Rodney Frelinghuysen

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, before I yield to the gentleman from Arizona, let me associate myself with the remarks of Chairman Mollohan. I have every confidence, and even more so, from hearing from the gentleman from Indiana, that this project has merit. He has had the opportunity to expand on what we saw in a digested form, and I think he has made a strong case for this project. He is willing to put his name on the project, which means his integrity is backing that project. I salute him for what he is doing. I oppose the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment, but certainly know where his heart is because he's been diligent and persistent. The directed spending included in our committee's report augments and, in some cases, enhances the administration's own earmarks with congressional priorities, which is entirely appropriate. Funding recommendations included in our report were made in full compliance with the applicable rules and procedures of the House. So there's total transparency. On a bipartisan basis, I've worked with Chairman Mollohan in reviewing all of the requests before the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee, all of the Member requests, and we recommend funding for this and other projects which people will try to take out. We believe these projects have merit, and what's most appropriate is that Members are willing to come to the floor to defend their projects, and that's necessary because we need to hear from them as to their merit. They know their States, and they know their districts, and that's why we're supporting this process.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in support of the Stearns amendment. In the interest of transparency, for a dozen years I was on the board of the Morristown Salvation Army in New Jersey, and anybody who has been associated with this organization knows that they work in the trenches for the poorest of the poor. They do a remarkable job, and they work with those that are English speakers as well as those who would not speak English. It seems to me that the EEOC has been somewhat shopping for another venue here, while the Salvation Army, I think, is truly doing the Lord's work. And for them to expend, as apparently they have, tens of thousands of dollars in some sort of a lawsuit as a result of this EEOC litigation, I think quite honestly is an absolute travesty. I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns), the sponsor of the amendment, and I commend him and others for supporting this amendment.

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

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

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. Shays of Connecticut, who has done a good job of articulating his concerns, if we could reach out to the gentleman from Indiana as a courtesy before he proceeds.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, let me say I am in accord with Chairman Mollohan in terms of supporting the mark we have in the bill, and I also support Congresswoman DeLauro. From a New Jersey perspective, in the interest of transparency, I rise in support of the work of the East Coast Shellfish Research Institute of Tom's River in Congressman Jim Saxton's district. They do some good work. They work with other institutes around the Nation. And so I strongly support the retention of the language on this project in the bill. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from California.

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

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise to support the Sessions amendment. I believe in the A-76 process. I do think public and private competition is important. The contracts are important. The A-76 process I do think provides more efficiency and is definitely better for the taxpayers. So I support his amendment quite strongly. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, we have no objection to the amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Mr. Chairman, not only does this amendment hurt law enforcement's efforts to combat drug trafficking, but it sends the wrong message. Marijuana is the most widely abused drug in the United States. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, which is under the jurisdiction of our committee, more young people are now in treatment for marijuana dependency than for alcohol or for all other illegal drugs combined. This amendment does not address the problem of marijuana abuse and possibly makes it worse by sending the message to young people that there can be health benefits from smoking marijuana. Our committee received a letter last week from John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy opposing the gentleman's amendment. He warns of the potential public health impacts of encouraging the unfounded belief that smoking marijuana is a safe and effective medicine, contrary to prevailing expert opinion. Last year, our own FDA stated: ``Smoked cannabis has no acceptable medical use in treatment in the United States,'' and that no animal or human data supported the safety or efficacy of marijuana for general medical use. Furthermore, the FDA has not approved smoked marijuana for any condition or disease indication. Mr. Chairman, I urge rejection of the gentleman's amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, first of all, let me thank Mr. Rogers not only for his congressional service, but for his other life before he came to Congress. As I sort of said in my opening remarks, all of us on this floor salute the men and women who are special agents. They do dangerous work. The gentleman has been unstinting in terms of educating me as the new ranking member, you didn't have to do it to the other side, as to the sort of things that were discussed by Representatives Wolf, Hobson and Rogers. We tried in our bill to give some direction and impetus to having these issues of retention up and out and housing allowance raised to a higher level of interest by the FBI Director. We are not going to stop that push. The gentleman may or may not be successful with his amendments, but I am still committed, and I am sure the majority is, if there is something going on here that is unfair, promises haven't been kept, we are going to do our level best without authorizing on this bill to see that it is done. I support the Chairman's point of order.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from California is kind to yield to me. I reluctantly oppose the amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve my time.