Doc Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds. This is a very, very unusual procedure. And the whole point of a body like the United States Congress is to debate and dispose of issues. We are being denied that under the rule. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown- Waite).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Sure, I would be happy to yield.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Reclaiming my time, I have a great deal of respect for the gentleman from Massachusetts, and he is one chairman who regularly comes to the Rules Committee and wants to have a full and open debate. I think that the gentleman would have to concede that this is a very unusual step where we are self-building into the rule an opportunity to deny a vote on an amendment that was made in order. That is contrary to what I've heard the gentleman say many times.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I will yield to the gentleman.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. I appreciate my friend from Massachusetts for yielding to me and at least airing in a brief exchange where I was trying to explain my position base was on the procedure and the rule. He took back his time. And while I think he may have conceded that that's what I was talking about, he said something to the effect of that's not what you meant. Now, I think he is expanding what my thought process is, but I do appreciate the gentleman for at least yielding to me.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I thank the gentleman for yielding. If the gentleman was listening to my remarks, I know he came in, unfortunately, after I had started making my remarks, but my whole point was suggesting that we have a process here where we can dispose of the measure, either for or against. That's all I'm saying.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Will the gentlewoman yield so I can ask unanimous consent to amend the rule?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Further parliamentary inquiry. Then the only means I have is through the previous question and not to ask unanimous consent?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker. If I attempt to amend this, what procedure would I go through in order to try to amend this rule?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Will the gentlewoman yield? Did she reserve the right to object and would she yield at least to explain why she objected?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. So there has been an objection?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. So, Mr. Speaker, the way I understand your ruling, then, is that I hear no objection; so, therefore, my amendment should be made in order, and I would like to move the proper procedure as I don't hear any objection.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I just want to make this clear, Mr. Speaker. I am asking unanimous consent to have the amendment that I described be considered. Now, if I have to engage the gentlewoman for that determination, I would be happy to do so, but I am asking unanimous consent that that be done. I am just asking for a ruling on this.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I have to say that I am disappointed, as I mentioned and others have mentioned, that the Democrat leadership refuses to let the House consider the veterans spending bill, funding bill, separate from funding from the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. This rule provides for the consideration of one conference report that combines two separate spending bills that will be vetoed by the President, and that veto will be sustained. I believe Members of this House should have an opportunity to vote separately on these two distinct measures. Therefore, I will be asking my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question so that I can amend the rule and allow a separate vote on each of the spending measures. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have the text of the amendment and extraneous material inserted in the Record prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. The distinguished gentleman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Texas, made precisely my point, and he made the point that we have been saying on this side. He made the point that my friend from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker) said. He talked about the benefits of the veterans funding bill. Mr. Wicker spent a great deal of time as ranking member saying how he worked hand in hand in a bipartisan basis, and all we are saying is that we know that bill has the votes to pass the Congress and be signed into law. I thank the gentleman for making the point, because that's the point we are making. All we are saying is by linking these two bills together, you are going to prolong it because it's going to be vetoed. I will be offering later on a motion to defeat the previous question so we can separate that. I hope the gentleman will vote with us because now we can pass this bill that he extolled in such a very good way. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question so we can separate this issue and vote ``no'' on the rule if we do not prevail on our previous question so that the Congress can pass a clean funding bill for our veterans. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. My friend from Vermont raised an issue on the issue of combining these bills and suggesting that they are paid for. If the pay-for that they are talking about is what was reflected in the budget document, then that will result over time in the largest tax increase on American citizens in the history of this country. If it is not the largest, it is the second largest. We will reserve the debate on that, because we are talking about appropriation process tonight, but we will reserve that debate for later on this week when there will be a tax extender bill coming to the floor. We can more fully debate how these pay-fors work. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, how much time on both sides?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the ranking member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 8 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker), a valuable member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased this bill, H.R. 3997, is being considered by the House today and specifically that it includes language similar to the legislation, H.R. 2540, introduced by myself and Congressman Pomeroy. Our legislation was written to assist the families of members of our military and National Guard who are killed while on active duty. It was developed after Congressman Pomeroy and I each met with Mrs. Victoria Johnson from my central Washington district. While grieving the loss of her husband, Major Alan Johnson, Victoria discovered that State law treated her husband as a retiree rather than a brave servicemember. Victoria worked to change State law, and with her support, Congressman Pomeroy and I introduced legislation to ensure that servicemembers who die protecting our Nation will have their time on active military duty counted into their employer's retirement benefits. This simple change ensures that the survivors of our brave servicemembers, like Major Johnson, receive the maximum amount of their loved ones' pension benefits, and are not penalized for their family members' volunteering to serve their country. This is the right thing to do and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.