Wm. Clay

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this resolution and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1283) expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims and their families following the tornado that hit Little Sioux, Iowa, on June 11, 2008.

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

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am proud to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Con. Res 195, which expresses the sense of Congress that a National Dysphagia Awareness Month should be established. Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a medical disorder currently afflicting nearly 15 million Americans, with another million Americans diagnosed each and every year. Moreover, among those over 60 years of age there is over a 50 percent probability of experiencing dysphagia at some point. Unlike many other medical disorders, dysphagia has not gathered the national attention that it deserves, despite the fact that more than 60,000 American deaths occur annually from dysphagia-related complications. Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage of H. Con. Res 195, as it will shed national attention on dysphagia, which is afflicting so many of our fellow Americans and costing us over $1 billion to treat annually. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 970) expressing support for designation of June 30 as ``National Corvette Day''.

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

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, being a car enthusiast, this is one bill that gives me great pleasure. And I stand to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Res. 970, which supports the designation of June 30 as National Corvette Day, offered by my friend from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus). Mr. Speaker, when we think of American-manufactured sports cars, one of the first vehicles that probably comes to mind is the Chevrolet Corvette. The Corvette debuted fresh off of the assembly lines back in 1953 as part of Chevy's new wave sports cars. Since then, the Corvette has become a hallmark in the automobile industry both here in America as well as around the world. Mr. Speaker, the Corvette has been America's favorite sports car for the past 55 years. And in honor of its performance, prowess and prestige, I urge my colleagues to join me in expressing support for the designation of June 30 as National Corvette Day by voting in favor of H. Res. 970. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to enthusiastically support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 365) honoring the life of Robert Mondavi.

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

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, representing the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.Con.Res 365, which celebrates the life of Robert Mondavi, a notable winemaker and philanthropist who had a great effect in boosting the economic and cultural well-being of California and the Nation. Robert Mondavi was born on June 18, 1913 in Virginia, Minnesota to Italian immigrants. In 1965, Mr. Mondavi started his own winery, the Robert Mondavi Winery, in the fertile soil of the Napa Valley and immediately became a passionate advocate for California wines. Through his vineyard, he worked to raise the status of California wines and was successful. Through his professional and charitable work, Mr. Mondavi's influence on the California wine industry and the Nation at large has been immense and lasting. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge the swift approval of this resolution honoring the life of Mr. Mondavi. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in adopting this resolution.

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

Mr. CLAY

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

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5687, the Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2008. H.R. 5687, which I introduced along with Chairman Waxman on April 3, 2008, was reported out of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on May 15 of 2008. The FACA amendments will improve the balance, transparency, and independence of Federal advisory committees. Congress passed FACA in 1972 to address the rising costs and lack of accountability among Federal advisory committees. However, FACA has been undermined by loopholes that have been created over the years. H.R. 5687 strengthens FACA by closing those loopholes. For example, the bill clarifies that FACA applies to subcommittees, ensuring that agencies cannot avoid the requirements of FACA by conducting business through subcommittees. The bill also increases the disclosure requirements for advisory committees and requires agencies to obtain conflict of interest disclosures. As amended, H.R. 5687 takes into account recommendations made by the Office of Government Ethics and other stakeholders. The amendment makes the conflict of interest restrictions on advisory committee members more workable while preserving the bill's requirement of public disclosure. The amendment also clarifies that agencies have the authority to require advisory committee members to recuse themselves when the committee's work will impact their personal interests. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will improve the advisory committee process. I urge my colleagues to support passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I certainly look forward to working with the gentlewoman from North Carolina and her colleagues to perfect this bill and to get it to a point where we can all agree on it. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5687) to amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase the transparency and accountability of Federal advisory committees, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 370) expressing support for designation of September 2008 as ``Gospel Music Heritage Month'' and honoring gospel music for its valuable and longstanding contributions to the culture of the United States.

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

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson).

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for 3 minutes. (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)