Ander Crenshaw

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition.

Mr. CRENSHAW. And that's just as efficient as the one in your right hand?

Mr. CRENSHAW. And you can still buy those at the store?

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that during further consideration of H.R. 2551 pursuant to House Resolution 359, the following amendments be permitted to be offered out of the specified order: Amendment No. 10 by Mr. Flake; amendment No. 11 by Mr. Flake.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CRENSHAW. I just want to say to the gentleman that we are all concerned about security upgrades, and we accept the amendment.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).

Mr. CRENSHAW. I claim time in opposition.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Chairman, we just had an amendment that reduced the funding by $630,000. Now we have an amendment that will reduce it by 26 percent. I would suggest that that is a little bit extreme. We as a subcommittee looked at all the agencies that we oversee. We reduced spending, as I said earlier, by 6.2 percent. Some agencies were cut more than others. The Botanic Garden at less than $600,000 will be at the current spending level this year. We feel like that needs to be where it is so they can continue to do the job they do. With a million people coming there, I think it's important, and I don't think we should cut it another 26 percent. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 1 minute to the ranking member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).

Mr. CRENSHAW. I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the gentleman for that good amendment, and we have no objection to it.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the gentleman for bringing all of these issues to our attention; but I want to direct him to United States Code, title 44, which basically directs the Government Printing Office to do the things that they do. So, if the gentleman is concerned, I'd suggest the first thing he do is read title 44 and find out what is required by Congress. If we change that, we might be able to change some of the printing that goes on. The Government Printing Office only produces what it is ordered to produce by Congress. I think we all know that we've already cut their budget by 16 percent, and I don't know what's magic about the last 4.3 percent. I think our subcommittee, through a series of hearings and informal hearings, looked at the facts. We set some priorities, and we said we're going to reduce the funding by 16 percent. We detail in our report some of the things that are of interest to us. We actually are going to take a look at privatizing the entire Government Printing Office, but once again, so much of that is driven by this title 44. Already GPO has announced a buyout program. They're going to reduce their workforce by 15 percent through this buyout program. That's 330 positions. And any further significant changes are going to require a change in this printing law. So while I think the gentleman makes some good points, I simply want to say that we looked at the facts. We reduced the spending by 16 percent. We think that's appropriate. So I would urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 1 minute to the distinguished ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Honda from California.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield myself such time as I might consume and simply to say that the subcommittee looked at this. We have concerns. We reduced spending by 16 percent. If you want to have any more significant savings, you are going to have to change the printing laws that are there in chapter 54. So I would simply say I think we've done a good job of what we're trying to do. We are looking for ways. And remember, they print what they're asked to print. When GAO asks them to print something, they pay for it. A lot of people say that we ought to just privatize the whole thing, and that's something we're thinking about doing. But I think we've cut down sufficiently. I think they can still do their job. They don't need any further cuts. I would urge a ``no'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CRENSHAW. I think that's a good amendment, and we have no objection. We accept the amendment.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. CRENSHAW. I think if you read it carefully, the chairman and the ranking member, under the rule, can move to strike the last word.

Mr. CRENSHAW. On the bill? So I can't strike it on the amendment? Then I will rise to claim time in opposition.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.