mr. speaker, mr. speaker, -- [shouting] i think, i think our sympathy is with the deputy prime minister. his partner goes on a business trip. he is left waiting by the phone and he hears nothing until a rousing phone call at 4 a.m. confessing for the terrible mistakes. now, now let me ask you. how is he going to pick up the pieces? how will he pick up the pieces of the pat hickey delivered for britain? the council came to conclusion on friday morning that the treaty will not be signed into march. in the cold light of day with other countries, with other countries -- spent some very, very foolish persons shouted out stop. the person who did that will stop because people in this place must be heard. is there a member here who doesn't think so, i invite that member to leave the chamber. mr. ed miliband. >> in the cold light of day, in the weeks and months ahead trying to see if they can get a better deal for themselves, isn't that sensible thing for him to do, to reenter the negotiation and try and get a

mr. speaker. mr. speaker. mr. speaker. mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to speak out of order -- the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the house will be in order. mr. hoyer: mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from maryland. mr. hoyer: i thank the gentleman. mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to speak out of order for one minute for the purposes of inquiring of what the schedule will be as we go forward. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. hoyer: thank you. >> mr. speaker, i'd like to reserve the right to object. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady reserves the right to object. the gentlewoman from west virginia is recognized on her reservation. mrs. capito: i just want to get a chance to react. the gentleman may proceed. i withdraw my reservation. the speaker pro tempore: the reservation is withdrawn. the gentleman from maryland. mr. hoyer: i thank the gentlelady for withdrawing her reservation. i have just been handed -- it may have been sent out earlier but a

mr. speaker. i thank my colleague from south carolina for handling the rule and for yielding two minutes. and i want to say first off that we should all vote for this rule. and we should vote for the resolution that's going to come up later. i want to point out to my colleagues again that you are entitled to your opinion but you are not entitled to rewrite history. the house passed a bill last week, a bipartisan bill. there's been so much touting of the senate bipartisan bill, but not one mention of the fact that -- by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that we passed a bipartisan bill last week which did exactly what the president, ms. pelosi, mr. hoyer, all rose in charge of the democrat party said they wanted a one-year extension of the policy passed last year. we passed -- it also stopped raises for congress and federal employees an cut spending. what our colleagues on the other side of the aisle cannot do and what the president seems incapable of doing is cutting federal spending. w

mr. speaker. with that i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from maryland, mr. ruppersberger. mr. ruppersberger: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. ruppersberger: i rise today in favor of the intelligence authorization act of f.y. 2012. when chairman rogers and i took over leadership of the house permanent select committee on intelligence, we made a commitment to work together to ensure the intelligence community has the authorities it needs to effectively protect america. this intelligence authorization bill achieves this purpose. it gives our intelligence professionals critical resources, capabilities, and authorities. we passed f.y. 2011 earlier this year and now we can see the finish line for f.y. 2012. for five years there was -- were there no intelligence bills there was a gap in oversight. when this bill is signed into law, it will be the third

mr. pascrell. the speaker pro tempore: the chair would remind all members to direct his or her comments to the chair and the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for two minutes. mr. pascrell: thank you, mr. speaker. i want to commend mr. camp and mr. levin for working hard on these issues. i think they do try to put the country before the party. but this bill is terrible. it is terrible. the holidays must havely for the majority. what we have here is a serious proposal, it's a stocking stuffed to the brim with ideology. and i thought we could put that aside and put the country first. more important than parties, more important than idea ol. i adeprow with you, let's weed out those people who literally are crooks and try to steal from the public trouf and take advantage of unemployment. when i went to an unemployment office yesterday, i went in my area, my district, major city, paterson, i went to the unemployment center, i looked through all those folks that were waiting online and working and looking and

mr. speaker, mr. speaker, -- [shouting] i think, i think our sympathy is with the deputy prime minister. his partner goes on a business trip. he is left waiting by the phone and he hears nothing until a rousing phone call at 4 a.m. confessing for the terrible mistakes. now, now let me ask you. how is he going to pick up the pieces? how will he pick up the pieces of the pat hickey delivered for britain? the council came to conclusion on friday morning that the treaty will not be signed into march. in the cold light of day with other countries, with other countries -- spent some very, very foolish persons shouted out stop. the person who did that will stop because people in this place must be heard. is there a member here who doesn't think so, i invite that member to leave the chamber. mr. ed miliband. >> in the cold light of day, in the weeks and months ahead trying to see if they can get a better deal for themselves, isn't that sensible thing for him to do, to reenter the negotiation and try and get a

mr. speaker, i ank the chairman for yielding. he hasn't enjoyed an easy task, but he has done a tremendous job in bringing us to this point today so thank you very much, mr. chairman. i also want to express my appreciation to ranking member serrano and laura on their staff. they have be terrific to work with. even though we didn't agree on something we still had dialogue. they were terrific. our own staff on the subcommittee, ery ablely led by john martin and winnie kelly, ariana and karen have done a tremendous job. there are a lot of reasons to be happy about ts bill and to vote for it. from the perspective of the financial services subcommittee , the bill reduces this portion of the president's budget request by $4.2 billion. compared to 2010, discretionary funding in this bill is reduced by 11%. we're heeding the american people's call for a more limited, more responsible government. the bill prohibits funds for certain white house czars, rescinds $25 million from a mandatory slush fund at the securities and exchange commissi

mr. speaker. mr. speaker, before we adjourn for the year, there are a number of important items we must address. the most pressing is the expiration of unemployment benefits at the end of december. should congress fail to act, millions of americans who rely on emergency unemployment compensation will begin to see their payments disappear starting in january. 2.1 million of our fellow americans will have lost their benefits by the middle of february, and over six million by the end of 2012. however, we have the power to prevent that from happening by extending those benefits. these emergency benefits were put in place the start of the recession, in december of 2007, and with so many americans still out of work, now is certainly not the time to let them come to an end. the number one challenge we must address in the congress remains job creation. americans out of work have been doing their part to find jobs. congress must do its part as well. some republicans have unfairly and incorrectly blame those tha

mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i rise today to pay tribute to a great friend and a remarkable kentuckyian, ms. phyllis causey. in january, after 39 years of honorable and selfless public service she will retire. her high school yearbook in 1968 contained a prophecy saying, phyllis will be in president nixon's cabinet in 10 years. although president nixon resigned while she was in basic training for the army verve nf 1974 and she never did make it to the white house, lucky for us she still decided to follow her passion for politics and public service. phyllis graduated from hopkinsville community college in 1970 and received a bachelors degree from western kentucky university in 1972. she worked for w.k.u. for the following 23 years. in 1995 she was hired as a field representative for congressman ron lewis. when i was elected to replace congressman lewis upon his retirement, phyllis was kind enough to continue to work for me. while traveling as a candidate for congress i met so many individuals whose first q

mr. speaker. thank you, mr. chairman. my friend from ohio came down and said, you know, what we need, what america needs is jobs, and so that's the important aspect of bringing the keystone x.l. pipeline in this debate. don't listen to me. listen to my friends in organized labor. brent brooker, director of construction department of labors international union of north america said in testimony, for many members of the labor, this project is not just a pipeline, it's a lifeline. david barnett, united association of journeymen and apprentices said, the fact of the matter is keystone x.l. would be the most environmentally safe pipeline anywhere in america. and jeffrey soft, international labor union of engineering said, without the keystone x.l., crude oil, the fastest growing oilfield in the united states, will continue to move out of the region in the most dangerous, most expensive way possible, by tanker truck. folks, this is about jobs. we're fortunate to be able to place this in this bill. 20,000 immediate jobs, 110,000

mr. speaker. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and in addition to my duties in this house i shall further such meetings later today. >> mr. speaker, the british people want to see two things from this week's european summit. firstly, a resolute and uncompromising defense of britain's national interest, and secondly and into the disastrous bureau crisis currently depart -- party opposite still wants to join. will the prime minister to britain proud on friday and show some spirit in brussels? >> i can guarantee -- [inaudible conversations] >> we have a problem with our live coverage. we're working on an plan to return to the event shortly. >> we have fixed the problem and never turn your life life program. >> the opportunity of treaty change would mean in the future the repatriation of power. that was six weeks ago. today he writes an article in the times about it, not one mention of the phrase repatriation of the power. why does the punisher think it's in the natio

mr. speaker. mr. hastings: mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 443 as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: union calendar number 216, h.r. 443, a bill to provide for the conveyance of certain property from the united states to the maniilaq association located in kotzebue, alaska. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from washington, mr. hastings, and the gentleman from the northern mariana islands, mr. sablan, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from washington. mr. hastings: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. do you propose to pass the bill as amended? mr. hastings: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five -- the speaker pro tempore: without objection, s

mr. speaker. and i'm pleased to yield two minutes to someone who has provided a major contribution to this legislation that is now before the house, the gentleman from florida, mr. deutch. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. deutch: thank you to the ranking member and my friend mr. berman for the legislation before us today will give the united states the tools to impose the most stringent, the most crippling sanctions aimed at cracking down on what is the greatest threat to international security, a nuclear-armed iran. it builds on the significant steps this congress took along with our partners in the e.u. and united nations last year to dramatically ratchet up pressure on the iranian regime to thwart its quest for nuclear weapons. the bill comes on the heels of the iaea report that confirms what we know, the iranian regime is pursuing nuclear weapons and comes on the heels of the foiled iranian assassination plot and the attack on the british embassy and com

mr. speaker. but that's not the advice and counsel that my colleague from wisconsin gives. the advice and counsel that my colleague from wisconsin gives is, we've done the very best we can in this chamber. work product that we're proud of. and now it's time, since the senate has passed a very different work product, candidly a work product i'm not proud of, a very different work product, that we now come together, the house product an the senate product, and try to agree on a final product that can pass both houses. this is a process as old as this institution. as old as this institution. thomas jefferson, when writing the rules for this institution, mr. speaker, wrote of the conference committee process and how that is a tool for resolving differences between the bodies. now why are there differences twood? -- today? there are differences because this isn't some renaming of a post office. aisle not trying to denigrate the importance of a good name on a post office but i put that lower on the prior

mr. speaker. mr. speaker, for many american families they will only be able to celebrate this holiday if they forget about the burdens of their daily lives. some are about to lose their jobs, others are about to close their businesses for the last time. some are worried they can't pay for their health care. others are worried they are next in the layoff line. this congress has an opportunity on this day to address those problems. yesterday the house took action on a bill that, frankly, isn't going to go anywhere to address these problems. and today's the day we ought to enact a bill that will. on january 1 everyone who earns wages in this country is facing a tax increase if this congress doesn't act. $1,000 a year tax increase on the middle class. we should suspend that tax increase today. many people will lose their unemployment benefits, they'll have no income, no check, and to those who say, well, they should go find a job, you should walk in the shoes of those who are in that predicament because he

mr. speaker. so i yield. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from pennsylvania. mr. pitts: mr. speaker, i have no other speakers. this is good, bipartisan legislation. i'd like to thank mr. pallone, mr. green, mr. waxman, along with our side of the aisle, for developing and helping move this bipartisan legislation. i urge my colleagues to support and yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from new jersey. mr. pallone: i have no additional speakers. i would yield back and urge support for this legislation. it's truly bipartisan basis. thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman yield back? mr. pallone: yes, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 2405 as amended. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the speake

mr. speaker. mr. hoyer: i will assure the majority leader that we will maintain our flexibility on schedule and yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from maryland yields back. for what reason does the gentleman from virginia rise? are there any requests for one-minute speeches? the chair lays before the house the following personal request. the clerk: leaves of absence requested for mrs. emerson of missouri for today. mr. schilling of illinois for today. and mr. sessions of texas for today. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the requests are granted. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia rise? >> i ask the house meet at monday next at noon for morning hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. under the speaker's announced policy of january 5, 2011, the gentleman from georgia, mr. woodall, is recognized for 60 minutes as the digs egg knee -- designee for the

mr. speaker. i yield two minutes to the distinguished chairman of the health subcommittee, the gentleman from california, mr. herger. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california is recognized for two minutes. mr. herger: mr. speaker, taxpayers, small businesses, and health care providers need certainty and predictibility to plan for the future. unfortunately the bill that's come back to us from the other chamber makes our usual habit of only one year-long extensions look responsible by comparison. the senate bill extends a number of key policies, including the pact preventing a steep cut to doctors' medicare payment for just two months. mr. speaker, we have been down this road before. last year under the previous majority congress passed five separate extensions of medicare physician payment, mostly for just a month or two. several times the deadline meaning payment cuts tookt effect and had to be reversed. the failure to responsibly address the s.g.r. created an unprecedented amount of

mr. speaker, mr. speaker. >> order! >> i say to people who are engaged in orchestrated barricades, for whichever side -- very tedious and juvenile and the public to not wanted and needed to our. as the prime minister will be heard. that is all there is to it. >> they declared negotiations at the end four weeks ago. they made their final offer. they said they would make the final offer. they haven't even met the union for four weeks. and what has the prime minister gone around saying to people? he is privately delighted the unions have walked into his trap. that is the reality. he has been spoiling for this fight. and the reason people have lost faith, he is not being straight with people. will he admit that 800,000 low-paid workers on $15,000 a year or less are facing an immediate tax hike of 3% on the pension plan? >> i know his entire party is paid for by the unions but i say it is extraordinary that what he has just told the house is completely and utterly untrue. the fact is there were meetings with the trade unions

mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i was appalled and outraged to learn yesterday that the genocidal government of khartoum has hired a lobbyist to represent his interest here in washington. a publication called african intelligence reported that the sued niece lobby -- sudanese lobbyist was on retainer. the article further said that the law office of bart fischer would be paid $20 million a month to represent this genocidal government, a government which literally has blood on its hands. i submit the article for the record. i don't know how mr. fischer sleeps at night. consider the following -- sudan's president, bashir, is an internationally indicted war criminal. he's accused by the international criminal court of five counts including murder, rape, torture and extermination and two counts of war crimes. but khartoum's crimes are not a thing of the past. in a recent hearing before the tom lantos human rights commission, a witness with the n.g.o.'s human rights brought testimony about the situation on the gro

mr. speaker. to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, it's not $1,000 payroll tax reduction just as was quoted by my colleague who just spoke. the senate bill is two months. it's $160. so let's be clear and honest with the american people. what we are talking about here in the house of representatives on our side of the aisle today is that we want to do our work. yes, we want to be with our families for christmas. and we want to be home ringing in the new year with our family and friends, but you know what? the american people deserve better. we are willing to stay here and do the work. not do band-aid type of policy. tax policy on a two-month basis? are you kidding me? that is ridiculous. we need long-term solutions to our problems in america. we need to put the political bickering aside. two months is not a solution. it's dodging responsibility in the senate. . we stand and rise to support today. and it is a vote. we will have a vote to reject the senate position with this amendment and i

mr. speaker, can i ask the prime mr. if he came into politics to -- 3-quarters of a million civil workers most of whom are women and most of whom have families. >> i can into politics to try to improve the welfare of people in our country. the fact is at the end of this public sector pension report those people working in the public sector will have farther pensions that most people in the private sector who are contributing that money to them. i know your paid to ask questions. you are not paid to wave as well. that is the point. and will calm down. you give the money back to the union than by will come down. >> will my right hon. friend join me in condemning the outrageous attack on our embassy in tehran yesterday and also join me in paying tribute to those serving in such difficult environments with such distinction. >> i certainly join my hon. friend in doing that and i am sure the whole house would join me in praising the incredible devotion of our diplomatic service who often face great danger as they did yesterday

mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from maryland. mr. cummings: 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 speaker pro tempore: pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on the question will be postponed. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 2845, the pipeline safety, regulatory certainty and job creation act of 2011. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: union calendar number 197, h.r. 2845, a bill to amend title 49, united states code, to provide for enhanced safety and environmental protection in pipeline transportation, to provide for enhanced reliability in the transportation of the nation's energy products by pipeline, and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. shuster, and the gentleman from washington, mr.

mr. hoyer. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from maryland, the distinguished whip is recognized for three minutes. mr. hoyer: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend. i thank the gentleman for yielding. first of all, we ought to be talking about jobs. the contention that this bill funds bills that are about jobs is spurious in my opinion and no economist, in my opinion, will assert that that is a fact. we ought to be dealing with jobs. but what are we dealing with? i know of what i speak. i tell the gentleman from georgia, i understand, as a member of the house administration committee for, i think, 15 years, i, along with bob ney, was sponsor of the help america vote act which created the election assistance commission. i know something about the election assistance commission. it was created by -- because in the year 2000 we had a disastrous election which was resolved, finally, but not very acceptably by most people. whether your candidate won or lost. so the assistance commission was created

mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for one minute. >> it is outrageous the house republicans will not allow the senate bill to come up today that will extend the payroll tax cut, that would also provide unemployment benefits for so many million americans that are out of work, and also allow seniors to have their medicaid reimbursement paid to their doctors so the doctors will accept medicare. mr. pallone: i cannot believe that at the end of the year now is this a christmas present? is this the new year's gift we are going to give to the american people that their taxes are going to be raised? that they are not going to be able to have unemployment insurance if they are unemployed? what does this mean for the economy, mr. speaker? do the house republicans want to send a message to the president right now when the economy is actually starting to improve slightly? this could easily send us back and make the economy go back into a tailsp

mr. speaker.ke a >> with permission, mr. speakero i would like to begin statements on last week's european council. >> order. the house must call itselfpose taking what is required for the purpose of the statement mustim and will be heard. bssels the prime minister. >> mr. speaker, i went too prott brussels with one objective tona protect britain's b5 national interest and that is what i did. let me refer back to what i sai to the house last wednesday. i made it clear that if the eurozone countries wanted the treaty involving all 27 members of the european union, we woulds insist on some safeguards for britain to protect our own national interests. some thought that the safeguards i was asking for were relatively modest. nevertheless, satisfactory safeguards were not forthcoming, and so i did not agree to the treaty. mr. speaker, let me be clear about exactly what happened, what it means for britain, and what i see happening next. >> [inaudible] >> mr. speaker -- >> order. i apologize for interrup

mr. speaker? the chair: the gentleman has 1 1/2 minutes. mr. green: i would engage in a colloquy with my friend. i would yield to you to -- mr. gardner: thank you very much for the time and consideration. again, we did adopt an amendment that does take a look at the regulation before it's offered. mr. green: if i may reclaim time. before. you see, comburecal evidence under the scientific -- imperical evidence under the scientific method is best required after you have the evidence. you utilize speculation to come to a conclusion and then call that a fact. this would eliminate speculation. i would yield back. mr. gardner: thank you. i know if i stub my toe it will hurt before i do it. we ought to check out whether or not it will cost jobs before i do it. mr. green: reclaiming my time. the question is will you'll actually have the opportunity to hurt your toe, as you put it. there is no need to avoid things that don't exist. let us get the actual imperical, raw evidence to use that in order to draw

the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. andrews: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, the members of the house who listen to the voices have been raised about the jobs crisis in our country. these voices are speaking loud and clear. we should also listen to the quiet voices of desperation of so many americans who will sit down this friday night to try to pay their bills and find they have 70 cents' worth of income for every $1 of blills. or the americans who retired a few years ago and thought they were set for the rest of their lives but are now looking at the want ads every day because they think they have to get a job to continue to pay their bills and retirement. or the quiet anxious voices of small business owners that are thinking that maybe this friday will be the last friday they keep their business open and they shut for good. these are the voices that should be heard in this country and they are not being heard by this majority. 89 days ago the president of the united states came to this chamber and proposed four good ideas to put americans back to wo

mr. speaker, i have a motion to recommit at the desk. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewomanp opposed to the bill? ms. sanchez: i'm opposed to the bill. mr. speaker, the chamber is not in order. the speaker pro tempore: the house is not in order. members will kindly take their seats. they will clear the well, take their conversations off the floor. those in the aisles will kindly take their seats and conversations are taken off the floor. members will kindly cease their conversations on the floor. the clerk will read. the clerk: ms. sanchez of california moves to recommit the bill to the committee on the judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the house forthwith with the following amendments. at the end of the bill, the following, section, protecting incentives for small businesses to hire veterans. this act and the amendments made by this act shall not apply to rule makingses or revisions to rules if such are for purposes of providing incentives to small businesses as such term is defined in chapter 6, title 5, united s

mr. speaker. mr. speaker, u.s. attorney general eric holder must resign immediately. after months of evading tough questions and giving unclear answers about operation fast and furious, it now appears justice department's top official has contradicted his own testimony given before congress. under operation fast and furious, the bureau of tobacco, alcohol and firearms allowed straw purchasers to buy at least 1,400 weapons despite the fact it knew that these weapons would likely end up in the hands of violent mexican drug cartels. the a.t.f. lost track of the guns after they were sold to criminals. since then many have been used in crimes across both sides of the border, including a border patrol agent in arizona and an embassy officer in mexico city. why did the attorney general allow for a transfer of guns across the border without working in conjunction with mexican authorities? when he knew the a.t.f. was unable to trace them? that's a very important question that must be answered. this botched prog

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. pitts: mr. speaker, h.r.

mr. speaker, i'd like to yield now to the gentleman from maine, mr. michaud. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from maine is recognized for one minute. mr. michaud: i thank the gentleman for yielding. mr. speaker, i rise today as a co-sponsor and a strong supporter of this bill, the spread of synthetic drugs like bath salts have quickly reached crisis level in many communities throughout our country. this year in maine the bangor police department has responded to hundreds of bath salts-related incidents. in october i organized a meeting of local, county, state and federal law enforcement officials to discuss the spread of bath salts in our states. the message they shared with me is clear and the message they shared with the deputy director was clear, we need to give our law enforcement officers more tools to combat this epidemic. a national law will build upon that good work and help make -- make this a bigger impact all across the country. so i urge my colleagues to support the synthetic drug act, and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro

mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognition? >> pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, i demand a vote on the speaker's approval of the journal. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on agreeing to the speaker's approval of the journal. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. the journal stands approved. mr. clyburn: i request the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays are requested. those favoring a vote by the yeas and nays will please rise. a sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question are postpone. the pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from south carolina, mr. clyburn. mr. clyburn: i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: the chair la

mr. speaker. mr. speaker, our third american president, john adams, once said facts are stubborn things and whatever may be our wishes or dictates of our passions they cannot alter the states of facts. mr. speaker, the facts are that the health care reform law is working for millions of young adults all across this country. yesterday the department of health and human services released figures that showed that 2.5 million young americans up to age 26 are now covered because of the affordable care act's provision that allows age 26 coverage for families. private and public employers all across america now provide this benefit alt a cost of only on average 1% to to health care costs. this is a plan which is working. two days ago -- last week figures came out that showed that 2.7 million seniors are now getting relief from prescription drug costs. $1.5 billion in reduced prescription drug costs because the affordable care act is closing the doughnut hole. facts are stubborn things and the facts show that

mr. speaker. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others and in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further such meetings later today. >> andrew rosendale. >> the british people want to see two things from this week's european summit. firstly a resolute and uncompromising defense of britain's national interest. . >> we must seek safeguards for britain. i guarantee that as long as i am here, there is no prospect of joining the euro. >> mr. speaker, 66, the prime minister said, the idea that some treaty change in the future might give us an opportunity to repatriate power back to britain. what powers will he be are doing to repatriate? -- arguing to repatriate? >> but he explained. -- let me explain. we are all interested to hear the answer. we will have a key aim of helping to resolve the eurozone crisis and we believe that means, european eurozone countries coming together and doing more things together. if they choose to do that through a treaty that we are in

mr. polis: madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from colorado. mr. polis: on that i request a recorded vote. the speaker pro tempore: a recorded vote is requested. those favoring a recorded vote will rise. a sufficient number having arisen, a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this will be a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.] the speaker pro tempore: on this vote the yeas are 249, the nays are 161. the resolution is adopted. without objection a motion to reskr laid on the table -- reconsider is laid on the table. the unfished business is the question on suspending the rules, h.r. 1254 as amended. the clerk: union calendar number 196, h.r. 1254, a bill to amend the controlled substances act. the speaker pro tempore: the question i

mr. speaker. i rise in opposition to h.r. 3659. this bill was drafted, it was taken out of 360-page tax extendsers bill and -- extenders bill and essentially the authors of this bill have brought it up so that they could just have another kick at poor people. one of the -- the bill sort of suggests that people who are poor are very low moral character and they can't be trusted to use their e.b.t. cards in liquor stores or casinos. so therefore we need to make some restrictions on how they can use e.b.t. cards. but before we start kicking poor people yet another time, i just want to remind people of data that was just released today to indicate that one half of all americans are poor. and they find themselves eligible for benefits under this electronic benefit transfer card. earlier this week congressman john lewis and i attempted to strike this language from the bill with no success. the provision that blocks e.b.t. cards from being used in liquor stores, casinos, and strip clubs doesn't consider a

mr. speaker. with permission, mr. speaker, i would like to make a statement on last week's european council. [inaudible conversations] >> order. the house must calm itself. taking whatever medication required for the purpose and the prime minister's statement must and will be heard. the prime minister. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i went to brussels with one objective; to protect britain's national interests, and that is what i did. let me, let me refer back, let me refer back to what i said to this house last wednesday. i made it clear that if euro zone countries wanted a treaty involving all 27 members of the european union, we would incest on some safe -- insist on some safeguards for britain to protect our own national interests. some thought that the safeguards i was asking for were relatively modest. nevertheless, satisfactory safeguards were not forthcoming, and so i did not agree to the treaty. mr. speaker, let me be clear about exactly what happened, what it means for britain, and what i see happening next. >> [

mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. cravaack: thank you, sir. mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. today, i rise in support of senate amendment to h.r. 1801. h.r. 1801 represents a bipartisan, bicameral effort in honor of our armed forces by going to a screening process for all u.s. soldiers at our nation's airports. shortly after the house passed h.r. 1801 by a vote of 404-0, the senate, with support of kay bailey richardson and senator rook feller amended it. i have had time to review the amendment. it establishes the expedited screening process and clarifies that the t.s.a. at manufacture retains the authority to require additional screening for a member of the armed forces should intelligence or law enforcement information raise any concerns. in addition, the senate ame

mr. speaker. i join with the speaker in saying that we want to be out of here by the 16th. and it all depend on whether we get the work done. so, it is not our desire to be here week running up to christmas, and i would say to the gentlemen that it is my hope that we can finish our business by the week of the 12th. >> i want to tell my friend that there is overwhelming bipartisan unanimity on the gentleman's hope. for purposes of my members, i would say i would hope that our members would take the flexibility beyond the week ending on the 16th and make sure at least on the 19th and 20th and 21st they're flexible as well. none of us want to be meeting that week. we have a lot of work to do, as the gentleman knows. the gentleman announced we may go to conference next week on the milcon bill -- do you anticipate other bills being added in that conference? we all know there are nine appropriation bills which still remain unpassed, a number of which have not passed the senate, some of which have not pas

mr. hoyer. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from maryland, the distinguished whip is recognized for three mutes. mr. hoyer: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend. i thank the gentleman for yielding. first of all, we ought to be talking about jobs. the contention that this bill funds bills that are about jobs is spurious in my opinion and no economist, in my opinion, will assert that that is a fact. we ought to be dealing with jobs. but what are we dealing with? i know of what i speak. i tell the gentleman from georgia, i understand, as a member of the house administration committee for, i think, 15 years, i, along with bob ney, was sponsor of the help america vote act which created the election assistance commission. i know something about the election assistance commission. it was created by -- becau in the year 2000 we had a disastrous election which was resolved, finally, but not very acceptably by most people. whether your candidate won or lost. so the assistance commission was created for

mr. speaker, i yield four minutes to mr. harper, distinguished chairman of the subcommittee on elections for the committee on house administration. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from mississippi for four minutes. mr. harper: i thank the gentleman for yielding. i rise today in support of h.res. 4 7, providing for -- 497, providing for the placement of a statue or bust of sir winston churchill in the united states capitol. mr. speaker, much has been said and writ been winston churchill -- writ been winston churchill -- written about winston churchill. he served as prime minister of the united kingdom and again from 1951 through 1955. but he was so much more. during the 20th century's darkest hour, winston churchill warned of the approaching evil, stood tall when it arrived and inspired his citizens and ours and liberty-loving people around the world to fight, to persevere and to never surrender before victory was assured. he knew that the long road of our humanity-affirming progress would not end and could not end and

mr. speaker -- mr. speaker -- [inaudible conversations] i think, i think as sympathy is for the deputy prime minister. his partner goes on a business trip, he's left waiting by the phone, and hears nothing until a rambling phone call at 4 a.m. confessing to a terrible mistake. now, let me ask him, how's he going to pick up the pieces? how's he going to pick up the pieces of the bad deal he delivered for britain? the council came to conclusion friday morning that the treaty is not going to be signed until march. in the cold light of day with other countries -- with other countries, some very, very foolish person shouted out stop. the person who did that will stop because people in this place must be heard. this -- if there's a member here who doesn't think so, i invite that person to leave the chamber. >> with other countries spending the weeks and mornts ahead to see if they can get a better deal for themselves is not a sensible thing for him to do to reenter the negotiation and try to get a better deal

mr. chairman, we have no other speakers. we'll continue to -- mr. hastings: i have no other speakers. if the gentleman will yield back we will. mr. lujan: i yield back the balance of my time. mr. hastings: i yield back my time and urge adoption of the bill. the speaker pro tempore: the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 2360. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. . mr. lujan: i object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present. the speaker pro tempore: further proceedings on this question will be postponed. for what purpose does the gentleman from washington rise? mr. hastings: i move to suspend 9 rules and pass h.r. 2351 the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: union calendar number 305, a bill to direct the secretary of the interior to continue stocking fish in certain lakes in the north cascades national park and national

the speaker pro tempore: any objection -- mr. mckeyon: i reserve a point of order and right to object. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the right to object. and the gentleman now is recognized on his reservation. mr. mckeon: i understand that i did that once myself. yield back my time inadvertently. with that i would be happy to see she has the balance of her time to close. the speaker pro tempore: the reservation is withdrawn. and without objection, the gentlelady from massachusetts is recognized. ms. tsongas: i thank the chairman. it has been my honor and pleasure to work on a bipartisan fashion on this legislation that seeks to address the great challenge of military sexual trauma. i think that we have incorporated into the house version of the bill some very significant reforms that will help to protect victims. unfortunate victims of this great affront to young people serving in our military. will seek to better protect them as they seek to bring to justice the perpetrators. will better train those who are put

mr. speaker. they don't like to hear this when their own policies -- please calm down. >> what i simply say to everyone, if he wants to give a brief answer -- let's hear this. >> let me just explain what the international monetary fund said. this is the truth of it. if you want the stimulus that they are giving the economy with low interest rates, you have to stick to the plans they have set out. there is not a party in europe -- >> everything he is talking about is stimulus. he is coming too far and too fast. because it does not want to tell us what they say about his plan. he is the prime minister. the new tax and benefit measures -- they are, on average, a take away from the lower-income families with children. these changes are hitting women twice as hard as man. is it the truth that he is the first prime minister in modern times to place of the women and children first. the sound bites get weaker and weaker as his leadership gets weaker and weaker. if you look at what we have done, listing 1.

mr. speaker, this is a good bill. eprioritizes our spending away from wasteful programs that don't work toward things that are truly important for the american people. i urge its passage. i thank myriends. mr. dicks: will the gentleman yield? mr. cole: i certainly yield to my friend. mr. dicks: i certainly commend the gentleman for hiwork in support of indian country, both the indian health service, the b.i.a. you have been a tiless advocate. our subcommittee on interior has had bipartisan work on this issue, and i coend you for your strong leadership on that. mr. cole: i thank the chairman, the gentleman, very much and appreciate that and with that i yield back urging passage of the bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from washington. mr. dicks: i yield 3 1/2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from connecticut, the ranng member of the labor , health and human services subcommitteecongresswoman rosa delauro. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized for 3 1/2 minut

mr. speaker. >> thank you mr. speaker.this meeting i had meetings with colleagues and others and in addition i shall have meetings later today. >> mr. speaker the british people want to do two things from this week's european summit. firstly a resolute and uncompromising defense of britain's national interest and secondly an end to the disastrous euro crisis, currency the party opposite still wants to join. will the prime minister to britain proud on friday and show some spirit in brussels? >> i can guarantee to my honorable friend that is exactly what i will do. the british national interest absolutely means that we need to help resolve this crisis in the eurozone. it is freezing the british economy just as it is freezing economies across europe. resulting in this crisis is about jobs and growth in business and investment right here in the u.k.. at the same time we must seek safeguards for britain. that is the right thing to do and that can absolutely -- there's no prospect of joining the euro something they right honorab

mr. speaker, mr. speaker. we regret, mr. speaker, that you have walked off the platform, without addressing the issue of critical importance to this country -- and that is the continuation of the middle class tax cut. >> i love that clip. we didn't actually -- i don't know that you could see it. but there's, either actually removing the flag from the floor as stenny hoyer is trying to bring up the senate bill. joining us now is luke russert who covers capitol hill for nbc news. give us a little bit of background on this is a fluid situation as we know. what is going on? >> well -- it's now a game of optics alex. whichever side feels they're going to win the pr war is going to end up winning this fight. but the house gop is in a very precarious situation this morning. for a few reasons. number one, the article in the "wall street journal," it was almost the authority of kind of sophisticated republican politics, really slamming them for this fight. that will resonate with a lot of rank-and-file members who don't want to be on