Thomas Reynolds

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, one of my Democratic colleagues as we voted on this in the Committee on House Administration summed it up so well, so I think the remarks of the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Ney) that this is not a perfect bill, properly imply, and undoubtedly apply to every bill that has ever been considered in the Congress of the United States. Having said that, I think this is a good bill. It is worthy of support, and it will move us forward. With 170 cosponsors on this legislation, 108 Democrats, 61 Republicans and one Independent, I believe as we move forward in passing this rule we will have a substantial vote in the affirmative on this legislation, which will move America forward with safe and solid elections. The most fundamental privilege of American citizenship is the right to vote. Let us now embrace that spirit of bipartisanship that produced this legislation by supporting this bill and preserving the very integrity of democracy.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 311 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), the ranking member of the Committee on Rules; pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 311 is a closed rule providing for consideration of H.R. 3295, the Help America Vote Act of 2001, with 1 hour of debate in the House, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. Additionally, the rule provides that the amendment recommended by the Committee on House Administration now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, shall be considered as adopted. And finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, last year's Presidential election was the most dramatic and most memorable in recent history. Election reform is not a new concept, but last fall was a stark reminder of the modifications that our voting system desperately needs. Voter fraud and faulty machines are only a few examples of the inadequacies of the system. That is why I am proud to stand before you today not only as a member of the Committee on Rules but also a member of the Committee on House Administration. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), chairman of the Committee on House Administration, and the ranking member of that committee, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), have approached this issue with open minds, and their cooperation has produced the bipartisan legislation before us today. I commend their efforts as well as the efforts of my other colleagues on the Committee on House Administration, both Republican and Democrat. This legislation represents the true essence of bipartisanship. In fact, of the 170 total cosponsors, there are more Democratic cosponsors than there are Republican. Politics was put aside in order to strike an appropriate middle ground. Mr. Speaker, this is not a one-time fix miracle solution to election reform. However, this is a first step, a bipartisan step in the continuing effort to update and modernize the way Americans actively participate in our democratic process. The Help America Vote Act of 2001 offers the best opportunity to pass real, comprehensive, and truly bipartisan election reform legislation before the end of session. While careful and thoughtful consideration was given to this issue throughout the year, America should not have to wait any longer. Before we know it, another election cycle will be upon us, and, so far, many States have had to rely on their own resources to modify the election systems. It is time for the Federal government to step up to the plate. Not only will this legislation infuse considerable funding into election reform initiatives, it will supply States with minimum election standards to reduce the frequency of inadequate, inaccurate, or duplicate voting. The bill also addresses the issues of overseas voting. I am pleased that Chairman Ney was able to include some of the provisions in the manager's amendment that is now a part of this rule. Our men and women in uniform around the world should be afforded the same ease and efficiency of voting as all Americans. The most fundamental privilege of American citizenship is the right to vote. Let us now embrace the spirit of bipartisanship that produced this legislation by supporting this bill and preserving the very integrity of democracy. At last night's Committee on Rules hearing on this bill, Chairman Ney said, ``We want fair elections.'' I urge my colleagues to join me in taking that first step towards fair elections by supporting this rule and the underlying bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), a member of the Committee on Rules. (Mr. LINDER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), who has worked diligently to help make this legislation come before the House.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller).

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to comment that listening to the comments of the dean of the delegation from New York, and listening to his remarks as the ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means, ranking minority member, there are a lot of views to life. I have this glass of water. Some would say that it is half empty. I prefer to look at it as half full. I do not know that any of us totally have an exact definition of what bipartisanship is. This is an up-or-down vote. This is not a Republican or a Democrat issue. We are either for free and fair trade and giving the President the authority to enter bilateral agreements or we are not. That is what that rule is about, to bring the bill to the floor and vote it up or down. I look at it as bipartisanship, the same way I look at this half full glass of water that is on this table. There are six sponsors, three Democrats, three Republicans. About as bipartisan as I have seen anything be around here, with the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane), the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner). I hope that the Members, as they come and listen to this debate and as they cast their vote, will see that it is, once and for all, a simple rule that gives us the opportunity to vote for a decision to give the promotion authority to the President and have free and fair trade or we do not. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), a member of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules, and an architect of this important legislation. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time is yielded for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 306 is a closed rule providing for consideration of H.R. 3005, the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001, with an hour of debate in the House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. Additionally, the rule provides that the amendment recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the rule, modified by the amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, shall be considered as adopted. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Before I begin, there are many people responsible for this bipartisan compromise legislation on the floor today. The leadership of this House has been remarkable in educating Members and in reaching out to address their concerns. The gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane) have been the driving force behind free trade; and I thank them and our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner), for their diligence and their perseverance. Mr. Speaker, there was a time when this country could boast that we were the world leader in shaping the rules for international trade, globalization and open markets. Sadly, this is no longer the case. There are more than 130 regional trade agreements in force today, but only three including the United States. To our south, Mexico has trade deals in at least 28 countries, while across the ocean, the European Union has trade agreements with 27 other countries. In 1999 one-third of the world exports were covered by EU agreements. Only one-tenth of the world exports were covered by U.S. agreements, sending dollars and jobs to competitors that should have been in the United States. We are the most competitive Nation in the world, yet we rank 26th in the world in bilateral investment treaties. We have nearly completed the first year of the 21st century, the new millennium; yet America's trade agenda is still puttering along in a slow lane while our trade partners around the globe speed past us, and every day we get left behind, and our economy and our families are hurt even more. Each day that America delays, other countries throughout the world are entering into trade agreements without us, gradually surrounding the United States with a network of trade agreements that benefit their workers, their farmers, their businesses and their economies at the expense of us. In short, our trading partners are writing the rules of world trade without us. How important is this to American jobs and the American economy? In my State, international trade is a primary generator of business and job growth. In the Buffalo area, the highest manufacturing employment sectors are also among the State's top merchandise export industries, including electronics, fabricated metals, industrial machinery, transportation equipment and food products. Consequently, as exports increase, employment in these sectors will also increase. From family farms to the high-tech start-ups to established businesses and manufacturers, increasing free and fair trade will keep our economy going and create jobs in our community. With America at war, now may seem like the time for our country to close its borders and discourage global interaction. Nothing could be further from the truth. Never has it been more apparent that we need to enhance and strengthen friendships around the world, and what better way to build coalitions than with free trade. In the 1960 Democratic platform, President Kennedy put it best in the following message that is relevant both then as it is now. World trade is more than ever essential to world peace. We must therefore resist the temptation to accept remedies that deny American producers and consumers access to world markets and destroy the prosperity of our friends in the non-Communist world. We can neither deny nor ignore the correlation between peace and free trade. Not only does the war on terrorism influence the need for free trade, but the anticipated economic opportunities for American workers, farmers and companies will provide a much needed boost to our uncertain economy. Just look at the facts. One in 10 Americans, nearly 12 million people, work at jobs that depend on exports of goods and services. American farmers exported $51 billion in agricultural products and crops last year that supported 750,000 jobs. In New York alone, my home State, the number of companies exported increased 61 percent from 1992 to 1998. Currently, the wages of New York workers in jobs supported by exports are 13 to 18 percent higher than the national average. The imports provide consumers and businesses in New York with wider choice in the marketplace, thereby enhancing living standards and contributing to competitiveness. The world is not waiting while the United States putters along. Trade Promotion Authority offers the best chance for the United States to reclaim leadership in opening foreign markets, expanding global economic opportunities for American producers and workers, and developing the virtues of democracy around the world. The President has said open trade is not just an economic opportunity, it is a moral imperative. The prosperity and integrity of global democracy is at stake, and it is incumbent upon us to pull into the fast lane in order to reap the benefits of free trade. What we ask for today is nothing new. Until its expiration in 1994, every President from Richard Nixon through Bill Clinton has enjoyed the right of Trade Promotion Authority. This President deserves the same right. I strongly urge my colleagues to do the right thing for America. Support this rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I have heard today we should continue debating the bill, stall, or put it off; what is fair, unfair; water it down, pick it apart, and confuse the facts. Mr. Speaker, the world is not waiting while the United States putters along. Trade Promotion Authority offers the best chance for the United States to reclaim its leadership in opening foreign markets, expanding global economic opportunities for American producers and workers, and developing the virtues of democracy around the world. The prosperity and integrity of global democracies is at stake, and it is incumbent upon us to pull into the fast lane in order to reap the benefits of fair trade. What we ask today is nothing new. Until its expiration in 1994, every President from Richard Nixon through Bill Clinton has enjoyed the right of Trade Promotion Authority. This President deserves that same right. I strongly urge my colleagues to do the right thing for America: Support this rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 306 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen). (Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in listening to that debate, I would just reflect that there was a time when the Nation could boast that we were the world leader in shaping those rules for international trade and globalization and open markets. Sadly, this is no longer the case. In my opening remarks I also reflected that each President from President Nixon to President Clinton had this authority, and that it was important to look at giving our sitting President the same authority, for the simple fact that while we would give the ability to negotiate, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) would know full well that this Congress, and future Congresses, under its authority that would be given to the President, would cast a vote for each and every agreement as our Constitution protects, and any rules that may be there. It is clear that this Congress will ratify any of those agreements. The authority would allow the President to enter into those bilateral agreements. Mr. Speaker, we are behind. There are 130 regional trade agreements in force today with only three in the United States. Mexico has 28. The European Union has 27 with other countries. It is important that we move forward to protect our jobs and grow our jobs and treat the opportunity of the global economy as the United States marketplace. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe). (Mr. KOLBE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox).

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk). (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Chambliss).

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of the resolution, all time is yielded for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 299 is a standard rule providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2299, the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002. The rule waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration. Additionally, the rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Appropriations has once again produced bipartisan legislation that meets the Nation's transportation priorities. Ensuring the safety and efficiency of our transportation networks is one of the Federal Government's highest responsibilities. This conference report represents a sound commitment to our Nation's transportation infrastructure by devoting funds to critical programs such as air traffic control modernization, airport improvement grants, motor carrier safety, and increasing the investments in highway safety research. The bill enhances the safety and capacity of the aviation system and the highway and rail networks. The bill provides a total of nearly $59.6 billion, a 2.5 percent increase, in total budgetary resources for our Nation's infrastructure and transportation safety, including the Federal Aviation Administration, transit program spending, the United States Coast Guard, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Federal Aviation Administration will receive a 4.5 percent increase in funds, $292 million of which is for aviation security, including bomb detection systems and compliance test activities. It makes available $3.3 billion for the airport improvement program, an increase of $100 million over the current fiscal year. This money includes $20 million to support the expansion of service at smaller airports. This bill, much like last year's, continues to improve and enhance motor carrier safety and operations by providing $335 million. Of this total, about $140 million is devoted to facilities and operations necessary to open the U.S.-Mexican border for commercial motor vehicle traffic. Not only will this allow for the free flow of trade between the United States and Mexico, but it instills a modest system of safety checks to maintain the integrity of our American borders. Another significant piece of the transportation appropriations funding is for the drug interdiction activities carried out by the United States Coast Guard. The bill includes $636 million for the Coast Guard's capital needs and $320 million that is available to initiate the Deepwater program, which will fight the scourge of illicit drugs, provide support for offshore research and rescue, and work to protect Americans and American shores. Moreover, the bill meets the funding obligation limitations in the transportation legislation known as TEA-21, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century. These programs are critical to improvements and modernization of our roadways and our airways, providing desperately-needed funds across the Nation. In addition, the bill provides $521 million for Amtrak's capital needs. This funding will cover capital expenses and preventative maintenance. The bill sustains the Federal commitment to continue its partnership with Amtrak to help it reach its goal of self-sufficiency by December of 2002. Mr. Speaker, this is a responsible conference report that tackles our Nation's most pressing transportation needs. In the midst of the holiday travel season and in light of the recent attacks on our Nation, this Congress can take pride in the fact that the underlying legislation represents an increase in the safety measures and resources in every area of our transportation system. With airline security stabilization legislation already signed into law, this conference report expands on the new measures and provides the necessary resources to carry out much-needed safety initiatives. Now more than ever, safety should remain the Federal Government's highest responsibility in the transportation area. Clearly, whether by land, by sea or by air, this bill addresses those needs and concerns, while maintaining the fiscal discipline that has been the hallmark of this Congress. Mr. Speaker, as I conclude I would like to commend the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), for their tenacious work on this measure. I would also like to extend praise to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation of the Committee on Appropriations, and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo). I also urge my colleagues to support this straightforward, noncontroversial rule, as well as the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 299 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. REYNOLDS

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, as we complete our legislative day, before I send to the desk a privileged report from the Committee on Rules for filing under the rule, I would like to just recognize Vicki Santos on the legislative day of November 29 of this year. Tomorrow, on November 30, she will be having her last day as she goes back home to an accounting practice that her mother has, and we will miss her on the Committee on Rules and on the floor of this House.