Pete Sessions

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the gentleman from Florida yielding me time, and I do know that we are here today, among other things, to seek immediate resolution from the United States Congress to help the wonderful people of Minnesota in their time of grief by authorizing money that will be spent to immediately rebuild the bridge that collapsed over the Mississippi. All Members of this body watched the horror the other night as we saw not only the collapse but also the heroism of men and women, first responders and others, as they joined in to help the people of Minneapolis-St. Paul as they struggled with this. I would note that the committee action, regular order, has taken place to make sure that this bill would be before not only the Democrat majority but also we as Republicans participated in each of these activities. The gentleman stood up and talked about how great and wonderful and what normal and regular things happen around here, but these are not normal times. Once again today, here we are on the floor of the House of Representatives almost as a new low, I would say, Mr. Speaker, being asked to debate a rule on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and we don't even have a copy of the bill. So I would like to ask the gentleman from Florida, can we please see a copy of the bill? I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire how much time remains.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Continuing my request.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, the question is whether the Speaker or the Speaker's designee has the authority to make a decision to enact what we would call to conduct or direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call as provided in clause 3 or 4.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, point of parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. SESSIONS. It is our request to the majority leader that we follow the rules of the House at this time, and this minority is making that request at this time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make sure the majority leader understands that, for the last months, this majority that is on this side of the aisle has routinely asked and spoken with the majority about the way we would like to see things happen. Regularly, we are told that it will be done the way you choose to do it. You are attempting now to make a decision about what you would like to do.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, in response to the majority leader, I would go to the rules of the House. I would quote them on page 32 of the rules of the House: When the electronic voting system is inoperable, or is not used, and I believe it is at this time inoperable and has been for the past 40 minutes or so, the Speaker or the chairman may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call as provided in clause 3 or 4. I wonder why the gentleman would not suggest we follow the rules of the House.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, can you please at this time tell us the vote total?

Mr. SESSIONS. Point of parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. SESSIONS. Further parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing the circumstances that we are under, can you please advise me how much longer you will hold the vote open for Members?

Mr. SESSIONS. I will, Mr. Speaker. Can you please tell me how much time remains in this vote?

Mr. SESSIONS. Further parliamentary inquiry. Mr. Speaker, can you please advise me how much time remains in this vote?

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the Members having an inability to know what time remains, can the Chair please advise us what time remains in this vote?

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I would like to inquire as to how much time remains on both sides.

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, if I could inquire of the gentleman from Florida if he would like to run down some of his time at this time or if he's through with his speakers.

Mr. SESSIONS. I would like to inquire of the gentleman if he would like to get the time even and to run down with another speaker. We're a little bit ahead.

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra), the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee.

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, it is about doing the right thing. In doing so, I would like to make sure that we get it right this time. Despite what someone may have been told, I have a statement by the Director of National Intelligence that was issued this afternoon at 4:30. The gentleman says, ``I have reviewed the proposal that the House of Representatives is expected to vote on this afternoon to modify the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The House proposal is unacceptable, and I strongly oppose it. ``The House proposal would not allow me to carry out my responsibility to provide warning and to protect the Nation, especially in our heightened threat environment. ``I urge Members of Congress to support the legislation I provided last evening to modify FISA and to equip our intelligence community with the tools we need to protect our Nation.'' They cannot have it both ways. They cannot have it where they say it's a complicated issue. Protecting this country should not be complicated when people who are trying to do the right thing are asking and showing people what to do. The Republicans have made our choice known today, and that is we are going to stand behind the Director of National Intelligence. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from the Land of Enchantment, Mrs. Wilson.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I rise to continue debate on H. Res. 600. I would like to inquire as to how much time remains on both sides, please.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers).

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, we just heard it straight out: You don't need to see the bill. You will see it whenever we want to give it to you. You don't need it. All we are doing down here is playing tiddlywinks with national security. Mr. Speaker, I disagree with that. We disagree with that. I think this is an unfair way. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren).

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson).