Tom Petri

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against section 162 on page 39, line 1 through 23. This provision violates clause 2 of rule XXI, changing existing law and therefore constitutes legislating on an appropriation bill in violation of House rules.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, was the previous point of order against the language of the entire paragraph?

Mr. PETRI. Including all of page 41 and page 42 through line 16?

Mr. PETRI. And page 42 through line 16, Mr. Chairman?

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the phrase ``notwithstanding any other provision of law'' on page 43, line 20. This phrase violates clause 2 of rule XXI. It changes existing law and therefore constitutes legislating on an appropriation bill in violation of House rules.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I do not.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against section 174 on page 48, line 25, through page 49, line 15. This provision violates clause 2 of rule XXI. It changes existing law and therefore constitutes legislating on an appropriation bill in violation of the rules of this House.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order against this section.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order against section 177 on page 50, line 7 through line 15. This provision violates clause 2 of rule XXI. It changes existing law and, therefore, constitutes legislating on an appropriations bill in violation of the rules of this House.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the right to object. Mr. Chairman, under the unanimous consent request, at what point in the subsequent proceedings would it be in order to raise points of order? Could they be done at any time, or is there any particular time that they would have to be raised?

Mr. PETRI. And they should be made forthwith?

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order.

Mr. PETRI. The language referred to constitutes a violation of House rule XXI which prohibits provisions, changing existing law in a general appropriations bill, especially since it contains the language ``or any other act,'' which clearly changes existing law, and includes a proviso relating to a specific determination by the agency which also changes substantive law. This is legislating on an appropriations bill in violation of the rules of the House.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Chairman, I raise a point of order against the language on page 148, lines 11 through 21.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, we are here once again to extend funding for our nation's highway, transit and safety programs. This bill will complete funding for the fiscal year and ensure that state transportation programs continue to receive the necessary federal funds to maintain and build our Nation's critical infrastructure. We are here today because we still are unable to reach an agreement on a level of spending that will meet the various demands that have been placed on us: Provide growth in funding for all states; improve the rate of return for donor states; ensure that donee states do not take too much of a hit; provide significant funding to build new corridors to meet emerging trade traffic; provide help to states that are overwhelmed by massive but critical projects that each can reach up to $1 billion in costs; and produce a conference report that will be signed by the President. This seems to be an impossible situation, but I believe House and Senate conferees have been making a good faith effort to resolve this impasse--but we are not there yet. I know that there is strong support in the Congress for a good, robust transportation program. We know that transportation spending from the Highway Trust Fund is a good investment that is necessary in order to maintain and build a first-class transportation network. This is investment that leads to economic growth and prosperity, that provides needed jobs, that assists in the development of transit projects that moves millions of people each day, and that improves unsafe conditions on our highways--thereby saving thousands of lives. So I urge passage of this bill so that States will continue to receive funds as we here in Washington press on in our efforts to ensure that we have a long-term program that meets our Nation's transportation needs.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, we are here once again to extend funding for our nation's highway, transit and safety programs. This bill will complete funding for the fiscal year and ensure that state transportation programs continue to receive the necessary federal funds to maintain and build our nation's critical infrastructure. We are here today because we still are unable to reach an agreement on a level of spending that will meet the various demands that have been placed on us: provide growth in funding for all states; improve the rate of return for donor states; ensure that donee states do not take too much of a hit; provide significant funding to build new corridors to meet emerging trade traffic; provide help to states that are overwhelmed by massive but critical projects that each can reach up to $1 billion in costs; and produce a conference report that will be signed by the President who publicly supports a bill that is $20 billion below the lowest of the two bills passed by this House and the Senate. This seems to be an impossible situation, but I believe House and Senate conferees have been making a good faith effort to resolve this impasse--but we are not there yet. I know that there is strong support in the Congress for a good, robust transportation program. We know that transportation spending from the Highway Trust Fund is a good investment that is necessary in order to maintain and build a first-class transportation network. This is investment that leads to economic growth and prosperity, that provides needed jobs, that assists in the development of transit projects that moves millions of people each day, and that improves unsafe conditions on our highways--thereby saving thousands of lives. So I urge passage of this bill so that States will continue to receive funds as we here in Washington press on in our efforts to ensure that we have a long-term program that meets our nation's transportation needs.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 704) congratulating the California State University, Fullerton Titans baseball team for winning the 2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I College World Series.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 704.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 144) expressing the sense of Congress that Dinah Washington should be recognized for her achievements as one of the most talented vocalists in American popular music history.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. 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.