John Boehner

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Chairman, I want the Members to know that after this series of votes, it is my intention to ask unanimous consent that for the next series of votes that we have the first vote at 15 minutes, followed by succeeding 2-minute votes to help speed the process today. I did not want anybody to be surprised. I do not know whether the unanimous consent will go through, but I hope that it does. Members are all on notice. Announcement by the Acting Chairman

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. I thank my colleague for yielding. Next week, Mr. Speaker, the House will convene on Tuesday at 12:30 for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. We will consider several measures under suspension of the rules. A final list of those bills will be sent to Members' offices by the end of the week. Any votes called on these measures will be rolled until 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will take up consideration of the emergency supplemental appropriations bill. Finally, we will consider H.R. 1606, the Online Freedom of Speech Act. The Committee on House Administration completed consideration of this bill this morning, and we expect that the Rules Committee will take this up next week to bring it to the floor.

Mr. BOEHNER. It will be considered, we believe, on Wednesday, possibly Thursday, but probably on Wednesday.

Mr. BOEHNER. Wednesday, and possibly Thursday.

Mr. BOEHNER. That is a possibility.

Mr. BOEHNER. And before April 8.

Mr. BOEHNER. I thank my colleague for yielding. I would hope that the House would complete its consideration of the budget in those 2 weeks that we are back after the March recess, sometime in that 2 weeks.

Mr. BOEHNER. It appears that my guess last week was correct.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may be in order at any time on Wednesday, March 15, 2006, for the Speaker to declare a recess, subject to the call of the Chair, for the purpose of receiving in joint meeting Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 715) and I ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday next.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday next, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2006, for morning hour debate.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. I will do my best.

Mr. BOEHNER. That was a rumor that was floating around. We expect that the budget resolution will move sometime soon. Whether it happens next week or the week after is still up for discussion. When we get closer to having a firm plan for moving it, you will be the first to know.

Mr. BOEHNER. Once I know.

Mr. BOEHNER. We thought that we would have the bill up yesterday because the Senate was contemplating action yesterday morning. The expiration date of the temporary extension of the PATRIOT Act is soon to expire. We expect that the Senate will take this bill up tomorrow. If, in fact, that is the case, it will be brought up on Tuesday under the suspension calendar.

Mr. BOEHNER. The tax reconciliation bill is in conference. I know there have been some discussions. From my standpoint, I would rather have that conference report sooner rather than later. But I have not had any indication from Chairman Thomas that it is imminent; and secondly, it is important for the House to go to conference with the Senate on the pension bill. We are approaching a very critical deadline on the interest rate used to calculate the obligations of a defined benefit pension plan that expired at the end of the year. That interest rate needs to be reset in the large pension overhaul bill. I have got to tell you that we are waiting on Senate action. Because there are tax provisions in it, they have to take up the House bill. I suspect they will reject the House bill and go to conference. But it is important for us to get into conference on the pension bill and action is going to be required rather quickly. I do expect the tax reconciliation bill, over the next couple of weeks, I would hope that they will be finished.

Mr. BOEHNER. I thank my colleague for yielding. Next week, Mr. Speaker, the House will convene on Tuesday at 12:30 for morning hour, and at 2 o'clock for legislative business. We will take up several measures under suspension of the rules. A final list of those bills will be sent to Members' offices by the end of the week. Any votes that are called on those measures will be rolled until 6:30. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will finish consideration of H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005. Finally, we will consider H.R. 2829, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2005. The committees are continuing their excellent and hard work to develop this bill to reauthorize laws to combat drug trafficking. The Government Reform Committee has completed its action, and we expect the Judiciary Committee will complete its work today.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman is probably aware, this bill has been around for many, many years. There has been lots of discussion and debate about this bill. It did come out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. The reason for the split rule is because there are a significant number of Members going to the gulf coast this afternoon to review the recovery, and we knew we would only get through the general debate today. The Rules Committee is expected to meet and to finalize the rule. Those discussions about what the rule will look like and the number of amendments and the type of amendments is continuing. But I clearly understand the interest of my colleague from Maryland for a more open rather than a more closed process.

Mr. BOEHNER. I can tell.

Mr. BOEHNER. In discussions with Chairman Lewis of the Appropriations Committee, there is a lot of work being done, hearings scheduled. Again, I do not think we have a firm timetable for moving the supplemental, but over the next week or so I think we will have a much better idea. And I will be glad to inform you as soon as I know.

Mr. BOEHNER. I am protecting myself.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 345) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday, February 20, 2006, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in House Concurrent Resolution 345, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday, March 1, 2006.