House Proceeding 05-19-08 on May 19th, 2008 :: 1:43:51 to 2:03:51
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1:39:17 to 1:43:51( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Sanford D. Jr.Bishop

1:43:41 to 1:43:51( Edit History Discussion )

Sanford D. Jr.Bishop: again, thank my colleagues who are co-sponsors for their extraordinary support of this resolution, and i urge its immediate adoption.at i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore:

1:43:51 to 1:44:02( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from california. mr. issa: thank you, mr. speaker. and i, too, rise in support of su this resolution. is i certainly believe

1:43:51 to 1:47:26( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Darrell E. Issa

1:44:02 to 1:44:17( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: that 100 years of the attempts by spouses to have this bill work together in a better, more collegial fashion, is north worthy. -- is noteworthy. today, as we honor the work of our

1:44:17 to 1:44:32( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: spouses and particularly those who would say that if in fact you don do what i'd like you to do it could cause a great deal of domestic unhappiness, i believe was the line, in washington.

1:44:32 to 1:44:47( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: we should take note that this body is not operating in a collegial fashion. this body has in fact broken down, that the concept of bipartisan behavior, including the long tradition a motion to

1:44:47 to 1:45:04( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: recommit, opportunities for amendments, for ideas to be exchanged on and off the day has broken down. so i do think it's important that we turn to recognizing an effort made 100 years ago at

1:45:04 to 1:45:15( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: a time in which members of congress, house, senate, republican, democrat, went to dinner together, at each other's homes, their children played together. they, in fact, lived here in washington.

1:45:15 to 1:45:29( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: living here in washington has become sort of a term for misconduct. the idea that you would come and that you would work with 434 of your colleagues to make a better america, that you would

1:45:29 to 1:45:41( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: walk across the capitol and work with 100 senators to make a better america seems to have fallen out of favor. today, unfortunately, we spend a lot of time meeting in our conferences on a partisan

1:45:41 to 1:45:52( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: basis . in those conferences we ask, well, how can we beat them? how can we beat them now? how can we beat them in the election? we should be asking, how do we work together for a better government

1:45:52 to 1:46:07( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: and a better america? so i hope that the efforts of this club, which have been long, hard, and successful in many, many ways, certainly in bringing our spouses together, certainly in activities

1:46:07 to 1:46:17( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: for the community, will be a starting point today for us looking across the aisle and asking, why is it that we're afraid to have dinner together? why is it that our meetings are republicans

1:46:17 to 1:46:29( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: with republicans and democrats with democrats? we need to work together. we have big problems in america today. some of them are obvious to americans. we talk of the war and we talk of gas

1:46:29 to 1:46:42( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: prices. we even talk of the pelosi premium. well, i believe it's a pelosi premium, but it's a premium built on years of other people's mistakes and other people's watches. so today, i use

1:46:42 to 1:46:55( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: the opportunity given to me to talk about this important bipartisan resolution to say, let's solve gas and oil problems on a bipartisan basis. let's deal with the challenges we face in iraq and afghanistan

1:46:55 to 1:47:10( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: on a bipartisan basis. let's deal with the immigration reform challenge on a bipartisan basis. and most of all, let's make sure that america's next 100 years is 100 years of success in competing

1:47:10 to 1:47:26( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: worldwide. we can do this if we do it on a bipartisan basis. 100 years ago, mostly women worked tirelessly to form an organization to help us do just that. let's commit ourselves to doing just

1:47:26 to 1:47:39( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: that today. with that i would yield back the balance of my time. i urge support. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentlewoman from california.

1:47:39 to 1:47:56( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: ms. watson: yes, mr. speaker. for its rich history and ongoing traditions, i hope tha we could come together as a body representing americans far and wide, and in good humor and following the procedures

1:47:56 to 1:48:20( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: of this house that we join together in recognizing the 100th anniversary of the congressional club. they do stand for bipartisanship. they do stand for working together. we indeed can eat together

1:48:20 to 1:48:34( Edit History Discussion )

as fellows, friends, partners in making policy. and so let's use the example of this congressional club by agreeing to pass h.res. 1026. i reserve the balance of my time. i'd like to yield the

1:48:34 to 1:48:55( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: remaining time to the man from missouri, the honorable ike skelton. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from missouri is recognized. mr. skelton: i certainly thank the gentlelady from california

1:48:34 to 1:51:01( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Ike Skelton

1:48:55 to 1:49:17( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: for her leadership on this bill, as well as my friend from georgia, mr. bishop, for sponsoring it. it's with a great deal of understanding as well as a bit of nostalgia that i speak in

1:49:17 to 1:49:36( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: favor of this resolution. i know full well of the bipartisanship of which my friends from california speak. i know full well of the work that this congressional club has done over now that

1:49:36 to 1:50:00( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: i've witnessed nearly 32 years. i know of the friendships, both democrat and republican, that have been formed and have been forged together that will last a lifetime. i know and i hope

1:50:00 to 1:50:29( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: this body will fully recognize theni fact that this congressional club has set forth the real standard on understanding one another in this body in the full spirit of bipartisanship. it was my

1:50:29 to 1:50:44( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: late wife susie who had the honor to serve as the treasurer of this congressional club in 1983 and 1984 and again as president of the club in 1987 and 1988. and there should be a note that

1:50:44 to 1:51:01( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: our colleague from california, doris matsui, served as an officer in the club simultaneously with my late wife susie. it's an excellent resolution for an excellent organization and i hope the next

1:51:01 to 1:51:14( Edit History Discussion )

e 100 years will see the same effort in friendship and bipartisanship reign as it has in the past. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back his time. the the gentlelady from california. ms.

1:51:14 to 1:51:24( Edit History Discussion )

watson: i reserve my time. the gentleman from california has yielded back his time. do you have any other speakers? ms. watson: i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: all time is yielded back.

1:51:24 to 1:51:38( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: the question is, will the house suspend the rules and agree to house resolution 1026? those in favor say aye. those opposed, no.th in the poven the chair, 2/ov3 beinin the affirmative, the

1:51:24 to 1:53:01( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Diane E. Watson

1:51:38 to 1:51:48( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: rules are suspended.le the gentleman from california. mr. issa: i object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present and i make a point of order that a quorum is not present. the

1:51:48 to 1:52:01( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: speaker pro tempore: further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california rise? ms. watson: i move that the house suspend the rules and

1:52:01 to 1:52:19( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: pass h.r. 752 as amended, the federal electronic equipment do nation act. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 752, a bill to direct federal

1:52:19 to 1:52:35( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: agencies to donate excess and surplus electronic equipment including computers, computer components, to qualifying small towns,ma nonprofits, schools, organizations and libraries. the speaker

1:52:35 to 1:52:45( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from california ms. watson and the gentleman from california mr. issa each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california.

1:52:45 to 1:53:01( Edit History Discussion )

Diane E. Watson: ms. watson: mr. speaker, i ask that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. ms. watson: i yield myself such

1:53:01 to 1:53:15( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. watson: as a member of the house committee on oversight and government reform, i'm pleased to present for

1:53:01 to 1:58:37( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: G. K. Butterfield

1:53:15 to 1:53:35( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: consideration h.r. 752, the federal electronic equipment do nation act, which will preserve an existing executive order issued during the clinton administration directing federal agencies

1:53:35 to 1:53:50( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: to donate excess computer equipment to schools and education nonprofits, particularly those located in high-need areas. at this point, i would like to have my colleague the honorable g.k.

1:53:50 to 1:54:05( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: butterfield to have as much time as he will consume. mr. butterfield: i want to thank the gentlelady for yielding the time and thank her for her leadership on this committee and thank her for her

1:54:05 to 1:54:23( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: work on this bill. i would also like to thank chairman towns in his absence for allowing this to come to committee and for his hard work, not only on the committee but here in the congress.

1:54:23 to 1:54:41( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: mr. speaker, in short, h.r. 752 codifies executive order 12999 making many of the provisions permanent law and also adds provisions making this much-needed equipment far more access to believe

1:54:41 to 1:54:54( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: poor and underserved regions of the country. the feed act, as we refer to would streamline the process for donating excess and surplus electronic dwoiment small cities and towns and community-based

1:54:54 to 1:55:11( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: educational nonprofit organizations. this legislation gives preference to poorer communities which often have the greatest needs. this act would direct federal agencies to transfer excess equipment

1:55:11 to 1:55:26( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: to the g.s.a. for transfer to the qualifying recipients at little or no cost. the current system, mr. speaker, of acquiring federal equipment is flawed. it is riddled with governmental red tape.

1:55:26 to 1:55:42( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: many times it can take months or even years to receive requested equipment. there was one such case in my district which is actually the impetus for the introduction of this bill, where g.s.a. only

1:55:42 to 1:55:55( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: began working on fulfilling the request after direct congressional action. citizens in need of technology should be able to get it without bureaucratic red tape which only serves to discourage

1:55:55 to 1:56:09( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: the applicant from pursuing their goals. mr. speaker, as you know, you and i both represent poor districts, i represent the 15th poorest district in the nation and if my recollection is correct

1:56:09 to 1:56:23( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: you represent the poorest district in the nation and so we senchly understand. my -- we certainly understand. my constituents do not have access to the technology afforded to so many. a small county

1:56:23 to 1:56:36( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: like washington county in my district, the fifth poorest county in my state, are home to towns like roper, north carolina, with the county unemployment rate reaching nearly 8%, the visionary

1:56:36 to 1:56:48( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: leadership of the mayor has transformed roper into a technology oasis with grob creation and training. roper houses a technology center where citizens are put to work refush wishing and updating

1:56:48 to 1:57:03( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: electronic equipment acquired through the process. they also receive training fr web development, server management and computer management. the technology center and its trainees stand the risk of losing

1:57:03 to 1:57:16( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: years of hard work. mayor sanders has the patience and determination required to navigate the murky waters of federal excess and surplus equipment but most would not be that resilient. mr. speaker,

1:57:16 to 1:57:32( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: the federal government spends an enormous a amount of the taxpayers' money on technology. last year, the department of agriculture's budget included about $110 million in annual electronic costs.

1:57:32 to 1:57:47( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: once equipment becomes slightly outdated, it shouldn't sit idle while there are needy small communities, schools, and libraries that can still put it to good use. throughout the united states,

1:57:47 to 1:58:03( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: many of our sthall small towns lack the basic technology that many of us take for granted this important legislation granted underprivileged communities across america access to federal

1:58:03 to 1:58:19( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: excess and surplus computers, printers and audiovisual and other technological equipment. the bill, mr. speaker is particularly important to communities in my district and will be an important

1:58:19 to 1:58:37( Edit History Discussion )

G. K. Butterfield: tool in building the electronic infrastructures were local government, schools and nonprofits. many of the communities i represent need every bit of help they can get from this government

1:58:37 to 1:58:51( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: and hopefully this will free up some resources that can be used to address other pressing needs. i am proud to have offered this legislation that will directly impact the lives of the underserved

1:58:37 to 2:00:01( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Darrell E. Issa

1:58:51 to 1:59:12( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: in this country. i would particularly like to thank mayor sanders for her work and dedication and mr. john rosenthal who has work sod hard with my staff for nearly -- worked so hard with my staff

1:59:12 to 1:59:21( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: for nearly two years to see this to fruition. the current bill is hurting those it was set up to help. this is a good piece of legislation that will help not only people in roper or in my

1:59:21 to 2:00:01( Edit History Discussion )

Darrell E. Issa: district but across the country. i urge my colleagues to vote aye on h.r. 752. i thank the gentlelady for time and yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: mr. issa from