C. Young

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time, the gentleman is correct. We do not anticipate a lengthy debate on the energy and water bill, which the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) will file here very shortly. In the full committee it was handled expeditiously, and I believe the same thing would happen on the floor tomorrow. But, understand, the Committee on Appropriations has two markups in the morning, so we cannot get to that bill on the floor until those two markups are completed.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, I wanted to announce to the membership that it is my intention to file the fiscal year 2002 energy and water development appropriations bill this afternoon, which we will do following this colloquy; that the Committee on Rules has agreed to meet this afternoon at 5:00 to receive testimony to grant a rule on that bill. The House would then consider the energy and water appropriations bill sometime midday tomorrow; and I say midday because in the morning two subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations will mark up their bills. It will be midday before we could get to the energy and water bill. With respect to the agriculture bill, it is my intention not to file the fiscal year 2002 agriculture, rural development, Food and Drug Administration and related agencies appropriation bill until the apples issue is resolved. If an agreement can be reached on apples, I would expect to file the agriculture appropriations bill tomorrow. The Committee on Rules would then meet tomorrow evening to report the rule, and the House could work into the evening on Thursday night, hoping to complete that bill before adjourning for the July 4 recess. I share the Members' desire to finish the agriculture bill by midnight Thursday or earlier if possible. In order for us to meet this ambitious schedule, it will require the cooperation of all of our colleagues in the House, and, of course, the cooperation of the Committee on Rules, which is always cooperative. In order for the House to complete action on the agriculture bill, I would expect that the gentleman from Wisconsin and his leadership would be prepared to enter into time agreements, as we have on previous appropriations bills, and limitations on amendments to be offered on the agriculture appropriations bill. Since we all would like to get home to our districts for the 4th of July holiday, we desire not to have a hard drive into the wee hours of the morning Friday to finish the work. Rather, if necessary, we could complete the work on the agriculture bill when we return in July.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in enthusiastic support of this bill, and I want to compliment the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) for having done an outstanding job in working with the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), the ranking member, and the staff of the subcommittee, because they have taken a bill that has the potential for real controversy and made it a very good bipartisan bill. That is not to say that there are not some differences, because there are some differences. That is always the case when we bring a bill to the floor. But these men have done a really good job. I also want to compliment the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the Subcommittee, for the tremendous relationship that he has established with the authorizing committee, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chaired by our friend and colleague, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). They had some problems that had to be worked out, and they were able to do that, mostly to the satisfaction of both of them. I believe this is a good example of how legislation can be drafted to get to a good bill that can be accepted by most everybody in this Chamber. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the bill, to thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), and to thank the chairman of the authorizing committee, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) for the good work he has done in helping us to resolve some of these differences. It is a good bill. Let us vote for it.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I want to take a couple of minutes, and I do not want to delay the consideration of this bill, but I want to advise the Members of the good work that was done by the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen), the chairman of the subcommittee. This was a new assignment for the gentleman because of our term limit situation in the House. He did a really outstanding job, and he had a great partner in the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), the ranking member of the subcommittee. They worked closely together. They shared information all of the way through the process. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) can speak for himself, but I think we were both pleased when we attended the subcommittee markup and saw what a good bipartisan bill this was. Mr. Chairman, I urge the Members to help us expedite the consideration of this bill today. It is a good bill. There will be some debate and discussion on a few issues that might stir up some controversy but, all in all, it is a good bill. It is a very good bipartisan bill, and the gentleman from New Mexico and the gentleman from Washington are to be congratulated for the work that they have done.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the amendment.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose). (Mr. OSE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development for the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, as previously announced under my reservation of a point of order, I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation on an appropriations bill and therefore violates clause 2 of rule XXI. The rule states, in pertinent part, ``an amendment to a general appropriations bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.'' The amendment directly amends existing law. I insist on my point of order.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I would concede to the gentlewoman that there are several that are protected by the rule. This amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California is not protected by the rule and, therefore, is subject to the point of order.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. If the gentlewoman will yield, I will be happy to go through that list and provide that to her in an expeditious time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Any other item that might be considered authorizing on an appropriations bill would have been protected by the rule.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise to make a point of order. I make a point of order against the amendment. This amendment is not germane, and as such is a violation of rule XVI, clause 7. This rule states that: ``No motion or proposition on a subject different from that under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.'' This amendment deals with a proposition different from that being amended; and, therefore, is a violation of rule XVI, clause 7, and I insist on my point of order.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I suggest to the gentleman that we will represent the House's position when we go to conference with the other body. During that conference, I expect that LIHEAP would be a subject of consideration.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise to reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment; and as a courtesy to the gentleman, I will not exercise that point of order until he has had an opportunity to explain.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise to make a point of order against the amendment because it is in violation of section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. The Committee on Appropriations filed a suballocation of budget totals for fiscal year 2001 on June 19, 2001. That was House Report 107-104. This amendment would provide new budget authority in excess of the subcommittee's suballocation made under section 302(b) and is not permitted under section 302(f) of the act, and I insist on my point of order.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order and advise the gentlewoman as a courtesy to her that I will not raise the point of order until she completes her explanation.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I want to confirm here on the floor our conversation earlier that we have a great deal of sympathy for the enormous relief efforts taking place in Houston as a result of Tropical Storm Allison. I applaud the gentlewoman's efforts in doing everything possible to make sure that the United States House of Representatives helps Houston recover from this disaster. I would add that this Congress has never refused to meet the requirements and obligations to a natural disaster in our country and many other parts of the world. We are working together on this.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise to strike the last word. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I would say to the gentlewoman that there is no doubt in my mind that there are currently adequate resources to provide all appropriate resources and necessary assistance for her constituents. I will work to guarantee that that remains the case. And even after this rescission, there is $1.6 billion remaining in that emergency fund. Should that not be sufficient in the future, we will react quickly to make sure any emergency is dealt with.