Doc Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4664, the bill just passed.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

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 yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the chairman of the Committee on Rules, to close.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, how much is remaining?

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

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

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, I would say to the gentleman from Alabama, we took all amendments under consideration and we have come forward on this floor with what we think is a very fair rule for everybody that submitted an amendment to the Committee on Rules.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), a member of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), 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. Speaker, H. Res. 431 would provide for the further consideration of H.R. 4775, the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States. The rule provides that in addition to the amendments considered as adopted pursuant to House Resolution 428, the further amendments adopted in the Committee of the Whole and the amendments printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted. That simply strikes four provisions in the bill that are in violation of House rule XXI. The rule further provides that the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill as amended to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4775 is a bipartisan emergency wartime supplemental for the fiscal year 2002. We are here tonight under these extraordinary circumstances due to the urgent need to complete this legislation and ensure that our men and women in uniform have the necessary funding to continue to fight the war on terrorism. Mr. Speaker, this is, again, an emergency supplemental. To ensure that all of my colleagues understand exactly why we are here tonight, I have brought a dictionary, ``Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary,'' to make sure there is no confusion as to what we are talking about. Let us look how this dictionary defines ``emergency'': (1) A serious situation or occurrence that happens unexpectedly and demands immediate attention; (2) A condition of urgent need for action or assistance. What about ``supplemental''? Let us see what the dictionary provides for that definition: (1) Something added to complete a thing, make up for a deficiency, or strengthen the whole. Clearly all of my colleagues understand that this legislation meets the test on both counts. September 11, 2001, was surely an emergency, and this legislation is urgently needed to supplement the military and ensure that we are able to fight and win this war. And, Mr. Speaker, this is indeed a war. This rule is necessary due to the extraordinary situation that the House was faced with. The Committee on Rules earlier granted an open rule, as we normally do on appropriations bills, with debate subject to the 5-minute rule. Any amendment that conformed with the regular rules of the House would have been in order. Unfortunately, we have been debating H.R. 4775 since 6:23 p.m. Wednesday with over 16 hours spent on this debate, and we have disposed of a mere five amendments. Regrettably, the other side of the aisle, perhaps not understanding the emergency and supplemental nature of this legislation, has slowed down this process. Therefore, we must come forward with a rule to ensure that this emergency legislation proceeds. To continue to delay will place in jeopardy the necessary funds to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the necessary resources to prosecute the war on terrorism, which we all support. Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H. Res. 431 and the underlying bipartisan emergency wartime supplemental. 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 431 ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule and the underlying legislation. The legislation before us today will have a tremendous positive impact on improving the environment in our country and ensuring the safety of all Americans. But first, today's legislation authorizes $382.8 billion for national defense, which is consistent with the House budget resolution. It includes $7.3 billion for programs to combat terrorism, and it also includes an increase of 4.1 percent for our men and women in uniform. Further, this legislation keeps our commitment to our military retirees by completing eliminating the unfair practice of reducing retirement pay based on disability payments, and this will be done by the year 2007. I am very pleased that the legislation also includes the administration's proposal to accelerate cleanup of former nuclear weapon production sites throughout the country. This year the Bush administration has made a strong commitment to our environment through the environmental management, or EM, program at the Department of Defense. As the chairman of the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, I appreciate the commitment of the committee to ensure that our Nation's commitment to cleaning up these sites, which represent the greatest environmental challenges in the country, will continue on track. The legislation provides at least $800 million to a new cleanup account to accelerate and reform cleanup of the highest risk environmental threats in the U.S. in a new and profoundly different manner. This new account will implement the results of the Department's year long, top-to-bottom review of the EM program. The account will direct dollars to accelerate cleanup throughout the Nation without compromising safety and embracing reforms to ensure that the best commercial practices and technology drive the program in the future. Most important, however, is the commitment to drive more program dollars directly to cleanup and risk reduction, which will accelerate cleanup by decades at these sites throughout the country and save the American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars in the future. I am convinced that this program will be successful, and I am proud that the Hanford site in my district has led the Nation in reaching the first agreement under the new cleanup account. This agreement, which was agreed to by the Bush administration, the Governor of the State of Washington and the EPA, will direct $433 million out of this new account to Hanford. This historic agreement, when fully implemented, will result in cost savings of $33 billion and will accelerate cleanup by 35 to 45 years. This is truly a remarkable commitment to our environment, and I look forward to additional sites reaching similar agreements in the future. Mr. Speaker, this agreement will provide a 5-year funding commitment instead of the year-to-year hassle that we go through every year. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the rule and the underlying legislation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield the balance of our time to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Hulshof), the author of this bill. (Mr. HULSHOF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle), chairman of the Committee on the Budget. (Mr. NUSSLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker I yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan)

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds. Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize once again when we have this discussion on Social Security that the benefits now will not be harmed at all by passage of this bill and signing it into law, and benefits in the future will not be harmed when this bill is signed into law by the President. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. (Mr. THOMAS 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, I am pleased to yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Hulshof).