Steny Hoyer

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 643) recognizing September 11 as a day of remembrance, extending sympathies to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and their families, honoring the heroic actions of our Nation's first responders and Armed Forces, and reaffirming the commitment to defending the people of the United States against any and all future challenges.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 643.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Speaker, the Members who rise tonight to speak on this important legislation do so not as Democrats or as Republicans, but as one, as Americans united in the defense of the great Nation and the ideals for which it stands: Freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law. Six years ago, as all of us know, on September 11, 2001, it is a day, Mr. Speaker, that none of us will ever forget as long as we live. September 11 is seared into the American consciousness, much like December 7, 1941, and November 22, 1963, as a day of infamy, a day of unspeakable horror, a day of unmitigated evil, and yes, a day of incredible heroism. On this eve of the sixth anniversary of September 11, this resolution, jointly introduced by myself as the majority leader and by Mr. Boehner as the Republican leader, recognizes this as a day of remembrance and resolve. We remember the nearly 3,000 innocent men, women and children who lost their lives on September 11. And we extend, once again, our sympathies to their families, friends, and loved ones. We honor the courage and heroic actions, service and sacrifice of our first responders; firemen, policemen, medical personnel, as well as our valiant servicemen and women who now are in harm's way thousands of miles from this Chamber. Mr. Speaker, you will recall with me that 343 members of the New York Fire Department lost their lives on that day, in addition to the thousands of people who lost their lives in the two towers. Twenty- three New York policemen lost their lives, and 37 officers of the Port Authority of New York lost their lives on that day. We must remember, however, that what they did, along with their colleagues in the fire department, the police department and the Port Authority Police, was saved tens of thousands of people who got out of the buildings before they collapsed. We lost people, of course, in the Pentagon as well, people from my district and districts throughout this country. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to defending the American people against any and all future challenges. I mentioned the Pentagon. I mentioned the World Trade Center. But a plane that perhaps, Mr. Speaker, was flying towards this Capitol, or perhaps the White House, was taken down by some brave Americans who learned what was happening that day through their cell phones. And they resolved, on that day, to give the last measure of devotion to their country by giving their lives that that plane might not reach its target but crash in the fields of Pennsylvania. As this resolution states, Mr. Speaker, we remain steadfast in our determination to disrupt, dismantle and defeat terrorist organizations, and we will harness all elements of our national power: military, economic, diplomatic, and, yes, moral, to effect that defeat. In the aftermath of September 11, Americans, awakened to the threat of international terrorism, collectively declared, Never again. And, over the last 6 years, thousands of Americans have worked tirelessly to improve our Nation's security and to protect our people. Have we done enough? No. Do we need to do more? Yes. However, this Congress has passed, and the President has signed, numerous laws to assist victims, combat terrorism, protect our homeland and to support the members of our Armed Forces who defend our interests at home and abroad. Perhaps none of these measures has been more important than the passage this year of H.R. 1, legislation implementing the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. Among other things, this legislation requires 100 percent screening of cargo on passenger aircraft and 100 percent screening of seaborne cargo before it gets to U.S. ports. It ensures that first responders can communicate with each other, improves rail and mass transit security, and seeks to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Without question, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1 will help us harden our defenses and combat terrorism. However, no one should be mistaken: legislation alone cannot immunize our Nation from attack. In fact, as the Chairs of the 9/11 Commission wrote just yesterday in The Washington Post: ``Six years later, we are safer in a narrow sense: we have not been attacked, and our defenses are better.'' But, as they point out, Mr. Speaker: ``We still have a long way to go.'' It is therefore appropriate that we pass this resolution of remembrance. But it also must be a resolution of resolve that we will not allow the situation that existed on 9/11 to be maintained and, in fact, we have not. We are stronger; but as Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Kean pointed out, not yet strong enough. Tonight, Mr. Speaker, let us recognize September 11 as a solemn reminder of our vulnerability. Let us also be reminded that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave, and the terrorists who sought to break our spirit only clarified our purpose and steeled our resolve. Mr. Speaker, may God continue to bless our great country. I have talked to a reporter just a few minutes ago. That reporter, Max Cacas, was listening to Leader Gephardt and Speaker Hastert on that September 11, 2001, on the Capitol steps, state our resolve. Then, Mr. Speaker, you may recall, the Members spontaneously sang ``God Bless America.'' It was a prayer and it was a resolve. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this very important resolution. I ask unanimous consent that the distinguished chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee might manage the balance of our time.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House, as you know, we will not be in session tomorrow night. Many of us remember some 6 years ago when we first had a meeting in the Capitol Police headquarters, many of us, after the traumatic morning and afternoon; and we resolved that we would show to the country a unity and a resolve that the terrorist attack would neither cow us nor deter us from the defense of freedom and liberty and our country and its people. We are now, of course, 6 years later and continue to be involved in a battle to defeat those who by terror would intimidate us and hurt our people and our country and our way of life. In a moment we will be led by Speaker Pelosi and Leader Boehner to the front steps of the Capitol. We will have a brief ceremony to again show to the country and, indeed, to the world that while we may have differences in debate, there are no differences in our unity of purpose to defend our country, our Constitution, and our people, and to ensure that the friends of liberty around the world will know that they have a friend in the United States of America. So I would ask all of you to join us as Speaker Pelosi and Leader Boehner lead us out to the front steps on the House side. We will organize there, stand, and we will be led in the ``Star-Spangled Banner'' by the United States Marine Corps Band. We will have some comments by the Speaker and by the leader, and then we will conclude, as we did on that evening 6 years ago, with the singing of ``God Bless America.'' I think that was one of the most moving moments in my service in the House of Representatives. I am sure that many of you feel the same way. So, Mr. Speaker, the House will remain in session, but we would ask all Members to join, as I said, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Boehner, and myself on the front steps of the Capitol. We will proceed now.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. I will tell the gentleman that I am not very good on long term. We found a lot of contingencies coming up.

Mr. HOYER. Would the gentleman yield?

Mr. HOYER. As the gentleman well knows, there are four trade agreements that are the subject of consideration by the administration, and four of our trading partners: Peru, Panama, Colombia, as you point out, and South Korea. Those have not been transmitted to the Congress, but it does start the clock. And in discussions with the chairman, I know the chairman has been focused. As you know, he visited Peru and Panama. I am not sure he visited Panama, I just talked with the Panamanians. Surely those two groups are the focus of the committee at this point, on Colombia, focused, as well as South Korea. As I discussed with my friend earlier in the day, I am hopeful that the chairman, the chairman believes that Peru will be the first of those to move. We are hopeful that those, that that agreement will move, and then we will have to see the scheduling for the other three. But I do expect Peru to move, hopefully, within the next 30 days, or about, somewhere probably early next month.

Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding. We believe the TRIA bill is a very, very important bill. Chairman Frank has been very involved in this, as have bipartisan Members of the Financial Services Committee been involved in this. The gentleman is correct. As a result of what has happened for next week, we determined that both the FHA bill and the TRIA bill, which were both scheduled for the beginning of next week, would be moved until hopefully the following week. We believe for TRIA and FHA, in light of the subprime issues, that Chairman Frank is working with the administration. I know he has talked to Secretary Paulson with respect to their proposals and ours on ways to respond to the subprime crisis, the mortgage foreclosure crisis. So we want to put those bills back on as soon as we can. The TRIA bill, as you observed, has raised an issue of PAYGO, as to whether or not there is a financial consequence of the legislation. The CBO has made an estimate. Clearly, however, there is no payout if a terrorist attack doesn't happen, so there is a contingency it would have to happen. We are trying to address that, which we did not anticipate, frankly. As a result, however, we are trying to look at this to see whether or not we can both move the legislation as quickly as possible as well as accommodate the issue of PAYGO.

Mr. HOYER. That's my understanding, yes, sir.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. On Monday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour business and noon for legislative business, with votes rolled until 6:30 p.m. In addition to several bills under suspension of the rules, a list of those bills of course will be made available by the close of business today, we will consider a resolution in commemoration of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. in a pro forma session. There will be no votes. No legislative business or votes are expected. The tragic loss of Mr. Gillmor saddened us all. His funeral is on that day, and many Members will be attending. It will take place that morning in Ohio. There will later in the day, when those who are going to Ohio return, on the steps of the Capitol at 4:30 p.m. be a meeting of the Members who are here from both the Senate and the House in remembrance of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, in that tragic and vicious attack on our country and on so many innocent people. The House will not meet on Wednesday or Thursday in observance of Rosh Hashanah and will meet at 10 a.m. in pro forma session on Friday, and I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. HOYER. The Members already have a fall schedule. It's the Senate that wants a winter schedule, and I am somewhat concerned about that. As you know, initially Mr. Boehner, my predecessor as the majority leader, had projected October 3 or thereabouts, 4th or 5th. When I became the majority leader, it was my responsibility to address the schedule. I thought we would need at least another 3 weeks, so I added on to, I believe, the 26th of October, which is a Friday. Since that time, of course, the leader of the Senate has announced the schedule that you just observed, with a week off at Columbus Day. We do not have that, of course. We have Columbus Day, returning Tuesday at 6:30. That has not been modified at this point in time and, frankly, I don't expect to modify it. It doesn't mean it won't be, but I have no plans to modify that expectation at this point in time. Frankly, I would like to see us do as much work as we possibly can by the October 26 date that we have projected as our date. We will see where the Senate is at that point in time. But in answer to your question about the fall schedule, sometime in the next 2 weeks, probably not this coming week, because we are not going to be here most of the time, but the following week, in discussions with the Senate, we intend to have some discussions with the Senate leadership with Mr. Reid, the majority leader, next week, to determine more precisely what he anticipates being able to do, and, therefore, what our responsibilities will be to be here to respond to what the Senate does. As I say, we put all the appropriations bills on their plate, if you will. We need to pass those, or, in some form, pass funding for the various agencies. So the answer to your question, Mr. Whip, is that we expect to have some more precise formulation for the fall and hopefully not winter schedule by the, not next week, but the following week. We are aware of the fact, and I used to hear from everybody, now I am hearing from everybody on both sides of the aisle, they understandably want some certainty in the scheduling so they can schedule their work in their districts. I understand that. We are going to try to accommodate that.

Mr. HOYER. Would the gentleman yield?

Mr. HOYER. I want to thank my friend for joining in discussions on that issue before we came to the floor today. I think the gentleman is correct. I think Members would find that useful. If we can accommodate that, I would like to do that.

Mr. HOYER. That is correct. We will be starting legislative business on the floor a little after noon. So there will be work on the floor proceeding. It is my understanding, however, as the gentleman may know, that the hearing is in the Cannon Caucus Room. So we'll accommodate both media and the public, and as we all know, some of the most important hearings in history have been held in that room. So we certainly recognize the importance of this hearing, the gravity of the information that we will be receiving, and we have attempted to accommodate that.

Mr. HOYER. Yes, that is our intention. There will be suspension votes so that we do not have a lot of controversy. I will say, however, as the gentleman well knows, that Monday will be a very important day because General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker will be on Capitol Hill on the House side testifying on their report to the Congress and to the American people with respect to their analysis of the present situation in Iraq and the present situation of our troops and the security and stability of that country. So it will be a very important day, but the gentleman is correct, we will not be scheduling other than suspension votes for that Monday, and there will be no votes on Tuesday in recognition of the funeral and that so many Members will be attending the funeral.

Mr. HOYER. The House, as the gentleman knows, has passed all 12 appropriation bills. I might say we did so, for the most part, with bipartisan votes, significant bipartisan votes, not necessarily a majority on each side, but significant bipartisan votes. The Senate, as you point out, has passed two, although I understand that we just read across the desk, the military construction bill was just reported with a request to go to conference. We are hopeful that the Senate will pass other bills within the near term. It's my understanding that the Senate does expect to be moving a number of the appropriation bills in the next 2 weeks. The fiscal year ends, of course, September 30. If we have not passed those appropriation bills, we will have to make an accommodation to keep the government running. We usually do that in the form of a continuing resolution, a CR, as we call it, which simply provides for the continuation of funding of government at present levels until such time as we can complete the appropriation process. We are hopeful that we will complete the appropriation process in the near term. I won't define the near term, but we are hopeful that it will be nearer rather than further apart; but we are looking at all the alternatives that will be necessary to keep government operating as the American public expect and as we expect it.

Mr. HOYER. That's right.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Monday next for morning hour debate; that when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11; that when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 14; and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, September 17, for morning-hour debate.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday, September 19, 2007.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chairman, we are trying to move along the business of the people of this country. I rise in strong support of this extraordinarily good legislation. Mr. Chairman, this legislation truly represents a new direction in America's energy policy, and it will thereby strengthen our national, economic and environmental security. Twenty-eight years ago, President Carter said (and I quote): ``This intolerable dependence on foreign oil threatens our economic independence and the very security of our Nation.'' President Carter was correct then, but we failed to act. We must not fail to act today. We must pass this comprehensive legislation, which will reduce our reliance on foreign oil by investing in the infrastructure needed to deploy homegrown bio-fuels, providing incentives for plug-in hybrid cars, and promoting the use of mass transit. This legislation also repeals a number of tax subsidies that benefit the oil and gas industry, and includes landmark energy efficiency provisions that will save consumers and businesses at least $300 billion through 2030. In fact, the energy efficiency provisions will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 10.4 billion tons through 2030--more than the annual emissions of all the cars on the road in America today. In addition, it extends existing tax credits for the production of renewable energy; spurs innovation by supporting high-risk, high-payoff energy research; and bolsters research on renewable energy and global warming. Furthermore, the bill requires our government to become carbon- neutral by the year 2050, moving forward on carbon capture and sequestration, promoting clean energy exports to developing countries, and directing the administration to lead the global effort to achieve a binding global warming agreement. It is my hope that the house will send this bill to conference with a strong vote so that we can reach consensus on issues such as the use of renewables, the development of new technologies, and the fiscally responsible extension of needed energy tax provisions. This bill will help us achieve that goal. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I know how concerned you all have been that you haven't gotten sufficient time to consider legislation that's put before you. We have had this for 6 or 7 minutes, and, of course, we have read it page to page. Reading it page to page, we have concluded that we ought not to support it.

Mr. HOYER. Very briefly.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that, during further proceedings today in the House and in the Committee of the Whole, the Chair be authorized to reduce to 2 minutes the minimum time for electronic voting on any question that otherwise could be subjected to 5-minute voting under clause 8 or 9 of rule XX or under clause 6 of rule XVIII.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent (1) that the House hereby concurs in the Senate amendment to H.R. 3311; and (2) that it be in order at any time on the legislative day of August 4, 2007, to consider S. 1927 in the House under the following terms: All points of order against the bill and against its consideration are waived except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI; The bill shall be considered as read; The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill to its final passage without intervening motion except: (a) 1 hour of debate equally divided among and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the committee on the Judiciary and the chairman and ranking minority member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; and (b) one motion to recommit; and (3) that it shall be in order at any time on the legislative day of August 4, 2007, for the Speaker, as though pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3222) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes; and that the first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with; all points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI; points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of rule XXI are waived; and no general debate shall be in order and the bill shall be considered for amendment under the 5-minute rule; no amendment to the bill may be offered except: Pro forma amendments offered at any point in the reading by the chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees for the purpose of debate; An amendment by Mr. Rogers of Michigan increasing funding for cooperative threat reduction programs; An amendment by Mr. Franks of Arizona regarding missile defense; An amendment by Mr. Sessions striking section 8020; An amendment by Mr. Issa regarding public disclosure of the aggregate amount of funds appropriated for the National Intelligence program; An amendment by Mr. Walberg limiting funds to award grants or contracts based on race, ethnicity or sex; An amendment by Mr. Castle limiting funds for certain contract awards unless certain conditions are met; An amendment by Mr. Castle authorizing the use of funds for certain reserve leave policies; An amendment by Mr. Campbell of California limiting funds for the Swimmer Detection Sonar Network; An amendment by Mr. Campbell of California limiting funds for Paint Shield for Program People from Microbial Threats project; An amendment by Mr. Inslee regarding the National Security Personnel System; An amendment by Mr. Upton or Ms. Harman regarding use of Energy Star certified light bulbs; An amendment by Mr. Conaway regarding use of reductions made through amendment for deficit reduction; An amendment by Mr. Flake limiting funds for the National Drug Intelligence Center; An amendment by Mr. Flake limiting funds for the Concurrent Technologies Corporation; An amendment by Mr. Flake limiting funds for the Lewis Center for Education Research; An amendment by Mr. Flake limiting funds for the Presidio Trust; An amendment by Mr. Flake limiting funds for the Atmospheric Water Harvesting Project; And an amendment by Mr. Flake limiting funds for the Doyle Center for Manufacturing Technology. Each such amendment may be offered only by the Member named in this request or a designee, shall be considered as read, shall not be subject to amendment except that the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Subcommittee on Defense each may offer one pro forma amendment for the purpose of debate; and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. Except as otherwise specified, each amendment shall be debatable for 10 minutes, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. An amendment shall be considered to fit the description stated in this request if it addresses in whole or in part the object described. At the conclusion of the consideration of the bill for amendment, the Committee shall rise and report the bill, as amended, to the House with such further amendments as may have been adopted; and The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions.