Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate my chairman yielding me time. I really come today to express my very sincere and deep appreciation to both the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) for the fabulous job they do of working together on behalf of all of us to try to make sense out of our budget process. To say the least, the world on both sides of the aisle and across the country would love to suggest that we provide for them every program at a maximum level that they might have on their wish list. And in turn, that same world wants us to make sense out of balancing our budget. These gentlemen are faced with that horrendous and impossible task, and to them we owe a great debt of gratitude. As the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) suggested, I have now the responsibility of chairing the Committee on Appropriations where, as they help us struggle with the budget, we spend money that has a propensity to violate that which is their guidelines for sensible budgeting. But in turn, over the years as I have observed this process there has been far too little communication, that is meaningful communication, between those on the staff level but also the professional level within the committee itself, between the appropriations process and the budgeteers. I must say that in the time I have had this job, the short time, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) has gone out of his way to say time and time again, we want to work with you. I have committed myself to trying to have the Committee on Appropriations once again be a committee designed to preserve dollars, not just spend dollars; and, indeed, if we are successful in that effort, we will be in partnership with our budgeteers, attempting to make sense out of the budget and eventually balance that budget. We are not in this alone. And the issues that flow around stabilizing our economy know nothing about partisan politics. And I must say that the Committee on the Budget has provided guidelines; in the past we have not always followed those guidelines. It is my intention to work as partners in this business so we can all be successful. And I can say without any reservation, if we are successful, moving our bills this year very rapidly so they are ready for conference in the early spring, it will be in no small part a success of the work you all have done. I appreciate that very much and look forward to continuing this relationship.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the Chair giving me a moment to express my deepest appreciation to the entire House for the way they handled the discussion on the bill that has just been passed. I especially want to express my appreciation for the fabulous staff work on both sides of the aisle who allowed us to move this bill as expeditiously as we have. The bill involves sizeable amounts of money designed essentially to support our troops, wherever they may be, but especially in the Middle East. Mr. Speaker, I want to also express my deep appreciation to my colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), who cooperated every step of the way, a demonstration that we do not have to agree on everything; but in terms of supporting our troops we are in agreement. I very much appreciate the work of the House, as well as the committee.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, in that event, I withdraw my point of order.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, reluctantly I make a point of order against the amendment because it is in violation of section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. The Committee on Appropriations filed a suballocation on budget totals for fiscal year 2005 on July 22, 2004. The amendment would provide new budget authority in excess of the committee allocations and is not permitted under section 302(f) of the act. I ask for the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. LEWIS of California. I have asked for a ruling of the Chair.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I would simply say it is our intention to pursue the questions the gentlewoman is asking. It may very well be in conference on the supplemental that it is appropriate, but frankly in some ways we take from Peter to pay Paul. We can pursue this is regular order, and I prefer to use the supplemental process for those emergencies that we cannot deal with in regular order. Because of that, I am not pursuing the recommendations at this time. We will follow through, however, on the questions that the gentlewoman is asking. Mr. Chairman, I insist on my point of order.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, while I am very empathetic to the gentleman's concern, for I have many a grandchild myself, I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriation bill and therefore violates clause 2 of rule XXI. The rule states in pertinent part: ``An amendment to a general appropriation bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.'' In this case, the amendment addresses funds in other acts, and so I have to reluctantly ask the Chair to rule.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Reclaiming my time, it would be my intention for us to have serious discussions including the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and his staff and our people so that we know that the air is cleared.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Reclaiming my time, I appreciate the gentleman from Wisconsin's (Mr. Obey) point. In the meantime, I believe we will have some work to do in the weeks ahead and I look forward to working with the gentleman and with the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and others to solve this problem.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my point of order so we can accept the amendment.

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Reclaiming my time, the gentleman can then, in this complex field, understand when he used the term ``restrict'' that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) might be a bit disconcerted. Does the gentleman see what I am saying?

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, let me respond by saying that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) had to leave this evening. Because of that he is not here to interact regarding this amendment. I understand that what the gentleman from Pennsylvania has described is exactly my chairman's feeling. And, frankly, I appreciate the gentleman's willingness to cooperate.

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

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

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I took this position on this amendment because I do not want to rise in opposition to the amendment. As the gentleman suggested, it is a restatement of existing law. I think it is appropriate for us to consider it in that connection, and, further, I would like to say to the gentleman that the Chair is inclined to accept the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, we have made considerable progress on this bill today. There has been great cooperation on both sides of the aisle. I must say the membership has been very positive in their discussion and very helpful to one another. As the chairman may know, there are dinners that are going on tonight that affect both sides of the aisle and there are still a number of Members who would like to participate in same. Because of those circumstances and because we can finish our work very easily tomorrow morning, there are minor amendments to be expeditiously handled. Mr. Chairman, I move the Committee do now rise.