Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from Florida, the ranking member of the Defense Subcommittee, Bill Young.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul).

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I think now I can probably be much more generous than I ever would have been and am happy to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Connecticut.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I think it is appropriate that the Republican whip respond to what would only be described as a so far do-nothing Congress in connection with helping the troops; so I yield him 30 seconds.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California. It's my understanding that by considering the supplemental in this way, under this rather unorthodox way, the majority's new rule that's related to earmarks does not apply to the two amendments we're considering today.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Well, just out of curiosity, Mr. Speaker, or Mr. Obey, I wonder if there are any earmarks in this massive package that went unidentified in the true spirit of that earmark disclosure rule.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), our minority whip.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, if I can get Mr. Obey's attention, it is my understanding that, by considering the supplemental in this highly unorthodox way, that the majority's new rule related to earmarks does not apply to the two amendments that are under consideration today. I'm happy to yield to my friend, Chairman Obey, if he'd like to respond.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I am opposed to the bill.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, this is a simple motion to recommit that sends the bill back to committee and instructs the committee to find offsets. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rehberg), a member of our committee.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are continuing our debate on the emergency supplemental with a discussion of a separate measure that includes billions of dollars of spending completely unrelated to the global war on terror or legitimate emergencies in the gulf coast region. This is an extraordinary amount of unauthorized spending, spending that is not offset in any way, contained under the emergency designation. As the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, and the committee's former chairman, I believe the House must firmly hold the line and reject this unnecessary spending. Members on both sides of the aisle can, and will, argue that some of this spending is justified. Members can correctly point out the need for additional funds to address wildfire suppression or agricultural assistance in various regions of the United States. However, I would urge that many of the needs addressed in this bill could, and they should, be addressed in regular order through the fiscal year 2008 funding bills. Sadly, many items are being designated as emergencies for no other reason than to make more room for additional spending under the fiscal year 2008 caps, which, incidentally, we still do not have. When the new majority assumed power earlier this year, it committed to restoring pay-as-you-go, the practice of offsetting spending increases with spending decreases. As I mentioned earlier, none of the proposed spending included in this package has been offset in any way. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, our colleagues should be aware that the President has indicated that he will veto this legislation due to the excessive nonemergency spending it contains. I urge our colleagues to show spending restraint by opposing this package. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, because he is constantly talking to me about the challenges of rural schools, it is my pleasure to recognize Greg Walden of Oregon for 3 minutes.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 5 minutes to my colleague from the committee, Mike Simpson.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer this very simple and straightforward motion to recommit. Included within Mr. Obey's emergency supplemental proposal is legislative language that requires the President to report by July 13 on the specific progress the Iraqi Government has made in meeting 16 specific goals. Once this report is received, only the chairman of the Appropriations Committee can introduce a joint resolution of approval to release any additional funds to our troops in Iraq. The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee is not required to introduce the joint resolution of approval, and no other Member can do it. The authority that this gives the chairman of the committee to introduce or not introduce legislation is unprecedented. Further, in an almost unprecedented move, this supplemental includes the rule under which the joint resolution will be brought to the floor. And under this rule, the only amendment made in order is one that mandates the withdrawal of troops from Iraq within 6 months. Mr. Speaker, this legislative language sets dangerous precedents that should be of great concern to Members on both sides of the aisle. My motion to recommit strikes this legislative language in section 1331, the so-called fence language, limiting the availability of funds for our troops. This ill-conceived language not only grants the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee extraordinary authority, but also preordains the rule by which the joint resolution will be brought to the floor. I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote on this motion to recommit.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I am in its present form.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me repeat that one more time it appears that the majority is more interested in appeasing their left, that is the left in their caucus, than in supporting the troops. One more time, the House is preparing to approve a supplemental that the President will veto in no small part because it tells our enemy we are ready to wave the white flag. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this piecemeal, ill- conceived approach to funding our troops. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.