mr. pascrell: will the gentleman yield? mr. camp: i will not yield. i'll be yielding to my colleague. if we could just get an agreement to offer an amendment, to do that and move forward. but, no, this bill comes to the floor under the most restrictive rule the house can possibly pass. we cannot offer any he amendments. if this is that important, why not let us offer an amendment to find some way to pay for this bill? at this time i yield two minutes to a distinguished member of the ways and means committee, the gentleman from louisiana, dr. boustany. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. boustany: thank you, mr. speaker. i agree with my ranking member's remarks here. the gentleman from new jersey made a very compelling, emotional argument. we all agree that we have to do something. but the american people want to us pay for this. they have been speaking very loudly and very clearly. they're tired of the fiscal irresponsibility. now, our friends across the aisle here predicted that their trillion-dollar stimulus would create 3.7 million jobs. and si

mr. pascrell: i thank the gentleman. at the end of the day, the united states is the most open, accessible, and dynamic market in the world. we hold our trading partners hopefully to the same standard. we must tackle our trade deficit head on so that united states businesses and families can continue to prosper in the years to come. i urge passage of this legislation. i eagerly await the report of the commission. i yield the rest of my time back which is nothing but thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> i would like to yield three minutes to the gentleman from louisiana who is the top republican on the oversight committee whose focus son the moratorium in the gulf, dr. boustany. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from louisiana is recognized for three minutes. mr. boustany: thank you, and i thank mr. brady from texas for yielding time to me. i think it's important to recognize and i agree with the gentl

mr. pascrell: thank you, mr. speaker. in fact, the sunlight foundation which is no stranger to criticizing this congress on earmarks has called this billing -- bill transparency done right. i rest my case. let's pass this legislation. thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the chair will remind members that members will address their remarks to the chair and not to fellow members in the second person. the gentleman from michigan. the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from michigan. mr. levin: i yield to mr. scott for a unanimous consent request. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. scott: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in favor of the bill which will promote competitiveness, innovation, export, and most importantly jobs in the richmond, virginia, area. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. the gentleman from michigan. mr. levin: how much time do we have, mr. speaker? the spea

mr. pascrell, for as much time as he may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from new jersey for as much time as he may consume. mr. pascrell: thank you, madam speaker, thank you madam chair. the gentlelady from california is not here yet. the primary sponsor of the legislation. but i rise in support of resolution 275 and i want to commend both mr. polis and mr. petri for their very succinct words. i know firsthand the benefits that our children receive from a robust arts education program whether it's music, theater, visual arts, photography, poetry, dance. this is not simply an outlet. this is part and parcel of the essential features of what a good education is all about. unfortunately, the current state of the economy has now put these classes and further enrichment of oustudents at risk and i would ask us to address this issue. what's the first to be cut, right across the nation? arts. libraries. and sports. the things our kids love best. these are not just times that they seek to get away from t

mr. pascrell. i thank these members and other who was made suggestions to me for their constructive addition to this amendment. this amendment makes significant improvement to the underlying legislation and i urge an aye vote on the bill. mr. chairman, i reserve the plans of my time. the chair: the gentlelady reserves her time. for what purpose does the gentlelady from west virginia rise? mrs. capito: i climb -- i claim time in opposition to the amendment though i'm not opposed. the chair: the gentlelady is recognized. mrs. capito: the chairwoman's manager's amendment does make good improvements to the underlying bill by phasing out taxpayer subsidies for severe repetitive losses. the nfip is facing serious financial challenges and the program can't afford to go on its current path. in this respect, i think chairwoman waters' manager's amendment is a positive step in the right direction. in addition, the manager's amendment includes additional -- additional reforms that seek to reduce subsidies ove