Tom DeLay

Mr. DeLAY

Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I do believe that the other body expects to complete consideration of the economic growth package later on this afternoon, or, if not this afternoon, sometime tomorrow. The final product that passes the other body will likely be dramatically different, if not dramatically less desirable, than what passed this body. At this point I cannot give the gentleman a good sense of how or when this important legislation will be resolved. What I can say is that our hope is that we get the best, most robust growth bill to the President as soon as possible. As a tentative goal, we would like to get the bill to the President before we break for the Memorial Day recess.

Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I am not advised as to what procedures the House will take, only because we need to take a real good, hard look at what ultimately passes the other body before we can make a decision as to what options are available to us.

Mr. DeLAY. If the gentleman will yield further, we are always interested in protecting the rights of the minority.

Mr. DeLAY. If the gentleman will yield further, I am sure the gentleman is aware that the House has already passed an increase in the statutory debt limit. It is my understanding that the other body has a unanimous consent agreement to consider the House bill, along with a series of amendments. Frankly, hopefully the Senate would not pass any of those amendments and pick up the House bill and pass it sometime next week and send it to the President.

Mr. DeLAY. I am not advised at this moment. I apologize to the gentleman.

Mr. DeLAY. If the gentleman will yield further, I want to make sure that the gentleman is referring to the program that was created as a result of the economic impact of 9/11. The Federal unemployment insurance program that existed for decades is still around, and people need to understand is still around and working well. So it seems to me that if the gentleman and Members of this body are actually interested in a broad expansion of the unemployment insurance program, I would hope that those Members would work with the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means and move it through regular order so that every Member of this body ultimately could have some impact on that piece of legislation, that very important legislation.

Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I must admit that I am not an expert on unemployment insurance, but it is my understanding that the unemployment insurance program is still in place, and 26 weeks, every State in the Nation gets 26 weeks when they are let off. I know the gentleman is referring to those that are running to the end of their benefits. I might point out to the gentleman that that is not 6 million people, and those extensions of benefits are still in place for those that are still receiving benefits. Having said that, there is time, if we can work out some sort of agreement, to do something for those that may have their benefits expiring. So there is time to work, and there are vehicles by which we could do it. But I hope the gentleman is not suggesting that we go beyond regular order in accomplishing passage of such legislation.

Mr. DeLAY. If the gentleman would just yield further, I really do not want to tread in water that may get too deep for me, because, again, I am not an expert on this, but I understand in our looking through how we can accomplish what the gentleman may want or not want, it is my understanding that there is a significant amount of money left in the States at this moment, and that if the States themselves wanted to extend their unemployment benefits and it was in their best interests to do so, they could do it. So I think it is a stretch to say that we are at a crisis point, that we have to move quickly and not deliberatively on this issue. So we are looking at it. We are taking advice from Members. The Committee on Ways and Means is looking at opportunities to address this problem, and we will do it as soon as and as fast as we can.

Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the House will convene on Monday at 12:30 p.m. for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. We will consider several measures under the suspension of the rules, and a final list of those bills will be sent to the Members' offices by the end of this week. Any votes called on those measures will be rolled until 6:30 p.m. on Monday. For Tuesday and the balance of the week, we expect to consider additional bills under suspension of the rules, as well as H.R. 1904, the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, and the Department of Defense authorization bill. And, finally, I would like to note for all the Members that we are waiting on Senate action on a variety of issues such as the jobs and growth package and the President's Global AIDS Initiative. Members should be aware that we are likely to be in session Friday next, possibly late into the evening, as we work to resolve these important pieces of legislation.

Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. As the gentleman knows, the Department of Defense authorization bill is a huge, huge piece of legislation, which includes providing for our national defense, fighting the war on terror, providing for the military and their families, particularly their quality of life. It is a very complicated, very important piece of legislation. The gentleman is correct that some provisions were brought to some people's attention some 30 days ago, but those two issues that the gentleman talks about, Mr. Speaker, are issues that have been worked on for a long time by a lot of people and have gone through regular order. Both the environmental issue and the personnel issue have been worked on by their respective committees, the Committee on Government Reform and the Committee on Resources, and have been voted on by those two committees to be sent out of those committees and put into the Department of Defense authorization bill. I know that the chairman of the Committee on Rules is on the floor to make an announcement about the intentions of the Committee on Rules meeting and dealing with amendments and their submission to the Committee on Rules. Again, it is very difficult to predetermine what type of rule would be written for the Department of Defense authorization bill, but I must say certainly this is vitally important to this country. We want to have a full and open debate about it, and I am sure the Committee on Rules will take a look at those amendments that will be offered and make a decision as to what kind of rule to write, but I do not think that will be done until next week.

Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is correct in reciting the history of extending benefits. What I seem to remember was that the House passed a bill, and the Senate refused to pick it up back in October or November, I forget the time frame.

Mr. DeLAY. If the gentleman will yield, I just remind the gentleman that our bill, the House bill, passed overwhelmingly by this House, and the Senate did pass their own bill, but our bills crossed in the night, and the Senate refused to take up our bill. But be that as it may, the extensions are there, and certainly we are interested in taking suggestions from Members about how we would accomplish this in the shortest period of time. But I must tell the gentleman that the best way to take care of people that are unemployed is to find them a job, and, to do that, pass the job and economic growth package, the energy package, a transportation package and a pension security package. All the economic development packages that this House has been in the lead on, it would be nice to get them through the other body and to the President so that jobs can be created and people can find a job, rather than have to rely on unemployment benefits.

Mr. DeLAY

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

Mr. DeLAY

Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on International Relations have until midnight on Friday, May 16, 2003, to file a report on H.R. 1950, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005.

Mr. DeLAY

Mr. DeLAY. I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2003, for morning hour debates.

Mr. DeLAY

Mr. DeLAY. I just wanted to take a moment to welcome you back to the floor of this House. It is great to see former Members. I would encourage you to work hard over the next year to increase your numbers. I think it is really important to do that. I have been sitting back here listening to Jim Slattery's presentation. We greatly appreciate the work that the Association has done in the past and thank Larry LaRocco for his work over the past year. It is good to see so many old friends; the leader, it is great to see him again. I specifically am very proud that this Association has acknowledged my dear friend and neighbor and mentor Chairman Bill Archer as the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Bill Archer has been an idol of mine for a very, very long time, even before I got into politics. And when you look at his resume, it seems that his entire life has been one long act of distinguished service. For this Association to honor him is very special to me personally, and he certainly deserves it. During days like this, America needs strong leaders in Washington, but equally strong leaders everywhere else, and I really encourage this Association to expand. Sometimes former Members just want to be asked to participate. I would encourage you to do that. Ask them, bring them into this organization and make it even more of an activist organization, because so many challenges remain to be met in this Congress. Congress is lucky to have all of you doing the work that you are doing through the Association and in your everyday lives. I look across this Chamber and see many of you are still active in what is going on here, and we greatly appreciate that activity. So finally, I welcome you here, it is great to have you back, and I am looking forward to working with you in the future.

Mr. DeLAY

Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, another week, another victory for working Americans. On the heels of our bipartisan passage of the President's jobs and growth package, this week the House will consider the Pension Security Act of 2003. This legislation will empower employees and make them better informed about their retirement investment options. It will make businesses more accountable to their employees and corporations more accountable to their most valuable investors. And by giving rank-and-file employees increased flexibility and information, this legislation will better protect American savings from the effects of some misguided companies. The legislation will allow employees with company stock to sell it and diversify their portfolios after just 3 years, rather than up to 10 as under current law. Employees will still be allowed to own shares of their own company, but companies could no longer require their employees to do so. The Pension Security Act will help employees get even more personal investment advice than current law dictates. It also provides tax incentives to help working Americans pay for additional retirement planning services. And with this bill, we will ensure that all workers have access to quality advice about investment strategies, diversification, and risks. To help keep people informed will also require companies to provide their employees with quarterly benefit statements with information about their investment performance and rights to diversify. Finally, this bill will confirm that when workers do not have access to their accounts during so-called blackout periods, companies must act in their employees' best interests. Mr. Speaker, this is another step towards the establishment of a pension and retirement savings system in this country that does what it is supposed to do. Employees will be assured their investments are theirs, that the diversification strategy they employ will be tailored to their needs, and that they will have access to expert advisors bound to serve the interests of them and not anyone else. By empowering employees with more flexibility and information in their retirement planning, we will be adding to the long-term financial security of our Nation. So as I said, Mr. Speaker, another week, another victory for working Americans.

Mr. DeLAY

Mr. DeLAY. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, this bill before us will lower taxes for individuals, married couples, parents, small businesses, investors, and workers at every income level, and it will create jobs. I thank Chairman Thomas for producing a great bill, and I thank him for agreeing to perfect it as this process moves forward. Mr. Speaker, this jobs and growth package will not only grow the national economy but through that growth it will help us support and fund the war on terror and our other priorities for years to come. The American people understand the relationship between the war on terror and economic recovery, even if the opposition does not. They understand success in one depends on the other. Indeed, history has proven, even in the last 19 months, that prosperity without security is fleeting and security without prosperity is impossible. Today the United States may be the most prosperous and secure Nation on Earth, but make no mistake about it, people are hurting. Unemployment is on the rise and anxiety runs high. Investment is chilled and the stock market is stagnant. Many Americans are unsure about their jobs and many small businesses are on the brink. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Republican majority: This will not stand. Great nations do not cringe when their prosperity and security are threatened. But that is exactly what the opposition proposed. Last month when Americans cheered as Allied troops liberated 24 million Iraqis and removed a terrorist dictator from power, Democrats grumbled that we could have brought down that statue for a lot less money. And now this month they have the gall to suggest that we twiddle our thumbs as Americans struggle to feed their families. They make time to block qualified judicial nominees and critique the President's travel wardrobe, but not to develop a serious plan that creates jobs. So embarrassing is the minority's lack of leadership on the economy that they did not even propose a remedy to the economy until just yesterday. And that proposal? To raise taxes. How unimaginative. How pathetic. How typical. Just as they failed to propose serious alternatives to the energy bill, the budget and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Democrats have once again walked away from the national debate. They have ignored the troubles of the American people and surrendered the field of public discourse. And they demonstrated once again that they are unwilling-- indeed incapable--of governing in these very serious times. So be it. The American people saw the differences between the parties on how best to deal with threats to our security, and today they will see our differences on how best to deal with threats to our prosperity. To those who would follow the timid path of the do-nothing Democrats, I have to thank you. Your vote will only make those differences all the clearer to the American people. But to those who would join the President and the majority today to pass this bill, you will be remembered, years from now, as the men and women of the 108th who got our economy moving again and who made the United States a safer and a more prosperous place. For your vote, I do not have to thank you. History will.

Mr. DeLAY

Mr. DeLAY. I appreciate the gentleman yielding. Mr. Speaker, the House will convene on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. 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 this week. Any votes called on these measures will be rolled until 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we expect to consider additional bills under suspension of the rules, as well as H.R. 1000, the Pension Security Act of 2003. On Thursday, we plan to take up H.R. 1527, the National Transportation Safety Board reauthorization. Finally, I would like to note for all Members that we are making a change to the schedule that we sent to all the offices at the beginning of the year. We do not plan to have votes next Friday, May 16.

Mr. DeLAY. If the gentleman will yield further, it is my understanding that the pension bill will be a joint product from the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. DeLAY. I appreciate my friend yielding. Obviously we will work with you to do whatever we can to allow the minority side to have a substitute that is germane to the bill. We think it is important that you be allowed to debate these issues and have an alternative if you choose to offer one. The gentleman is correct, the pension bill is a very important bill and should have enough time to be fully discussed by this House.

Mr. DeLAY. If the gentleman will continue to yield, I am not advised nor do I contemplate any impediment whatsoever, particularly on a pension bill. As the gentleman knows, on a bill that comes from the Committee on Ways and Means, particularly when it deals with the Tax Code, it is always and has always been a closely held bill because any amendment or any substitute has long-ranging implications and consequences. And so the Ways and Means bills have always been held. In the case of a pension bill, it is pretty straightforward. If the minority has a substitute that is germane to the bill, certainly we will give it every consideration.

Mr. DeLAY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. As the distinguished minority whip is probably aware, the Senate passed this very important legislation before the Easter break. The Committee on the Judiciary has marked up the bill. But the calendar being as full as it is before the Memorial Day break, I really cannot see where we can get it to the floor before early summer, sometime probably in June.

Mr. DeLAY. If the gentleman will yield further, now that the budget resolution has been adopted and we have set aside funds for modernizing the Medicare program and add a prescription drug benefit, the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce are working very hard to craft a legislative proposal. As the gentleman is very aware and everyone in this House is aware, this is a very difficult issue and it takes a long time to bring parties together. We hope to consider this legislation in the coming weeks, but we really do not have a feel right now as to when we can bring it up. It is difficult to say whether we can have it before the Memorial Day break or not.