Dave Hobson

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this is a very historic time. We have fully debated this bill back and forth. The Senate made two minor changes as a result of the Byrd rule. The antitrust provision for prior-sponsored organizations was removed and the clinical laboratories was removed for Byrd rule purposes. But, Mr. Speaker, I think that with the agreement that we have with the President on the CR, we have now reached a very historic point. One that we have worked very hard for on both sides of this aisle. We are now in agreement that we will balance the budget in 7 years and we will use CBO scoring. That, we all believe, is a good move. Mr. Speaker, I think we all believe that this is a historic moment as we move forward to preserve this country for the future of our children and get the spending of this country under control. It will not be easy, but I think it is something that everyone has general agreement upon that we must do, and we must move forward with it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon], the very distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 279, I call up from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2491), to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 105 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 1996, with a Senate amendment thereto, and I offer a motion.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have a 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2491. The SPEAKER pro tempore Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio?

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. It's difficult leading a majority. People pay attention to the promises you make--and they expect you to keep them. The promise to balance the Federal budget has been perhaps the hardest political promise to keep. The President hasn't been able to do it. And Congress hasn't been able to do it in 26 years. To be fair, past Democrat and Republican leaders backed away from the challenge. Despite repeated promises, the loud and convincing voice of special interests always have carried the day. But today we are looking toward the future. We are listening to the quieter voices of our children, and hearing what we have always known: That this generation has a responsibility to the next. We began working toward this moment in 1992--the year President Clinton was supposedly elected as an agent of change. Although the President was unable to fulfill his promise to balance the budget in 5 years--or at all--John Kasich was working behind the scenes on a balanced budget called cutting spending first. By 1994, the call for change had grown, and voters elected a new, Republican majority to Congress. From that majority came extraordinary leadership. Our budget chairman drives this process with eagerness and integrity. Our Speaker provides a clarity of vision and purpose that unites moderates and conservatives in a single agenda for our American future. Today our agenda is clear. I look forward to joining the majority of you in fulfilling our responsibility--and our promise--to the American people. Vote ``yes'' on the Balanced Budget Act.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I move a call of the House.

Mr. HOBSON

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from California [Mr. Dornan].

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Armey], the distinguished majority leader.

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Callahan]. (Mr. CALLAHAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Smith]. (Mr. SMITH of Michigan asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire about the time on each side?

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Fawell]. (Mr. FAWELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Linder]. (Mr. LINDER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. DeLay], the very honorable majority whip.

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Walker].

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington [Ms. Dunn]. (Ms. DUNN of Washington asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California [Mr. Herger].

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas [Mr. Brownback].

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hoke].

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Hampshire [Mr. Bass]. (Mr. BASS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Ganske].

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas]. (Mr. THOMAS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. McCrery].

Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Smith].