musical education. May their hard work and dedication inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to congratulate clarinetist Arianna Beyer on competing in and winning the 2013 United States Navy Band High School Concerto Competition. This annual competition identifies the best high school musical talent in the nation and allows the finalists to travel to Washington, D.C. to compete for a chance to perform a prepared solo piece with the world- renowned United States Navy Band.

For 12 years now, the United States Navy Band has hosted this national competition. After each student submits an audio recording, the United States Navy Band evaluates each submission and selects the finalists to come to Washington, D.C. to perform at the competition. This competition is not only used as a method of motivating and rewarding inspiring musicians, but also to stimulate America's future leaders. In order to win this competition, Ms. Beyer sacrificed a vast amount of her time and dedicated herself to this goal. Her relentless pursuit of maximizing her potential has allowed her to gain tremendous recognition as a clarinetist at a young age. Ms. Beyer continues to go above and beyond all expectations in her musical endeavors.

Her accomplishments do not end with winning the United States Navy Band High School Concerto Competition. She has excelled in the classroom and as a leader in her community. Arianna continues to give back by mentoring peers in both music and academic curriculums. In addition, Arianna is a 2013 Emerson Scholar and has received a full merit scholarship to attend Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan this upcoming summer. In the fall of 2013, she will begin her dual degree studies at the Eastman School of Music and the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rochester.

On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, I am pleased to recognize and applaud Arianna for her hard work, dedication and achievement. She is most deserving of this prestigious honor as the winner of the 2013 United States Navy Band High School Concerto Competition. May her character and passion inspire others to follow in her footsteps. I wish her great success as she applies her dedication toward even higher pursuits.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the tireless service and earnest dedication of the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants, Inc., on their awarding of over $200,000 during the month of April 2013 to Florida non-profit organizations through their Restaurant Community Grants program. The altruistic aspiration to improve Florida through their philanthropic support of charitable organizations is to be admired.

The value of service for Darden Restaurants was defined over 40 years ago by Darden's founder, Bill Darden, who established a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. Darden's Restaurant Community Grants program is a local initiative which strives to make an impact in the communities Darden and its restaurant brands serve by engaging and supporting nonprofit community organizations. The Darden Foundation focuses its efforts on three key program areas: access to postsecondary education, preservation of natural resources and elimination of hunger. Every restaurant in the Darden family of brands is empowered with the opportunity to help award a $1,000 grant to exceptional nonprofit organizations that align with Darden's three areas of focus.

In addition, it is my pleasure to recognize Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, which has partnered with Darden in a joint effort to combat hunger. For nearly three decades, Second Harvest has fought hunger by collecting, storing and distributing donated food items to over 500 partnering agencies throughout six Central Florida counties. In partnership with Darden, Second Harvest's Food Rescue Program picks up prepared food items from various Central Florida Darden restaurants and delivers the food items to surrounding nonprofit agencies who serve meals to people in need. Darden has also united with Second Harvest's ``Building Solutions to Hunger'' campaign with a leadership gift of $750,000 to assist Second Harvest's construction of a new facility that will be better equipped to meet the needs of the Central Florida community.

On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, it is my pleasure to recognize the selfless work of the Darden Foundation and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. May their example of continuous service and generosity inspire many to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take this opportunity to recognize one of our Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. On May 20th, 2013, Patrick Lien was the first of his class to reach the top of the Herndon Monument during the legendary ``Plebes No More'' Ceremony.

Each year the freshman class, known as ``plebes'' at the Naval Academy, will work together to climb the Herndon Monument, which is a 21-foot tall granite pillar on the service academy's campus, and replace a plebe's ``Dixie-Cup'' hat with an upperclassman's combination cover at the top. This ceremony is conducted at the end of every academic year to represent the end of a plebe's year as the lowest rank at the Naval Academy. According to the Naval Academy legend, the first plebe to reach the top of the Herndon Monument will be the first in the class to rise to the rank of Admiral. The monument is usually greased with Crisco, which makes it decidedly more difficult for the plebes to accomplish the task. The Class of 2016 was able to accomplish the task in one hour, thirty-two minutes, and forty-three seconds.

Patrick's accomplishment is a testament to his perseverance, and commitment to his fellow Midshipmen. Both of these qualities are crucial components of an effective officer in our armed forces.

As Patrick continues to develop into a future military officer, I would like to thank him for his service to our country and for representing the great people of Central Florida at the prestigious United States Naval Academy. I also wish him well in his future academic, athletic and military pursuits.

The United States Naval Academy is fortunate to have such an outstanding midshipman at their institution. I applaud Patrick Lien on his continued service at the United States Naval Academy and to the citizens of the United States of America. His commitment to excellence, leadership and service is to be admired, and may it inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Jalen Johnson of Clermont, Florida, on his acceptance to attend a People to People World Leadership Forum in Washington, DC, this week.

The People to People Leadership Ambassadors program brings together middle and high school students from over 140 countries and offers unique, hands-on educational experiences that prepare students to assume the mantle of leadership in the future. While in Washington, DC, students will participate in daily educational activities constructed around a leadership development focused curriculum to assist students in identifying and applying their personal leadership style.

To be selected for a People to People World Leadership Forum, Jalen has demonstrated the requirements of academic excellence, leadership potential and exemplary citizenship. His commitment of his time and dedication to his education and future is outstanding. I wish the best for Jalen as he continues to apply his dedication toward even higher pursuits.

On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, I am pleased to congratulate Jalen on his acceptance to a People to People World Leadership Forum this summer. May his hard work and steadfastness inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to take this opportunity to recognize and thank Central Floridians Amy Di Bella, Taylor Kennedy, Thuy Phan, and Rose Quinlan from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for taking the time to meet with me this week to share their families' struggles with pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is a nationwide network of people dedicated to working together to advance research, advocate for a cure, support patients, and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, with only a six percent five-year survival rate. As the fourth leading cause of death from cancer for both men and women in the United States, pancreatic cancer is also the tenth most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and the ninth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. While the overall cancer incidence and death rates are declining, the number of Americans who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is increasing. Sadly, there are currently no curative treatments for pancreatic cancer.

Investing in groundbreaking cancer research is about improving the lives of loved ones afflicted with the disease, and about fostering a healthier future for our sons and daughters. On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, it is an honor to stand alongside the medical community in the fight against cancer. The continuous support of medical research initiatives are imperative to both advancing new treatments that improve the lives of patients afflicted with cancer and bringing our nation closer to finding a cure. I thank the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for their tireless advocacy to end pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Ronald Starke III of Davenport, Florida, on his acceptance to attend a People to People World Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. this week.

The People to People Leadership Ambassadors program brings together middle and high school students from over 140 countries and offers unique, hands-on educational experiences that prepare students to assume the mantle of leadership in the future. While in Washington, D.C., students will participate in daily educational activities constructed around a leadership development focused curriculum to assist students in identifying and applying their personal leadership style.

To be selected for a People to People World Leadership Forum, Ronald has demonstrated the requirements of academic excellence, leadership potential and exemplary citizenship. His commitment of his time and dedication to his education and future is outstanding. I wish the best for Ronald as he continues to advance toward even higher pursuits.

On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, I am pleased to congratulate Ronald on his acceptance to a People to People World Leadership Forum this summer. May his hard work and steadfastness inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 243 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the two underlying bills.

House Resolution 243 provides for an open rule for consideration of H.R. 2216, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2014, and H.R. 2217, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014.

This rule provides ample opportunities for Members from both the minority and majority to participate in the debate, and it does not limit the number of amendments that may be considered, so long as the amendments comply with the rules of the House.

My colleagues from both sides of the aisle agree that these appropriation acts for fiscal year 2014 are the products of an open, collaborative, and bipartisan process.

They provide critical funding for military construction, housing, schools, and medical facilities for our servicemembers and their families, important veteran programs, the protection and security of our airports, seaports and national border, and disaster relief efforts. They also reduce duplication, improve oversight, encourage efficiency, and increase coordination of services.

Mr. Speaker, these bills address nonpartisan issues that affect every one of us. The seamless operation of these agencies and programs and projects will benefit all Americans.

Let me first address H.R. 2216, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2014.

This fiscally sound bill funds programs that are necessary to keep our promises to our veterans and to train, equip, house, and support the brave men and women in uniform, as well as their families.

This bill provides over $73 billion in discretionary funding, which is $1.4 billion above the enacted fiscal year 2013 level. It continues to provide advanced funding that was approved in fiscal year 2013 for veteran medical care and funds programs to reduce the staggering backlog which severely delayed the process of veteran benefits claims. This advance funding will ensure that our veterans have full access to medical care regardless of where we stand in the annual appropriation process.

H.R. 2216 funds military construction projects, including family housing, military medical facilities, and Department of Defense education facilities. It also funds critical VA medical services and provides for a unified electronic health record system to integrate Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs health records.

Currently, our veterans must physically present a hard copy of their DOD health records at their VA appointments, and physicians are unable to look up the patient's medical history if a patient does not have their records with them. This bill addresses this frustrating and inefficient process and will begin to replace an archaic paper record system with an electronic system that will ensure our veterans will be efficiently served and receive the care they need and deserve.

Next, I'd like to talk about and highlight a few of the important provisions in H.R. 2217, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. This bill is essential to protect the security of our national borders and the safety and well-being of all Americans.

This bill provides $38 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes funding for 21,370 Border Patrol agents and nearly 22,800 Customs and Border Protection officers--the largest totals in history. It also directs U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to train agents to identify and assist victims of human trafficking and directs ICE to increase spending on human trafficking and smuggling investigations.

H.R. 2217 also provides funding for FEMA to ensure our Nation is prepared to provide disaster relief and funds the Coast Guard.

Finally, I'd like to reiterate that these bills strengthen our national security and continue the well-being of our brave servicemembers, their families, and other veterans. They also recognize that our growing debt threatens the stability and safety of our Nation, and for this reason these bills make recommendations to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, duplication, and overhead.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and the underlying legislation. The Appropriations Committee has worked hard to provide us with two fiscally responsible appropriation bills that will meet the housing construction and medical needs of our military and provide support to their families. They will keep our promises to America's veterans, and they will enhance our national security.

I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying bills, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind everyone that we're talking about a rule here. And this rule, different from those that were proposed in the Congresses before I got here, in the 111th Congress, is an open rule. It allows for amendments. If there are those who do not like what's in these bills, they can do everything that they need to do in an amendment and get 218 votes and pass it, and it'll change. If this bill needs perfecting, either one of these bills need perfecting, they can be perfected.

I believe that is as close to regular order as we can get. If we can come down to this floor, offer an amendment, get an opportunity to debate that amendment, have our say, hopefully get the votes to pass it, change the bill, that's the way this process should work.

This rule provides for that. It provides for two very well-thought- out appropriation bills, which may have flaws. But if there are flaws, whether you're a Republican or Democrat, come on down. Once we pass this rule, we'll be taking those bills up one at a time. And any amendment, as long as it's within the germaneness rules of this House, can be offered. We would welcome that. I think both sides would welcome that.

That's why when both of these bills came out of committee, there were glowing reports, both from the minority report and from the majority report. They are well-thought-out bills. They are well-done bills. They are bipartisan. They're done in an open and collaborative way, in an open, real, and regular order process. So for those reasons, I think this is a great rule because it sets forward the opportunity of people on this floor, no matter who they are, from a freshman to a senior Member, from Republican to Democrat, from moderate, liberal, and conservative, no matter who they are, to offer amendments to these bills, both of them. And if they get a majority vote, they can pass them. So I think that to me is an open process. That's also regular order.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I've been in this process a long time, not necessarily here, but in other venues, and what I have found is what's before you is before you, and what comes later may or may not come later.

But I would say this to the gentlelady, that what we have here are two bills that are bipartisan bills, and they have a great deal of input from both sides. They came out of committee with a strong vote, with both Republicans and Democrats.

And so my thought is: here we are. We're here. We're addressing this particular issue. Now, when these other bills come to the floor of the House, before they get here they're going to pass through the Rules Committee, too, these appropriation bills. I will do everything I can to make them open, also, so that anybody that wants to amend them or perfect them has the opportunity.

I believe in an open process. I believe that Members, no matter how long it takes, should have the opportunity to say their piece. And no matter what your philosophy is, no matter what your party is, no matter what your position is, no matter what your rank is, if you're 435th it doesn't really matter, you should have an opportunity to present your case.

And so, these are these two bills. We have talked about the fact that we're

going to have an open process here, and people want to perfect these bills; then great, offer an amendment. When the other appropriation bills come, that'll be the time to talk about them. But when they do, just know this: I'm going to be one that is going to be pressing hard to have open rules for them, also.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Again, I will reiterate the fact that it is what is before us. We cannot get to these two bipartisan, well-thought-out, well-debated, well-collaborated pieces of legislation which deal with some issues that are very, very important without passing a rule to allow us to do that. That's what this rule does. It deals with those two bills. No, those two bills aren't before us, but this rule is the gateway to get to those bills. How are we going to get there? We're going to pass this rule. Once we get there, what are we going to do? We're going to have an open process--one that has been foreign until the Republicans took control of this legislature--foreign, no matter what your standing in this body was.

There were closed bills after closed bills after closed bills after closed bills that came up. Was there an opportunity to amend it, to perfect it, to do anything with it? Absolutely not. But that's not the way it is now. If we pass this rule, we're going to get to a process that allows every Member to come down to this floor and offer an amendment, debate that amendment, and have the possibility of passing that amendment.

So, yes, there are other issues, there are other appropriations, there are other bills that will be coming to this floor at some point in time. And at that time we can debate them. But right now, this is the issue before us. These two very important bills--and very much agreed-on bills--are only going to be taken up on this floor if this rule passes.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to reiterate again the benefits of these two bills that we're going to be debating if we pass this rule. They provide critical funding for military construction, housing, schools, and medical facilities for our servicemembers and their families, as well as important veterans programs. They protect security for our airports, seaports, and national border, as well as disaster relief efforts. They also reduce duplication, improve oversight, encourage efficiency, and increase coordination of services.

If there were one provision in a bill that would push you over the edge of voting for or against something, it would be the idea of getting rid of this old paperwork. I've had someone come and tell me that they had gotten a tetanus shot, I think, about 3 weeks before they got out of the service. Once they got out, they went to the VA and they forgot to take the record with them. So they had no proof. They went to the VA and they said, You're going to have to get a tetanus shot. He says, Wait a minute, I've already gotten one. You don't have that record? No. And if you don't have it with you, we don't know. Because you can tell us you had one 3 months ago, but that doesn't matter.

We need to do it. This one bill gets rid of that process and says we're going to move towards a modern system of electronically transferring these records. There's so many good things in these two bills; it's just pretext for the fact that this rule needs to be approved.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes of my time to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, that last discussion was worth paying the price to come here. But I would like to say this, to bring it back to where we are, and that is:

We have before us a rule. This rule is going to be the gateway--the gateway--to an open process. That open process, when it opens up, is beautiful to behold. We have two bills that will be heard. Both of those bills are going to be able to be amended by any Member that would like to do it. And to me, that is what I have searched for, and I think it's a great thing.

We have the opportunity to come to this floor, agree or disagree, but in the end we will produce a product that was put together by a bipartisan group of members of two different committees of the Appropriations Committee. And it went through the regular process. Bringing it to the floor with an open rule is the regular process. That is why I'm supporting this rule, because the rule gives the gateway to us doing those bills.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit two letters into the Record.

The first letter is from the Budget Committee chairman, Paul Ryan. In his letter, Chairman Ryan asks the Rules Committee to follow standard practice by addressing budget enforcement pending a conference report on the budget resolution. To prevent greater uncertainty and further delays in the appropriations process, House Resolution 243 will include a provision and does include a provision that adopts the House-passed budget resolution, H. Con. Res. 25, as an interim budget enforcement measure until an agreement may be reached with the Senate on the budget resolution for the coming fiscal year.

I would like to read an excerpt from that letter. This is from Chairman Ryan to Chairman Sessions, who is the Rules Committee chairman:

As you know, the budget passed by the House reduces

spending by $4.6 trillion and achieves balance in 2023--all

without raising taxes on the American people. In contrast,

the budget resolution adopted by the Senate raises taxes by

over $900 billion, increases spending by $265 billion and

never balances. While I continue to work with my Senate

counterpart to find common ground, we have not yet been able

to reach agreement.

Let me finish this first.

Another part of that reads:

Until such time as we are able to reach agreement and

consistent with the practice in previous years when the House

and Senate have been delayed in completing action on a budget

resolution, I am asking that the rule include a provision

that adopts the House-passed budget resolution as an interim

budget enforcement measure that will allow the appropriations

process to proceed without further delay.

The second letter is just a response from Representative Sessions, who is the chair of the Rules Committee, acknowledging that the rule would include the requested interim budget enforcement measure.

I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen).

I reclaim my time and will not yield any more time after this.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I am not involved in that process. However, I can tell you this: I was a speaker at one point in time in a different body and at a different time in my career. Even if a conference committee has not been formed, there are discussions that go on. Then, eventually, there will be a conference committee, and things work out, but it doesn't necessarily mean that nothing is happening. I think things are happening. I think they are working on solutions. We have to have a solution at some point in time, and that's happening.

This resolution provides for an open rule to allow all Members to offer their ideas and to debate them through regular order. Two underlying bills fund necessary programs that train, equip, house, and support the brave men and women who sacrificially defend our freedoms, and the bills also support their families. Our debt of gratitude to these individuals does not expire when they retire, as the legislation also funds important programs to provide benefits and medical care for our veterans. Additionally, the legislation equips our Coast Guard and supports the individuals who guard our borders, secure our airports and seaports, and who respond to natural disasters.

However, we would be doing a great disservice, Mr. Speaker, to future generations if we were to fail to consider the effect our current spending will have on the future fiscal health and safety our Nation. For that reason, these bills reduce costs, require the coordination of medical care and ensure the efficient operation of those critical programs so that we may continue to support those who protect us.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this rule and in the passage of the underlying bills.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Budget,

Washington, DC, May 31, 2013.

Hon. Pete Sessions,

Chairman, Committee on Rules,

The Capitol, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: Yesterday you announced that the

Committee on Rules will meet on June 3 to report a rule to

govern the floor consideration of the first appropriations

bills for fiscal year 2014. I am writing to ask that you

include in that rule a provision providing for the

enforcement of the concurrent resolution on the budget as

passed by the House (H. Con. Res. 25) until such time as the

House adopts a conference report on the budget for fiscal

year 2014.

As you know, the budget passed by the House reduces

spending by $4.6 trillion and achieves balance in 2023--all

without raising taxes on the American people. In contrast,

the budget resolution adopted by the Senate raises taxes by

over $900 billion, increases spending by $265 billion, and

never balances. While I continue to work with my Senate

counterpart to find common ground, we have not yet been able

to reach agreement.

Until such time as we are able to reach agreement and

consistent with the practice in previous years when the House

and Senate have been delayed in completing action on a budget

resolution, I am asking that the rule include a provision

that adopts the House-passed budget resolution as an interim

budget enforcement measure that will allow the appropriations

process to proceed without further delay.

Pursuant to the authority provided in the Congressional

Budget Act of 1974 and in title VI of the House-passed

concurrent resolution on the budget and consistent with

longstanding practice, once the House passes the rule

adopting the House-passed budget resolution, as the Budget

Committee Chairman I intend to file the allocations and

adjustments in the Congressional Record to put in force such

concurrent resolution.

To ensure the Rules Committee and House members have full

transparency on the budget levels that would be enforced,

enclosed are the relevant budget aggregates and committee

allocations that I will file if the House adopts the rule.

The House-passed budget resolution was based on CBO February

budget projections and estimates. The funding levels for

global war on terror (GWOT)/overseas contingency operations

(OCO) and for veterans programs were based on an

extrapolation of the President's budget request from last

year. Because the House acted on the budget resolution before

CBO had completed its updated budget projections and before

the President had submitted his fiscal year 2014 budget

request, the resolution provided authority for the Chairman

to adjust the relevant levels in the resolution to reflect

CBO's updated budget projections and the President's request

for GWOT/OCO and veterans advance appropriations. The

adjustments for CBO's updated baseline will be limited to

changes due to updated technical estimates. Now that we have

CBO's revised baseline projections and the President's budget

request, it is possible to update the levels in the House-

passed budget resolution to reflect this updated information.

Enclosed are tables showing aggregate budget and committee

allocations that will be used for budget enforcement

purposes.

I want to emphasize that this is a request for an interim

measure while the Committee on the Budget continues to work

toward an agreement with the Senate on a budget resolution

for the coming fiscal year. The nation's fiscal problems

cannot be addressed solely through the appropriations process

and the budget remains the critical vehicle for identifying a

solution.

To ensure full transparency as to my intent should this

request be granted, I ask that you include this letter and

the enclosures in the Rules Committee's record of

consideration of the rule. I appreciate your consideration.

If there are any questions, please contact Paul Restuccia,

Chief Counsel of the Committee on the Budget.

Sincerely,

Paul D. Ryan,

Chairman.

Enclosures.

I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 36 minutes p.m.), under its previous order and pursuant to House Resolution 242, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at 10 a.m., for morning-hour debate, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 228 and ask for its immediate consideration.

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my colleague on the Rules Committee, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), pending which I yield myself such time as I

may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill.

House Resolution 228 provides a structured rule for consideration of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. The rule makes 10 of the 25 amendments submitted to the Rules Committee in order, nine of which were sponsored by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and it provides for a robust debate in the House of Representatives.

The underlying bill was marked up by three committees of jurisdiction, and each committee reported the bill favorably with a bipartisan vote.

Additionally, the U.S. Senate, on March 22, 2013, voted to approve the pipeline by a vote of 62-37.

Mr. Speaker, there are four simple reasons this bill has garnered bipartisan support: it creates American jobs; it increases our energy independence; it strengthens our national security; and it will contribute to lower gas prices.

This bill leads where the President has wavered, and finally approves the northern route of the Keystone XL pipeline, which has been studied for over 1,700 days by 10 Federal agencies and several State environmental agencies.

The U.S. Department of State has issued four environmental impact statements, at a total length of 15,500 pages. These studies prove that the vast majority of the project will not result in a significant environmental impact, and mitigation efforts will be undertaken to reduce any environmental impact.

Additionally, the project includes 57 project-specific special conditions to ensure the maximum level of safety. Due to these conditions, the U.S. State Department's Environmental Impact Statement found that the pipeline will have ``a degree of safety over any other typically constructed domestic oil pipeline system.''

For 4 long years, multiple studies and well over 15,000 pages of environmental analysis, the administration claims that the XL pipeline still cannot be approved. We all hear the echo of the President chiding Congress with his slogan, ``We can't wait.''

I would like to ask, Mr. Speaker, if not now, when?

This bill answers that question, and the answer is today. It is clear that this pipeline will create jobs, increase national security, and contribute to lower gas prices. For this reason, H.R. 3 breaks the Presidential logjam and approves this worthwhile project.

On December 23, 2011, both the U.S. House and the Senate unanimously approved, and the President signed into law, a bill that required the President to approve the pipeline unless the President determined that the project did not serve national interests.

On January 18, 2012, the President said ``no'' to the pipeline, claiming that it did not serve national interests.

By preventing this project from moving forward, he said ``no'' to 42,100 construction and manufacturing jobs at a time when Americans need work. He said ``no'' to cheaper gas prices for goods and services which could result in reduced energy cost.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, lower energy costs lead to lower manufacturing and shipping costs which, in turn, contribute to less grocery, gas and utility bills for the average American family.

He said ``no'' to increased diversification of America's oil supply. He said ``no'' to reduced dependence on foreign oil. All these benefits this generation could pass on to future generations.

By this inaction, the President said ``yes'' to more oil from barges from the Middle East. When the pipeline is finalized, it will transfer 830,000 barrels of oil each day, which totals nearly half of our current daily imports from the Middle East.

The President said ``yes'' to our ally, Canada, taking its business elsewhere, to China, rather than the United States. The oil from the tar sands of Canada will go on the market somewhere, whether we approve the XL pipeline or not. This is our chance to ensure Americans will have the opportunity to benefit from the energy supply, not China.

The State Department acknowledged that the United States would be more secure if we relied more heavily on a non-OPEC source, such as Canada, for our energy needs.

According to the State Department, and I quote:

Non-OPEC Canadian crude oil supplies advance the energy

security of the United States, given Canada's close

proximity, our free trade agreements, and our close bilateral

relationship with a stable democracy.

Canada is a more reliable and cost-efficient source of energy than the foreign oil that we depend on from the Middle East, Africa, and other regions of the world.

For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and the underlying legislation. The relevant committees of jurisdiction have provided us with a bipartisan bill that will create American jobs, ensure energy independence, increase our national security, and contribute to the lower gas prices.

I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana, Dr. Fleming.

I yield the gentleman 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Sanford).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry).

I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

I just want to say that I know there is a desire to have more T's crossed and I's dotted. There are over 450,000 T's and I's in those 15,000 pages. We've done enough. It's time to build this pipeline. Keystone XL will help lower gas prices and will help protect against supply disruptions by putting downward pressure on oil prices by increasing supply to domestic markets.

In a memo from the Department of Energy regarding Keystone XL, it asserted that gasoline prices in all markets served by refiners on the east coast and gulf would decrease, including in the Midwest. Yes, it does do that. There are four things we said. One of them is the major one, which is that it creates jobs immediately; 42,100 were estimated by the Department of State in one of their four studies on this particular bill. I mean, we could go study after study after study with 10 different agencies looking over and over and over. There are no more studies to be done. It's time to make the decision. When should it be made? Now.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have left?

I reserve the balance of my time in order to close.

No.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First of all, the amendments that were talked about are amendments that would add to a process that we have said is very sacred. We don't want to change the process. We don't want to circumvent it.

We're not circumventing any process. Because this crosses a national boundary, there's only one thing left to do: we need the President to okay it. Every study that could be done--this started in 2008 and continued in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, and now here we are in 2013. It's out of opportunities to be studied. It's time.

This rule provides for ample and open debate and makes in order proposals from both sides of the aisle.

As I stated before, this bill represents so much more than the approval of an 875-mile long pipeline. It represents 42,100 jobs, greater energy independence, and will benefit our Nation for generations to come.

The Keystone XL pipeline will allow 830,000 barrels of oil to flow each day to domestic refineries that employ hardworking Americans. This number represents half of our current daily crude oil imports from the Middle East. This will not only diversify our energy sources, but it will reduce our dependence on foreign oil from countries that in many ways do not share or respect our freedom and democracy.

As we speak, the southern gulf coast segment of the Keystone XL pipeline is being constructed. It didn't require Presidential approval for one reason: it didn't cross a national border. It was studied by the requisite State and Federal environmental agencies, it was approved, and now it's approximately 50 percent complete.

Four years and 15,000 pages represent more than enough time and paper to study this pipeline. Any more paper and we'll need an environmental impact statement to study the effects of the environmental impact statement.

Our Nation is crying out for job creation, energy independence, and lower gas prices. Today, we have the opportunity to answer that call and to remove the few remaining barriers that stand between Americans and the relief they desperately need.

I ask my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this rule and passage of the underlying bill.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 5 o'clock and 5 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.