mr. matheson. the chair: the gentleman from utah is recognized for one minute. mr. matheson: thank you, mr. speaker. i'd like to thank my colleague, mr. stearns, for introducing the bill before us today. i support this bipartisan legislation for two reasons. one, i believe that our gun laws should ensure that a responsible law-abiding individual is able to exercise the second amendment right to carry firearms and, two, this bill simplifies what is now a piecemeal system of reciprocal agreements among the states. there are millions of concealed-carry holders in this nation including those in my state. they can legally carry a weapon for self-defense. by passing this bill we will ensure that when they travel to other states they will exercise their right to self-defense while away from home. this does not ceal a federal licensing system, it does not allow them to carry them to states like illinois. i think this addresses the criticism of this legislation to determine who can carry conceal weapons within the states' borders. they are required to be aware of and abide by

mr. matheson: i said no. mr. conyers: supermajority is not required to raise the debt limit under this bill? i yield myself an additional minute and i yield to my friend. mr. matheson: as i said, let's not do apples and oranges but do apples and apples. if this congress wants to pass it doesn't need a supermajority. but if it wants to deficit spend it can do it with the supermajority and same requirement if they want to raise the debt limit. there is no need to raise the debt limit. no need to raise the debt limit if we have a balanced budget and that would be a supermajority to pass a balanced budget each year. mr. conyers: i thank my colleague for answering the question, and i would like to turn to the gentleman who represents the majority, a distinguished member of the judiciary committee, mr. goodlatte, and ask him, if he happened to be aware of whether -- i yield myself two additional minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. conyers: thank you. and ask him if he is a

mr. matheson. the chair: the gentleman from utah is recognized for one minute. mr. matheson: thank you, mr. speaker. i'd like to thank my colleague, mr. stearns, for introducing the bill before us today. i support this bipartisan legislation for two reasons. one, i believe that our gun laws should ensure that a responsible law-abiding individual is able to exercise the second amendment right to carry firearms and, two, this bill simplifies what is now a piecemeal system of reciprocal agreements among the states. there are millions of concealed-carry holders in this nation including those in my state. they can legally carry a weapon for self-defense. by passing this bill we will ensure that when they travel to other states they will exercise their right to self-defense while away from home. this does not ceal a federal licensing system, it does not allow them to carry them to states like illinois. i think this addresses the criticism of this legislation to determine who can carry conceal weapons within the states' borders. they are required to be aware of and abide by