Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I rise to urge the adoption of this rule as well as the underlying bill.

I support this funding to right two historic wrongs that have tarnished our Nation for far too long--the Pigford and Cobell settlements. It is a sad truth that the USDA, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, have previously engaged in well-documented discrimination in loan, grant and trust programs.

These indefensible actions adversely affected thousands of African American and Native American farmers. Patterns of discrimination resulted in the foreclosures of family farms and in severe financial hardships, some of which are still being felt to this day.

In my home State of Missouri, I have personally met with numerous African American farmers who were misled, discriminated against and, in some cases, deliberately deceived by the USDA. These descendants of freed slaves were victimized by their own government time and time again.

In Congress, compensation for Pigford I, Pigford II and Cobell has been blocked by partisan attempts to politicize this issue. This delay is inexcusable. This is not about politics; it is a test of our commitment to honesty, fairness, and justice for all.

Today we have a bipartisan opportunity to end this obstruction and finally do the right thing for those whom this government has failed. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to exercise our shared sense of American decency to swiftly pass this bill and the rule as we take final action together to resolve this grave injustice.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5877) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 655 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, as the ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, United States Marine Corps Post Office Building''.

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

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

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present H.R. 5877, legislation that designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 655 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, as the ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, United States Marine Corps Post Office Building.''

Introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts, Representative Michael Capuano, on July 27, 2010, H.R. 5877 enjoys the support of Massachusetts' entire delegation to the House.

Madam Speaker, Lance Corporal Arredondo of Randolph, Massachusetts, was the 968th U.S. military fatality of Operation Iraqi Freedom. An avid martial arts enthusiast, he studied at the New England Academy of Martial Arts in Randolph, where he also taught courses to young students.

He was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Sadly, on August 25, 2004, Lance Corporal Arredondo was killed by a sniper in Najaf. He was 20 years old.

In closing, let us pay tribute to the life and service of Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo by naming the Jamaica Plain Post Office Building in his honor. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5877.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the chief sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano).

Madam Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 771) supporting the goals and ideals of a National Mesothelioma Awareness Day.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of House Resolution 771, a bill supporting the goals and ideals of National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. This resolution will

raise awareness of this often fatal disease. House Res. 771 was introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from Minnesota, Representative Betty McCollum on September 24, 2009. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform which ordered it reported favorably on July 15, 2010. It comes to the floor today with the support of over 50 cosponsors.

Madam Speaker, mesothelioma is a very difficult cancer to detect, diagnose, and treat. Though relatively rare, with about 2,000 new cases diagnosed each year, those diagnosed with mesothelioma have an expected survival time of only 8 to 14 months.

Exposure to asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure in the workplace is reported in 70 to 80 percent of cases. Asbestos was a common building material before 1975 and is still found in over 3,000 products that are on the market today. An exposure for as little as 1 month may lead to a diagnoses of mesothelioma decades later.

Madam Speaker, mesothelioma is a serious and difficult-to-control form of cancer, and there is much work to be done to find new treatment options. Let us now show our support for the awareness of the disease and need for these treatment options through the passage of House Resolution 771. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in support of this measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6392) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5003 Westfields Boulevard in Centreville, Virginia, as the ``Colonel George Juskalian Post Office Building''.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present H.R. 6392, legislation that designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 5003 Westfield Boulevard in Centreville, Virginia, as the ``Colonel George Juskalian Post Office Building.'' Introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Virginia, Representative Frank Wolf, on September 29, 2010, H.R. 6392 enjoys the support of Virginia's entire delegation to the House.

Colonel Juskalian served with high distinction in the U.S. Army for nearly 30 years, which included service in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Colonel Juskalian survived the hardships of being a German prisoner of war, enduring nearly 3 years in Nazi POW camps. For his bravery and heroism throughout this ordeal and his later service in Korea and Vietnam, Colonel Juskalian earned two Silver Stars and four Bronze Stars for actions in combat.

After leaving the military, Colonel Juskalian continued to serve his Virginia community until his death at the age of 96. As a retired veteran, Colonel Juskalian volunteered to help mentor and educate youth throughout the Fairfax County, Virginia, school district.

In closing, Madam Speaker, let us now pay tribute to Colonel Juskalian's outstanding service and legacy to our country and to his community through the passage of H.R. 6392 and designate the Centreville, Virginia, postal facility on Westfields Boulevard in his honor, a true American hero. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6392.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 946) to enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be written clearly, and for other purposes.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 946, the Plain Writing Act of 2010, was introduced by Representative Bruce Braley on February 10, 2009, and it passed the House by an overwhelming margin on March 17, 2010. The Senate made slight amendments to the bill and passed it by unanimous consent earlier this week.

This is straightforward, good-government legislation. H.R. 946 requires agencies to use plain writing in government documents.

The organization, AARP, wrote a letter supporting this bill, and I quote:

``The use of plain language in documents issued to the public will save the Federal Government an enormous amount of time now spent helping citizens understand the correspondence they receive.''

The changes made to the bill by the Senate are very minor, including adding language clarifying that plain writing should be appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience.

This bill will make the government more transparent and efficient, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the Senate amendments to H.R. 946.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield 5 minutes to the chief sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley).

Madam Speaker, again, I encourage all Members to support the Senate amendments to H.R. 946, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 1510) to transfer statutory entitlements to pay and hours of work authorized by the District of Columbia Code for current members of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division from the District of Columbia Code to the United States Code, with the Senate amendment to the House amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure just considered.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to growing concern of abuse and corruption in the former Soviet Republic country of Kazakhstan. The recent revolution in neighboring Kyrgystan and, earlier, the conflict behind Russia and Georgia heightens concern for the region . . . a region rich in oil and gas supplies and a region which serves as a gateway for the U.S. and NATO war effort in Afghanistan. However, ongoing allegations of corruption, human rights abuses, human trafficking, religious persecution and the lack of election reform, free media and free speech seriously affect its civil society.

The world's 10th largest energy-producing country, where a large number of U.S. corporations are doing business in an effort to meet our domestic energy needs, is not only an ally of the U.S. on non- proliferation treaties; it has provided the U.S. and NATO a gateway to Afghanistan. However, increasingly I see reports indicating that Kazakhstan's governmental system lacks the basic rights of democracy: elections are neither free nor fair; what political opposition exists is manipulated, physically and economically harassed and even sometimes assassinated. Few independent media outlets exist; wide-scale corruption which has begun to affect major U.S. companies doing business in Kazakhstan is rampant; respect for human rights, religious freedom, and freedom of speech or economic liberalization is non- existent.

The United States has sought a mutually beneficial relationship with Kazakhstan and provides aid to Kazakhstan in order to enhance economic growth, democracy, security, and civil society and to attend to humanitarian needs. However, it is evident that the current U.S.- Kazakhstan relationship is compromised by Kazakhstan's record of human rights violations and lack of immediate and necessary reforms while chairing the OSCE. The U.S. Department of State has criticized President Nazarbayev's government for human rights violations. Its March 2009 report states: ``The following human rights problems were reported: severe limits on citizens' rights to change their government; military hazing that led to deaths; detainee and prisoner torture and other abuse; unhealthy prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; lack of an independent judiciary; restrictions on freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and association; pervasive corruption, especially in law enforcement and the judicial system; prohibitive political party registration requirements; restrictions on the activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); discrimination and violence against women; trafficking in persons; and societal discrimination.''

The details in the report, as well as reports from observer groups, are haunting. Two notable external groups are Freedom House and the United States Department of State. The observer group, Freedom House, has labeled Kazakhstan as ``not free'' and according to its assessment, Kazakhstan has earned a 6 ranking in Political Liberties and a 5 in Civil Liberties on the Freedom House scale of 1 to 7, 7 being the worst ranking possible. Even the U.S. State Department ranks Kazakhstan as a Tier 2 Watch List, meaning that Kazakhstan is a cause for concern over human trafficking issues.

In amending the constitution to allow him unlimited reign in 2007, President Nazarbayev joined a growing list of authoritarian leaders worldwide who have extended their terms indefinitely.

I applaud the work of the Helsinki Commission under the current leadership of Senator Ben Cardin, and previously, Congressman Alcee Hastings, for their ongoing commitment to bringing these matters to light and it is my hope that we continue work to bring about a transparent democracy where human rights violations and corruption have no place.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the world-famous St. Louis Zoo, which I am proud to represent. For a century, the St. Louis Zoo, a national landmark located in St. Louis' historic Forest Park, has entertained and educated millions of visitors from around the world.

Since the St. Louis Zoo's first days it has pioneered the preservation and propagation of endangered species. The St. Louis Zoo is a world leader in efforts to conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation, educational programs and environmental stewardship.

The St. Louis Zoo has played an indispensible role in the development of environmental awareness for generations of American children and its ongoing research continues to spur new ideas to help visitors understand, appreciate and respect the diversity and fragile balance of life on earth.

This year, over three million visitors will be enriched and inspired by a visit to the St. Louis Zoo as it continues to entertain and educate animal lovers of all ages.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the Centennial of the St. Louis Zoo, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this American cultural treasure.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5873) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 218 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, Wisconsin, as the ``Captain Rhett W. Schiller Post Office''.

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

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

On behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it is my honor to rise in support of H.R. 5873. This measure designates the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 218 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, Wisconsin, as the Captain Rhett W. Schiller Post Office.

H.R. 5873 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin, Representative Paul Ryan, on July 27, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on July 28, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of the entire Wisconsin delegation to the House, and I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for introducing this measure. I would also like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their support for the bill.

Captain Rhett W. Schiller was born on November 7, 1980 in Racine, Wisconsin. His family later moved to Waterford, Wisconsin. In 2003, Schiller graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, first as a platoon leader in Company B, and later Executive Officer for Company A of the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Schiller's brigade was deployed to New Orleans in September, 2005 to assist with relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. His unit was deployed and conducting relief operations only 7 hours after the assignment was announced. The standard deployment time is 18 hours after notification.

In 2006, Captain Schiller was assigned to 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. On his 100th day in country, while leading a squad of six paratroopers and six Iraqi Army soldiers on a canal clearing operation near Balad Ruz, Diyala Province, Captain Schiller's unit came under small arms fire. Captain Schiller was killed in action on November 16, 2006.

Mr. Speaker, Captain Schiller is remembered as a hard-charging leader who did everything he could to take care of his soldiers, raising the spirits and motivation of everyone around him. His life and achievements over the course of his service speak volumes about all of our brave servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation. Let us now pay tribute to the life of Captain Rhett Schiller through the passage of this legislation. I urge all of our colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5873.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I want to thank our colleague from Wisconsin for bringing to the attention of this body the service of Captain Rhett Schiller to this country.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2868) to provide increased access to the General Services Administration's Schedules Program by the American Red Cross and State and local governments, as amended.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, from Hurricane Katrina to the wildfires in California to the 9/11 attacks, our country faces disasters that try our people and our ability to help them. S. 2868, the Federal Supply Schedules Usage Act of 2009, provides the necessary tools to the organizations that respond to such disasters in a more efficient and effective manner. This bill will help our country's citizens during the times when they need it most.

S. 2868 was introduced by Senator Joseph I. Lieberman on December 12, 2009, and was reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs without amendment on May 17, 2010. The Senate passed S. 2868 by unanimous consent on May 24, 2010. The bill was then referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where we worked in a bipartisan manner to get this important legislation to the House floor.

S. 2868 authorizes the Administrator of the GSA to provide for the use of the Federal supply schedules by the American National Red Cross, qualified disaster relief organizations, and State and local governments for disaster preparedness and response.

This bill seeks to enhance the ability of the American National Red Cross, all qualified disaster relief organizations, and State and local governments to effectively prepare for and respond to disasters by giving them the ability to purchase specific goods and services through the pre-negotiated contracts of the Federal Supply Schedules. This will save them the administrative costs of negotiating individual agreements,

and allow them to leverage the economies of scale of the Federal Government's buying power. By saving these important organizations money, more money can be put directly towards helping people.

All the disaster relief groups would be barred from the resale of any products purchased off the Schedules, and all of their purchases would be required to be in accordance with the ordering guidance of GSA.

At the end of the day, S. 2868 provides the necessary tools to organizations that help people in their most desperate times. This bill allows these essential organizations to focus their finances and resources to directly help people, instead of spending time, energy, and money negotiating for products and services at costs that are higher than the government would pay for them.

Mr. Speaker, I 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 move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1522) expressing support for designation of the last week of September as National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and the last Wednesday of September as National Previvor Day.

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

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

I rise in support of H. Res. 1522, expressing support for National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and National Previvor Day. This resolution will help to raise awareness of the risk of these aggressive cancers.

Many Americans are at risk of developing these cancers over the course of their lifetimes, and the risk is even greater for those who are genetically predisposed to contract them. As the resolution notes, hereditary cancers

can be more aggressive than other forms of cancer, and people may develop them at younger ages, when they are less likely to undergo cancer screening. If cancer is diagnosed early, chances of surviving it can increase. I am pleased to join my colleagues to encourage early screening.

House Resolution 1522 was introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, on July 15, 2010, and was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. It comes to the floor today with the support of over 80 cosponsors. I thank the gentlewoman, and would like to note that her tenacity in battling and surviving breast cancer should inspire all of us to work as hard as she did to preserve our health.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 1522.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I want to thank my colleague from Utah for promoting an awareness of cancer screening.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the chief sponsor of this legislation, and one of the most courageous colleagues we have because she is a survivor, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kilroy).

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank my colleagues--the gentlewomen from Florida, Ohio, and Connecticut--for lending their voice to this issue and raising the level of awareness throughout this country as far as the dreaded disease of cancer is concerned.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5366) to require the proposal for debarment from contracting with the Federal Government of persons violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, contractors have been tarnishing the name of our good country by bribing foreign officials with the very tax dollars our country pays them. In our effort to win the hearts and minds of the people of foreign countries, we must show that we take integrity and honesty seriously. As such, we must take action against those contractors who hinder our efforts and inappropriately utilize the money we pay them. H.R. 5366, the Overseas Contractor Reform Act, will provide the government with the means to appropriately respond to those contractors.

H.R. 5366 was introduced by my colleague, Representative Peter Welch, on May 20, 2010, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where we worked hard to get this important legislation to the House floor.

This bill requires that any person convicted of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 be proposed for debarment from any further contracts or grants with the Federal Government within 30 days after final judgment of the violation. The bill defines ``final judgment'' as occurring when all appeals of the judgment have been determined or all the time for filing such appeals has expired, so there is no question regarding the person's guilt.

Additionally, this bill authorizes the head of a Federal agency to issue a waiver, allowing contracts or grants to be awarded to the contractors, but the agency head must justify the decision and report the waiver and accompanying justification to Congress within 30 days.

This bill also makes it Federal policy that no more contracts or grants should be awarded to any individuals or companies who violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. This policy statement sends a strong message to all that such waste, fraud, and abuse will not be tolerated.

This bill helps fight waste of tax dollars, protects the image of the country, and helps ensure fair play in competition for contracts. H.R. 5366 is a common sense, good government bill, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1612) expressing the support for and honoring September 17, 2010 as ``Constitution Day''.

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

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

It is no exaggeration to say that the United States Constitution is one of the most important documents in history. Its framework for our representative and democratic system of government has served the American people well for over two centuries, making it the oldest federal constitution still in use in the world. Its separation of powers, checks and balances, and preservation of rights has been an example to burgeoning democracies everywhere. I think that all Americans should take time to read and study the Constitution. The values and principles it enshrines are central to our Nation's identity.

House Resolution 1612 was introduced on September 14, 2010, by my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta). It enjoys the bipartisan support of 50 cosponsors. And I am sure that my colleagues will agree that it is a privilege for us to serve in this Chamber, serving, protecting, and defending the United States Constitution. I am glad that we are taking the opportunity

today to honor that most treasured document.

In closing, let us all be sure to keep the principles of the Constitution in our hearts and on our minds every day as we continue to work for a more perfect union.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time on this side, and I continue to reserve.

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

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

Madam Speaker, in closing, I thank my colleague from Ohio for bringing this legislation to the attention of the body, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I thank my colleague from the District of Columbia for yielding.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 1320, the Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments, strengthens one of our central open-government laws.

Advisory committees provide the President and agencies with expert advice on complex issues. Current examples include the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform that was established to advise the President on policies to achieve fiscal sustainability and the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

FACA is intended to ensure that advisory committees like these provide objective advice and operate in a way that is open and accessible to the public. But over time, FACA has been undermined by inconsistent implementation. This bill closes loopholes that allow agencies to get around the act and makes the advisory committee process more transparent.

This bill is being brought up with an amendment that addresses feedback we received from the Office of Government Ethics. The primary change addresses how agencies appoint members to advisory committees. The GAO has identified improper designation of committee members as one of the primary problems with implementation of FACA.

GAO found that some agencies are avoiding Federal ethics rules by appointing members that should be appointed as special government employees as representative members.

The amendment to H.R. 1320 will require agencies to properly designate committee members and require agency ethics officials to certify the designation. If an agency appoints a member to represent a specific interest, the agency has to put information on its Web site justifying its decision and identify the interest the member represents.

The amendment also makes improvements to the bill proposed by Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Issa. Specifically, these changes include requiring agencies to establish a process that allows the public to nominate potential committee members and requiring agencies to disclose when a committee member is recused because of a conflict of interest.

A section has also been added to the bill to make the bill consistent with the way trade advisory committees are treated under the Trade Act. Trade committees are exempt from FACA's open meetings requirement and H.R. 1320 will preserve that exemption.

H.R. 1320 will shed light on who is advising the government, how they are advising the government, and what they are saying. I urge any colleagues to support this important open-government legislation.