mr. hoyer: and, mr. speaker, i am pleased to now yield to somebody who has not served with him for 85 years but has served with him for a very significant time on the extraordinarily important energy and commerce committee, my friend from texas, mr. barton. mr. barton: thank you, congressman hoyer. it has been my pleasure to serve for 26 years on the energy and commerce committee with the distinguished gentleman who is having his 85th birthday. what some of our newer members may not know is what a gentleman chairman dingell is and the uniqueness of his character is that he will impact his wisdom to those of us in the opposition party and encourage us to then go out and use it against him knowing that he is smart enough, tough enough and effective enough to beat us at our own game. he is truly a paragon of this congress and will go down in my estimation in history as one of the top 10 congressmen or women of all time. i want to extend him my warmest 85th birthday wishes and get him to guarantee that as lo

mr. hoyer: reclaiming my time -- mr. cantor: if i could finish, i'll yield back. mr. hoyer: i'll continue to yield. mr. cantor: i know the gentleman likes to focus on the hstry before, but every time the gentleman says, job lost here, jobs lost there, to posit again, there have been 1.7 million jobs lost since the stimulus bill we feel didn't need to do the stimulus bill because now we are stuck with over $800 billion in additional debt with now unemployment today at 9.2%. so again, question whether we're on the right policies here and we're spending the dollars we need to be spending. maybe we shouldn't spend it. maybe we should let it be invested in the private sector. i would end by saying again, the deficit is a real problem. we got a $1.6 trillion deficit this queer, largest in the history, and third consecutive year of trillion-dollars of deficit. i say to the gentleman, mr. speaker, we can't tolerate that. the president shouldn't tolerate that. the american people have no patience anymore. that's why we need to get to work trying -- try to lower the hyperbole an

mr. hoyer: i ask to speak outer order for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. hoyer: thank you and i yield to the majority leader. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from virginia is recognized. mr. cantor: i thank the gentlelady. i thank the speaker, i thank the gentleman from maryland, the democratic whip, for yielding. madam speaker, on monday the house will meet at noon for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for elective business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. this is a change from the legislative schedule that was announced at the end of last week. we will be sending out an announcement shortly so that all members are aware of this change. again, madam speaker, the house will now convene on monday of next week, not tuesday. it is critical, madam speaker, that we solve our nation's fiscal problem and intend to schedule the house for legislative business if needed to accomplish that goal. mr. speaker, how it's is not in order -- the house is not in order. the speake

mr. hoyer: it's not. mr. cantor: i say to the gentleman, week after week we brought bills to the floor, yes, that deal with our fiscal situation, that cut spending. because we've got to address that. just like people address it in their homes, their families, their businesses. but we brought numerous bills week after week to the floor that go to the root of the cause of uncertainty in the business community in this country and that is washington's overly aggressive and burdensome regulatory reach. we have got to get back to a growth posture, mr. speaker. and that means cut spending, lower taxes, and implement a balanced and sensible pro-growth regulatory system. as well as finally hopefully returning to a monetary policy that promotes a strong dollar. i yield back. mr. hoyer: i thank the gentleman for yielding back. first of all of course i didn't say, i don't think anybody wants their taxes raised, including me. i'd like to have all the prices for things i buy cut in half. 50% off sale. we all like that. i l

mr. hoyer: mr. speaker, my colleagues, our neighbors, our friends sent us here to be responsible and to come to the aid of our country at a time of crisis. our couny is at such a time now. our people confront uncertainty and fear and they're looking to us, looking to us for the courage to compromise and act to prevent default and to prevent gridlock and irresponsibility. yesterday we learned that investors in american stocks lost more than $400 billion when just a few days ago speaker boehner said he could not compromise with president obama. now we're standing -- notwithstanding the remarks of my friend from california, the chairman of the rules committee, who talks about a bipartisan compromise, i tell my friend, you have not moved a single centimeter towards compromise with our side of the aisle. not a single centimeter. and what do we see in the united states senate, my friends? we see a majority leader of the united states senate who has the president with him, so, yes, you control 1/3 and you

mr. hoyer: it's not. mr.antor: i say to the gentleman, week after week we brought bills to the floor, yes, that deal with our fiscal situation, that cut spending. because we've got to address that. just like people address it in their homes, their families, their businesses. but we brought numerous bills week after week to the floor that go to the root of the cause of uncertainty in the business community in this country and that is washington's overly aressive and burdensome regulatory reach. we have got to get back to a growth posture, mr. speaker. and that means cut spending, lower taxes, and implement a balanced and sensible pro-growth regulatory system. as well as finally hopefully returning to a monetary policy that promotes a strong dollar. i yield back. mr. hoyer: i thank the gentleman for yielding back. first of all of course i didn't say, i don't think anybody wants their taxes raised, including me. i'd like to have all the prices for things i buy cut in half. 50% off sale. we all like that. i like

mr. hoyer: reclaiming my time -- mr. cantor: if i could finish, i'll yield back. mr. hoyer: i'll continue to yield. mr. cantor: i know the gentleman likes to focus on the hstry before, but ever time the gentleman says, job lost here, jobs lost there, to posit again, there have been 1.7 million jobs lost since the stimul bill we feel didn't need to do the stimulus bill because now we are stuck with over $800 billion in additional debt with now unemployment today at 9.2%. so again, question whether we're on the right policies here and we're spending the dollars we need to be spending. maybe we shouldn't spend it. maybe we should let it be invested in the private sector. i would end by saying again, the deficit is a real problem. we got a $1.6 trillion deficit this queer, largest in the history, and third consecutive year of trillion-dollars of deficit. i say to the gentleman, mr. speaker, we can't tolerate that. the president shouldn't tolerate that. the american people have no patience anymore. that's why we need to get to work trying -- try to lower the hyperbole and g

mr. hoyer: i ask to speak out of order for the purpose of asking the majority leader for the coming weekend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized. mr. hoyer: i yield to my friend, the majority leader. mr. cantor: i thank the gentleman from maryland and if i could, to the gentleman, update him as well as all of our colleagues on the house's schedule for this weekend and the upcoming week. and i thank him. to say to the gentleman, the house will now meet in pro forma session only tomorrow. therefore no votes are expected in the house on sunday. but given the critical fiscal and economic situation, however, members should be prepared to return to washington quickly if needed. we may only be able to assure a few hours' notice at most. lastly i'd say to the gentleman, the house will be in legislative session on monday and first votes are expected as early as noon. and i thank the gentleman and yield back. mr. hoyer: i thank the gentleman for his information. i yiel

mr. hoyer: mr. speaker, ladies and gentlemen of this house, i am pleased to rise with my colleague and dear friend, barbara lee, to focus on an issue that all too frequently is ignored. i rise to speak as we are engaged in an extraordinarily important discussion, debate, and responsibility. that responsibility is to ensure that america pays its bills. that america's creditworthiness is not put at risk. that america which has incurred obligations meets those obligations. to individuals and to others. as we have made policies which have cost money and it is now necessary first to pay the bills that we have already incurred. but as we engage in that debate and discussion, we must remember that there are in our country one child out of every five who is living in poverty. who is worried about proper food. proper housing, proper medical care. children who are in fact at risk. we now in america the richest nation on the face of the earth have the largest number of people living in poverty that we have had

mr. hoyer: it's not. mr. cantor: i say to the gentleman, week after week we brought bills to the floor, yes, that deal with our fiscal situation, that cut spending. because we've got to address that. just like people address it in their homes, their families, their businesses. but we brought numerous bills week after week to the floor that go to the root of the cause of uncertainty in the business community in this country and that is washington's overly aggressive and burdensome regulatory reach. we have got to get back to a growth posture, mr. speaker. and that means cut spending, lower taxes, and implement a balanced and sensible pro-growth regulatory system. as well as finally hopefully returning to a monetary policy that promotes a strong dollar. i yield back. mr. hoyer: i thank the gentleman for yielding back. first of all of course i didn't say, i don't think anybody wants their taxes raised, including me. i'd like to have all the prices for things i buy cut in half. 50% off sale. we all like that. i l

mr. smith: i rise in strong support of h.res. 268 and deeply appreciate majority leader cantor, steny hoyer, chairman ros-lehtinen and mr. berman, the ranking member, for offering this resolution affirming the u.s. commitment to a negotiated settlement of the israeli-palestinian conflict through direct negotiation. h. reds 268 speaks in very clear, unambiguous language about what this means. it means settlement through direct palestinian negotiations rather than through highly misguided, counterproductive unilateral palestinian deck la rage of statehood or by palestinians seeking recognition from other states or through the united nations. sadly, the latter, a havep of anti-israel and sometimes anne semitic activity. direct negotiations have been a keystone of u.s. and israeli policy twad the region for decades and even perform l.o. chair yasser arafat pledged to accept this back in 1993. unfortunately, hamas is -- hamas' 2011 unify agreement did not accept this agreement -- this commitment nor did it are-mounsvibles. h.res. 268 also outlines what a negotiated settlement should entail, nego

mr. hoyer: reclaiming my time -- mr. cantor: if i could finish, i'll yield back. mr. hoyer: i'll continue to yield. mr. cantor: i know the gentleman likes to focus on the hstry before, but every time the gentlemasays, job lost here, jobs lost there, to posit again, there have been 1.7 million jobs lost since the stimulus bill we feel didn't need tdo the stimulus bill because now we are stuck with over $800 billion in additional debt with now unemployment today at 9.2%. so again, question whether we're on the right policies here and we're spending the dollars we need to be spending. maybe we shouldn't snd it. maybe we suld let it be invested in the private sector. i would end by saying again, the deficit is a real problem. we got a $1.6 trillion deficit this queer, largest in the history, and third consecutive year of trillion-dollars of deficit. i say to the gentleman, . speaker, we can't tolerate that. the president shouldn't tolerate that. the american people have no patience anymore. that's why we need to get to work trying -- try to lower the hyperbole and get the

. >> well, it is a big deal as it was originally recorded and mr. hoyere whip meeting this morning mentioned it, so if mr. norquist was taking a position that is reasonable that expiring tax cuts under existing law were not tax increases that creates a lot of breathing room for us and head room. >> a lot. >> but my understanding is that he has gone back on that, and so revenues have to be part of it, and, you know, when i talk candidly to many of the republican colleagues, they understand that. and they are worried about the revenues and not getting the cuts, and there is anxiety on the net level of negotiation, but most folks understand that when we are spending 22% of the gdp and collecting revenues lower than the eisenhower era at 15%, that doesn't work. >> congressman, under the gun today? if not today, a deal by friday? what do you think? >> well, honestly, i don't know, but what i do know is that we have to have a deal and we cannot allow america to default. if you are eric cantor and want to have more tax cuts or nancy pelosi to put more money into

mr. hoyer: mr. speaker, my colleagues, our neighbors, our friends sent us here to be responsible and to come to the aid of our country at a time of crisis. our country is at such a time now. our people confront uncertainty and fear and they're looking to us, looking to us for the courage to compromise and act to prevent default and to prevent gridlock and irresponsibility. yesterday we learned that investors in american stocks lost more than $400 billion when just a few days ago speaker boehner said he could not compromise with president obama. now we're standing -- notwithstanding the remarks of my friend from california, the chairman of the rules committee, who talks about a bipartisan compromise, i tell my friend, you have not moved a single centimeter towards compromise with our side of the aisle. not a single centimeter. and what do we see in the united states senate, my friends? we see a majority leader of the united states senate who has the president with him, so, yes, you control 1/3 and yo

mr. hoyer: each of us, ladies and gentlemen in this house, have a duty to end this impasse. let's live up to that duty by voting down this partisan legislation. and then let's come together on a balanced, bipartisan solution to reduce our deficit and pay our bills. i suggest to my friend from california that majority leader reid has offered just such a plan. in fact, it incorporates exactly what speaker boehner suggested in his speech in new york city. let us embrace that plan. when this fails, let the senate send it to us. i will not yield at this point in time. this is a moment of great crisis for our country and for our citizens. a crisis that demands our putting aside partisanship and politics for the good of our people. we're not there yet but it is my great hope that we as a body can live up to that challenge. our fellow citizens expect it, our duty demands it, our oath requires it. and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: i say to my friend from maryland that bipartis

mr. hoyer: each of us, ladies and gentlemen in this house, have a duty to end this impasse. let's live up to that duty by voting down this partisan legislation. and then let's come together on a balanced, bipartisan solution to reduce our deficit and pay our bills. i suggest to my friend from california that majority leader reid has offered just such a plan. in fact, it incorporates exactly what speaker boehner suggested in his speech in new york city. let us embrace that plan. when this fails, let the senate send it to us. i will not yield at this point in time. this is a moment of great crisis for our country and for our citizens. a crisis that demands our putting aside partisanship and politics for the good of our people. we're not there yet but it is my great hope that we as a body can live up to that challenge. our fellow citizens expect it, our duty demands it, our oath requires it. and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: i say to my friend from maryland that bipartis

mr. hoyer: i thank my frien the ranking member of the budget committee, mr. van hollen, for yielding. the american public are rightfully very distressed with the congress of the united states. they're distressed that a time of great challenge and great risk thank, that we fiddle while the debt threatens -- risk, that we fiddle while the debt threatens to burn us, to place our country in the position of being adjudged uncredit worthy. that is not worthy of this congress or any one of us that serves in this congress. we have 14 days according to the secretary of treasury until such time as america will be unable to pay its obligations. whether to foreigners or to people in this country. that is not a situation that will be looked at positively by the financial sector or by any one of our constituents whose ability to save, to have a 401-k that is stable, to purchase an automobile or a refrigerator or send their kid to college will be put at risk because of increased interest rates, not one of us

mr. hoyer: i thank my friend, the ranking member of the budget committee, mr. van hollen, for yielding. the american public are rightfully very distressed with the congress of the united states. they're distressed that a time of great challenge and great risk thank, that we fiddle while the debt threatens -- risk, that we fiddle while the debt threatens to burn us, to place our country in the position of being adjudged uncredit worthy. that is not worthy of this congress or any one of us that serves in this congress. we have 14 days according to the secretary of treasury until such time as america will be unable to pay its obligations. whether to foreigners or to people in this country. that is not a situation that will be looked at positively by the financial sector or by any one of our constituents whose ability to save, to have a 401-k that is stable, to purchase an automobile or a refrigerator or send their kid to college will be put at risk because of increased interest rates, not one of u

mr. hoyer: each of us, ladies and gentlemen in this house, have a duty to end this impasse. let's live up to that duty by voting down this partisan legislation. and then let's come together on a balanced, bipartisan solution to reduce our deficit and pay our bills. i suggest to my friend from california that majority leader reid has offered just such a plan. in fact, it incorporates exactly what speaker boehner suggested in his speech in new york city. let us embra that plan. when this fails, let the senate send it to us. i will not yield at this point in time. this is a moment of great crisis for our country and for our citizens. a crisis that demands our putting aside partisanship and politics for the good of our people. we're not there yet but it is my great hope that we as a body ca live up to that challenge. our fellow citizens expect it, our duty demands it, our oath requires it. and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from california. mr. dreier: i say to my friend from maryland that bipartisans

guest: i disagree with mr. hoyer. i don't think -- to call balancing your budget a republican policy, then the whole world, except the government, operates on a republican policy, and i don't think he wts to vender that ground to us. but the truth is everyone else, including business and human beings, they are forced to go and follow a balanced budget. you know, if you went to your banker -- and i talked to a community banker yesterday, and you said, i need a line of credit for a million dolrs for my business next year, he said, wel you maxed out all your credit cards, you've already borrowed more than you can afford to pay, and you're missing payments, why do you think that we should -- and the only way you can make your payments is when you borrow money from me to make your interest payments. you're in a position where it's untenable for your business. we're not going to loanou the money. that is the issue that the american businessman and the american that sits at their breakfast table talks about finances. the onl

mr. hoyer: i thank the ranking member for yielding. mr. speer, we are still feeling the effects of a crisis that largely came about because the referees who oversee the soundness of our financial system were not on the field. we took the referees off the field. as a result, millions of americans are still out of work. but while democrats have worked to restore proper oversight to wall street, republicans want the referees off the field again. and that would put us all at risk. this legislation puts the special interests ahead of the public interests by weakening the very entity that shields responsible consumers from financial abuses. last year, congress passed an important wall street reform bill in order to prevent a job the stroying financial crisis from happening again. and one of the most crucial parts of that bill was they the creation of a new consumer financial protection bureau, a watchdog, a watchdog that would look out for the interests of ordinary americans who want to sign mortgages, apply for student loans and start businesse

mr. hoyer: i voted to get to fiscal responsibility and balanced the budget four years in row and president bush inherited $5.6 trillion surplus, not debt, deficit and jobs having been created before he took office. eight years later, we increase the debt by $5 trillion. now i'm not going to vote for the balanced budget amendment and i urge my colleagues to reject this bill, which has no chance of passage and we need to stop fiddling and need to do our work and make sure that america can pay its debt, because if it can't, every one of our constituents will lose and our country will lose. our oath of office was to preserve and protect. defeat this ill-advised, ill-timed, unconsidered piece of legislation and let us move to fiscal responsibity in a wa that will bring us all together in a bipatisan way as biden tried to do and as frankly, mr. boehner and the president tried to do. let's get to that objeive. the country deserves it. e speaker pro tempore: members are reminded to address their remark

guest: i disagree with mr. hoyer. i don't think -- to call balancing your budget a republican policy, then the whole world, except the government, operates on a republican policy, and i don't think he wants to vender that ground to us. but the truth is everyone else, including business and human beings, they are forced to go and follow a balanced budget. you know, if you went to your banker -- and i talked to a community banker yesterday, and you said, i need a line of credit for a million dollars for my business next year, he said, well, you maxed out all your credit cards, you've already borrowed more than you can afford to pay, and you're missing payments, why do you think that we should -- and the only way you can make your payments is when you borrow money from me to make your interest payments. you're in a position where it's untenable for your business. we're not going to loan you the money. that is the issue that the american businessman and the american that sits at their breakfast table talks about finances.

mr. hoyer: i thank the ranking member for yielding. mr. speaker, we are still feeling the effects of a crisis that largely came about because the referees who oversee the soundness of our financial system were not on the field. we took the referees off the field. as a result, millions of americans are still out of work. but while democrats have worked to restore proper oversight to wall street, republicans want the referees off the field again. and that would put us all at risk. this legislation puts the special interests ahead of the public interests by weakening the very entity that shields responsible consumers from financial abuses. last year, congress passed an important wall street reform bill in order to prevent a job the stroying financial crisis from happening again. and one of the most crucial parts of that bill was they the creation of a new consumer financial protection bureau, a watchdog, a watchdog that would look out for the interests of ordinary americans who want to sign mortgages, apply for student loans and start busines

mr. hoyer: i thank the ranking member for yielding. mr. speaker, we are still feeling the effects of a crisis that largely came about because the referees who oversee the soundness of our financial system were not on the field. we took the referees off the field. as a result, millions of americans are still out of work. but while democrats have worked to restore proper oversight to wall street, republicans want the referees off the field again. and that would put us all at risk. this legislation puts the special interests ahead of the public interests by weakening the very entity that shields responsible consumers from financial abuses. last year, congress passed an important wall street reform bill in order to prevent a job the stroying financial crisis from happening again. and one of the most crucial parts of that bill was they the creation of a new consumer financial protection bureau, a watchdog, a watchdog that would look out for the interests of ordinary americans who want to sign mortgages, apply for student loans and start busines

mr. hoyer: thank you, mr. speaker. the american public was concerned mainly about two things in this last election. a, jobs. trying to get opportunities for themselves and their children and young people to earn a living. they are also concerned correctly about the debt and deficit that confronts this country. those were the two items that they were very focused on and concerned about and i think almost everybody on this floor shares their concerns. i got no message from any voter that i ought to come to congress and undermine the air, water, land that they survive on, recreate on and rely on for the quality of their lives, not one constituent whether they voted for me or against me said undermine the protections of our land and water and air. not one. however, that is what we're dealing with today. not jobs, not deficits, but undermining the integrity of our air, our water and our land. i rise, therefore, mr. speaker, in strong opposition to this bill, which puts some of our nation's most precious natural resources at

host: steny hoyer, your democratic whip, said he was willing to work with the republicans to reduce the debt. what did that mean to you and how willing are you? guest: i think with -- what mr. steny hoyer is saying is most democrats have put things on the table, some very painful things. and i believe that democrats once again are prepared to put some painful things on the table. the president has suggested that even social security might be on the table. i wouldn't put it there but if i want to set at the negotiating table i have to recognize that i have to keep all of my sacred cows, all the things i want to protect, on the table, and see what stays on because ultimately the public should get to see what we put on the table and will be kept on the table. host: xavier bacerra is our guest, ranking member on the ways and means social security subcommittee and also by share of the house democratic caucus. he represents an area in southern california. 202 is the area code -- are you seeing any movement on the republican side as far as tax increases go? guest: you know, it is unfortunate but even in getting rid of tax loopholes which cause a very small fraction of americans t

host: steny hoyer, your democratic whip, said he was willing to work with the republicans to reduce the debt. what did that mean to you and how willing are you? guest: i think with -- what mr. steny hoyer is saying is most democrats have put things on the table, some very painful things. and i believe that democrats once again are prepared to put some painful things on the table. the president has suggested that even social surity might be on the table. i wouldn't put it there but if i want to set at the negotiating table i have to recognize that i have to keep all of my sacred cows, all the things i want to protect, on the table, and see what stays on because ultimately the publ should get to see what we put on the table and will be kept on the table. host: xavier bacerra is our guest, ranking member on the ways and means social security subcommittee and also by share of the house democratic caucus. he represents an area in southern california. 202 is the area code -- are you seeg any movement on the republican side as far as tax increases go? guest: you know, it is unfortunate but even in getting rid of tax loopholes which cause a very small fraction of americans to have

, steny hoyer told lawrence what he thinks about mixing taxes into the debate over raising the debt ceiling. >> very unfortunate that the republicans continue to pursue this particularly when mr. boehner and the president have reached an agreement tentatively on two different occasions. and mr. boehner has walked away. frankly the republicans have walked intentionally more than barry bonds. and the fact of the matter is that we need to come to an agreement, the senate, senator reid has offered exactly what they asked for. mr. cantor said we have no taxes in our bill. he was very pumped up about that to tell his constituents, that the richest people in america were not going to have to pay anything towards solving this problem. but frankly, the senate is prepared to offer that, because they feel very strongly responsible step to take is to make sure that america is able to pay its bills on august 3rd. >> don't miss "last word" with lawrence o'donnell, week nights at 8:00 p.m. on msnbc, the place for politics. >>> the man suspected in friday's bombing and shooting in norway claims that two other cells of collaborators stood ready to join his murderous campaign to rid europe of

mr. norquist has made a very, very important statement that i hope that they each take into consideration. >> less than 40 minutes after congressman hoyer the development, norquist appeared on this network to clarify that though allowing the bush tax cuts to expire may not technically violate his pledge, that does not mean republicans should actually do it. >> now, hoyer is wrong. there are certain things you could do technically and not violate the pledge, but that the general public would clearly understand is a tax increase. so i can be clear, americans for tax reform would oppose any effort to weaken, reduce, or not continue the 2001-2003 bush tax cuts. >> when reporters asked republican leadership if they would exploit the pledge technicality, "the washington post" editorial board had exposed, they said, of course, absolutely not. >> i'm saying if you raise tax rates, that is violating a tax pledge. when we keep raising taxes in washington, for efemerral promises of spending cuts that never happen later, that's not goodment >> i have never voted for raising taxes, and i don't have to. >> but boehner doesn't have to vote for raising

mr. van hollen. >> both harry reid and steny hoyer were invoked.i assure you neither never voted for this kind of twisted version of a constitutional balanced budget amendment. this is an effort to manipulate the constitution, to stack the deck in certain ways. it has two devices to do that. one is to require a supermajority vote to raise revenue. the other device is putting on this 18% cap. those were not in any balanced budget amendment supported by steny hoyer and harry reid. that is what makes this provision especially perverse. you can have a good debate on the issue of a garden variety balanced budget amendment. this is not that. again, what this does, and let us be very clear, it creates a supermajority requirement to close corporate tax loopholes for the purpose of deficit reduction. we keep hearing the statement that 49 states have balanced budget amendments. only 10 by our count write into their constitution a limitation that requires two-thirds or more of a vote to raise revenue. what that does is immediately tilt the playing field. the

mr. sessions, would you like for me to tell you where they are? section two. my colleague reference people like harry reid and steny hoyer supporting a balanced budget amendment. this is not in the traditional balanced budget amendments that we have seen and debated in the past. what you have here is in section 2, page 5 and my copy, it says, outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed 18% of economic output of the united states. when you write that cap into the constitution of the united states, you will require deep cuts to those programs. as i indicated earlier -- the last time the united states government hit that target was in approximately 1966. we now have the retirement of the baby boomers. the other provision that jerry rigs the process is section 5. it says a bill to increase revenues shall not become law unless two-thirds of the whole number of each house shall provide by roll call vote. you cannot eliminate a tax subsidy to the oil and gas industry for the purpose of reducing that deficit under that provision of the constitution. you can call that what you want, but you are writing into the -- oh, really? wh

mr. sessions, would you like for me to tell you where they are? section two. my colleague reference people like harry reid and steny hoyer supporting a balanced budget amendment. this is not in the traditional balanced budget amendments that we have seen and debated in the past. what you have here is in section 2, page 5 and my copy, it says, outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed 80% of economic output of the united states. when you write that cap into the constitution of the united states, you will require deep cuts to those programs. as i indicated earlier -- in l the last time the united states government hit that target was in approximately 1966. we now live the retirement of the baby boomers. the other provision that jerry rigs the process is section 5. it says a bill to increase revenues and not become law unless two-thirds of all number of each house shall provide by roll call vote. you cannot eliminate a tax subsidy to the oil and gas industry for the purpose of reducing that deficit under that provision of the constitution. you can call of what you want, but you are writing into debt -- oh, really? what y

hoyer. >> thank you very much, madam leader. >> it was crowded over there. >> time is short. the stakes are very high. and the american people expect us to do what has been referred to by mr. becerra. i don't have the faintest idea who on the american women's soccer team is a republican or a democrat. they are of diverse races. i'm sure nationalities and religions. but they are united in an effort to win for america. that's what this congress and this president need to do, be united in gaining a win for america. what does that mean? it means in the first instance not walking out of the room, not washing their hands and saying we are going to proceed in a unilateral fashion. we are going to present a bill we know can't pass the united states senate and that the president of the united states would not sign. it is too late to continue to play partisan games. we need to come together. that is why the leadership of this party has supported our president in saying that we need a comprehensive response to the debt, deficit that confronts us and that we need to insure that america does not default on its obligations. americans do not expect our great country, for the first time i