Norm Dicks

Mr. DICKS

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DICKS. I would be delighted to do that. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. DICKS. That's right. I can regain the time under the five-minute rule.

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. DICKS. I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

Mr. DICKS. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. DICKS. You can't object.

Mr. DICKS. I yield the gentleman 45 seconds.

Mr. DICKS. I yield to the distinguished chairman.

Mr. DICKS. We will finish this up in 45 seconds.

Mr. DICKS. I appreciate the gentlelady for withdrawing her amendment so we may proceed with the next speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 540 Offered by Mr. LaTourette

Mr. DICKS. I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. DICKS. Mr. Chairman, it really pains me to not be able to help my friend from Ohio, who is a valued member of the Appropriations Committee, who was an outstanding member of the Interior Subcommittee when I was chairman, and who I enjoy working with very much. The LaTourette amendment would cut from the FY10 levels: 31 percent from Agriculture; 20 percent from CJS; 11 percent from Energy and Water; 19 percent from Financial Services; 5 percent from Homeland Security; 19 percent from Interior; 17 percent from Labor-HHS; 6 percent from the Legislative Branch; 12 percent from State, Foreign Operations; and 30 percent from Transportation. Unfortunately, in addition, the amendment fails to incorporate for Afghanistan and Iraq operations provided by section 101(8) of the first continuing resolution. Omitting this provision effectively cuts Department of Defense contingency funding by nearly $30 billion. As a result, the amendment vastly underfunds DOD requirements for fiscal year 2011. It would preclude effective conduct of operations and put deployed troops at risk. The amendment would also harm job growth. For example, in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, the LaTourette amendment would cut nearly 30 percent, or more than $20 billion, from programs and activities under the subcommittee's jurisdiction. This would lead to a part-time air traffic control system by cutting over $2.8 billion from the FAA operations; cause severe reductions in service and work layoffs for Amtrak; and finally, this amendment would provide fewer resources for transportation safety overnight. The amendment also leads to the loss of 650,000 vouchers for low- income families, and it cuts nearly $500 million from homeless assistance programs. In addition, it would threaten the ongoing recovery of the housing market by grossly underfunding the resource needs of the Federal Housing Administration. The LaTourette amendment would also affect our domestic security by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to lay off crucial staff we have hired over the past 2 years, which includes Border Patrol agents, CBP officers at the ports of entry, ICE investigators along the Southwest border, and Secret Service agents to respond to the heightened threats against the President. Finally, like other amendments that have already been rejected by this body, the LaTourette amendment puts OMB in charge, concedes the congressional authority on an across-the-board basis, and also takes out all the money in the CR for anomalies. I urge all Members to reject the LaTourette amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DICKS. I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).

Mr. DICKS. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DICKS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DICKS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DICKS. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).

Mr. DICKS. Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the entire staff of the House Appropriations Committee for the fantastic work that they have done. No one better exemplifies those qualities than Mr. John Blazey. One of the best moves we made was to steal him away from the Senate Budget Committee. Next week, Blazey will end his 20-year career with the committee, where he worked on five different subcommittees, and holds the distinction of having been named the Transportation subcommittee staff director at the youngest age. His knowledge of process and substance is matched only by his style and parties. Blazey--and his elf costume--will be missed. I yield to the distinguished chairman of the committee.

Mr. DICKS

Mr. DICKS. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. DICKS. You're such a handsome guy, I thought you spoke twice. I'm sorry. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. DICKS. We accept the amendment on our side.

Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. DICKS. Is this for 1 year, or what is the timeframe?

Mr. DICKS. So it is permanent law?