February 13, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- HOUSE H1525
Rules Committee, which went on for quite a while, I have to say that there is a lot of hope involved in this 1,000page bill. But there are things about it that we know. It is approaching $1 trillion when you take interest in consideration. I know it is $790 billion, but when you take into consideration the interest that will be shouldered, it is a $1 trillion package. We know that.
The hope is that people are saying it is this or nothing else, Madam Speaker, this or nothing else. And I have got to tell you that that is not the case.
That is not the case. We, as Republicans, have come forward with a package from our economic stimulus working group which I believe would prevent us from having to deal with anything like this whatsoever. And the point of order that I'm raising, Madam Speaker, has to do with the fact that we don't know what is in here. I don't think that anyone knows whether or not there are unfunded mandates in here that have been imposed on the private sector, on the American people, or on local governments.
And so with that, I would like to, at this juncture, reserve the balance of my time, Madam Speaker.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.
Technically, this point of order is about whether or not to consider the rule and ultimately the underlying bill.
But we know what it is really about, and that is about trying to block the bill without any opportunity for debate and without any opportunity for an upor-down vote on the legislation itself.
And that is just plain wrong.
I sincerely hope my colleagues will vote ``yes'' so we can consider this critical legislation today on its merits and not kill it on a procedural motion. We have a long day ahead. Let's not waste any more time on trying to stop this legislation from being debated or enacted. Those who oppose the bill can vote against it on final passage. That is their prerogative. We must consider this rule, and we must pass this conference report for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act today.
I have the right to close. But in the end, I will urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to consider the rule.
And with that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining on the debate on the point of order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California has 4 minutes remaining.
Mr. DREIER. At this time I would like to yield 1 minute to my good friend from Texas (Mr. POE).
Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, procedure is important. Procedure rules are important because they are placed there for a reason. This House unanimously voted that there should be 48 hours after a bill is filed before we voted on it. The
hours to be provided for Members of Congress and the American people to see this measure before we would have a chance to vote on it. We all know, as Speaker PELOSI said yesterday, that this is both transformational and historic. And for that reason, I believe that if we have a measure before us that is historic and transformational, we should comply with the vote that was cast by every single Member who was present at the time saying that 48 hours should be provided. And unfortunately, there was virtually no time provided. We had a copy of the bill placed before us in the Rules Committee very late last night. And it is my understanding that the online measure at that point, which was touted by Members who were in the Rules Committee, actually omitted three sections of the bill and that it was not placed online as we're going to be voting on it today until after midnight; after midnight. So that means earlier this morning is when it was placed online.
Now, Madam Speaker, I have a statement here from our good friend, the distinguished majority leader, Mr.
HOYER, who said, ``The House is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow and is expected to proceed directly to consideration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment conference report. The conference report text will be filed this evening, giving Members enough time to review the conference report before voting on it tomorrow afternoon.'' Madam Speaker, the American people are hurting. We are going through one of the most difficult economic challenges that we've faced in modern history. There is no doubt about it. In fact, if one looks at the economic downturn, we suffered in 1991 and 2001 very, very shallow economic recessions. The early 1980s was the last time we faced a challenge as difficult as the one we are in the midst of today. We have put forward a very pro-growth economic package that I know that the American people would be able to support. And I'm convinced, based on the empirical evidence that we have of what took place in 1961 and 1981, it would unleash the potential of the American people, because we are the most productive worker on the face of the Earth. We are the people who are the most innovative in the world. And for us to, in any way, constrain that growth potential is, I believe, wrong.
And what we have before us is a 1,000page bill. This is 1,000 pages, Madam Speaker. And I'm reminded when Ronald Reagan was delivering a State of the Union message when he held up a document that was just about like this, and he dropped it right there on the lectern. And he said that he would never sign anything like that again.
And here we are on Friday the 13th of 2009, we are in the midst of considering a measure following a campaign that promised transparency, disclosure, accountability and hope. And as we listened to the debate last night in the
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I make a point of order against this resolution because the resolution is in violation of section 426(a) of the Congressional Budget Act.
The resolution before us violates the provisions of 426(a) because it contains a waiver of all points of order against the conference report, including a waiver of section 425 of the Congressional Budget Act which prohibits the consideration of a conference report in violation of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
We got this 1,000-page package online after midnight, totally in violation of the 48-hour commitment that was made by every Member to support that period of time during which it could be read; and we have no idea, Madam Speaker, as to whether or not there are in fact unfunded mandates in this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California makes a point of order that the resolution violates section 426(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
The gentleman has met the threshold burden to identify the specific language in the resolution on which the point of order is predicated. Such a point of order shall be disposed of by the question of consideration.
The gentleman from California and the gentleman from Colorado each will control 10 minutes of debate on the question of consideration.
After that debate the Chair will put the question of consideration, to wit: Will the House now consider the resolution?
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, let me begin by saying I see my friend from Colorado (Mr. PERLMUTTER) here. It was announced late last night when we were in the Rules Committee that the distinguished Chair of the Committee on Rules, Mrs. SLAUGHTER, would be managing this rule; and I can only surmise that she is not here due to the very tragic news that we got overnight of the loss of 48 lives in the Continental plane crash that took place just outside of Buffalo.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. DREIER. Yes, I am happy to the yield to my friend.
b 0915 Mr. PERLMUTTER. Yes, the plane crash is why she is not here today. And it is a tragedy that we all feel this morning.
Mr. DREIER. Reclaiming my time, that is exactly what I wanted to say.
As we begin this debate, our thoughts and prayers go to all of the victims and the families and Mrs. SLAUGHTER whom I know is dealing with that issue, Madam Speaker.
Let me say, as we now focus on this very, very important debate, we had a unanimous vote here in the House, a unanimous vote, that called for 48
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