Pete Sessions

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the time remaining for both sides.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg), the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, (Mr. Gohmert).

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), one of the bright new members of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan).

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

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the favorite son from San Dimas, chairman of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, we are all deeply saddened by the loss of life of our brave men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. While we all understand the need to spread freedom and democracy throughout the world, words can barely express the emotions and sorrow felt by the families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. A constituent of mine recently brought to my attention a poem that was written in memory of Sgt. Byron Norwood, USMC, by Gene E. Blanton. While this poem is in memory of Sgt. Norwood, I believe that this poem is a fitting tribute to all servicemen and women who have fallen in combat. I would like to share this poem with my fellow colleagues: Your Son (By Gene E. Blanton) To the Mothers and the Fathers Of United States Marines Who have fought and bled and died So that freedom's bell still rings From the Halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli From the alleys of Fallujah To the frozen Yudam-ni From the sands of Iwo Jima To the hills around Khe Sanh From the smoky hell of Belleau Woods Your Son fought and won Your Son battled dictatorships Communism and tyranny God's Son died to make men holy Your Son died to make men free There is a debt we owe Your Son That we can never repay We owe Your Son more than platitudes Heard on Veterans or Memorial Day Your Son is a son of America One of the Proud and the Few Your Son volunteered to do the things Other men would not or could not do Your Son was Semper Fidelis Always Faithful to the end was he Your Son was a shining example Of what a man is supposed to be Now Your Son's been reassigned To stand guard on Heaven's streets And when my tour of duty is over I know that we will meet I'll thank Your Son for my freedom For keeping terror on a distant shore I'll thank Your Son for our way of life And sacrifice he bore So tonight when you cry out to God While praying on your knees Know that He's a loving God Who will listen to your pleas To lose Your Son for freedom's cause God truly understands God sent His Son to die for us So you can see Your Son again May God continue to bless our solders who are currently in harm's way.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hundreds of students and advisors that will be gathering in Austin from February 3- 7 for the 57th annual YMCA Texas Youth and Government Conference. Each year, delegations of high school students from around the Lone Star State travel to Austin to learn about their government through hands-on activities at the State Capitol. I am very proud of the school delegations that travel from the 32nd Congressional District of Texas to attend and learn from this wonderful conference. My best wishes to Youth Governor Nathan Gonzales of Benbrook, Youth Lt. Governor Grant Reid of Garland, and all of the other youth officers and delegates that will be making a difference in Austin this week. My special thanks to YMCA Texas Youth and Government State Director Suzanne Mabie for all of the tireless hours of service that she commits to make this conference the great success that it is each and every year. I've had the privilege of being involved with this conference for the last several years and have always been impressed with the talents of the young individuals who are involved with the program. All my best wishes for a successful 57th annual conference in Austin.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate the comments from the gentleman from Florida, my good friend from the Committee on Rules, and would like to ask him at this time if he would like to consume the time. At this time, I may have one additional speaker, but do not at this time and would wish that the gentleman would consume his time. Then I would expect to close. I would like to ask the gentleman if he would like to do that.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose 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 yielded is for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, this rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services. It provides that the bill shall be considered as read for the purpose of amendment and makes in order only those amendments printed in the Committee on Rules report accompanying this resolution. It provides that the amendments made in order may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. These amendments shall not be subject to amendment and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments printed in the report. Finally, it provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce this fair, structured rule for H.R. 54, the Congressional Gold Medal Enhancement Act of 2005. This legislation builds on important reforms that my good friend, the former Governor and now Member of Congress, the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) has made to the Commemorative Gold Coin program almost a decade ago. Today, we have the opportunity to bring these same improvements to the Congressional Gold Medal program and ensure that the original intent and prestige of the Congressional Gold Medal program as the Nation's highest civilian award and the most distinguished award given by Congress is preserved. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 54 will improve the Congressional Gold Medal program by limiting the number of medals awarded by Congress to no more than two in any calendar year. It would also ensure that the tradition of only awarding these medals to living or recently deceased individuals for their meritorious service continues, as was originally intended by the program. The proud tradition of this unique honor began when the first Congressional Gold Medal was authorized in 1776 and presented to George Washington in 1790. The tradition of only awarding these medals for military service continued until 1858 when Congress awarded Dr. Frederick Rose, an assistant surgeon in the British Navy, with a medal for the kindness that he showed to sick American naval personnel. With Dr. Rose's receipt of the gold medal, Congress also created the Medal of Honor as the first permanent military decoration. The creation of the esteemed Medal of Honor allowed Congress to begin using the gold medal exclusively to recognize individuals that have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that will be recognized for generations to come. Over the years since its inception, without strict rules governing how it was awarded, this venerable program has acquired a small problem. By a slow process, as currently administered, it has grown much larger than it was originally intended. From 1776, when Congress established the award, to 1904, Congress approved only 47 medals. In the last 100 years, Congress has awarded almost twice as many, 86 medals, including 20 in the past decade alone. In the 1990s, Congress faced this same problem of proliferation within the Commemorative Coins Program, which has grown out of control and was costing taxpayers far more than ever envisioned when that program began. In order to maintain sound fiscal discipline and the prestige of the Congressional Gold Medal Program, we are here today to approve the commonsense reforms by the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), our chairman, and supported by the Committee on Financial Services chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley). Many of these reforms simply codify what is already an existing practice in the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Banking Committee. By adopting this legislation, Congress will be able to move more effectively and efficiently to manage the Congressional Gold Medal Program while maintaining the prestige and the purpose for which it was originally created. I support this rule and urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that section 2 of the resolution be stricken.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 42 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today we have a bill which the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) has brought to the floor, which we believe is a good bill, supported by the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Oxley). I urge my colleagues to support this rule, as well as the Oxley manager's amendment. 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. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the requirement of clause 11(a)(1) of rule X, during the 109th Congress, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence be composed of not more than 19 Members, of whom not more than 11 be from the same party.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Joel David Brooks retirement as the Executive Director of the Southwest Region for the American Jewish Congress. I join my fellow colleagues in honoring the 40 years of service that Mr. Brooks has given to the local community and the rest of the world. I am honored to give my complements to a man who has pursued the improvement of human rights for people all across the globe. He has played such a great role in improving lives and families, as I encourage others to continue his dedication to the betterment of our fellow man. I congratulate the Brooks family on this momentous occasion. I wish Mr. Brooks a well-earned retirement, and am sure that he will be successful in all of his future endeavors during his retirement.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentleman from Maryland I believe articulated a hope and a dream that both of these parties want to stand for, and that is that we can continue to work together. He expressed great confidence not only in the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and Jim Dyer, who is the staff director of the Committee on Appropriations; he appropriately talked about the service to this body of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), a Congressman from Texas 17. But he also talked about our hope and dream for the ability that we have to control ourselves, to bring forth spending that is worthy of the American public will. The only thing that I would add is that we also need to have an economy that works, that is competitive with the world. We know we passed this last year, a medicare prescription drug bill that, for the first time, will allow senior citizens not to have to make a choice between food, clothing, housing, and getting the prescription drugs that were ordered by their doctor. These too are accomplishments that we have done, and it does come at a cost and a price, but it is the right thing to do. I continue to believe in the American dream. I think that is what we are all about here today on a Saturday, working hard. And yes, the gentleman referred to us working until 2, 3, and 4 in the morning. I think that is good too. I think this body is faithful to the American public, and I believe in what we are doing.

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

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

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is a great way to start a Saturday morning, the opportunity to get up and debate before the American public the important parts about not only America and our process and the ability that we have by majority vote, but it is also an opportunity for us to look the American public right in the eye and to say that we have done what we said we would do, that this is a lean package. It follows exactly what we said we would do in the budget earlier this spring. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) has brought forth a package as a result of what we heard was bipartisan work, informing people what was in the bill, the opportunity to make sure that not only as the gentleman from Maryland said to keep him updated but others in his party to make sure that they were aware of what was happening on an omnibus spending package that is important to this great Nation and an obligation of this Congress. Yes, I am proud that we have the ability to say today we will bring this to the floor of the House of Representatives. The Committee on Rules has acted, and subsequent to us leaving today, we will have a measured and wonderful debate. I am proud of what we have done. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 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. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 846 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose 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 yielded is for the purpose of debate only. The resolution we are considering today would provide for the same- day consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules. It waives clause 6(a) of rule XIII, requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Committee on Rules, against certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules. The rule applies to the waiver to any resolution reported on or before the legislative day of November 20, 2004, providing for consideration or disposition of any of the following measures: First, a bill or joint resolution making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2005, an amendment thereto or a conference report thereon; or, second, a bill or joint resolution making general appropriations for fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and an amendment thereto or a conference report thereon. Mr. Speaker, it is clear what we are trying to do. We are trying to make sure that as a result of the action that we took on or about October 8 as it related to the funding of the government that we would make sure we would responsibly work on behalf of the American people to make sure that all spending bills would be necessarily approved and done properly by this House. But we wanted to make sure that the government was funded from that day forward. Today, as we end what we believe will be the last day for the House of Representatives for the 108th Congress, it allows us a chance to make sure that we are prepared to do just that. As we speak, up in the Committee on Rules right now here in the Capitol, the Committee on Rules is meeting to approve the omnibus appropriations bill. This bill will make sure that we can bring this very important bill to the floor and then we can get on with our work today and hopefully adjourn tonight. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate the gentleman's speaking about the way in which the House is operating today. I am proud of what we are doing. And in just a few hours we are going to hear the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, come and say that this package before us represents a freeze or a 0 percent growth in nondefense discretionary spending. That is hard work. That is hard work, Mr. Speaker, but in the very beginning of this year the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle), chairman of the Budget Committee, as a result of enlisting the Members of Congress, decided that we were going to have a budget that did the right thing for 2005. And that is exactly what this Republican-led Congress has done. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) worked very diligently to make sure that the budget that this conference put forth and this House put forth is something that will be passed. We intend to make sure that we are not going to have any wild spending sprees like we have done in the past. It is going to be responsible. I am proud of what we have done. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), our great Speaker, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority leader, have made sure that the things that are in this bill deal with the essence of what is good for America. I am very proud of what we are doing. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in honoring Don Kyzer's retirement from the YMCA after his lengthy service to young people across the country. For the past several years, I have been honored to serve as the Congressional sponsor for the YMCA Youth Governor's Conference. The YMCA Youth Governor's Conference brings together some of the most outstanding youth leaders in America. YMCA Youth and Government is a nation-wide program that allows thousands of teenagers to simulate state and national government. Kyzer has played a pivotal role in making the conference a rewarding experience for the hundreds of youth leaders that he has personally mentored. From 1991 to 1997, Don served as the director for the conference and has left a lasting legacy with those who have benefited from his tireless efforts. In addition to the Youth Governor's Conference, Kyzer has been distinguished by a number of organizations. He has been awarded the John R. Fisher Service to Youth Award, Distinguished Service Award from the YMCA International Management Council, Florida Association of Professional YMCA Directors Program Director of the Year Award, Paul Grist Service to Youth Award, and was runner-up for the Florida State Teacher of the Year Award. I congratulate the Kyzer family on this momentous occasion, and wish him all the best for a well-earned retirement.