dreier: mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 2693, to cut spending, maintain existing commitnts and for other purposes, as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 2693, a bill to cut spending, maintain existing commitments and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusts rise? >> parliamentary inquiry, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will suspend. the gentleman will suspend. the house will be in order. the house will be in order. the gentleman has the right to be heard. the gentleman from massachusetts will state his inquiry. mr. mcgovern: mr. spear, is it true that a bill considered under suspension of the rules denies the minority party the right to offer any amendments or even a motion to recommit? the speaker pro tempore: a motion to suspend is not liable to amendment on the floor. mr. mcgovern: further parliamentary inquiry, meerks. the sp

dreier, you have always spoken and the -- mr. dreier: i am the author of this measure. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman has not been recognized. mr. levin: i want you to yield to me. mr. mcgovern: i yield the gentleman 15 seconds. mr. levin: mr. dreier, it's clear what you're doing here. mr. reid wants to sit down and work with mr. mcconnell. what you're trying to do is make sure that a signal is sent to the senate, don't bother, we're going to -- mr. dreier: will the gentleman yield? mr. levin: yes. mr. dreier: i say the action we are about to do here today is see the process that senator mcconnell and senator reid work together. why? mr. levin: i take back my time. mr. dreier, that is pernicious nonsense. the speaker pro tempore: members are reminded to address their comments to the chair, not otherwise. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: i didn't hear you, madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: i said members are reminded to address their comments to the chair and not to others. mr. dreier: i will not only address you, madam chair, i won't point my fin

dreier: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. to say to my very good friend from massachusetts that as i listen to those remarks, i am really struck with the fact that our view is that we are in this together. i will say for the record we care about absolutely everything that my friend said we don't care about. we as a nation have a challenge that needs to be addressed in a bipartisan way. the measure that is before us today is one that was, and i underscore the word, was agreed to by the senate majority leader, harry reid, and the speaker of the house, john boehner. now, i know that senator reid is not at this juncture supportive of this measure, but it's important to note that we need to bring about greater spending cuts, and i know i speak for most all of my republican colleagues when i say that this is really the beginning of a process towards reducing the size and scope and reach of government. we feel passionately about the need to expand individual initiative and opportun

dreier: mr. speaker, about a minute and a half after 3:00 p.m. on july 28, 2011. at this moment we begin the debate on one of the most crucial items that we have had or will have before us. since 1962 on 75 different occasions the united states congress has chosen to increase the debt ceiling to ensure that we paid our past obligations. it's been done 75 times whout ever having any strings atatched whatsoever. -- attached whatsoever. last november there was a very strong message sent by the american people to this institution. mr. speaker, could i ask that the house be in order? the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. members, please remove their conversations from the floor. members in the back of the chamber, please teether -- either take seats or remove your conversations from the floor. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: thank you very much, mr. speaker. last november we all know that there was an overwhelming message that was september by the american people to washingto

dreier: thank you. the purpose for debate only, i yield the customary 30 minutes to my very good friend, the gentlewoman from rochester, ms. slaughter, pending such time i yield myself such time as i may consume and ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks and all time yielded will be for debate only. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. dreier: i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the measure before us. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: madam speaker, it's now, as i began yesterday, when we launched the debate, it was exactly 3:00. it's one minute after 4:00 on friday, july 29, and as we stand, as i am, or sit here as any of our colleagues are, we're exactly four days away, four days away from that august 2 date at which time the department of treasury has calculated that the federal government will run out of money. at that point we as a country will face impossible choice

dreier: mr. speaker, i say to my good friend that i believe that the majority is serious and i believe that the democrats are serious in their quest to ensure we don't default. this is their opportunity to step up to the plate and make sure that it doesn't happen. with that, mr. speaker, i'm happy to yield two minutes to my good friend from gold river, the hardworking member of the committee, mr. lungren. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. lungren: what is incredible, what is unprecedented is the amount of debt we are incurring on a daily basis and we have been for a long time. those being hostage is the children and the grandchildren and their future. and the question we have is whether or not we are going to reach a balanced approach. what did i say a balanced approach would be? a balanced approach would be when we are once again creating jobs in this economy. what those on the other side have led us to believe is that the answer to our problems is to foll

dreier: would the gentleman yield? mr. mcgovern: at this time i'd like to yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. fattah. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized for 30 seconds. mr.attah: i assume that something that the american people are gullible, but this is not a coincidence or happenchance. we got a republican majority that took us from trillions in surplus to trillions in deficit. added a $7 trillion prescription drug plan. unfunded wars. and then refused any additional revenue. and choking off our country's ability to pay its debt. now they want to walk us towards default. there is a special place in the shadows of the history books for a group of people who in order to gain power were willing to sacrifice americans' leadership in this war. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: madam speaker, i'd like to yield any of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who will tell me where in the boehner bill i

dreier: mr. speaker, about a minute and a half after 3:00 p.m. on july 28, 2011. at this moment we begin the debate on one of the most crucial items that we have had or will have before us. since 1962 on 75 different occasions the united states congress has chosen to increase the debt ceiling to ensure that we paid our past obligations. it's been done 75 times without ever having any strings atatched whatsoever. -- attached whatsoever. last november there was a very strong message sent by the american people to this institution. mr. speaker, could i ask that the house be in order? the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. members, please remove their conversations from the floor. members in the back of the chamber, please teether -- either take seats or remove your conversations from the floor. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: thank you very much, mr. speaker. last november we all know that there was an overwhelming message that was september by the american people to washing

dreier: thank you very much, madam speaker. at this time i'm happy to yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from newberg, indiana, mr. bucshon. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from indiana is recognized for 30 second. mr. bucshon: madam speaker, here we are on the verge of a financial meltdown and my friends on the other side of the aisle are worried about politics. they're here today worried about protecting the president from having to do his job, lead. the republicans in the house are leading. we passed two bills that would end this crisis, and the senate hasn't -- they haven't put them down. th haven't voted on them. they've tabled them. we're here to lead. we need leadership. and we're providing it. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. mcgovern: madam speaker, our side is prepared to close so i will ask -- we'll resve our time. mr. dreier: madam speaker, we have several more speakers on our side. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california is rec

dreier: thank you very much, madam speaker. at this time i'm happy to yield 30 second to the gentleman from mississippi mr. pa. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. palazzo: the american people expect us to lead during times of crisis. house republicans have led. house republicans have provided plans and solutions to america's debt crisis. house republicans have used their voice as representatives of their district to end the deficit crisis and to balance a budget. we've done our job. it's time a the senate does theirs. leader reid and president obama is what stands in the way of helping this debt crisis. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. palazzo: vote no on the reid plan. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman reserve? mr. mcgovern: i ask unanimous consent to insert in the record an article that appeared in "the wall street journal" today entitled "the debt limit hobbits." the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: mad

dreier: mr. speaker, for the purposes of debate only i yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished ranking minority member of the rules committee, pending i yield myself such time as i may consume and i revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. dreier: and all time that i'll be yielding, that anyone will be yielding during this debate will be for debate purposes only. and i'd ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the consideration of this rule. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. dreier: mr. speaker, this rule provides for consideration of the budget control act of 2012. it provides for -- 2011. it provides for two hours of debate, as the read clerk said, one hour is controlled by the chairman and the ranking minority member of the committee on rules. that will be yours truly and ms. slaughter. and the 30 minutes will be equally divided and controlled by the ch

plus we get answers when i talk exclusively to congressman david dreier about why he introduced a carbon copy of the harry reid bill to the bill today. also the co-aah tore of cut, cap and balance. and charlie gasparino. we are live from new york in a special moment as we watch the unfolding of the debt crisis deal. the deficits presence between campaigning and governing is simple. you frame the entire message. you drive the points that you think are important. and you ignore things that you either don't care about or that, frankly, you don't understand. if the result of the campaign is that you are elected then you have to shift gears to governing mode and that is as big a shift as killing a deer in the woods and then having to cook it in the kitchen. the tools that you use to kill the deer are different than the ones you use to cook it and serve it. or at least they better be. we have folks that successfully campaigned but don't seem to have made the transition from the woods to the kitchen. in a campaign there is no compromise or negotiation. no recognitioning of the possibility that

dreier: mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 2693, to cut spending, maintain existing commitments and for other purposes, as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 2693, a bill to cut spending, maintain existing commitments and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts rise? >> parliamentary inquiry, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will suspend. the gentleman will suspend. the house will be in order. the house will be in order. the gentleman has the right to be heard. the gentleman from massachusetts will state his inquiry. mr. mcgovern: mr. speaker, is it true that a bill considered under suspension of the rules denies the minority party the right to offer any amendments or even a motion to recommit? the speaker pro tempore: a motion to suspend is not liable to amendment on the floor. mr. mcgovern: further parliamentary inquiry, meerks.

dreier: i wish to claim time in opposition to the moti to recommit. ms. back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california withdraws his reservation. mr. dreier: i haven't spoken yet and i appreciate the applause of my colleagues on the other side. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman withdraw his reservation? mr. dreier: i would like to withdraw and claim time in opposition to the motion to recommit. mr. speaker, this doesn't prioritize social security, it doesn't prioritize medicare, it doesn't prioritize veterans, doesn't propose one item that would cut spening. all it does is engage in class warfare and increase taxes. vote against the motion to recommit. >> the bill was approved by a vote of 218-210. the senate however has voted to block the bill. they will be working on their own version this weekend, which was offered by senate majority leader harry reid. both house and senate are expected in sessions throughout the weekend, working on a compromise bill. the obama administration says that the deadline is tues

. >> oh this is a dreier ammendment to the dreier bgill -- bill. i hope he will also afford us the opportunity. we have some students from princeton university who are doing internships on the hill, my alma mater, and across different parts of our federal government, and they are observing the sausage making process and learning about it. i will yield to the gentleman from massachusetts. >> they give for yielding. i guess my question is -- my >> can i welcome the students from princeton? >> let me just thank my friend, and my grandfather was a princeton alumnus, and i know there is a wonderful tradition there. it is a wonderful institution. i have had the opportunity to visit, and including mr. polis, many great friends who are alumni of princeton university, so welcome. i hope you all have your internship year, and i guess now that i have gone through all of that, i get to hear from mr. mcgovern. [applause] >> and one of them is in turning it in the office of a former -- is in turn -- interning at the abbas of a former -- at the office of a former

dreier, provided a structured amendment process with 25 additional amendments to be considered on the house floor. said another way, mr. speaker, the rules committee, under the leadership of david dreier, is willing to have in ourup stairs committee room members of congress come and testify with the understanding that their confidence in the process of this house of representatives, that they can bring forth their amendments, be heard by rules committee that can equally give republican and democrat sides the ideas that those members wish to bring before this body and that is what is happening with 25 amendments being made in order by the gentleman from california with the rules committee. today, i will discuss the background of the current national flood insurance program or nfip. and why a long-term re-authorization is important. what the underlying legislation does to the nfip and why reforms are necessary. the nfip was created in 1968 to address the nation's flood exposure and the need to alleviate taxpayers' responsibility for flood losses paid out in the form of post-disaster rel

dreier: i wish to claim time in opposition to the motion to recommit. ms.e balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california withdraws his reservation. mr. dreier: i haven't spoken yet and i appreciate the applause of my colleagues on the other side. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman withdraw his reservation? mr. dreier: i would like to withdraw and claim time in opposition to the motion to recommit. mr. speaker, this doesn't prioritize social security, it doesn't prioritize medicare, it doesn't prioritize veterans, doesn't propose one item that would cut spending. all it does is engage in class warfare and increase taxes. vote against the motion to recommit. >> they are working on a compromise bill. the deadline is tuesday, august 2. [unintelligible] live coverage begins on c-span. now this is about 15 minutes. the senator had to be excused to do to a family situation. her husband is here. tonight, a bipartisan vote in the senate -- we are seeing something that we have seen a lot. the country is dealing with a filibuster.

dreier: mr. speaker, in excuse me? village. [ automated voice speaks foreign language ] [ male announcer ] in here, everyone speaks the same language. ♪ in here, forklifts drive themselves. no, he doesn't have it. yeah, we'll look on that. [ male announcer ] in here, friends leave you messages written in the air. that's it right there. [ male announcer ] it's the at&t network. and what's possible in here is almost impossible to say. , to finance funding washington, >>> next, you will never guess what country owns pieces of the u.s. debt. stay with us next. ♪ the sky keeps on turning >>> i'm veronica de la cruz in the msnbc newsroom with breaking news. ongoing news with the soldier who has been plotting to attack fort hood personnel. we are looking agent live pictures here. police say that he was nabbed in a hotel room full of explosives after going awol in june. first class jason abdo admitted to planting an installation at the same place where the deadliest shoot on a u.s. military base has taken place. he had asked f

dreier has adopted. the vote on the balanced budget amendment is section 201 and 202 and there is a balanced budget amendment on the rules committee website. >> what's going to be debated in september and october, is that the section two that you're reading there? >> will the gentleman yield to me? >> i will yield to the gentleman from massachusetts. >> my understanding is the rule will allow for a balanced budget amendment to be brought up this week, right? >> if -- >> whoever has control of the time would yield to me. i don't know who's controlling the time. whoever has the time -- >> the rules committee webpage does what mr. polis is saying. if you give him an assurance that -- not supposed to believe that may or may not be the one on the floor. >> i'll give an explanation if someone yields. >> and if you will agree in principle to what mr. p pofment lis has -- mr. polis has said, that would satisfy everybody right now. >> i yield to the chair. >> i thank my friend for yielding. and we're not here dis

dreier: mr. sp >>> got a live look on the house floor.ected to overwhelmingly shoot this down in a symbolic vote. the senate also debating the reid bill. we'll have the latest developments and all of that in three. union handle more than 165 billion letters and packages a year. that's about 34 million pounds of mail every day. ever wonder what this costs you as a taxpayer? millions? tens of millions? hundreds of millions? not a single cent. the united states postal service doesn't run on your tax dollars. it's funded solely by stamps and postage. brought to you by the men and women of the american postal workers union. ♪

or places that are very dry will become even dreier, places wet especially on the coast will become white. so this is a sort of indication of things to come. the good news is that we do have a series of steps we can take and strategies that will help us negotiate this new environment. should we care to apply ourselves. unfortunately, as my pal john stewart said the other night, human nature we tend to wait for things to become a crisis before we do anything to which i said to him backstage with water we can wait for a crisis it is going to be too late. so, for my perspective, this week up call we are getting this year, right now it's something we ought to pay attention to and start having a very serious national discussion to water and our relationship to it. now, i came to the subject from way back as a kid i was always a obsessed with water and i loved to fish and swim and a boat. i was and oceanography minored in college, but the specific impetus for this book when i was working with julia child on her memoir my life in france and the apartment in san monaco we were having lunch togeth

so i commend chairman dreier for considering the record of fairness and openness in the formation of this particular rule. likewise i would also like to commend the chairman of the transportation and infrastructure committee, mr. mica, for bringing this bill forward. mr. speaker, i'm a co-sponsor of this legislation which seeks to restore just a little bit of balance between states and the federal government when it comes to implementation of clean water mandates. clean water act was originally intended by congress to restore and maintain the integrity of our nation's waters which is a noble goal. who can be opposed to that? we all support the idea of clean water in our nation, communities, but the clean water act was originally intended to be a partnership between the states and the federal government and allow the states to be authorized as the lead authority for water quality programs and permits. unfortunately the bill was written in a very careless and sloppy way. and so time has come when it can be reinterpreted as time goes on. it doesn't matter that the constitution does not

dreier: thank you very much, mr. speaker. last november we all know that there was an overwhelming message that was september by the american people to washington, d.c. and that message was, number one, create jobs. get our economy back on track and in so doing rein in the dramatic increase in the size and scope and reach of government that we witnessed in the past several years. we all know in the last four years we've had an 82% increase in nondefense discretionary spending, an 82% increase. so the message that was sent was, that has to come to an end. so speaker boehner, when asked by the president of the united states to move an increase in the debt ceiling, said that he was willing to do that. he recognized, as i believe an overwhelming majority of both democrats and republicans in this institution recognize, it is absolutely essential that we increase the debt ceiling. we've got to do everything that we can to ensure that social security checks get to those retirees. we have to make sure that the many other obligations

rules committee chairman david dreier said the change had strengthened the overall measure. >> this looming crisis is not the fundamental problem, we have a much longer term problem. the fed government spends more than it has. we don't have a debt ceiling problem, what we have is a debt problem. >> reporter: ohio republican >> i stuck my neck out a mile to try to get an agreement with the president of the united states. i stuck my neck out a mile. i put revenues on the table. in order to try to come to an agreement to avert us being where we are. but a lot of people in this town can never say yes. a lot of people can never say yes. this house has acted, and it is time for the administration and time for our colleagues across the aisle put something on the table! tell us where you are! >> reporter: democratic senator chuck schumer of new york said boehner's new plan was even worse than the original. >> it wouldn't just make a default likely, it will guarantee a default. so the boehner proposal says we won't default now, but we promise you we will default by january. it is an absurd, absurd p

dreier, is recognized for one minute. mr. dreier: i am going to ask my colleague california, mr. stark, to yield to me. would the gentleman yield to me? mr. stark: i'd be happy to yield. mr. dreier: i'd join with my republican colleagues across california and across the country in extending harty congratulations to our colleague, filling the great shoes -- they are not huge shoes, of course, but succeeding our good friend, jane harman, and i have to say, mr. speaker, that janice hahn comes from a family that has had a great, great, long tenure in public service. her father, kenneth hahn, served as a supervisor in the county of los angeles. a huge job. they represent about three times as many people as we, mr. speaker. her brother, of course, judge judd, has served as the mayor of the city of los angeles. i have to say that our new colleague has come here at certainly an extraordinary crucial time in our nation's history and will face many challenges ahead. i have to say that our thoughts and prayers go to a new colleague. not everyone knows that literally on the eve of the electi

we see there in the room, representative david dreier, he's the chairman of the committee. we are waiting for him to gavel in. they say and confirm that spending cuts in the revised bill are greater than the debt limit increase. which house republicans said they need in order for it to pass in the house. [inaudible conversations] [inau] [inaudible conversations] : [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> the rules committee will come to order. we are here for further consideration of s. 627 and the chair will be in receipt of the motion. >> mr. chairman i move the committee report the rule for essex 27 ek 20 laverne provides two hours of debate with one equally provided by the chair and ranking minority member. the committee will study minutes equally divided controlled by the chair and minority member of the committee of the ways and means, and 30 minutes equally divided by the chairman ranking minority member on the budget. all points of order against consideration of the bill. pri

accident there have been about 3,000 surprise bus inspections throughout new york state taking 304 dreiers and 238 buses off the road. but right now the accident that we saw this morning doesn't appear to be any mechanical failure, although they'll check. they are saying that tractor-trailer rear ended the bus. and meanwhile, congress has also held hearings in june to discuss more oversight and regulation of the tour bus industry. we hope they stay on it. bill: like we say, it's happened again. we're trying to track down the soldier, the one who reportedly save add lot of lives, pulling people out of that bus. if we get in touch with him, you'll hear from him and his story as that fireball lights up the dead of night near waterloo, new york. patti ann: yeah. and as jamie just said, this is the latest deadly accident involving tour buses over the past few months. the most recent, last month, when a charter bus slammed into a flatbed tractor-trailer in pennsylvania. that accident killed the driver and injured 26. before that on may 31st, the driver of a new york-bound bus fell asleep at the

dreier: i haven't spen yet and i appreciate the applause of my colleagues on the other side. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman withdraw his reservation? mr. dreier: i would like to withdraw and claim time in opposition to the motion to recommit. mr. speaker, this doesn't prioritize social security, it doesn't prioritize medicare, it doesn't prioritize veterans, doesn't propose one item that would cut spending. all it does is engage in class warfare and increase taxes. vote against the motion to recommit. quorum call be lifted. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. hutchison: mr. president, i rise today to speak about the looming august 2 deadline for raising the debt ceiling and making reforms or budget cuts at least that would allow us to show that we are not going to have business as usual in washington but that we are going to raise the debt ceiling with the reforms that are necessary. despite the differences in this body, we are all here to share three concerns. first, we do know at this point, because of the time that it has taken us to cobble together

dreier: i spend to the desk a privileged report from the committee of rules for filing under the rule. the clerk: report to accompany house resolution 375, resolution providing for consideration of the bill senate 627 to establish the commission on freedom of information act, process and delays and information other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: referred to the house and ordered printed. the chair declares the house in the committee of the whole house for further consideration of h.r. 2584. will the gentleman from minnesota, mr. paulsen, kindly resume the chair. the chair: the house is in the committee of the whole house of the state of the union for the further consideration of h.r. 2584. the clerk: a bill making appropriations for the department of the interior, environment and related agencies for the fiscal year ending september 30, 2012 and for other purposes. the chair: when the committee of the whole rose earlier today, an amendment offered by the gentleman from michigan, mr. walberg is pending. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york rise? ms. slaughter: mr. s

the chairman of the rules committee, the gentleman, david dreier from california, has issued more open rules in the last month in congress has seen over the last two congresses. or for a total of four years combined. additionally, in the 111th congress under the leadership of nancy pelosi and the chairman of the rules committee at the time, louise slaughter, 26 same-day rules were reported out of the rules committee and the previous congress, the 110th congress, under the same leadership, 17 same-day rules. were reported out by the rules committee. in comparison, the process regarding these rules in this congress is a far cry from the previous democrat leadership unorthodox and unprecedented closed processes. i rise today in support of this rule. this rule is essentially to allow the house of representatives the flexibility it needs to ensure the safety and soundness of our country's economic future. over the past four years we have seen record debt and deficits which has brought us to the crossroads that we face with a looming august 2 deadline for raising the debt ceiling. americans

committee takes great pride in its degree of openness and under the leadership of chairman david dreier and our speaker, john boehner, we have tried to accommodate this request. this rule contains -- continues the record of accomplishing, making in order 11 out of 14 amendments committed to the rules committee. of the three amendments not made in order, one was withdrawn by the sponsor, one was not germane to the bill, and one was duplicative of another amendment submitted. so i would like to also note that for the record that the bill being considered today and every bill included in the rules committee print that went through this -- that is included in this rule went through regular order. the financial services committee held hearings, a subcommittee markup, and full committee markup of the bill. madam speaker, i see where my friends are trying to make a point of order that simply does not exist. in order to allow the house to continue its scheduled business for the day, i urge members to vote yes on the question of consideration of the resolution. the speaker pro tempore: the gentl

additionally, the chairman of the rules committee, the gentleman from, david dreier, has once again provided members of this body with a rules committee vote to ensure that we have transparency and accountable structure under the rule which we are discussing today. allowing members from both sides of the aisle this opportunity to offer amendments and to join in the debate of the underlying legislation. today marks the first anniversary that president obama signed into law the 1,300-page unprecedent federal overhaul of the financial services industry. the frank-dodd wall street reform act. i had the opportunity to discuss this bill today and also i did last congress and we spoke at that time about its overarching reforms that were being made in that legislation. additionally, i will discuss why and how it is bad for our current economy and what the republican underlying bill will do to protect consumers, ensure credit, and allow for economic growth. last year i stood before this body to state that our friends on the other side of the aisle, they were once again allowing the government to over

dreier, for continuing the record of fairness and openness in the formulation of this rule which is in the contrast to some rules that we have had in past years. madam speaker, -- mr. speaker, h.r. 2584 provides $27.5 billion overall for programs within the department of interior and the forest service, environmental protection agency, the indian health service, and other agencies. but it is a bill that strikes a fiscally responsible balance between providing funds for ongoing federal programs while also saving the taxpayers 7% over last year's enacted levels. puts us back roughly to the 2009 levels. there are some who claim there are certain programs that have been hurt heavily. it is true. for example, that the environmental protection agency has an 18% reduction in funding in this bill. please remember, though, that this was made possible simply because of unprecedentedly high record appropriations for e.p.o. in 2009 of which $3 billion still remains unobligated. in an era when 42 or 44 cents of every dollar we spend goings for interest, it makes no -- goes for interest, it makes no