Frank Wolf

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his comments. The relationship has probably been as good or better than it has ever been, so I appreciate the gentleman's comments. I hope we can continue this relationship for many more years.

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

Mr. WOLF. Yes, Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is correct. It is the committee's intent that the FRA should incorporate the gentleman from Illinois's recommendation.

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

Mr. WOLF. Yes, safety is of paramount importance to me as well, and we would expect the FRA to take such concerns into consideration.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to engage the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter] in a colloquy.

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

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. WOLF. Yes, it is my intention to see that the conference report reflects the priorities and funding levels of the House, and also I might say that if the Senate tries to put any highway demos in, we will make sure that they are not in, and I hope that the people of our body will help us to make sure they are not in, it, but there are no highway demonstration projects in this bill.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is correct.

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

Mr. WOLF. We accept the amendment. I thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] for the amendment. I think it is a good amendment. And let me also say I want to congratulate the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman] on his retirement and thank him for his friendship and a good working relationship, and also for the staff.

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

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for his concern on this important matter. Indeed it is a matter of regional importance, and I share his interest. I want to commend him for bringing this to the committee's attention. I will tell him and guarantee him that I will work with him, the District, the Federal Highway Administration, and anybody else we have to work with to make sure it is done. I understand the Federal Highway Administration may take anywhere from 6 to 12 months and it will cost up to $1 million, but it is a great idea, and I am really glad the gentleman brought it to the attention of the committee.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to engage in a colloquy with my friend, the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the remainder of the bill through page 55, line 15, be considered as read, and printed in the Record and open to amendment at any point.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that all debate on each amendment to the remainder of the bill, and any amendments thereto, be limited to 10 minutes, equally divided, with the exception of the amendment of the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Collins] for 20 minutes and the amendment of the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews] for 20 minutes.

Mr. WOLF. If the gentleman would yield, that is correct.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the bill, through page 26, line 24, be considered as read, printed in the Record, and open to amendment at any point.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, the gentlewoman raises a very good point. As I said earlier when the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle] asked me the question, unless there is a dedicated revenue source for Amtrak in the next several years, Amtrak will not make it. So the gentlewoman is exactly accurate. as we consider the proposal, though, we have to be careful not to take money from the mass transit account. The gentlewoman makes an excellent point.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the bill through page 10, line 20, be considered as read, printed in the Record, and open to amendment at any point.

Mr. WOLF. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I agree with the gentleman that the funds provided for Kalkaska are to be used for an intermodal facility. I do agree with that.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan]. (Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, we are going to lose the vote, but to those Members who are going to give MFN to China, do what our colleagues say: Be engaged. Be engaged. When the Christians are arrested next week and all this next year, be engaged. When they come into town, meet with them. When the human rights groups come here, be engaged, meet with them. When the business community does nothing, speak out, send Dear Colleague letters. All I see is a handful of Dear Colleague letters. Be engaged all year. Do not just be engaged for 2 weeks up to the vote. Be engaged all year. If we vote to give the evil group of people MFN and our colleagues are going to win, then do what the Members said all during this debate. Be engaged. Meet with the Catholic church. Meet with the Tibetans. Meet with the human rights people. Meet with Asia Watch, meet with Amnesty International. Prod the business community. Do not be afraid to criticize a business group in your area. Speak out. Our colleagues are going to win. I just want to know that they are going to be engaged, they are going to do everything they said. Be engaged all year, not just for 2 weeks before the vote.