Doc Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).

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

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

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller). (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 347 provides for a single motion offered by the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means or his designee that the House concur in each of the Senate amendments with the amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the motion to concur in the Senate amendments with an amendment. It provides 1 hour of debate in the House, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means. Finally, the resolution provides that the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question. Mr. Speaker, the amendment to be included in the motion provided for in this resolution would amend the Internal Revenue Code to: One, provide for supplemental stimulus payments; and, two, accelerate the 25 percent individual income tax rate. It also sets forth provisions specifically applicable to business, including: One, a special depreciation allowance for certain property acquired after September 10, 2001, and before September 11, 2004; two, a temporary increase in section 179 expensing; and, three, an increased carryback period for certain losses. The amendment extends various expiring provisions including: One, the credits for qualified electrical vehicles, work opportunity credit, and the welfare-to-work credit; and, two, provisions concerning a taxable income limit on percentage depletion for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties, parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits, and the availability of medical savings accounts. The amendment also reauthorizes Temporary Assistance for Needy Families supplemental grants for population increases for fiscal year 2002, and provides special allowances for a designated ``New York Liberty Zone'' for the area damaged in the 9-11-2001 terrorist attacks. Mr. Speaker, the amendment further provides a program of temporary extended unemployment compensation, establishes a displaced worker insurance credit, and amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, with respect to national emergency grants, to authorize grants for employment and training assistance and temporary health care coverage assistance to workers affected by major economic dislocations. Finally, the amendment provides for temporary State health care assistance. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues know, this is our third effort to pass a much-needed stimulus package. Regrettably, the other body has failed thus far to act with equal dispatch on this important legislation. Today we will attempt once again to move forward with a carefully crafted, balanced package of measures designed to stimulate economic recovery and to provide assistance to those affected by the recent economic downturn. It is our hope that the other body will respond in an affirmative fashion to this initiative and that we can quickly move this important legislation to the President's desk as soon as possible. Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support both this resolution and the motion to be offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas). 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 Texas (Mr. Frost), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time is yielded 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 347 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I encourage Members to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and on the rule. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) on the issue the gentleman just raised about Social Security.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller). (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus).

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, this resolution provides that it shall be in order at any time on the legislative day of Wednesday, February 6, 2002, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules relating to the following measures: the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 312, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the scheduled tax relief provided for by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, passed by a bipartisan majority in Congress, should not be suspended or repealed; Second, the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 82, recognizing the 91st birthday of our 40th President, Ronald Reagan; and, Three, the resolution, H. Res. 340, recognizing and honoring Jack Shea, Olympic gold medalist in speed skating, for his many contributions to the Nation and to his community throughout his life. Mr. Speaker, following the adoption of this rule, the House will take up H. Con. Res. 312, expressing our collective will that the bipartisan tax relief plan passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Bush should take effect as scheduled. Recently, several Members of Congress have proposed that key provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act should be repealed, delayed, or postponed. H. Con. Res. 312 reiterates our full commitment to all tax relief provisions in this act, including the across-the-board tax cuts, the marriage penalty relief, the elimination of the death tax, doubling of the per-child tax credit and IRA expansion. Further, H. Con. Res. 312 states that repealing or delaying provisions of President Bush's tax relief plan would in fact constitute a tax increase; that increasing taxes during a recession would hurt the economy and American workers; and that Congress should work with the President to promote long-term economic growth through a fair Tax Code that puts the least possible burden on taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, last June when the President signed into law the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, it provided millions of American taxpayers with the first meaningful tax relief they had had since 1981. All Americans who pay Federal income taxes have benefited from the act and will benefit from our vote today, making it clear that we have no intention of weakening or softening in any way our commitment to provide the relief that they were promised, especially not now, when to do so would weaken the economy and further endanger the well-being of millions of lower- and middle-income American workers and their families. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this rule so that we may proceed with H. Con. Res. 312, as well as additional measures honoring former President Ronald Reagan and the late Olympian Jack Shea. 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 Florida (Mr. Hastings), 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 342 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller), a member of the Committee on Ways and Means. (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn), a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.