mr. chaffetz and mr. issa for this bill. and initially there was a bill involving federal employees and we had concern that often when bills come forward for federal employees they are not bills that recognize the substantial funds that contractors receive and they look closely at it and have come forward. do i want to say that in light of the fact that i'm going to oppose the next bill, and do i believe there's a difference between employees and contractors, and i don't want to get into that right at this moment, but i do want to say for these employees, for example, undergoing a pay freeze now, and furloughs, there's one thing uncle sam can do that he apparently hasn't done with these contracts, he can garnish wages and you can bet your bottom dollar there's ana federal employee that can owe some move and to prove they owe money to the federal government, his pay will be garnished. but as we heard the gentlelady from california say, these contractors continue to receive the largess, i guess that's how they regard it, of th

mr. chaffetz. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. mr. chaffetz: thank you. i want to thank the bipartisan support that we've had in the passage of its legislation and urge its support. h.r. 254 is a win for federal taxpayers, the environment and energy users. this bill allows for the development of 50 megawatts of clean, renewable hydropower at the diamond fork system in utah and will generate $600,000 per year for the federal government. in utah we're one of the fastest growing areas in the nation, and we need this power. under current law, hydropower will not be developed under the diamond fork system due to the requirement that the energy velopers pay $106 million to repay. according to the congressional budget office, doing an assessment on h.r. 254, said, quote, under the reasons the c.b.o. expects the site will not be developed under the next 10 -- in the next 10 years is that project sponsors pay the treshy for a portion of the federal government's previous investments in their water project, end quote. h.r. 254 would waive the rep

mr. chaffetz to make sure we get something done.he other thing i worry about, chris, is i don't want us to argue back and forth with each other so much that in the end we get nothing done. i think that that would be a shame. >> i know you lost a nephew to gun violence in 2011. a lot of focus on is this too much republicans, conservatives, nra members saying this may be too much in the expanded background checks. my question to you, is it not enough potentially for folks like you who believe in gun control and structurer gun control? is it possible that the bill doesn't do enough. and some democrats say, this is not a big-enough solution for the problem we're facing? >> think we're going to have to do what we can, agree on what we can agree on and get something done. and then, step by step, try to make sure that whatever we do, and the future addresses the problem in as a complete way as possible. it's going to be a long haul, it's not going to be done overnight. >> it's such a busy week on the hill. i want to get your thought on ano

mr. chaffetz: i want to thank those first responders, they are fire men, police officers, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and sometimes they are just somebody who never expected to be in that situation at that time. yet our fellow countrymen respond. they are there. and right now we have people responding in the senate. they put themselves out there, they run to the challenges, it is the american spirit. they touch the heart of all of us, and, mr. speaker, i just want to say, god bless them and god bless the united states of america. yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? mr. yarmuth: to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. mr. yarmuth: mr. speaker. this is what my constituent, barbara, wrote to the louisville cour your journal this morning. while polls continue to say the majority of n.r.a. members and a sizable majority of the american people support background checks, and a majority of citizens support limiting magazine size, a majority in congr

mr. chaffetz, to preside over the ommittee of the whole. the chair: members will please clear the well. take their conversations from the floor. the chair: the house is in the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for the consideration of h.r. 527 which the clerk will report by title. the clerk: a bill to amend the helium act to complete the privatization of the federal helium reserve in a competitive market fashion that ensures stability in the helium markets while protecting the interest of american taxpayers, and for other purposes. the chair: pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as read the first time. the gentleman from washington, mr. hastings, and the gentleman from new jersey, mr. pallone, ach will control 30 minutes. he house will come to order. members will please take their conversations off the house floor. the chair now recognizes the gentleman from washington. mr. hastings: thank you, mr. chairman. i yield myself such time as i may consume. thank you, mr. chairman. mr. chairman, i rise in support today of h.r. -- mr. chairman, the committee is not