Ed Pastor

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, we believe that these moneys would expedite the study to see if better warnings could be given at low speeds, so we approve the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. The amendment increases funding for the FAA's NextGen office by $3.5 million. As stated by my colleague from Florida (Mr. Hastings), it is for future development. I would agree with him that it is something that we need to invest in and that this would accelerate the implementation of NextGen, which is greatly needed. Our air traffic control system is aging and needs modernization. Yet, as Mr. Wolf has pointed out, the allocation is so tight that moving money in the account will cause some problems. My hope would be that if there is a reconciliation with the Senate that this would be given a higher priority in the funding levels as we work in conference with the Senate. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. The amendment strikes $13.25 million in additional funds for the administrative expenses for the Federal Highway Administration. While I will not object to my friend's amendment, I do have concerns that the more we cut on the administrative expenses, the agency's ability to do proper oversight will suffer. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, when we're in session, I have the opportunity--and I take it--to ride the metro. That's the way I get around in this great city. I have to tell you that in the late sixties, early seventies when I first came to Washington on other business, I saw where Connecticut Avenue was being dug up, the beginning of the Red Line. So I can attest, Mr. Chairman, that every morning at the South Capitol stop, people who work in this complex on Capitol Hill, that there are lines of workers that are coming into work. So when the proposition came before the House, the compact that the Federal Government agreed with Maryland, Virginia, and the District, to maintain the metro and the particular States and District had the matching funds, I was very supportive because I knew of the benefit that Metro brought to our employees here on Capitol Hill, as well as to the Federal employees throughout this metro area. So I have to tell you that I support the Metro system, and I oppose this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to thank the gentlelady for bringing this issue to our attention. I know it not only affects her district, but others across the country. I have to tell you that other Members have come to me, and their great concern is that in many cases the stakeholders at the local offices where there will be closure have not been consulted or have not had adequate input into the negative effects that the closures will have. So for this reason, Mr. Chairman, I support my colleague's amendment and I support the gentlelady, and I ask for an ``aye'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I join Chairman Latham and the gentlelady from West Virginia. CDBG is a great program. When I was a county supervisor, we used the moneys to do infrastructure development and helped the communities and allowed other local officials to decide how those moneys were going to be used. But I have concerns about this amendment. It cuts HUD's salaries and expenses by $250 million. This level will likely mean staff layoffs, especially in the office that administers the CDBG program. It also cuts the HOME program by $100 million, even while it is at a record low level in this bill. The amendment makes these draconian cuts to other programs, and the CDBG levels would still be well below the 1975 level. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is a direct result of the Ryan budget and the inadequate 302(b) allocation. For that reason, I would oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Chairman, as described by my colleague, Ms. Velazquez, counseling is very important to current homeowners, prospective homeowners; and with it, we ensure that someone who is going into an FHA-backed home is able to have all the information in order to be a good homeowner. Obviously home inspection is very important. To those people who are still underwater, they still need the counseling and the information from HUD. So for those reasons, Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentlelady's amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. First of all, I want to commend Chairman Latham for including the $75 million in the base bill. As he said, that will deal with 10,000 veterans who are homeless. I commend him and President Obama for honoring their commitment to service the veterans. To speak about amendments having political motives or having political connotations, several amendments ago I think we did CDBG, and I'm sure it had a few political connotations, but that's the way some of these amendments come forward. To Mr. Barber's amendment, I do have concerns that the offset may impede HUD's ability to carry out its mission, but I look forward to working with the gentleman to continue this important work. Hopefully, as we work for the Senate, we'll be able to increase the allocation for this bill. I support the gentleman's amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment as this is one of the few accounts in this bill which reached an increase; yet it is still nearly $3 million below the President's request and actual need. As it is, HUD and homeless providers are skeptical that the amount provided in the bill is sufficient to provide the same level of services that we provided last year. Reducing this account would further jeopardize our Nation's ability to provide housing for the homeless. I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Chairwoman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Chairwoman, the gentleman has cleared this amendment with our side, and it makes technical corrections to the section of the bill. We have no objection to this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. This account renews long-term assistance contracts, and the number varies from year to year. The amount needed to renew these contracts depends on how many agreements HUD entered into years ago, not the number we renewed last year. Reducing the funding in this account will threaten the viability of these units if the funding is not preserved. I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment. It is his and my effort to help the majority with Republican outreach to Hispanic voters. This amendment would increase by $150,000 the amount of funding HUD shall spend on translating documents for people who are not proficient English speakers. Because of our record to help the outreach program, we support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona

Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 375--H.R. 1542 and 376--H. Con. Res. 44, due to jet engine problems, I was delayed 4 hours in DFW. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''