Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I would ask the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Foley], just so it is clear, what we are talking about is that the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes] and I will be the people in the conference who have listened to this debate thoroughly. We understand the parameters of the agreement between both sides. I think everybody wants to see this program operate effectively. The gentleman has outlined the basics of this. I hear no objection. With that, with those parameters that are on the record, we intend to carry the gentleman's voice to conference, which is the appropriate place for us next to deal with this, and that, of course, is part and parcel of the gentleman's consideration of withdrawing the amendment. I am not interested in prejudicing the gentleman's amendment per se, but I think the questions raised here are important and we are happy to pursue it.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding that the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bachus], the gentleman who is chairing this subcommittee of oversight, has suggested that Treasury is very satisfactory to him. But I might suggest further, and the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey] has made by way of background here a very excellent suggestion for our purposes; that is, that we could, in the interim, on perhaps a separate track, have our S&I people evaluate this and in a very short time give us the information we need as we go forward to conference.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, the bill will be going out of the House tonight, I am quite sure. Frankly, I think we are receiving instructions here that can take us to conference. In the meantime, I think we ought to make some formal requests regarding investigations. Mr. Chairman, let us move forward.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, first I very much appreciate the gentleman bringing this matter to our attention. We are all more than aware of the fantastic contribution his predecessor, Sonny Montgomery, made not just to the entire House but especially to the veterans of America. I believe that he and I can work together on this matter he has brought to my attention and to ensure better service to our veterans throughout the Southeast, but especially to Mississippi.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, one more time, if the gentleman will continue to yield, we very much appreciate the gentleman's leadership in this area. I certainly will join with the gentleman from Mississippi in working with the administration on this important project.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I just wanted the House to know that my striking the last word was not an indication that I had any additional amendments. To my knowledge there are no more amendments on this measure. But I did want to take a few moments, while some of our other colleagues are working out some details, to review where we have been during most of today, a short part of yesterday. I must say that in my experience in the Congress, I have never quite experienced before a process like the one I have been through with my colleague the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes] this year. As we indicated in both of our opening remarks, we deal with a very complex and very difficult bill. It is an item that has more discretionary spending than any pool of money around the Congress, outside of that money that is available within the Subcommittee on National Security. We are talking about in the neighborhood of $70-plus billion. We are dealing with major problems and programs that relate to veterans' medical care, as we have discussed extensively. We have all of the housing programs that affect the elderly and the disabled, the poorest of the poor in our country. And we are doing what we can to see that the monies available are handled in a way that they are most responsive to those individual citizens in the communities where they live and where they work. Beyond that, of course there are some magnificent things that are a part of our committee's work, that are demonstrating the success of America at this moment. Those Americans who have been watching our mission to Mars are one more time not just excited but absolutely overwhelmed with the capability of our leadership and NASA and their work in developing that foundation that allows man's reach into space. I am fascinated to look further at the science that is coming out of many of those programs. Few people take the time to really focus upon some of the results that take place, but time and time again in our missions to space, within space station, what we have learned by our space shuttle efforts, certainly what we are learning on Mars, we are making phenomenal breakthroughs that affect not just science and technology in an esoteric way, but in a dramatic way impact our ability to affect the health of our people, the improvement of our ability to deliver effective medicine and programs of medical health to our citizens. Truly, within this mix that is this complex bill, some great things are happening. All of this I frankly believe is possible in no small part because the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes] and I have been able to move forward, not necessarily agreeing 100 percent on every issue or every dollar available, but recognizing that the final solutions are for the benefit of the American people and we both have that commitment in mind. So I wanted to close my remarks and comments regarding this bill by expressing one more time my deep appreciation to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes], to his entire committee, Members from his side of the aisle on the committee, but also their very fine staff who have been more than responsive to our efforts. It has been a nonpartisan effort on behalf of all of us, and I want the House to know that we all owe a debt to my colleague the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes].

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to strike the last word.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I would ask the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Foley] to come up here, because we are ready to close this down, and the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Waters] may want to listen as well.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota if he is going to say some nice things about the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I would ask the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Foley] if he wishes to respond.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, my concern is that the gentleman can press his amendment, however, it may or may not pass. Nonetheless, it does not do the job of getting this question to the conference in the way that I think the gentleman wants to get it there. I believe there is agreement on both sides of the aisle that, if the gentleman will work out a letter together or separately, that between the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Stokes] and myself we will in good faith take this matter forward to the conference. I think that is a very important step, but I would not lose it lightly. So I am suggesting to the gentleman that maybe there is a better way in terms of really making the point I am trying to make here instead of pressing the gentleman's vote.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, the gentleman has made a very important point, and we will take that into consideration as well. I would be interested in the comments of the gentleman from Florida regarding my suggestion that direction to the conferees is very important by the chairman and myself, and I am not sure the gentleman wants to lose that.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Ohio and the gentleman from Florida. I appreciate the efforts that he has put forth here, and I want to say to the body in my closing comments that earlier in the day today we found ourselves moving very, very expeditiously through this bill. In fact, everybody was astonished, especially the chairman. Having said that, we have taken a good deal of time on a matter that all of us now understand to be very, very important to the development and the success of a very important program. Because of that, the time used was extremely valuable, I believe, and I appreciate the cooperation on both sides of the aisle. It is clear that this too is an issue that does not have a partisan concern but, rather, bipartisan interest on behalf of those people who would be recipients of this program.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.