Ralph Regula

Mr. REGULA

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for his interest. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the remainder of the bill through page 98, line 18, be considered as read, printed in the Record and open to amendment at any point.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, we are not going to object, because I understand the correctness of this. I just would point out this has been carried in this particular bill since 1997 without being objected to. But, technically, the gentleman is correct; and, therefore, we concede the point of order.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentlewoman for bringing this program to the attention of the House. One of my goals as chairman of the subcommittee is to help ensure that all children can read by the end of the third grade. I might add at this point that I think one of the reasons for the excessive amount of dropouts in high school is because there is a lack of ability to read. It is a disgrace in the United States that 32 percent on average nationwide do not finish high school. Providing books for children to read in their own homes is obviously an integral part of this effort. That is what the Reading is Fundamental program does. Although the program does not receive a separate line item in our report, we have assumed funding for it within the totals already provided and will work with the other body in conference to ensure that it receives sufficient resources.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to engage in a colloquy with the gentlemen from Florida (Mr. Keller) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on this amendment.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, maintaining my reservation of a point of order, I rise in opposition to the amendment, and I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

Mr. REGULA. Reserving my point of order, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, let me say that I agree with the gentleman. It is a great program. I am very familiar with it. Unfortunately, it is in no man's land. The way the OMB budget came up, the President's budget, it put it in Labor, which is this bill. But there is no authorization, which means it is still in the Transportation Treasury, and there is no money either place. But I hope we can resolve this because it is just what it says, it builds youth. And we have had real success in my district with it, and I think it is something we would want to retain as a national program.

Mr. REGULA. Well, I certainly hope so. And we will make every effort to find some way to fit it. It just happens that I am on both of the committees and will work with the Treasury, or Transportation Treasury. It is a worthwhile program. It ought to be funded and kept in place. I think the authorizers need to deal with it, too, to change the authorization to make it appropriate for Labor.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).

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

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding the gentleman is going to withdraw this amendment; is that correct?

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, in light of that, I do not oppose it.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman calling to our attention the recent report of the Department of Veterans Affairs about the research opportunities in Gulf War illness research. NIH has conducted research in this area in the past, largely through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The gentleman describes opportunities in neuroscience research that might most appropriately reside in the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke. We would be pleased to ask the director of NIH to report to us what research NIH currently plans to conduct during the fiscal year 2006 that addresses the priority areas the DVA report identifies. In our hearings next year, we will conduct a line of questioning to learn more about NIH's commitment to this area of research.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, we are prepared to accept the amendment, as modified.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, these have all been agreed upon as part of the en bloc, and I would urge the Members to vote for it.

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for helping us to work it out.

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa. (Mr. LEACH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island.

Mr. REGULA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns). (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)