Alan Mollohan

Mr. MOLLOHAN

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MOLLOHAN. The gentleman is correct. This is an important program, and we are inclined to accept his amendment.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Will the gentlelady yield?

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I thank the gentlelady for her leadership in this area with this amendment, and Mr. Chairman, we are inclined to accept the amendment.

Mr. MOLLOHAN

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2847, and that I may include tabular material in the same.

Mr. MOLLOHAN

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. As part of his argument in support of the amendment to strike all funds and language for the Legal Services Corporation, the gentleman appeals to our concern about the national debt. Well, we all have a concern about the national debt, and it's all about priorities. This amendment would attempt to effect a balancing of the national debt or a reduction of it on the backs of those who are the absolutely least able to afford it and making an extremely small contribution in the process. Now, more than ever, the Legal Services Corporation really needs a healthy Federal appropriation. Difficult economic circumstances across the country are driving record numbers of Americans under the income thresholds that establish eligibility for Legal Services Corporation. Fifty-one million Americans are now eligible for legal aid, including, Mr. Chairman, 18 million children. At the same time, non-Federal funding sources for legal aid are declining as State budget deficits and pressures on private charitable organizations have reduced legal aid contributions by outside entities. Now is the very time that legal aid needs Federal support. LSC providers already turn away one out of every two eligible clients who seek assistance. So already, in a difficult economy, when those seeking legal aid are becoming increasingly eligible, we're turning away 50 percent of those who need the service. With no Federal funding, as the gentleman has proposed in his amendment, Legal Services Corporation grantees would be forced to turn away even more clients who are in desperate need of help. I urge Members to consider the true human impact of that proposal and oppose the amendment. And I go back to where I started. This is the wrong place to try to balance the budget, on the backs of those who are least able to make a contribution. I oppose the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment which would essentially prohibit any funds to be spent with regard to the implementation of the Executive order requiring the closure of the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay. I believe that the closing of Guantanamo is the right policy decision. The President believes that, and the President has acted on that. It's an embarrassment to the country. It's a symbol that has really fomented a lot of opposition to the United States around the world. The continued existence of Gitmo is a basic assault on our values, and it undermines the success in our counterterrorism programs. President Obama and I aren't the only ones who believe this. Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen and the Nation's top civilian and military defense officials agree that it should be closed. Also, both President Bush's Secretaries of State and a variety of other bipartisan political officials agree that it should be closed. So this is a bipartisan position. We have already clearly communicated to the White House that they must submit a plan showing how they intend to proceed. The White House has agreed, and I am confident that their plan will show a reasonable path forward. The bill before you today, Mr. Chairman, includes provisions to ensure that the Congress will have sufficient opportunity to weigh in on that plan, when it is submitted, and to preclude most activities prior to that. This legislation before us tonight does not permit the release of Gitmo detainees into the United States during fiscal year 2010. It does not permit the transfer of detainees to the U.S. for detention or prosecution purposes until 2 months after we've received the plan. It does not permit the transfer of detainees to foreign countries without notification and certifications to the Congress, and it does not provide any funds for activities relating to the Gitmo closure. This will ensure that we have additional opportunities to debate this issue when the administration requests a budget amendment or a supplemental to fund this plan. We have established a good process for the consideration of this issue, and it should be allowed to play out before we start prejudicing a plan that we don't even have before us. This bill postures this issue in a good way. I oppose the amendment, Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment. I scratch my head as I did in full committee. Why would the gentleman be offering an amendment to jerk the rug out from under the Recovery Act at a time when the Recovery Act is beginning to stimulate and to help the recovery of our economy in the Nation? It is just the wrong time to do this, and I still question the gentleman's logic in this. Mr. Tiahrt's amendment attempts to prevent the obligation of Recovery Act funds for the Economic Development Administration. If there is one agency in the Federal Government that is focused on fomenting economic development, it is the Economic Development Administration. This agency is charged with stimulating economic development in areas that are most needy head on and the amendment is trying to undermine its ability to do its mission. NTIA's digital-to-analog converter box program is attacked, as is the NIST research construction account. There is criticism in a lot of areas, and certainly in some quarters on the other side of the aisle, by those who oppose the Recovery Act, that funds are not getting out quickly enough for construction. Those are the areas that demonstratively provide real jobs in real time. So it's unclear why Mr. Tiahrt is singling out these agencies when so many other agencies in this bill also receive funds under the Recovery Act. It is the wrong time to reach back and to try to undo the stimulus package at a time when the economy is recovering. Recovery is measured by a lot of things--by the recovery in the credit markets, by improvements in the capital markets. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. It is an unwise time to do this, and I would hope that the body would oppose the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I would close by repeating again that this is the wrong time. The markets are improving. Credit is being reestablished. Confidence in the economy is increasing. This is the wrong time to jerk the rug out from under the stimulus package, which has gone a long way in achieving this progress. I oppose the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I thank the gentleman. I commend him for his efforts in this area, environmentally conscious, and I appreciate his contribution to our bill. Mr. Chairman, we accept the amendment.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I thank the gentleman for his contribution to the bill. It is a real one, and we are pleased to accept the amendment, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition, while I may not be in opposition.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa).

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa).

Mr. MOLLOHAN. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).