Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, again a horrendous act of terrorism has been perpetrated on freedom-loving people in the world. Today, our friends in Spain are in mourning in the face of another cowardly attack by the enemies of freedom. News reports indicate that at least 173 people were killed and more than 600 injured in a series of explosions on Madrid's railway network at the height of morning rush hour.

Spain has suffered terrible losses from terrorism for decades, and the United States stands by its side today in grief. Our hearts go out to the Spanish people in this difficult time.

As I stated in September 2001, we--and our allies around the world-- will show our resolve to our enemies. The free nations of the world will remain steadfast in our commitment together to ensure that those who hate freedom and liberty will not succeed. There are only two sides in this war: Ours and the enemy's. We reaffirm this today in light of the attacks in Madrid.

Lastly, it was President Franklin D. Roosevelt that stated that this Nation and its allies will defend ourselves to the uttermost and work to make certain that acts of war should never be permitted to endanger freedom-loving people again. Quote, ``With confidence in our Armed Forces--with the unbounded determination of our people--we will gain the inevitable triumph--so help us God.'' This quote remains just as true today, as it did in December 1941.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick) for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 554 is a fair and balanced rule that will provide House Members with the opportunity to consider a number of issues affecting our efforts to get indecent material off our airwaves. Under this rule, the House will have the opportunity to consider a manager's amendment by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and an amendment by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) to strike the increased fine limit on entertainers, and an amendment by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) to direct the General Accounting Office to provide a detailed report to Congress about the number of complaints about indecent broadcasting and the processes and procedures that the FCC has implemented to investigate these complaints.

With respect to H.R. 3717, the underlying legislation, I want to commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, for all of the time and effort he has invested in bringing this very important and well-crafted legislation to the House floor.

Vulgarity, profanity, and even obscenity are an all-too-common trend on our television and radio airwaves today. Originally, the Golden Globe Awards incident last year appeared to be an isolated event; however, the subsequent profanity during the Billboard Music Awards broadcast and the grossly inappropriate halftime show of the 2004 Super Bowl made clear that Congress needs to take action and give the FCC the tools it needs to crack down on such tawdry programming.

H.R. 3717 provides some of these tools for the FCC and is a step in the right direction. This legislation increases the penalties imposed for broadcast indecency, which allows the FCC to more authoritatively regulate on-air programming. Also, this bill makes it easier for the FCC to hold individuals subject to the same fines as broadcasters for indecent actions.

In conclusion, families must be able to watch prime-time TV together without the fear of watching obscene, profane, or vulgar programming; and H.R. 3717 will help make this a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the rule so we may proceed to debate the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2136.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment that I have placed at the desk be considered as the amendment printed in House Report 108-431 and numbered 1 and that the amendment be considered as read for purposes of this unanimous consent request.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 547 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to 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.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 547 is a fair, structured rule that provides for the consideration of H.R. 1561, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act. This rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

H. Res. 547 provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment, and shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.

H. Res. 547 makes in order only those amendments to the Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute which are printed in the Committee on Rules report accompanying the resolution.

The rule provides that the amendments made in order may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.

H. Res. 547 waives all points of order against the amendments printed in the report and provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

With respect to the underlying legislation, H.R. 1561, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act, represents the beginning of the implementation of the revised Strategic Business Plan to transform the Patent and Trademark Office's operations by improving patent and trademark quality and reducing application backlogs and delays. The bill incorporates a revised fee schedule previously submitted by the PTO that would generate an additional $201 million in revenue. Specifically, H.R. 1561 amends Federal patent law to lower patent filing and basic national fees; increase appeal, excess claims, disclaimer, extension, revival, and maintenance fees; and add new fees for application examination, patent search, and patent issuance.

As our former colleague and former director of the PTO, Jim Rogan, noted, the implementation of the revised Strategic Plan hinges on the passage of H.R. 1561. He stated, ``Without the ability to hire and train new examiners and also improve infrastructure, our hands will be tied . . . The consequences of failing to enact the fee bill and giving the (PTO) access to those fees will mean quality and pendency will continue to suffer. We will be unable to hire needed examiners, and over 140,000 patents will not issue over the next 5 years. The inventory of unexamined patent applications will skyrocket to a backlog of over 1 million applications by 2008, more than double the current amount, and pendency (as measured from the time of filing) will jump to over 40 months average in the next few years. This would represent the highest pendency rates in decades.''

I agree with former Director Rogan's account, and I believe that H.R. 1561 will benefit our Nation in the processing of patent and trademark applications. I have always supported the rights of independent inventors to seek protections under Federal patent laws.

Undoubtedly, some of the world's greatest innovations have come from America's great independent inventors, including Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.

Nevertheless, it is also necessary to expedite patent applications to help protect small independent inventors.

Mr. Speaker, this rule was approved by the Committee on Rules last night. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 529 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman

from New York (Ms. Slaughter); 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.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 529 is a modified closed rule that provides for the consideration of H.R. 1997, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004.

This rule provides for 2 hours of debate in the House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

H. Res. 529 provides that the bill shall be considered as read for amendment. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution, shall be considered as adopted.

The rule further provides for the consideration of the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules, if offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) or her designee, which shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent.

H. Res. 529 waives all points of order against the amendment printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules and provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

This is a fair rule, Mr. Speaker; and I urge all my colleagues in the House to join me in supporting its passage so that we can move on to considering the underlying legislation.

With respect to the underlying legislation, H.R. 1997, I want to commend the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart) for introducing this legislation and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, for bringing it to the floor this week.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick), my colleague on the Committee on Rules.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).

(Mr. NEUGEBAUER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).

(Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart).

(Ms. HART asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).

(Mr. SOUDER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. Speaker, I will just take enough time to say I urge my colleagues to support this rule so we can get on with the real debate on both the underlying bill and the substitute to it.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 520 ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), 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.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 520 provides for the consideration of a motion offered by the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means or his designee to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 743. The rule provides for 1 hour of debate in the House on the motion, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

H. Res. 520 provides that the Senate amendment and the motion shall be considered as read. It waives all points of order against consideration of the motion to concur in the Senate amendment, and it provides that the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to final adoption without intervening motion.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of H. Res. 520 is to expedite the final consideration of H.R. 743, the Social Security Protection Act of 2003. Adopting this rule will allow the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means to offer a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the House- passed version of H.R. 743, which, if approved by the House today, will clear this bill for the President's signature. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this rule.

Last April, the full House of Representatives approved H.R. 743 with a 396 to 28 vote. The overwhelmingly bipartisan vote on House passage was preceded by the House rejecting the Green amendment. The Green amendment sought to maintain the so-called ``last day rule,'' which is a loophole that a small number of workers in certain States have exploited in the past. To its credit, the underlying legislation before us closes down that loophole. Last December, the U.S. Senate approved its amendment to H.R. 743 by unanimous consent.

Let us be clear: H.R. 743 is noncontroversial legislation that has wide bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, and promptly adopting the Senate amendment to H.R. 743 will enable the President to sign this legislation into law this month.

The Committee on Rules approved this rule by voice vote yesterday, and I urge my colleagues to support it so we may proceed with debate and consideration of the underlying, bipartisan bill.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) for more illumination on this exciting subject which will be covered at great length in the next hour.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and to vote against the previous question.

This is a more complex bill than we have heard in the last 40 minutes. This bill protects beneficiaries from representative payees who misuse benefits. It denies Social Security benefits to fugitive felons and probation parole violators. It deters program waste, fraud, and abuse on a much broader scale than that dealing just with the Texas schoolteachers. It helps individuals with disabilities gain access to representation and encourages disabled beneficiaries to return to work.

It improves and simplifies the SSI program, especially for members of the military and their families. It has bipartisan support and the support of key stakeholders and actually saves money; and, yes, it does close the loophole that enables some teachers in Georgia and Texas to contribute just a few dollars to Social Security to receive nearly $100,000 in additional lifetime spousal benefits.

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

Mr. Speaker, on Friday we celebrate the 93d birthday of Ronald Reagan and I rise again to recognize his efforts to renew the American spirit and to spread freedom around the world. Ronald Reagan once stated that, ``The leadership of the free world was thrust upon us two centuries ago in that little hall of Philadelphia. In the days following World War II, when the economic strength and power of America was all that stood between the world and the return to the dark ages, Pope Pius XII said, `The American people have a great genius for splendid and unselfish actions. Into the hands of America God has placed the destinies of an afflicted mankind.' '' Reagan further stated that, ``We are indeed, and we are today, the last best hope of man on earth.'' As we face many challenges today, the words of our 40th President still ring true. As we mark his birthday, we should remember his dream of creating a better, safer world and reaffirm that this Nation must continue to show the courage and persistence to turn that dream into a reality and provide hope for all those who do not have freedom.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 465 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), 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.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 465 is a rule that waives clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to same-day consideration against certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules. Specifically, this rule waives the requirement for two-thirds majority vote by the House to consider a rule on the same-day that it has been reported by the Committee on Rules.

This rule's waiver applies to any special rule reported by the Committee on Rules on or before the legislative day of January 31, 2004, providing for the consideration of disposition of any of the following:

First, a bill or joint resolution making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2004, or any amendment thereto, or any conference report thereon; or, second, a bill or joint resolution making general appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, any amendment thereto, or any conference report thereon.

Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Rules reported this same-day rule on November 21 in order to provide some flexibility to the House leadership in terms of bringing the consolidated appropriations bill to the floor. On November 25, the text of the conference report on H.R. 2673, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, was printed in the Congressional Record for review by House Members. While the rule before the House today permits consideration of a number of appropriations options, the purpose of processing of this rule today is to expedite the consideration of the remaining fiscal year 2004 appropriations bills in the House. Once this rule is adopted, the House will be able to consider a consolidated appropriations rule and the underlying conference report without delay.

This consolidated bill includes the Foreign Operations bill, the Transportation-Treasury bill, the Agriculture bill, the VA-HUD bill, the Commerce-Justice bill, the District of Columbia bill, and the Labor-HHS bill. I commend the hard work of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the Committee on Appropriations for their efforts in crafting this important funding bill. As I stated, the provisions of the consolidated appropriations bill were printed in the Congressional Record almost 2 weeks ago, and the passage of the same-day rule will provide for prompt consideration of these important funding bills this afternoon.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of this rule.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the previous question and the rule, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 135, the 21st Century Water Commission Act of 2003. H.R. 135 is designed to bring together our Nation's premier water experts to recommend strategies for meeting our water challenges in the next century.

I would like to first thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Calvert) and his staff and the gentleman from Tennessee (Chairman Duncan) and his staff for being so helpful in

bringing this bill to the floor and having hearings.

Ensuring fresh water for U.S. citizens will be a critical challenge facing the United States as we enter the 21st Century. Water related issues have been of interest to me for many years. In fact, I wrote an article in 1978 that predicted that one of the 12 major challenges for our country in the next century would be providing enough fresh water for our booming population.

Since that time, about 25 years ago, America still does not have an integrated or comprehensive water policy, even with hundreds of thousands of Federal, State, local and private sector employees working to solve water problems. If we wait another 10 or 20 years to get serious about meeting our demand for clean water, it will be too late.

According to the October 27, 2003, edition of U.S. News and World Report, ``Our population has more than doubled since World War II, and at this rate, we could be on our way to 1 billion people living in the United States by the end of this century.'' The population growth will clearly put a strain on our already-burdened water supply.

As my colleagues are aware, many States across the Nation are currently facing a water crisis. Once thought to be a problem only in the arid West, severe droughts last summer caused water shortages up and down the east coast. States once accustomed to an unlimited access to water realized that they are not immune to the problems which the West has experienced for decades.

In addition, numerous news articles over the past few years have increased our attention to other water problems that we currently face. To name just a few, aquifers are being challenged by salt water intrusion, rivers and wells are drying up all over the country, crops are being threatened, and our aging water pipes leak billions of gallons of fresh water in our cities all over the country. For example, New York City loses 36 million gallons per day and Philadelphia loses 85 million per day just through leaks in infrastructure.

Let me be clear about one thing: my bill does not give the Federal Government more direct authority or control over water. This commission is designed to make recommendations about how we can coordinate water management efforts on all levels, so that localities, States, and the Federal Government can work together.

Some highlights of the bill are as follows:

The commission will look for ways to ensure fresh water for citizens for the next 50 years.

The commission will be composed of nine members, appointed by the President and key leaders in the House and Senate.

The commission will look for ways to eliminate duplication and conflict among Federal Government agencies.

The commission will consider all available technologies and other methods to optimize water supply reliability.

The commission will hold hearings in distinct geographical regions of the United States and in Washington, D.C., to seek a diversity of views, comments, and input.

Not later than 6 months after the date of the first meeting of the commission, and every 6 months thereafter, the commission will transmit a report to the Congress. A final report will be due within 3 years of the commission's inception.

In John Steinbeck's novel, ``East of Eden,'' the narrator observes, ``It never failed that during the dry years that people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry years. It was always that way.''

The United States cannot afford to reevaluate its water policies every time a crisis hits. Now is the time to get ahead of this issue, and I believe the 21st Century Water Commission can serve as the channel for doing so.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say something about the rule. It is a fair rule. It is a rule that was used often as long as I have been here toward the end of a session to get pieces of legislation to the floor. The rule gives an extra hour for those opposing this bill to argue about it, and we are going to hear lots of arguing and lots of whining. But in the event we get through this rule and the rule on Medicare reformation and get to the bill, I think the public is going to know an awful lot about what is in it. Frankly, the substance of this agreement was known last Sunday, several days ago. And the 3-day rule layover that we are avoiding this time is normal for the end of year.

I just want to make one comment about something that I heard twice in a 4-hour hearing today in the Committee on Rules, and we will hear it later on the floor. On two occasions, it was said that former Speaker Gingrich said in a speech to the Blue Cross organization, or Blue Shield, that he wanted Medicare to wither on the vine. That was made into a commercial by AFL-CIO and run across the country. And Brooks Jackson on July 15, 1996, did an expose on that. He showed the entire speech, and he showed that what they had done was cut up a piece. What Newt Gingrich was talking about was not Medicare or its beneficiaries, but the bureaucracy that runs it. He said that given the opportunity to make free choices, our seniors will voluntarily, voluntarily, opt out of the Health Care Financing Administration, and it will wither on the vine. When Brooks Jackson did that expose, he said what the unions were doing was dishonest.

I want to make this point before the debate starts because I want you to know that we know that you know you are dishonest.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 458 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), 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.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 458 is a rule that waives clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to same-day consideration against certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules. Specifically, this rule waives the requirement for a two-thirds majority vote in the House to consider a rule on the same day it has been reported by the Committee on Rules.

This rule's waiver applies to any special rule reported on the legislative day of November 21, 2003, providing for the consideration or disposition of any of the following:

A, a bill or joint resolution making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2004 or any amendments thereto; or

B, a bill or joint resolution making general appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, any amendment thereto or any conference reported thereon.

I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in approving H. Res. 458. Its passage will help expedite the consideration of either another continuing resolution, if that becomes needed, or even conference reports on the last few remaining fiscal year 2004 appropriations bills, including the Foreign Operations bill, Transportation-Treasury bill, the Agriculture bill, the VA-HUD bill, the Commerce-Justice bill, the District of Columbia bill, and the Labor-HHS bill.

I believe that we are in the waning days of this year's legislative session with only a relatively small number of must-do legislative items still left to finish. Approving this same-day waiver rule will help provide for prompt consideration of these important funding bills.

Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Rules approved this rule last night, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume just to observe the lesson I just learned from the gentleman from Michigan. When President Clinton ran for President, he said we had the worst economy in 50 years, and just a few months later, he turned everything around. Things were so wonderful that he could stop unemployment compensation. I had not realized he had done it so quickly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule, so we can hopefully have an appropriation bill later this evening or this weekend we can vote on and finish things up.

The text of the amendment previously referred to by Mr. Frost, is as follows:

Previous Question for H. Res. 458--Rule on waiving 2/3rds for C/R and

Appropriations Measures

At the end of the resolution add the following new section:

Sec. 2. ``Immediately after disposition of this resolution,

it shall be in order without intervention of any point of

order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 3568) to

provide extended unemployment benefits to displaced workers,

and to make other improvements in the unemployment insurance

system. The bill shall be considered as read for amendment.

The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the

bills to final passage without intervening motion except: (1)

one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the

Chairman and ranking Minority Member of the Committee on the

Ways and Means; and (2) one motion to recommit with or

without instructions.

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

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 450 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), 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.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 450 is a closed rule that provides for the consideration of H.J. Res. 78, a continuing resolution that will ensure further appropriations for fiscal year 2004.

The rule provides for 1 hour of debate in the House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the joint resolution and provides for one motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, the provisions of the most recent continuing resolution, H.J. Res. 75, are scheduled to expire this Friday, November 21. The House Committee on Appropriations continues to work hard to complete the unfinished appropriations business of Congress, and we are hopeful that this work can be completed in the coming days. The resolution before us today, H.J. Res. 78, ensures funding through this weekend until November 23.

The House of Representatives passed all of its fiscal year 2004 appropriations bills long ago. We should complete Foreign Operations, Transportation-Treasury appropriate bills in the very near future. In addition, negotiations are under way to complete Agriculture, VA-HUD, Commerce-Justice-State, Labor-HHS, and the District of Columbia appropriations bills as well. However, to ensure that essential government services continue to operate while the omnibus appropriations bill is completed, this rule makes in order another continuing resolution to give us the additional time to complete the appropriations process in an orderly manner.

Mr. Speaker, under the joint resolution that H.J. Res. 450 makes in order, the provisions of the most recent continuing resolution will be extended for

2 more days. The Committee on Rules approved this rule last night. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, let me just say to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost)

that it is not that we do not want to inform them. It is that we do not know.

We are dealing with people in the other body who have not given us any indication of when they are prepared to move. But I will say that I agree 100 percent with the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey). We are moving piece by piece on these. And our side would like very much to pass them one at a time and get out of here Friday night or Saturday. I do not think it will be that soon on Friday night, but we are very close to getting our work done on the appropriations process so we would like to do that one at a time.

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

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, I move that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow for morning hour debates.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 430 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), 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.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 430 is a closed rule that provides for the consideration of H.J. Res. 76, a continuing resolution that will ensure further appropriations for fiscal year 2004. The rule provides for 1 hour of debate in the House, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the joint resolution and provides for one motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, we passed the first continuing resolution, H.J. Res. 69, in late September, continuing appropriations through October. The provisions of H.J. Res. 75, which was the second CR enacted by this Congress, are scheduled to expire this Friday, November 7.

Under the joint resolution that H. Res. 430 makes in order, the provisions of that second continuing resolution would be extended until November 21, 2003. In brief, for the fiscal year 2004 appropriations bills that have not yet been enacted into law, the CR provides 2 additional weeks of funding for those Federal departments and agencies whose operations depend on the enactment of those appropriations.

We are approaching the completion of this first session of the 108th Congress, but there are a number of appropriations bills and other must-do legislative priorities that we are working to resolve. Additional time is needed. Nonetheless, it is our goal to have this represent the last continuing resolution, as the appropriators are working hard to complete conference reports and are moving toward making the tough decisions that will lead us to the end of the appropriations process for this year. This continuing resolution gives us the time needed to complete this process in an orderly manner.

The Committee on Rules approved this rule yesterday. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage.

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

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

The previous question was ordered.