Jim Walsh

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for her comments and for her concern and her advocacy for this important project. We faced some extremely difficult decisions when working with our allocation. We agree that the surgical suite project at Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a meritorious project worthy of funding. Unfortunately, money was tight. We chose two projects that already had prior year funding to complete them. As we move to conference, I assure my colleague from Missouri (Ms. McCarthy) that we will make every effort to fund this important project.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. WALSH. I would be happy to join the gentlewoman in a colloquy.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I stand ready to work with all Members to assure that each VISN receives sufficient funding.

Mr. WALSH. I thank the gentleman for his comments regarding our efforts on the bills in general, and I would like to commend him for the leadership that he has provided and the dedication he has shown to veterans and his congressional district and all over New York State. I appreciate the efforts of all of my colleagues in New York and northern New Jersey in increasing the amount of funding available for veterans health care, and will continue to work with the gentleman and our colleagues in the Senate and the administration to ensure VISN 3 will have the resources to ensure that the level of services and care for veterans in New York and New Jersey are not reduced as a result of this bill, including distribution of reserve funds.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. WALSH. I thank my colleague from New York for his dedication to this issue, as he has provided leadership on this issue and so many others. I assure him I will keep a close watch on the funding challenges for VISN 3.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for bringing these important points to the committee's attention today, and I also would like to congratulate her and thank her for the leadership that she has provided on veterans issues. Veterans issues are constantly before her attention, and she makes very solid arguments in defense of and in support of veterans health. I, too, as a member of the New York delegation am well aware of the problems in VISN 3. Under this funding level, we have opportunities to address those issues.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve a point of order.

Mr. WALSH. I thank the gentlewoman for her comments and for her dedication to the committee and to this issue of credit unions, where she has been a leader.

Mr. WALSH. Once again, the gentlewoman from Ohio makes an excellent point, and I would urge the NCUA to heed her advice.

Mr. WALSH. The gentlewoman's suggestion is an excellent one, and it is clearly consistent with the intent of the subcommittee's action today.

Mr. WALSH. The gentlewoman is correct.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg), my friend, for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate the gentleman bringing this to the House's attention, the apparent dilemma created by these two events both occurred in May. I recognize, of course, the concern for my State, New York, that this matter be resolved swiftly and real remedies be adopted. I would encourage and expect the EPA to, over the next several months, find a way that is fair to all sides and recognize that the States should be the one to control the air pollution problems and not have them addressed by the sources therein without State input through the SIP process. I, therefore, will work with the gentleman to see that EPA is fully responsive to these legitimate problems.

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

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will yield under his reservation, both gentlemen should know this is a major concern to the subcommittee also.

Mr. WALSH. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the fact that both gentlemen from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) and (Mr. LaTourette) have offered this amendment. I understand their concerns. As we discussed yesterday, there were many very difficult decisions to be made, but I must reluctantly oppose the amendment. I would like to support the additional funding for science, aeronautics and technology; but I cannot do so at the expense of the space station or the shuttle. We all recognize the important work that is done at the Glenn Research Center, and I pledge to do all that I can when we get to the conference on this bill to restore funding to ensure the center can continue its work. The problems with funding for the Glenn Research Center should not be solved by creating other problems elsewhere for NASA. A reduction of this magnitude to either the shuttle program or the station program would cause significant problems. If the funding reduction were taken against the shuttle program, safety and reliability upgrades would have to be deferred. If the funding reduction were taken against the space station, NASA would have to defer development of the crew return vehicle or any one of the numerous other efforts under way to ensure timely completion of the station. There are no easy choices in this bill, but I do pledge to work with the gentlemen from Ohio to address these concerns with regard to the Glenn Research Center, but I must oppose the amendment because it creates more problems than it solves.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I object. The amendment of the gentleman is out of order. That portion of the bill has already been completed, and by regular order he would not be allowed to reenter the bill.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to join in that colloquy with the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), a distinguished member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and that I may include tabular and extraneous material of H.R. 2684.

Mr. WALSH

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

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) for his comments and his cooperation in this project. I know of his deep concern for the safety and well being of his constituents. We recognize the importance of this project and the need to obtain funding to resolve it before winter storms further damage the sewer line. I look forward to working with the gentleman to see if indeed we can find a solution as this legislation proceeds. I pledge my cooperation with him. Amendment Offered by Mr. Weygand

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, we accept the amendment.