Michael Arcuri

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. ARCURI. Just to correct the record, this was passed by the House, this bill, weeks ago and it has been blocked in the Senate. Just so it's clear that it has not waited for 8 weeks. I would yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. ARCURI. I would yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Lincoln Davis). (Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ARCURI. If what the gentleman from Florida says is true, I guess any pay-as-you-go is better than the no-pay-as-you-go that we had in the last Congress. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson).

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan, a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, Mr. Levin. (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Tanner. (Mr. TANNER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore).

Mr. ARCURI. The gentleman from California gives examples of working for 2 weeks and being eligible for 52 weeks. The fact of the matter is there is no record to indicate that is the case. With that, I yield 2 minutes to a gentleman who can speak firsthand to that, the distinguished chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Chairman Rangel. (Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, unemployment insurance can mean the difference between saving a home and failing to make a mortgage payment. It can mean the difference between purchasing needed medications and going without, and it can mean the difference between filling up the car to go out and look for another job and having to stay home. This legislation has the potential to help over 4 million unemployed Americans put food on their tables while quickly stimulating the economy. The number of long-term unemployed Americans is higher now than when Congress last extended benefits in 2002. I am hopeful we can come together later today, Republicans and Democrats, to do the right thing and pass this rule and the underlying legislation. American workers and families can't wait any longer. The idea is not getting the President a bill that he can sign. The idea is to do the right thing and for the President to sign that bill. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and the rule. The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Washington is as follows: Amendment to H. Res. 1265 Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 3. Immediately upon the adoption of this resolution the House shall, without intervention of any point of order, consider in the House the bill (H.R. 3089) to secure unrestricted reliable energy for American consumption and transmission. All points of order against the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate on the bill equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources, the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means, and the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce; and (2) an amendment in the nature of a substitute if offered by Representative Rahall of West Virginia, which shall be considered as read and shall be separately debatable for 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent; and (3) one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

Mr. ARCURI. I am prepared to close. We have no further speakers.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green). (Mr. AL GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).

Mr. ARCURI. May I inquire how much time is left.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont, a member of the Rules Committee, Mr. Welch.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. I thank the gentleman for his comments. I would just point out what this amendment does is it attempts to get the private sector more engaged by promoting within NASA the push to transfer not from the public sector, not to just have this go from the public sector to the universities, but from the public sector to the private sector, to get the private sector more engaged and more involved in distributing the information. So that is slightly different than what I think the bill has because we do attempt to get the private sector more engaged. After all, that is probably the best way, by using the market system, to get the information out. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Chair, NASA's accomplishments over the years have led to some of the greatest advances in human history. These scientific discoveries have led to everything from prolonging the average life span to improving the overall quality of life. NASA's research and exploration has also helped to unlock some of the greatest mysteries in the universe. The problem, however, is that too often the American public doesn't have an opportunity to fully experience NASA's accomplishments. It is when these accomplishments are transferred from the Federal sector to the private sector and the general public that the true benefits of what has been achieved can be realized. Clearly, we don't have the ability or the financial means to shuttle every American into space, but we can do a better job of bringing the space experience into televisions, computers, and classrooms around the world. The House Science and Technology Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall and Chairman Udall, recognize that point. The underlying bill includes language directing the NASA administrator to develop a technology plan that will allow the general public to experience missions to the Moon, Mars and other destinations in our solar system. My amendment aims to take this effort and expand it in a way that leverages existing technology underway at our universities and high- tech businesses. Specifically, my amendment tasks NASA to examine the feasibility of entering into contracts with appropriate public-private sector and international partners to share images and video of space missions with the public. The amendment promotes good government by requiring NASA to engage in a transparent bidding process when awarding contracts as it sees fit. This new chapter in scientific discovery presents a valuable opportunity to engage public and private sectors in advancing NASA's mission for the 21st century. My upstate New York district is fast becoming a science and technology hub. We have an opening here to work together with colleges and universities, private research facilities, and small and large high-tech businesses to provide NASA with the tools it needs to better educate the public about space. I would like to highlight that this amendment is intended to provide NASA with an additional resource to meet its goals. This measure would authorize NASA to conduct its own feasibility study to determine if and how it can best use the talents of our independent innovators to support its new international exploration initiative. This requirement would grant NASA the flexibility it needs to create a plan that best fits the ideas of its new program. This amendment would also require all NASA contract decisions to be awarded following a fair and transparent bidding process. This amendment has the backing of the State University of New York, the New York State section of the American Physical Society, the American Association of Geographers and the Information Technology Association of America. I respectfully urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment and support the contributions that our public and private universities and businesses make to scientific and technological progress in this country. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, today American families are paying the price for 7 years of failed economic policies by this administration. This year alone, our economy has lost more than 300,000 jobs. It's important to remember that in order to just keep up with the population growth, our economy must create at least 150,000 jobs per month. These statistics are devastating to millions of unemployed Americans who are increasingly competing against each other for the very few jobs that have become available. Yet President Bush continues to sit on the sidelines hoping that the economic situation will correct itself without additional governmental intervention. The Democratic House believes the government must act, and it must act now. That's why we passed legislation last month that would extend unemployment insurance to workers who have exhausted their benefits. We also plan to move a second economic stimulus package that should help create jobs. I hope both President Bush and congressional Republicans would finally realize that this is the right thing to do.