Robert Brady

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

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

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1679) to provide for the replacement of lost income for employees of the House of Representatives who are members of a reserve component of the armed forces who are on active duty for a period of more than 30 days, and for other purposes.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous matter on this bill now under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1679 will replace lost income for military reservists working for the House of Representatives when they are activated for more than 30 days. I introduced this bill after discussion with several House employees who also serve as members of armed services. When they are called up, these men and women must leave their homes, families and jobs, often for an undetermined and unpredictable amount of time. While on active duty, men and women earn the wages of full-time servicemen and forfeit their regular salary. Many leading companies have helped families survive during this troubling time by paying the difference between their usual salary and their active-duty pay. This bill would do the same thing for House employees. It requires the CAO to provide that supplement for House employees when they are activated involuntarily. This is a good bill that honors the devoted public service of House employees who not only serve as stewards of the democracy at home but as her defender abroad. I thank the ranking member, Mr. Lungren, Mr. McCarthy and now Mr. Harper for working with us on this legislation. I urge all Members to support it. I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Washington, DC, April 21, 2009. Hon. Robert A. Brady, Chairman, Committee on House Administration, House of Representatives, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Brady: We write to you regarding H.R. 1679, the ``House Reservists Pay Adjustment Act of 2009.'' H.R. 1679 contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Specifically, Clause 8 of House Rule XXIII (the Code of Official Conduct), is amended to provide a new paragraph ``(d)'', providing that ``[n]othing in this clause may be construed to prohibit the disbursement or receipt of any payment authorized under section 2 of the House Reservists Pay Adjustment Act of 2009.'' We write to confirm the mutual understanding of the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct that this provision does not waive, reduce, or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to exercise its jurisdiction in this area in the future. We recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and, accordingly, we do not plan to act on this bill prior to its consideration on the Floor. However, we agree to waive consideration of this bill with the mutual understanding that our decision to forgo action on the bill does not waive, reduce, or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct over certain provisions in

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 586) to direct the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to carry out a joint project at the Library of Congress and the National Museum of African American History and Culture to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of individuals who participated in the Civil Rights movement, and for other purposes.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill now under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 586, which would create the Civil Rights History Project. The bill directs the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution, through the Museum of African American History and Culture, to collaborate and establish an oral history project. This joint venture will collect and preserve audio and video recordings by participants in the civil rights movement. A fundamental principle of our American democracy is that individuals stand up for their rights and beliefs, and pursue justice through peaceful action. Many who participated in the civil rights movement did so at great personal sacrifice. Their actions were heroic and tireless and challenged the practice of racial segregation in the Nation. They challenged the status quo and won equal rights for all American citizens. Much of this history has never been written down from the perspective of those who were there. As these pioneers age, it is important that their memories of events are documented so that future generations can witness their testimony regarding the lives and times of that era. This bill would ensure that the record of this important period of our Nation's history is not lost. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following Committee report regarding H.R. 586:

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. 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.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. No, I don't.

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

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

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this resolution provides for the acceptance of a statue of Ronald Reagan from the State of California and authorizes the use of the Capitol Rotunda for an unveiling ceremony. Title II of the United States Code allows for each State to choose no more than two statues to represent that State in the Statuary Hall collection. The State of California has chosen to replace the statue of Thomas Starr King. The new statue represents Ronald Reagan, who served as President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. I urge that the House pass this resolution for the ceremony acceptance of the statue. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. 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 matter on the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. 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 matter on the joint resolution under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S.J. Res. 8 would appoint David Rubenstein as one of the public regents to serve on the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian Institution. The Board of Regents has nominated him to join their ranks, and legislation appointing him has been sponsored by all of the members who serve on the board. Mr. Rubenstein is a co-founder and managing director of the Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest private equity firms. He holds an undergraduate degree from Duke University and a law degree from the University of Chicago. Before co-founding the Carlyle Group over 20 years ago, he had a distinguished career as an attorney in private practice, at the White House, and here on Capitol Hill. Mr. Rubenstein also has a long history of giving back to the community. He serves on the boards of three of our Nation's most prestigious universities, as well as the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers for the Performing Arts and numerous other charities. He has demonstrated his service on the boards of the Museum of American History and the Museum of Natural History. The members of the Committee on House Administration had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Rubenstein before bringing this nomination to the floor. We appreciated his thoughts regarding the future of the institution, and we are confident that he will be a positive addition to the board. I urge the passage of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous matter on the bill now under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 749) to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to permit candidates for election for Federal office to designate an individual who will be authorized to disburse funds of the authorized campaign committees of the candidate in the event of the death of the candidate.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 749, a bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act. This bill will allow Federal election candidates to designate someone to disburse their campaign funds in the event of their death. The candidate would simply file an appropriate form with the FEC and could also revoke or change the designee at any time. H.R. 749 will assure candidates for Federal office that the funds raised by their campaign committees will be distributed in accordance with their express wishes after they are deceased. H.R. 749 is a commonsense fix to the Federal Election Campaign Act. It would provide clear direction to campaign treasurers, who face a wide range of conflicting and confusing State laws. I urge all Members to support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

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