Mario Diaz-Balart

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, while I know and I am absolutely certain that the gentleman from New Jersey's heart is in the right place, unfortunately, I cannot support the offset. The committee carefully calculated the New Start numbers to be able to accommodate the signed FFGAs and Small Starts Grant Agreements at the beginning of the fiscal year, and I am a firm believer that once you sign a grant, once you make that commitment, we should honor it. This reduction would impact those signed agreements, so I reluctantly oppose this amendment. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the ranking member.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Chairman, when the gentleman from Florida is talking about this issue, I think all of us should be very, very concerned. I will tell you I think that the gentleman from Florida has been beyond reasonable, has tried to get folks to do what they were, again, supposed to do, and they have not done it. So I just want to let the gentleman from Florida know that I am looking forward, and I am committed to making sure that this issue is solved one way or another. I am hoping that it is solved in a nice, positive way. But otherwise, I want to let the gentleman from Florida know that I will be working with him to make sure that we hold folks accountable.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I will tell the gentleman that one of the responsibilities that we have is to make sure that we hold government accountable. I don't think it is acceptable to not get answers. So I look forward to working with the gentleman to make sure that we move to address those concerns of your community. I don't want to speak for the ranking member, but I know that I look forward to working with you to make sure that we get answers that you need to get.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, this amendment would result in a deep and, frankly, unsustainable reduction to FAA's operations account. FAA would have to suspend contracts that run the information technology systems that keep our air traffic control flowing. Air traffic control facilities would have to be closed and communities, frankly, would lose service. Critical operational support staff would be furloughed or, again, laid off. Safety could be compromised. Flights, again, would be canceled. Therefore, I cannot support this offset and, respectfully, cannot support the gentleman's amendment. At this time, I would like to yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. I want to thank the gentleman, again, for his passion for this issue and for talking to me about this issue, and I look forward to continuing to work with the gentleman. Obviously, all of us know that there is never anything, there is never enough that we could ever do for our veterans. So again, I thank the gentleman, and I look forward to continuing to work with the gentleman. I thank you for yielding your time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, the amendment proposes a net increase in budget authority in the bill. The amendment is not in order under section 3(d)(3) of House Resolution 5, 114th Congress, which states the following: ``It shall not be in order to consider an amendment to a general appropriations bill proposing a net increase in budget authority in the bill unless considered en bloc with another amendment or amendments proposing an equal or greater decrease in such budget authority pursuant to clause 2(f) of rule XXI. Mr. Chairman, the amendment proposes a net increase in budget authority in the bill in violation of such section. I respectfully ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. The authorization for this program expires this year, Mr. Chairman. Frankly, there are many questions, and it is not really clear whether or not the next authorization would accommodate this funding fee level. I understand the gentlewoman's passion, but I must respectfully urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, one has to frankly respect and admire Mr. Dold's knowledge and passion in these amendments that he is doing. I am sensitive to that, and I look forward to working with him. I know that he will make sure that we work with him on these issues that he brings up and that he is very passionate about, which I think are very important. Respectfully, I have to oppose this amendment. This amendment would result in deep reductions to the FAA's operations account and would result in breaches of contract for air traffic control information technology systems. In addition, it would result in staff layoffs, which would again compromise safety. I look forward to continuing to work with the gentleman. He brings up, obviously, some very important points; but again, respectfully, I must object to this amendment at this time. Madam Chair, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the ranking member of the subcommittee.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, just moments ago we increased the FRA safety and operations by $3.5 million. This amendment, however, would result in, really, an unsustainable cut to FAA's operations account. Air traffic control facilities would have to close and communities would lose service. Frankly, critical operational support staff would have to be furloughed or even laid off. Safety could be compromised for flights, and flights could be potentially canceled. Therefore, I cannot support this well-intentioned offset and, therefore, I cannot support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Yoder), an indispensable member of the subcommittee.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, at this time, I yield as much time as he may use to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), a friend, a leader, a teacher, and the chairman of the full Appropriations Committee.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, the amendment proposes a net increase in budget authority in the bill. The amendment is not in order under section 3(d)3 of House Resolution 5 of the 114th Congress, which states the following: ``It shall not be in order to consider an amendment to a general appropriations bill proposing a net increase in budget authority in the bill unless considered en bloc with another amendment or amendments proposing an equal or greater decrease in such budget authority pursuant to clause 2(f) of rule XXI.'' The amendment does propose a net increase in budget authority in the bill in violation of such section. I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.