Hal Rogers

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Smith], chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and claims of the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on this amendment, and all amendments thereto, close in 30 minutes, and that the time be equally divided.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, that is correct.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, we have no objection to the amendment.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman has gone a long way to bring to the attention of this body, and our subcommittee, the problem that exists in the backlog of applications for naturalization at INS. The subcommittee, as the gentleman has said, has provided record sums, even a record increase in funding for INS, but the funding for the naturalization still is low, as the gentleman has pointed out, given the backlog that they have. The gentleman and other Members, the gentlewoman from Florida [Ms. Ros-Lehtinen] and others, have pointed out the shortcomings, and the subcommittee will be having an opportunity to help the INS solve the problem. There are reprogramming procedures that the gentleman is aware of where we are able to reprogram from one part of INS to another, funding for various purposes, and I assure the gentleman that in the next round of reprogramming, funds will be provided to stay current and eliminate the backlog in naturalization applications; I assure the gentleman of that.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. English]. (Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that during the further consideration of H.R. 2076, pursuant to the provisions of House Resolution 198, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone until a time during further consideration in the Committee of the Whole a request for a recorded vote on any amendment, and that the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may reduce to not less than 5 minutes the time for voting by electronic device on any postponed question that immediately follows another vote by electronic device without intervening business, provided that the time for voting by electronic device on the first in any series of questions shall not be less than 15 minutes.

Mr. ROGERS

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on this amendment and all amendments thereto close in 10 minutes, and that the time be equally divided between the gentlewoman from Kansas [Mrs. Meyers] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Forbes].

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I will be seeking a limitation on time at the appropriate time of 20 minutes.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] and the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Hayworth] for bringing their concerns to the attention of the subcommittee and to the chairman. Let me assure the Members that it is not only the intention, but the expectation, of the committee that Native Americans receive legal services with funding provided through the competitive bidding process for basic field programs. Basic field funding will be available for grants to competitive bidders to provide legal services to Native Americans. I will be pleased to work with the gentlemen as we proceed to conference on the bill to further clarify the committee's expectation. I thank the gentleman for bringing the matter to our attention.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, the language does pertain to the Springfield, IL office.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is correct. the subcommittee intends to exercise its full-review prerogative concerning the State Department's SMI proposal.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, further, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on this amendment and all amendments thereto close in 10 minutes, and that the time be equally divided.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on this amendment and all amendments thereto close in 5 minutes and that the time be equally divided.

Mr. ROGERS. I appreciate the gentleman's concern. He has been very avid in his support of Radio Free Asia and has worked very actively with this Member and with our subcommittee. We certainly would consider a reprogramming request at a later time if there is need for it and will try to work with the gentleman to satisfy his concerns. As the gentleman knows, there is $5 million in this bill for Radio Free Asia. There is $5 million in additional carryover funds expected to be available in fiscal year 1996. They have not yet appointed the board for the broadcasting system, but if at the time there is a need, we can look at reprogramming funds. I assure you we will discuss that with you further.

Mr. ROGERS. That is correct, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on this amendment and all amendments thereto close in 10 minutes, and that the time be equally divided between the gentleman from New York [Mr. Serrano] and the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Diaz-Balart]. Mr. Chairman, I would point out that this, I think, is the last amendment of the evening.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on this amendment and all amendments thereto close in 5 minutes, and that time be equally divided.

Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Chairman, I do. I make a point of order against the amendment because it provides an appropriation for an unauthorized program and therefore violates clause 2 of rule XXI, which states, in its pertinent part ``No appropriation shall be reported in any general appropriations bill, or be in order as an amendment thereto for any expenditure not previously authorized by law.'' Mr. Chairman, the authorization for this program has not been signed into law. The amendment therefore violates clause 2 of rule XXI. I ask for a ruling of the Chair.