Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am transmitting a status report on the current levels of on-budget spending and revenues for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 and for the 5-year period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. This report is necessary to facilitate the application of sections 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act and sections 204, 206 and 207 of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008.

The term ``current level'' refers to the amounts of spending and revenues estimated for each fiscal year based on laws enacted or awaiting the President's signature.

The first table in the report compares the current levels of total budget authority, outlays, and revenues with the aggregate levels set by S. Con. Res. 21. This comparison is needed to enforce section 311(a) of the Budget Act, which creates a point of order against measures that would breach the budget resolution's aggregate levels.

The second table compares the current levels of discretionary appropriations for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 with the ``section 302(b)'' suballocations of discretionary budget authority and outlays among Appropriations subcommittees. The comparison is needed to enforce section 302(f) of the Budget Act because the point of order under that section applies to measures that would breach the applicable section 302(b) suballocation.

The third table compares the current levels of budget authority and outlays for each authorizing committee with the ``section 302(a)'' allocations made under S. Con. Res. 21 for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 and fiscal years 2008 through 2012. This comparison is needed to enforce section 302(f) of the Budget Act, which creates a point of order against measures that would breach the section 302(a) allocation of new budget authority for the committee that reported the measure.

The fourth table gives the current level for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 for accounts identified for advance appropriations under section 206 of S. Con. Res. 21. This list is needed to enforce section 206 of the budget resolution, which creates a point of order against appropriation bills that contain advance appropriations that: (i) are not identified in the statement of managers; or (ii) would cause the aggregate amount of such appropriations to exceed the level specified in the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding and thank all of you for participating in this Special Order tonight. You know, we tend to think of ourselves as urbanized, even in the Southeast these days. But in South Carolina, my State, and even more so in North Carolina, agriculture is critically important as part of our total economy. In South Carolina, 46,000 full- and part-time jobs are supported by agriculture. That is 22 percent of all the jobs in our State; $15.1 billion in income is attributable to agriculture, 17 percent of the State's total income.

I could go on to show that even now in the 21st century, we in the Carolinas and throughout the Southeast still have a lot of agriculture, and we are critically dependent upon it. Our farmers and our people throughout the Southeast are faced with just about the worst drought I have seen in I don't know when. And it keeps getting worse and worse. I went to Marlboro County, probably one of the most agricultural counties in the 14 counties I represent. I couldn't believe what I saw. And it hasn't gotten any better since then. Soybeans that never develop. There is no pod. Cotton that is barely worth getting out of the fields. Hay, peanuts, pastures, you name it, they are all suffering. It is basically at the level of being catastrophic unless we can help and help soon. In Marlboro, back in September, the threshold for the Department of Agriculture in declaring a crop or an area a disaster area is 33 percent crop loss. Marlboro County in September, 2 months ago virtually, at least 6 weeks ago, had 67 percent of its crop already damaged. It is worse by now I am sure. I represent 14 counties, small- town counties, proud counties, but still dependent on agriculture, and 13 of those 14 counties were included recently in a disaster declaration from the Secretary of Agriculture. That is how widespread the disaster situation is.

Our Commission of Agriculture estimates that in South Carolina alone, the losses are going to equal $500 to $600 million. Now, most people don't know it, but most farmers today, responsible farmers, carry crop insurance underwritten and subsidized by the Federal Government. But it is not enough to cover their losses. It is partial recovery, but it is not nearly enough. The existing law requires, allows disaster relief and other forms of relief to farmers who have suffered from natural disasters, provided that they planted their crops or harvested their crops before February 28, 2007. Unfortunately, that applies to very few of our farmers in the crops that they plant. Consequently, they have next to no coverage, next to no protection from disaster relief that some farmers in other parts of the country would enjoy.

Basically what we would like simply to see happen is for our farmers to be cut into the same program of relief that other farmers are enjoying by virtue of existing agriculture law. That is what we are asking for. And there's several different ways to do it. Supplementals will be coming through here with capital improvements in various parts of the world, Iraq, Afghanistan; we could afford something in those bills for our own farmers. The farm bill itself will be coming back here in conference report. Maybe there is some way we can adjust it to provide for us. The Agriculture appropriations bill has not yet been passed. There are lots of opportunities.

We are here tonight to say we need the help of everyone, beginning with the administration. The Bush administration could initiate this process by requesting in the next supplemental some sort of assistance for these farmers, as was done and should have been done for the farmers suffering from wild fire on the west coast and, by golly, that will be a big first step and help us finish the process, carry the ball across the goal line here in Congress.

We are here tonight from all over the Southeast to bring the same message to the Congress, to the country and to the Bush administration. We are hurting, hurting bad. And if we don't get some sort of relief, it is going to be devastating for our farmers.

Thank you very much for the time you have yielded.

Madam Speaker, on Friday, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer spoke to the National Press Club regarding fiscal responsibility and the Democratic record. I recommend his speech to all of my colleagues.

The speech sets out the clear differences between the current Administration's harmful fiscal policies and the strong track record of fiscal responsibility that the current 110th Congress has established. Indeed, the new House majority has already passed and adhered to the Pay-As-You-Go rule and passed a budget resolution that returns to balance by 2012.

The speech also establishes some helpful context for the Administration's pending veto threats on the appropriations bills. Most of the funding difference consists of Congressional efforts simply to restore harmful cuts proposed by the President, and the rest of the difference represents a responsible level of increase that will enable us to fund key priorities. Our appropriations level was accommodated within our fiscally responsible budget resolution, which returned the budget to balance by 2012.

Majority Leader Hoyer's Address at the National Press Club: Fighting

for America's Future

Sept. 28.--I first want to thank Alan Greenspan for putting

the issue of fiscal responsibility back on the political map.

This is a very healthy development, even though it

embarrasses the Administration.

In his new book, the former Federal Reserve Board Chairman

writes: ``Most troubling to me was the readiness of both [the

Republican-controlled] Congress and the Administration to

abandon fiscal discipline.'' And this: `` `Deficits don't

matter,' to my chagrin became part of the Republicans'

rhetoric. . . . Deficits must matter.''

I was tempted to come here and deliver the shortest speech

of my professional life. Eight words in all. ``Chairman

Greenspan is correct. Are there any questions?''

But the bar is higher today. So, I intend to convince you

of four main points: First, this Administration has pursued

the most fiscally irresponsible policies in American

history.

Second, the Democratic Party is the party of fiscal

responsibility today--which is a very under-reported story.

Third, the President needs to put down his veto pen and

pick up the telephone. Our differences on funding levels for

domestic appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008--which begins on

Monday--are relatively minor. We need to work out those

differences, rather than engage in political posturing.

And finally, we must not allow our disagreement on

appropriations to distract us from the ominous, long-term

fiscal challenges that confront our nation. The United

States of America is on an unsustainable fiscal path--and the

longer we wait to address our challenges, the more difficult

it will be to avert a fiscal crisis.

Mr. Speaker, under sections 211, 304, and 320, of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for fiscal year 2008, I hereby submit for printing in the Congressional Record a revision to the budget allocations and aggregates for certain House committees for fiscal years 2007, 2008, and the period of 2008 through 2012. This revision represents an adjustment to certain House committee budget allocations and aggregates for the purposes of section 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, and in response to the bill H.R. 3668, to provide for the extension of transitional medical assistance (TMA) and the abstinence education program, and the qualifying individuals (QI) program, and for other purposes. Corresponding tables are attached.

Under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21, this adjustment to the budget allocations and aggregates applies while the measure is under consideration. The adjustments will take effect upon enactment of the measure. For purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, a revised allocation made under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21 is to be considered as an allocation included in the resolution.

Mr. Speaker,

Under sections 211, 301(b), and 320(a), of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008, I hereby submit for printing in the Congressional Record a revision to the budget allocations and aggregates for certain House committees for fiscal years 2007, 2008, and the period of 2008 through 2012. This revision represents an adjustment to certain House committee budget allocations and aggregates for the purposes of sections 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, and in response to the House amendments to the Senate amendments to H.R. 976 made in order by the Committee on Rules (Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007). Corresponding tables are attached.

Under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21, this adjustment to the budget allocations and aggregates applies while the measure is under consideration. The adjustments will take effect upon enactment of the measure. For purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, a revised allocation made under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21 is to be considered as an allocation included in the resolution.

DIRECT SPENDING LEGISLATION--AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE 302(a) ALLOCATIONS FOR RESOLUTION CHANGES

[Fiscal Years, in millions of dollars] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2007 2008 2008-2012 Total

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 207) recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force as an independent military service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 207, recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force as an independent military service. I thank my colleague from New Mexico, Heather Wilson, in particular, for her partnership and collaboration in helping to bring this bipartisan measure before the House. I want also to recognize the outstanding leadership of the cochairs of the Air Force Caucus, Cliff Stearns of Florida, Sam Johnson of Texas, and Jim Marshall of Georgia for their participation.

Sixty years ago in July, President Truman and Congress distilled the lessons learned in World War II into landmark legislation known as the National Security Act of 1947. On September 18, the Armed Forces were reorganized under a Department of Defense, and the Air Force was established as a military department coequal to the Departments of the Army and the Navy.

The question of whether air forces should be a service on their own separate from the ground forces arose long before it was resolved in the National Security Act of 1947. Over a period of 40 years, airmen earned that recognition, beginning with the Aeronautical Division's earliest exploits in 1907, followed by the derring-do of the Army Air Service in World War I, and then by the superior performance of the Army Air Corps, later the Army Air Forces, in World War II. America's airmen performed well; so well, in fact, that when battles were fought in the air, they were won decisively, making air superiority a standing assumption.

This tradition started during World War II, with aviators like General Doolittle. During the war in North Africa and Europe, General Eisenhower and General Spaatz, as commander of the Army Air Forces, worked well together. General Eisenhower came to appreciate the capabilities of air power and the role of the Air Force in achieving victory. He called General Spaatz, ``the best operational airman in the world,'' and became persuaded that the Air Force should exist alongside and equal to the Army and the Navy. Ike compared this arrangement to a three-legged stool, where each leg is essential to the whole. It's a principle alive, well, and working today.

Since its origin, the Air Force has stayed abreast of our national security requirements, adding missiles to aircraft, and through a long cold war, deterring any attack upon our country. The Air Force is typically called when we need to gain air superiority with troops and materiel, when and wherever the need arises. Its airlift and tanker capabilities give us the advantage of remote presence. Its satellites supply us with surveillance and communication capabilities that are the gold standard, surpassing anything that any other country in the world possesses. Not only has the Air Force achieved a technical overmatch against our adversaries in the air, but in space and cyberspace as well.

In today's Air Force, over 700,000 ``Total Force Airmen'' are at work as we speak, exercising vigilance, reach, and power around the world. They are operating intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft and spacecraft, supplying early warning, real-time intelligence, and situational awareness to the war fighters on the ground. They are a critical presence in the battle space of Afghanistan and Iraq. They are lifting cargo and passengers, and using refueling assets to build air bridges, projecting power, and sustaining the fight.

Although the hardware tends to get the headlines, it is the people who make it work and who make the Air Force what it is. When General Horner came home from the Persian Gulf in 1991, I asked him who were the unsung heroes, and he answered without hesitation, ``Well, for one, it is our NCOs; their quality has literally gone out of sight.'' I was reminded of what General Horner said when I was at Shaw Air Force Base not long ago and met with the Fighting 20th and its wing commander, Colonel Post, along with airmen and women, many of them about to deploy. They will be part of some 35,000 other airmen deployed around the globe. Because of them and others like them, we have the best Air Force in the world, bar none.

This concurrent resolution is our way, as Members of Congress and citizens of this Nation, of expressing our appreciation, of recognizing the United States Air Force, its leaders and airmen, for consistently proving their worth to our Nation and helping make this the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Let me conclude with the resolving clause: That Congress remembers, honors, and commends the achievements of the United States Air Force in serving and defending our country on the 60th anniversary of the creation of the United States Air Force as an independent military service.

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

Mr. Speaker, we have a long list of cosponsors on this side of the aisle for this resolution, and I had a long list of potential speakers; but due to the rearrangement of resolutions, none is here now; and I would simply yield to the gentleman from Ohio so that he can further yield his time. And if you need further time on our side, we will be glad to grant it as well.

I reserve the balance of my time, of course.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, in the interest of jointness, I have now the pleasure of recognizing and yielding 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sestak), who is a retired naval admiral.

Mr. Speaker, I have no requests at this time on this side. I therefore yield to the gentleman. If you need some of my time, I will gladly yield it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation, H. Con. Res. 207.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference agreement on H.R. 2669. I am proud to say that this is a reconciliation bill which originated with the budget resolution for fiscal year 2008.

This is also a happy occasion where good policy for education is also good for the budget's bottom line. This bill will reduce the budget deficit. That's right, it will reduce the budget deficit over 5 years by $750 million at the same time that it invests in human capital and makes colleges more affordable for millions of students.

I am proud to see this outcome, proud to have gotten the ball rolling in the Budget Committee to start the process, and I commend the chairman who has taken this bill from January to September, passing it step by step through the House, through the Senate, conferencing it, in no small part due to the reconciliation status it enjoyed in the Senate, and I hope that the whole House will note the support that it has gotten. This is a solid, substantive bill for college students. I hope the conference report will pass handily in both Chambers and I hope the President will take note and sign this bill into law.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference agreement on H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. I am proud to say that this is a reconciliation bill, which originated with the budget resolution for fiscal 2008. This is also a happy occasion where good policy is good for the budget's bottom line. This bill will reduce the budget deficit at the same time that it invests in human capital and helps make college more affordable for millions of students.

The conference agreement complies with our budget resolution for fiscal year 2008, which instructed the House Committee on Education and Labor to cut spending under its jurisdiction by $750 million by 2012. By passing this measure, the House maintains the tough pay-as-you-go rule and the rule barring reconciliation bills that increase the deficit, a rule the House instituted for the 110th Congress in January. These budget rules require Congress to make tough choices to meet priorities while restoring the budget to balance, and the House has insisted on enforcing these rules in every case.

This reconciliation bill is a stark contrast from those enacted by Republican-controlled Congresses. Every Republican reconciliation directive since 1994 has resulted in reconciliation packages consisting primarily of huge tax cuts that increased the deficit. In contrast, this reconciliation bill is better than budget-neutral; over fiscal years 2007 through 2012, it results in budgetary savings of $752 million.

In addition to making a net reduction in the deficit, this bill makes improvements in student loans and grants, paid for by cuts in subsidies to student loan lenders. It provides more than $20 billion in new resources to make college more affordable by lowering the cost of student loans or by increasing the grant available. For example, by 2012 the bill increases the maximum Pell grant to $5,400, a 33 percent increase over what the maximum grant was when the 110th Congress was sworn in. The bill also cuts by 50 percent the interest rate that students pay on subsidized student loans.

To offset the cost of these student benefits, the bill reduces subsidies that the government pays to banks. These reductions are similar to those in H.R. 5, which passed the House in January by a bipartisan vote of 356-71, and to the subsidy cuts in the President's 2008 budget proposal.

I commend the committee, and its able chairman, Mr. Miller, for moving this bill step by step from January to September, passing it in the House and conferencing it. I hope that this bill will pass handily in both bodies, and I hope that the President will take note, and sign this bill into law immediately.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 306 (b) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008, I hereby submit for printing in the Congressional Record revisions to the budget allocations and aggregates for the House Committee on Education and Labor for fiscal years 2007, 2008, and the period of 2008 through 2012. These revisions represent adjustments to the Committee on Education and Labor's allocations and aggregates for the purposes of sections 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, and in response to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. Corresponding tables are attached.

Under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21, these adjustments to the budget allocations and aggregates apply while the conference report accompanying H.R. 2669 is under consideration and will take effect upon enactment of the measure. For purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, revised allocations made under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21 are to be considered as allocations included in the budget resolution.

DIRECT SPENDING LEGISLATION--AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE 302(a) ALLOCATIONS FOR RESOLUTION CHANGES

[Fiscal years, in millions of dollars] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2007 2008 2008-2012 Total

Mr. Speaker, I am transmitting a status report on the current levels of on-budget spending and revenues for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 and the five-year period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. This report is necessary to facilitate the application of sections 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act. This status report is current through September 5, 2007.

The term ``current level'' refers to the amounts of spending and revenues estimated for each fiscal year based on laws enacted or awaiting the President's signature.

The first table in the report compares the current level of total budget authority, outlays, and revenues for the fiscal years 2007 and 2008, and the five-year period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 with the aggregate levels set by S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008. This, comparison is needed to enforce section 311(a) of the Budget Act, which creates a point of order against measures that would breach the budget resolution's aggregate levels. The table does not show budget authority and outlays for years after fiscal years 2007 and 2008 because appropriations for those years have not yet been considered.

The second table compares the current levels of budget authority and outlays for spending by each authorizing committee with the section 302(a) allocations made under S. Con. Res. 21 for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 and fiscal years 2008 through 2012. This comparison is needed to enforce section 302(f) of the Budget Act, which creates a point of order against measures that would breach the section 302(a) allocation of new budget authority for the committee that reported the measure. It is also needed to implement section 311(c), which exempts committees that comply with their allocations from the point of order under section 311(a).

The third table compares the current levels of discretionary appropriations for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 with the section 302(b) suballocations of discretionary budget authority and outlays among Appropriations subcommittees. The comparison is also needed to enforce section 302(f) of the Budget Act because the point of order under that section equally applies to measures that would breach the applicable section 302(b) suballocation.

The fourth table gives the current level for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 of accounts identified for advance appropriations under Section 206 of S. Con. Res. 21. This list is needed to enforce the budget resolution, which prohibits advance appropriations that are: (i) not identified in the statement of managers or (ii) would cause the aggregate amount of such appropriations to exceed the level specified in the resolution.

Madam Speaker, Under section 308(b)(1) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008, I hereby submit for printing in the Congressional Record a revision to the budget allocations and aggregates for certain House committees for fiscal years 2007, 2008, and the period of 2008 through 2012. This revision represents an adjustment to certain House committee budget allocations and aggregates for the purposes of sections 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, and in response to the bills made in order by the Committee on Rules, H.R. 2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 and H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act. Corresponding tables are attached.

Under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21, this adjustment to the budget allocations and aggregates applies while the measures are under consideration. The adjustments will take effect upon enactment of the measures. For purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, a revised allocation made under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21 is to be considered as an allocation included in the resolution.

DIRECT SPENDING LEGISLATION--AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE 302(a) ALLOCATIONS FOR RESOLUTION CHANGES

[Fiscal Years, in millions of dollars] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2007 2008 2008-2012 Total

Madam Speaker, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin and I would like to gratefully acknowledge the expert assistance that the U.S. Congress has received from Paul Cullinan at the Congressional Budget Office. Paul is retiring from congressional service in August, and this institution will sorely miss him.

Dr. Cullinan arrived at CBO in 1981, and has contributed to a vast range of policy analyses, budget projections, and legislative cost estimates over the past 26 years. But more important than the amount and variety of such work is the consistently high quality of that work and Paul's continual dedication to providing the Congress with thorough and timely analysis.

For the past 13 years, Paul Cullinan has served as the Manager of CBO's Human Resources Cost Estimates Unit, a role in which he has excelled and one that has allowed CBO to provide critical support to the consideration of numerous and varied pieces of legislation including efforts to reauthorize and extend higher education programs and the Food

Stamps program, potential changes to Social Security, proposals to reform U.S. immigration policies, and changes, both big and small, to a large host of income security programs. Moreover, Paul has been a key contributor and coordinator of CBO work on long-term budget projections, which we have come to increasingly consider as we move towards the pending retirement of the baby-boom generation.

In addition to his superb analysis of legislative proposals, Paul has provided valued support to the House and Senate Budget Committees on a bipartisan and bicameral basis. In short, Paul Cullinan ranks among the top budget experts here on Capitol Hill, and we will miss his input, careful judgment, and dedication to providing the best budgetary information possible for congressional consideration.

Mr. Speaker, under sections 211, 301(b), 304(a), 305(b), 314(d), 320(a), and 320(c) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008, I hereby submit for printing in the Congressional Record a revision to the budget allocations and aggregates for certain House committees for fiscal years 2007, 2008, and the period of 2008 through 2012. This revision represents an adjustment to certain House committee budget allocations and aggregates for the purposes of sections 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, and in response to the bill made in order by the Committee on Rules, H.R. 3162 (Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007). Corresponding tables are attached.

Under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21, this adjustment to the budget allocations and aggregates applies while the measure (H.R. 3162) is under consideration. The adjustments will take effect upon enactment of the measure (H.R. 3162). For purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, a revised allocation made under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21 is to be considered as an allocation included in the resolution.

DIRECT SPENDING LEGISLATION--AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE 302(a) ALLOCATIONS FOR RESOLUTION CHANGES

[Fiscal years, in millions of dollars] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2007 2008 2008-2012 total

Madam Speaker, under sections 211 and 307(b) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008, I hereby submit for printing in the Congressional Record a revision to the budget allocations and aggregates for certain House committees for fiscal years 2007, 2008, and the period of 2008 through 2012. This revision represents an adjustment to certain House committee budget allocations and aggregates for the purposes of sections 302 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, and in response to the bill H.R. 2419 (Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007). Corresponding tables are attached.

Under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21, this adjustment to the budget allocations and aggregates applies while the measure (H.R. 2419) is under consideration. The adjustments will take effect upon enactment of the measure (H.R. 2419). For purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, a revised allocation made under section 211 of S. Con. Res. 21 is to be considered as an allocation included in the resolution.

DIRECT SPENDING LEGISLATION--AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE 302(a) ALLOCATIONS FOR RESOLUTION CHANGES

[Fiscal years, in millions of dollars] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2007 2008 2008-2012 Total

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 207(d) of S. Con. Res. 21, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008, I hereby submit for printing in the Congressional Record revised 302 (a) allocations for the House Committee on Appropriations for Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008. Section 207 (d)(2) directs the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget to adjust the discretionary spending allocations for three program integrity initiatives: Continuing Disability Reviews and Supplemental Security Income Redeterminations, Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control, and Unemployment Improper Payment Reviews as provided in section 207 (d) (1)(A), (C) and (D) of S. Con. Res. 21, respectively.

DISCRETIONARY APPROPRIATIONS: Appropriations Committee 302(a) Allocation

[In millions of dollars] ------------------------------------------------------------------------