Doc Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the previous question and the rule.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I am prepared to yield back after we go through the amendment process.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 339 is a modified closed rule waiving all points of order against the consideration of H.R. 2859, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2003. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate to be equally divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule also provides for a consideration of an amendment offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey), or his designee, which shall be considered as read, shall be separately debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. The rule waives all points of order against the amendment. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the rule provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2859 was introduced by the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and provides $983.6 million in emergency supplemental funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency for fiscal year 2003. This emergency appropriation is necessary to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund to make certain Federal resources available for the current fiscal year to meet the needs of Americans affected by tornadoes, floods, forest fires or other national disasters. The administration has informed Congress that without supplemental funds it is estimated that the Disaster Relief Fund would soon be exhausted. Additional funds are needed to respond to emergencies created by extreme weather and deadly wildfires. Our Nation was struck by a record 562 tornadoes, Mr. Speaker, in May alone. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters predict an above average season for tropical storms and for flooding, with Hurricane Claudette already striking the Gulf Coast of Texas. The summer fire season is also fully upon the Western United States. The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho reported yesterday that there are currently 45 large fires burning in 12 western States. Three of these fires are burning in my State of Washington. The largest of the fires in Washington State is the Farewell Creek fire burning in the arid north central portion of the State. This fire has grown so large that it could burn, Mr. Speaker, for 3 months and not be fully extinguished until the first heavy rainfall or snowfall this winter. The emergency appropriation included in H.R. 2859 will make certain that FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security have the funding and resources needed to meet the needs of Americans affected by these tornadoes, floods, wildfires and other national disasters. H.R. 2859 was introduced by the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations to allow for prompt consideration by the House of Representatives and by the Congress. Accordingly, I encourage my colleagues to support both the rule, H. Res. 339, and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purposes of debate only. (Mr. Hastings of Washington asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 339 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, this amendment proposes that the House of Representatives arbitrarily declare what crops a farmer can and cannot grow. I am concerned that this amendment is being sponsored by those who do not represent the areas affected--members who are from urban areas. This amendment is opposed by those who represent the communities that will be affected, those people who are closest to the land, and those who care the most for the land because it is where they live and where they raise their children. This amendment is targeted at the Klamath Basin--an area that has seen its farmers and entire economy devastated by actions taken by the federal government. I have traveled to the Klamath Basin and seen the effects first-hand. I also represent two very large reclamation projects--including one of the largest in the country--and the success of these farmers comes from their hard work, the care they give the land and diversity of their crops. Passage of this amendment would set a very bad precedent of the government stating what crops can be grown and which can't. The impacts of the amendment would directly harm farmers and communities. The precedent it is sets would be far-reaching and very detrimental. I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) a member of the committee.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 319 is an open rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 2691, the Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2004. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against consideration; and under the rules of House, the bill shall be read for amendment by paragraph. The rule waives points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of rule XXI, prohibiting unauthorized appropriations or legislative provisions in an appropriations bill, except as specified in the resolution. The rule further waives points of order against amendments for failure to comply with clause 2(e) of rule XXI, prohibiting designated emergencies in reported appropriations bills. Finally, the rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional Record and provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2691 provides funding for the Department of Interior as well as various agencies and programs and Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Health and Human Services. H.R. 2691 appropriates $19.6 billion in new budget authority, which is $186 million less than last year's enacted level and $110 million more than the President's request. Almost half of the bill's funding finances the Interior Department's programs to manage and study the Nation's animal, plant and mineral resources and support programs benefiting Native Americans. Among the bill's many provisions are several of special interest to residents of central Washington and my district, including $2.5 billion for Wildland Fire Fighting and the National Fire Plan. This funding will increase firefighting readiness, hazardous fuels reduction, and forest health restoration activities. As a Member whose district includes significant Federal land holdings, I am particularly pleased that payment in lieu of taxes, or PILT, is funded at $225 million, which is $5 million above the current enacted level and $25 million above the administration's request. In the area of fisheries management, the committee is to be commended for providing $113 million for fisheries, an increase of nearly $10 million over the administration's request, which includes an increase of $3 million for the Washington State Hatchery Improvement Project. It should also be noted that the bill includes $4.6 million for the Partners of Fish and Wildlife Program, of which $1.4 million goes to the Washington Regional Fisheries Enhancement programs. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Taylor) for his efforts to focus attention to the critically important task of maintaining our national parks. The bill includes $682 million to attack the enormous backlog of badly needed maintenance at our national park facilities. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a bill which carefully balances a number of important objectives, including natural resources protections and providing access for the public to our Nation's many significant parks and refuges. It makes real progress in management of forests, fisheries. And rangeland; and it does so in a cost-effective way in these challenging budgetary times. Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 319 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for the previous question and for the rule. I just might add that this is an open rule. The subcommittee and the full committee made some difficult decisions at prioritizing needs to fund particularly the Department of the Interior. Of course, there are differences of opinion on how those priorities should be, but this open rule allows for a restructuring, if this body decides that is the correct way to go, to restructure those priorities. So I think it is a good rule. It is an open rule. I urge my colleagues to vote for the previous question and for the rule.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 282 is a modified, closed rule waiving all points of order against the consideration of H.R. 1528, the Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act of 2003. The rule provides one hour of debate to be equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule also provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means, as modified by the amendment printed in Part A of the Committee on Rules report accompanying this resolution, shall be considered as adopted. The rule waives all points of order against the bill, as amended. The rule further provides for consideration of the amendment printed in Part B of the report, if offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) or his designee, which shall be considered as read and shall be separately debatable for one hour, equally divided and controlled by a proponent and an opponent. Finally, the rule waives all points of order against the amendment printed in Part B of the report and provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1528, as authored by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman), would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect taxpayers and ensure accountability of the IRS. The bill would improve the efficiency of tax administration and increase the confidentiality of tax returns and related information. In addition, H.R. 1528 reforms the penalty and interest provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and provides new safeguards against unfair IRS collection procedures. Specifically, the bill grants a first-time penalty waiver to individual taxpayers in cases where minor negligence results in a liability that is disproportionate and unreasonable. The bill allows taxpayers to enter into installment agreements for less than the full amount of their tax liability. The bill also allows electronic filers until April 30 to file their individual tax returns and allows taxpayers to consult with the Taxpayer Advocate Service on a confidential basis. Finally, the bill increases the authorization for low income taxpayer clinics from $6 million to $9 million in 2004 and from $12 million for 2005 and $15 million for subsequent years. The Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation estimate that H.R. 1528 would decrease governmental receipts by $308 million over the 2003-2013 time period, and CBO estimates that the bill would increase direct spending by $171 million over the 2004-2013 time period. CBO has determined that H.R. 1528 contains no private sector or intergovernmental mandates as defined by the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act and would impose no costs on State, local, or tribal governments. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) and his colleagues on the Committee on Ways and Means are to be commended for their efforts to increase fairness in accountability in our tax collection system. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support both this rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 282 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I advise my friend from New York that I have no requests for time, and I am prepared to yield back if she is prepared to yield back.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, this is a rule on two suspension bills that were, unfortunately, not passed earlier this week. They are very important bills to those areas that are affected. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the chart that the distinguished majority leader discussed earlier today.