Bill Thomas

Mr. THOMAS

Mr. THOMAS. A point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. THOMAS. Regular order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. THOMAS

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks, and include extraneous material, on House Resolution 107, the resolution just agreed to.

Mr. THOMAS

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the amendment and on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to thank the ranking member, the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio]. This was a new process for all of us, and, quite frankly, he made it much easier than it could have been. I also want to thank all of the Members of the committee who worked with us. But remember, the Committee on House Oversight is new in this Congress. All of the Members on the majority side were appointed by the Speaker. The Committee on House Oversight works the will of the leadership, and the resolution before us here today reflects, more than any one individual, the Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Gingrich]. It was his guidance and leadership that focused on what could be done. Frankly, as the gentlewoman from Washington indicated, a number of folks on both sides of the aisle did not think it could be done. We cut the staffs by one-third opening day, and we stand before you with a better than a 30-percent cut in resources, without a diminution in our ability to do the job. I said earlier, and I will repeat it, without the committee chairmen and the ranking members' cooperation of each of the committees, it could not have been done. I want to take a moment and thank the staffs on both sides of the aisle, because in putting these numbers together, and they changed over time and, sometimes, very brief periods of time, they were taxed to the limit. They did an excellent job, and I want to thank them at this time for that. Let me close with this: When I was a member of the minority, I did not think the minority was treated fairly. Now that we are in the majority, I want to pledge to the minority that, as soon as possible, they will have a full one-third of the resources, if I have anything to do about it. I have pledged to them and I will tell them again we will work together to make sure that both sides of the aisle have resources adequate and fairly distributed to do the job. Mr. Speaker, with that, I would ask all Members to support this resolution.

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington [Mrs. Smith].

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I will take only a minute in introducing the next gentleman, because frankly, the committee budgets could not have been cut without the full cooperation, understanding, appreciation, and hard work of the committee chairmen and the ranking members. This was an extremely difficult thing to do, and it was done in such style and willingness that, as chairman of the Committee on House Oversight, I have to congratulate all of the chairmen in the way in which they went about this difficult task. Mr. Speaker, no one personifies it more than the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump]. I yield to him such time as he may consume. (Mr. STUMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington [Ms. Dunn], a member of the committee who has been of invaluable aid in making these adjustments in committee funding.

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ additional minutes to the gentleman from Kansas [Mr. Roberts].

Mr. THOMAS

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

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Chairman, I ask the gentleman, is he an attorney?

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Cox] and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Pete Geren] for having the courage to bring this amendment to the floor. I just wanted to tell my colleagues that the high point in the last Congress for me was as ranking member of the health subcommittee in discussing the President's health care plan. Democrats and Republicans together in a bipartisan way passed a medical malpractice reform provision out of the subcommittee. It was, of course, denied in the full committee, and we went on not to do anything at all on the floor of the 103d Congress about health care reform. And 3 months into this Congress, on the floor of the House, is the key to health reform. A yes vote on this amendment will, of course, lower health care costs by lowering malpractice insurance rates. A yes vote on this amendment will remove the defensive medicine costs and lower health care rates. A ``yes'' vote on this amendment will get rid of the ridiculous border games now played between States and doctors because of the nonuniformity of malpractice laws across this country. But more important and fundamentally, get your eyes off of this amendment and look up. This vote is on health care reform. It this amendment loses, the chances of meaningful health care reform in this Congress are virtually gone. This is the time and this is the moment. I also might add, we maybe need truth in packaging around here. I want to confess, I am not an attorney. And I am for this amendment, because in passing this amendment, we have laid the fundamental groundwork for real health care reform in this Congress. Three months into this Congress, we will have made a statement to everybody. This Congress intends to be bipartisan, not just in subcommittees, not just in committees, but on the floor. Pass this amendment, and we can pass health care reform. Vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Mr. THOMAS of California

Mr. THOMAS of California. Thank you.

Mr. THOMAS

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to and in accordance with clause 2 (a) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and clause B of rule I of the Rules of the Joint Committee on Printing, I submit for publication in the Congressional Record a copy of the rules of the Joint Committee on Printing for the 104th Congress as approved by the Committee on March 6, 1995. Joint Committee on Printing Rule 1--Committee rules (a) The rules of the Senate and House insofar as they are applicable, shall govern the Committee. (b) The Committee's rules shall be published in the Congressional Record as soon as possible following the Committee's organizational meeting in each odd-numbered year. (c) Where these rules require a vote of the members of the Committee, polling of members either in writing or by telephone shall not be permitted to substitute for a vote taken at a Committee meeting, unless the ranking minority member assents to waiver of this requirement. (d) Proposals for amending Committee rules shall be sent to all members at least one week before final action is taken thereon, unless the amendment is made by unanimous consent. Rule 2--Regular Committee Meetings (a) The regular meeting date of the Committee shall be the second Wednesday of every month when the House and Senate are in session. A regularly scheduled meeting need not be held if there is no business to be considered and after appropriate notification is made to the ranking minority member. Additional meetings may be called by the chairman as he many deem necessary or at the request of the majority of the members of the Committee. (b) If the chairman of the Committee is not present at any meeting of the Committee, the vice-chairman or ranking member of the majority party on the Committee who is present shall preside at the meeting. Rule 3--Quorum (a) Five members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum which is required for the purpose of closing meetings, promulgating Committee orders or changing the rules of the Committee. (b) Three members shall constitute a quorum for purposes of taking testimony and receiving evidence. Rule 4--Proxies (a) Written or telegraphic proxies of Committee members will be received and recorded on any vote taken by the Committee, except at the organization meeting at the beginning of each Congress or for the purpose of creating a quorum. (b) Proxies will be allowed on any such votes for the purpose or recording a member's position on a question only when the absentee Committee member has been informed of the question and has affirmatively requested that he be recorded. 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In the latter event, the chairman shall make such public announcement at the earliest possible date. The staff director of the Committee shall promptly notify the Daily Digest of the Congressional Record as soon as possible after such public announcement is made. appearing before the Committee shall file advance written statements of their proposed testimony at least 48 hours in advance of their appearance and their oral testimony shall be limited to brief summaries. Limited insertions or additional germane material will be received for the record, subject to the approval of the chairman. Rule 9--Official Hearing Record (a) An accurate stenographic record shall be kept of all Committee proceedings and actions. Brief supplemental materials when required to clarify the transcript may be inserted in the record subject to the approval of the chairman. (b) Each member of the Committee shall be provided with a copy of the hearings transcript for the purpose of correcting errors of transcription and grammar, and clarifying questions or remarks. If any other person is authorized by a Committee member to make his corrections, the staff director shall be so notified. (c) Members who have received unanimous consent to submit written questions to witnesses shall be allowed two days within which to submit these to the staff director for transmission to the witnesses. The record may be held open for a period not to exceed two weeks awaiting the responses by witnesses. (d) A witness may obtain a transcript copy of his testimony given at a public session or, if given at an executive session, when authorized by the Committee. Testimony received in closed hearings shall not be released or included in any report without the approval of the Committee. rule 10--witnesses for committee hearings (a) Selection of witnesses for Committee hearings shall be made by the Committee staff under the direction of the Chairman. A list of proposed witnesses shall be submitted to the members of the Committee for review sufficiently in advance of the hearings to permit suggestions by the Committee members to receive appropriate consideration. (b) The Chairman shall provide adequate time for questioning of witnesses by all members, including minority members, and the rule of germaneness shall be enforced in all hearings. (c) Whenever a hearing is conducted by the Committee upon any measure or matter, the minority of the Committee shall be entitled, upon unanimous request to the Chairman before the completion of such hearings, to call witnesses selected by the minority to testify with respect to the measure or matter during at least one day of hearing thereon. rule 11--confidential information furnished to the committee The information contained in any books, papers or documents furnished to the Committee by any individual, partnership, corporation or other legal entity shall, upon the request of the individual, partnership, corporation or entity furnishing the same, be maintained in strict confidence by the members and staff of the Committee, except that any such information may be released outside of executive session of the Committee if the release thereof is affected in a manner which will not reveal the identity of such individual, partnership, corporation or entity in connection with any pending hearing or as a part of a duly authorized report of the Committee if such release is deemed essential to the performance of the functions of the Committee and is in the public interest. rule 12--broadcasting of committee hearings The rule for broadcasting of Committee hearings shall be the same as Rule XI, clause 3, of the Rules of the House of Representatives. rule 13--committee reports (a) No Committee report shall be made public or transmitted to the Congress without the approval of a majority of the Committee except when Congress has adjourned; Provided, that any member of the Committee may make a report supplementary to or dissenting from the majority report. 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Mr. THOMAS

Mr. THOMAS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, in the course of his statement, the gentleman indicated that the amendment of the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Tauzin] would be somewhat in the vicinity of $15 to $30 billion.

Mr. THOMAS. So, on a conservative estimate of $15 to $20 billion, but the other side of that coin, I would tell the gentleman, is that actions by this Government in regard to people who hold property put a burden on those private sector individuals to the tune of $15 to $20 billion. There was no discussion about priorities in terms of Government decisions. That is the problem.

Mr. THOMAS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Chairman, I had not planned on speaking on this amendment, but in listening to the discussion about California and somebody's re-creation of recent history about what happened in this House, I felt compelled to come down here and at least try to give a little balance to the Congressional Record that was being made by people who were perhaps folks who have not paid attention to what has been going on over the last several years, protesting a little bit too much, I think, about an amendment that says if the Federal Government violates a contract that it made with someone, the Federal Government is in the wrong. And there was a discussion about the fact that the California water project, the Central Valley project, had been voted on by this House, and that an overwhelming bipartisan majority had already settled that question. And why in the world are we bringing it up again? Now, one simple statement was missing in that entire dialog about how horrible it is that the Federal Government is entering into a contract with a private party, that the Federal Government has to honor that contract. The changes that were made in the California water project law did not stand alone. We did not vote it up or down. It was a classic example of the arrogance and the way in which legislation had been managed for years by the now minority that was the majority at the time. When we decided the California water question, they rolled into the package the Central Utah project. The gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen] stood here and kind of said, ``I can't do anything about it,'' to this gentleman from California. ``My project would be in jeopardy.'' The Central Arizona project was rolled into that little package. The Buffalo Bill Dam in Wyoming was rolled into that package. A water project in New Mexico was rolled in; the San Luis Valley project in Colorado was rolled in; the Mid-Dakota project was rolled in; the Lake Andrews Wagner project in South Dakota was rolled in. Are you beginning to get the picture? There was not a vote on the California project. There was a vote on the Mountain Park Master Conservancy District in Oklahoma; there was a vote on the Cedar Bluff project in Kansas. There was an Indian rights provision. Texas was involved with the Lake Meredith salinity control measure, and on and on and on, the classic way they were able to get their way by creating an omnibus package that would put a number of people in jeopardy if they would not do the bidding of the former chairmen of the committees and subcommittees in the 103d Congress. So when somebody stands in this well and tells you that the House voted on the California project, I want the Record to be straight on that, and when someone stands in the well and simply cannot understand either the logic of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Louisiana or the underlying amendment, the substitute offered by the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Canady], I will tell you why they cannot understand it. They do not understand the logic of the sanctity of contract. We had an amendment to the Constitution, the 11th amendment, over this very question as to whether or not government can abrogate its agreement under a contract. The fact of the matter is the government has been abrogating its agreements over and over again, aided and abetted by the former majority. This is a slight midcourse correction. It is an attempt to tell people who enter in good faith into a contract with the Federal Government that, in fact, we are going to make sure the Federal Government keeps its word, and, if it does not, you will be compensated. That is simply the totality of this discussion. So when you listen to folks say, ``We don't understand why this is going on. We had a vote on the floor of the House,'' I want the record to show and for all of us to remember what used to go on around here. It is not going on around here anymore.

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. (Mr. THOMAS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. THOMAS

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. THOMAS. Is there a moratorium on snakes in this resolution?

Mr. THOMAS

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 86 provides for election of the following House Members to the Joint Committee on Printing under the rules: Mr. Roberts, Mr. Ney, Mr. Hoyer, and Mr. Jefferson. It also provides for election of the following Members to serve on the Joint Committee of the Library: Mr. Roberts, Mr. Ney, Mr. Fazio, and Mr. Pastor. Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Committee on House Oversight, I serve on both joint committees, and as chairman of the Joint Committee on Printing. I expect the Committee on House Oversight to hold hearings on ways to reform Government printing and to improve ways of dissemination of Government information, and to make up legislation shortly thereafter. As a result, it is our hope that in the 104th Congress, these joint committees should become obsolete, and therefore, unnecessary.

Mr. THOMAS

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.

Mr. THOMAS. (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered as read and printed in the Record.

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute.