Doc Hastings

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, 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, House Resolution 322 is a closed rule providing for consideration of a joint resolution appointing the day for the convening of the second session of the 107th Congress. The joint resolution shall be considered as read for amendment. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the joint resolution to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader or their designees; and (2) one motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, we had hoped to bring this resolution to the floor under unanimous consent agreement, but were unable to secure such an agreement. Accordingly, in the interest of completing the work of the House as expeditiously as possible, I encourage my colleagues to support both this rule and the resolution that it makes in order. 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 322 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the dean of the New York delegation and a 27-year-member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Lee Hartwell, the 2001 Nobel Prize winner in the field of medicine. Each year the Nobel Prize for Medicine is awarded to those who have made important discoveries within the domain of physiology or medicine with the greatest benefit on mankind. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 2001 award winner Dr. Lee Hartwell, President and Director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center located in Washington state. I'm proud that innovative research, like that done by Dr. Hartwell, is being conducted in my home state. Dr. Lee Hartwell, a pioneering geneticist, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his discoveries concerning control of the cell cycle. For three decades Dr. Hartwell has conducted research on cell division and has identified molecules that regulate cell division. It's this kind of knowledge that is key to understanding how cancer cells mutate and developing approaches to reverse or prevent that mutation. With an estimated 24,800 new cancer cases in Washington state alone this year, it's clear that many people will benefit from the hard-work and commitment of Dr. Hartwell. Thank you for this opportunity to recognize Dr. Hartwell. His discoveries have tremendous implications for life saving cancer therapies and will have an impact on cancer patients and their families for generations to come.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 248 is a modified open rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 2646, the Farm Security Act of 2001. The rule provides two hours of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Agriculture. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule further provides that in lieu of the amendments recommended by the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on International Relations now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider, as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 5-minute rule, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the printed text in part A of the Committee on Rules report accompanying the resolution, modified by the amendment printed in part B of the report. The rule waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute and provides that it be shall be considered as read. The rule further makes in order only those amendments that have been preprinted in the Congressional Record before October 3, 2001, and provides that each such amendment may be offered only by the amendment who caused it to be printed or a designee and shall be considered as read. Finally, the rules provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2646 provides $73.5 billion over the next 10 years to overhaul the 1996 farm bill. It reauthorizes a Food for Progress Program, which finances food grants to developing countries that are committed to democracy and free market system at $100 million per year through 2001. I am especially pleased that this bill reauthorizes the Market Access program, which helps producers, including many tree fruit growers in Central Washington, in my district, promote exports abroad and increases that funding by $110 million per year to $200 million annually. The MAP funds have proven to be an effective means of assisting producers not normally provided for the federal farm legislation. Cherries, apples, grapes, dry peas, hops and lentils are just a few of the commodities in my district that benefit from this important program. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2646 is a balanced bill providing support for American agricultural through commodity assistance, conservation programs, nutrition programs, enhanced international trade, rural development, forestry initiatives, and a host of other important provisions. The bill was reported by the Committee on Agriculture by a voice vote and is broadly supported by members of that Committee and our colleagues in the whole House. In order to permit Members seeking to improve the bill to the fullest extent possible, an opportunity was given to offer amendments. The Committee on Rules is pleased to report the modified open rule requested by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Agriculture. Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying bill, H.R. 2646. 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 Ohio (Mr. Hall), 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 248 and ask for its immediate consideration.

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. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution.

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 my time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules, who has chaired, I think, a very eminently fair rule on this important bill.

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

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant).

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (Mr. BARTON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) has his own time. I just wanted to ask the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) a question.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. That request was made up to midnight last night.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. We made the offer that had the other side put it in a different form, we would have made it in order. The gentleman would have had the content. Is the gentleman aware of that?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to respond to my friend from Texas. Does the gentleman realize that repeatedly yesterday and up to midnight last night, we said if there were modifications in what the Blue Dogs had put together and made it a substitute, we would have made it in order; and that was never given? Does the gentleman realize that request was made?

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), chairman of the Committee on Science. (Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 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.)