mr. davis: thank you, mr. speaker. i'd like to yield two minutes to a distinguished fellow member of the ways and means committee, the gentleman from california, chairer. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california is recognized for two minutes. mr. herger: mr. speaker, i want to thank mr. davis for his leadership in working to bring more congressional oversight to the regulatory process. the heavy hand of overbearing environmental regulations has struck my northern california rural congressional district in full force. the endangered species act, in addition to regulations under the clean water act, clean air act and other environmental laws, continue to be enforced by federal agencies and activists to curtail irrigation water for family farms and ranches, force communities and developers to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on environmental analysis and even threaten public health and safety by delaying forest management to reduce catastrophic wildfire and much-needed infrastru

[applause] >> mr. davis, thank you very much for that kind introduction.i, mirrored jordan, others assembled here in, those associated with the foundation and with this application and this event, you know good and well the spirit of the general award is given to that individual who exhibits extraordinary commitment to making san francisco general hospital what it is. this year, the recipient is one of whom all of you know very well. you know her because, i suspect you will hear, because she ask you to come. there is nobody that she has encountered in the last several years that she has not said, you have to do something for the general. when i see her coming now, i go the other way. i have given all i can give to the general. [laughter] that is the nature of who our recipient is. she came on the board of the foundation, some 11 years ago. by 2003, she had been elevated to the president of the board. and in that capacity, she guided the general from being a place that most of us looked at as a place for the disadvantaged and poor people only, into an extra

hold on one second, mrs. davis. i also have a warrant foster, ken daschle, and eva cisneros. >> good evening. i doubt it has been said before. congratulations to commissioners mendoza, molpus -- maufas and murase. i am here about a student at galileo and in general about the 20 seniors who have been displaced with the amnesty program. i am concerned not just about the seniors,

senator kerry says mr. davis has diplomatic immunity, but will face a criminal investigation at home if released. >> under interrogation, a high- profile suspect teamed to get away. this is agreement davis, a u.s. embassy official, accused by pakistan police of cold-blooded murder. last month, he killed two pakistan a men, shooting them dead from inside his car. he is a crack shot and allegedly a former u.s. special forces. davis said the men tried to hijack him at gunpoint and it was self-defense. the case is like a spy drama gone badly wrong. a third man was run over and killed by a backup car. this is the busy intersection where the shooting took place. the bullets fired here have created a legal and diplomatic and political crisis. america and pakistan are not at loggerhead. both nations have accused -- have huge amounts at stake, but neither show signs of backing down. u.s. senator john kerry has been meeting pakistani leaders at an attempt at damage control. president obama insists that pakistan cannot but

with respect to mr. davis, our diplomats in pakistan, in the future and that is if our diplomats are in another country than they are not subject to that country's prosecution. we have respect to diplomats who are here. we expect pakistan as a signatory and recognize mr. davis as a diplomat to abide by the same convention. the reason this is an important principle is if it starts being fair game on our ambassadors of the world, including in dangerous places where we may have differences with those governments and our ambassadors are various embassy personnel are having to deliver a tough messages to countries where we disagree with them on xyz and the start been vulnerable to prosecution locally, that's untenable. it means they can't do their job, and that's why we respect these conventions in every country should as well. so, we are going to be continuing to work with the pakistani government to get this person released. and obviously part of -- for those who aren't familiar with the crown bonus, a couple of

but this is mr. davis. anything can happen. >> they put the franchise tag on cambryn wembley, meaning he'll get just over $11 million this season. he led with nine sacks this past season. you know the rules. if another team signs wembley, they give up two first round picks to the raiders. the raiders spending serious cash. >> when we return, we're going to bring you the answer to our "sports sunday" trivia question. you're watching "sports sunday" on nbc bay area. >>> finally, the answer to our "sports sunday" trivia question. we called it spring twaining earlier. kind of having a carol cain moment. we regrouped and asked. which team had the most spring training win last year? a, the race. the giants, the indians. oh, you knew it. the giants with 23 wins. before they won it all. who says that these spring training games don't matter? they do. >> the rays had the most in 2008 and went on to win the world series. wrack 'em up. >> that will do it. big thanks to marty lurie and the producers and staff of "sport

with respect to mr. davis pakistan, we've done a very simple principle here, that every country in the world that is party to the vienna convention on diplomatic relations have upheld in the past, and should uphold in the future, and that is if our diplomats are in another country, then they are not subject to that country's local prosecution. we respect it, with respect to diplomats who are here, we expect pakistan, that's a signatory. and recognize mr. davis as a diplomat to abide by the same convention. and the reason this is an important principle, is if it starts being fair game on our ambassadors around the world, including in dangerous places, where we may have differences with those governments, and, our ambassadors, are our various embassy personnel, are having to deliver tough messages to countries where we disagree with them on "x," "y" and "z," they start being vulnerable to prosecution locally, that's untenable. it means they can't do their job. and that's why we respect these conventions, and eve

with respect to mr. davisere that every country in the world that is party to the vienna convention on diplomatic relations has upheld in the past and should uphold in the future, and that is if our diplomats are in another country, then they are not subject to that country's local prosecution. we respect it with respect to diplomats who are here. we expect pakistan that is a signatory and recognize mr. davis as a diplomat to abide by the same convention. and the reason this is an important principle is it starts being fair game on our ambassadors around the world including in dangerous places, where we may have differences with those governments, and, you know, our ambassadors are our various embassy personnel are having to deliver tough messages to countries where we disagree with them on x, y, z. they start being vulnerable to prosecution locally, that -- that is untenable. it means they can't do their job. and that is why we respect these conventions in every country should as well. so we're going to be co

speaking of cold weather, mr. davis, our next questioner is from minnesota, it can get colder than illinois. mr. cravaack is recognized. >> in my hometown, it was below zero this morning. and i love minnesota, it's good for ice fishing. i appreciate your service to this country. i do have a couple, being an airline pilot, the ma sheeps i walk through routinely grab my interest. last week, the t.s. ample began using new software, it's the current advanced imaging technology ample i.t. machines. it will enhance passenger privacy by eliminating passenger-specific imannals instead of auto detect problem areas on a passenger instead of the detailed outline. they're conducting tests at las vegas and at hartsford-jackson international airport and ronald reagan international airport as well. have we gotten feedback? >> just from las vegas, congressman. welcome to the committee. it's something we're getting positive feedback because the passenger sees the image along with the security officer as opposed to a separate security of

with respect to mr. davis, our diplomat in pakistan, we've got a very simple principle here that every country in the world that is party to the vienna convention on diplomatic relations is -- has upheld in the past and should uphold in the future, and that is if our diplomats are in another country, then they are not subject to that country's local prosecution. we respect it with respect to diplomats who are here. we expect pakistan, that's a signatory and recognize mr. davis as a diplomat, to abide by the same convention. and the reason this is an important principle is if it starts being fair game on our ambassadors around the world, including in dangerous places, where we may have differences with those governments, and our ambassadors or our various embassy personnel are having to deliver tough messages to countries where we disagree with them on x, y, z, and they start being vulnerable to prosecution locally, that's untenable. it means they can't do their job. and that's why we respect these conventions,

we recognize mr. davis as a diplomat, to abide by the same convention. the reason why this is an important principle is that if it starts been fair game on our ambassador around the world, including dangerous places, where we might have differences with those governments, and our ambassadors and our various embassy personnel are having to deliver a tough messages to those countries where we disagree with them, and they start being vulnerable to prosecution, that is untenable. that means they cannot do their job. that is why we respect these conventions and every country should as well. we will continue to work with the pakistani government to get this person released, and, obviously, for those of you that are not familiar with the background on this, a couple of pakistanis were killed in an incident between mr. davis within pakistan. we're concerned about the loss of life. we are not tell us about that -- about that, but there is a broader principle to a pulled -- up cold. >> consequences for the pakistani government? >> i will not discuss the specific e

davis. the chair: the gentleman yields back. mr. cicilline: no, i yield the balance of my time to mrs. davis. the chair: the gentlewoman from california is recognized. mrs. davis: thank you, thank you, mr. speaker. i bet the american people are really surprised tonight because we are debating a continuing resolution when they are facing tremendous challenges. and we should be thinking about them and the challenges that they face. we should be talking, as my colleague has said, about how to save money and how to create jobs. but instead, we're debating an amendment that will do neither. it will do neither. and it will undermine women's health. this amendment denies women access to reproductive care and it attacks the health providers that they rely on in their communities. these are health providers that are serving the underserved, and we are spending the evening attacking them. planned parenthood plays a critical role in our nation's health care system. we know that. these clinics have over three million americans every year, and over 90% of the care they provide is preventative. preve

. >>> get those raiders to the super bowl and i'm not going to be mad at you, mr. davis.s of the temperatures we are looking good, but we are having a hard time with visibilities in the east bay. it is actually drifting now across the peninsula. all the moisture-rich areas have picked up the rainfall over the weekend. they are seeing the most fog. fairfield, down to a quarter mile visibility. it looks the same for san rafael and novato. take it easy out there. lots of sunshine with temperatures in the 60s. 61 in los gatos. 60 in oakland. 61 in fairfield. take a look at what's to come heading throughout this week. temperatures will climb to 69 degrees by thursday. and then they are going to hover near the 70-degree mark all the way through this weekend and into next week. so unseasonably warm and sunny once again for us. we are enjoying beautiful weather for this time of the year. back to you guys. >>> thank you. an incredible story of survival out of scotland after a 1,000 fall down a mountain. a climber was found standing calmly reading a map. >> adam potter lost his foo

with respect to mr. davis, our diplomat in pakistan.here that every country in the world that is party to the vienna convention on diplomatic relations has upheld in the past and should uphold in the future. that is if our diplomats are in another country then they are not subject to that country's local prosecution. we respect it with respect to diplomats who are here. we expect pakistan that is a signatory and recognized mr. davis as a diplomat, to abide by this same convention. the reason this is an important principle is if it starts being fair game on our ambassadors around the world, including in dangerous places, where we may have differences with those governments and our ambassadors are various embassy personnel are having to deliver tough messages to countries where we disagree with them on "x," "y," "z," they start to be vulnerable to prosecution locally, that is untenable. that means they can't do their job. we respect these conventions and every country should as well. we will continue to work with the pakistani government

. >> mr. davis is recognized. >> thank you, mr. chairman. your comment being liberated, we have private sector has been innovating for decades and sharing common information among the professions. and i just find it hard to believe to talk about innovation in the context that we have in a variety of issues from programic perspectives to the issue just recently discussed. i didn't go to harvard, i went to west point. and the one thing i would have to say at the beginning of this listening to this hearing, having watched my mother and a half gate through the system that was managed by your agency, and we talk about affordability and innovation. in the world where i grew up both academically and professionally, these answers would be called equivocation. there are strait yes or no answers on kits. and i think it's important to share the truth and avoid the posturing for the lives that we say we want to save. successful physicians that i know are known for their candor and their bedside manner. i have not heard one doctor, save one who is in a d

thompson of mississippi, and to acknowledge our new members, mr. davisighted to have the opportunity to serve the american people, and on this particularly important committee. mr. chairman, let me first congratulate you on your chairmanship of the transportation security subcommittee, and let me say that i look forward to working with you as we have come before during this congress, and as we work together to ensure that the transportation security administration has the tools and resources it needs to secure all modes of transportation including aviation, mass transit, passenger freight rail, highways and pipelines. additionally, to make note of the fact that i think every american, mr. chairman, has used the mode of transportation that we have a responsibility over at some point in their life. it is a large and looming challenge to ensure that transportation mode of this nation, and i think you for the opportunity to work with you. let me also welcome as i indicated in the members on both sides of the aisle, and i look forward to working with all of t

mr. philip davis. >> after votes for prisoners, we now have human rights legislation being potentially used to give sex offenders the opportunity to come off the sex offenders register. is the prime minister aware that my constituents are sick to the back teeth of human rights of criminals and prisoners being put before the rights of law-abiding citizens in this country and is it time to strap the human rights law and we withdraw from the european convention of human rights all together? >> well, i have to say that my honorable friend speaks for many people when he says how completely offensive it is to have once again a ruling by a court that seems to fly completely in the face of commonsense. i mean, requiring serious sexual offenders to sign the register for life as they do now, i would say has broad support right across this house and right across the countr so i'm appalled by the supreme court ruling. we will take the minimum possible approach to this ruling and we will use the opportunity to close down some loopholes in the sex offenders register. for instance, we're going to make it

mr. davis is recognized. >> ambassador kirk before asking my question, i'd like to comment briefly on the japan post-insurance issue which is a matter of serious concern to many of us on the committee. members of both parties are watching closely to see the how the japan post-privatization is handled. this issue is important to u.s. insurance companies. i know you urged japan to reform in accordance with his w.t.o. promises. mr. am pass dorsch we sort your efforts an those of your predecessors an hope you achieve a successful resolution to this soon. bill submitting a question for the record pertaining to this issue. but for my question today i'd like to come back closer to home, i'd like to hear your thoughs on the geopolitical or geo--ee yo political aspects of the area. venezuela's president seeks to undermine u.s. interests and dominate the landscape. by not implementing afreements, we're allowing some in latin america in question -- to question our belief. five former heads of the united s

murder of a san francisco man on monday a judge refused to reduce the charges against domenic davis and mr. drum. this last summer they attacked the man. the man died a few days later, davis and drummer pleaded not guilty in the case. the berkeley city council wants to welcome guantanamo bay detainee's to move to their city. tonight city council members will consider a proposal to provide one or two detainee's to resettle in berkeley. however, federal law prohibits the transfer of guantanamo detainees. we'll have more on that story coming up. a news conference that's going on right now regarding the barge sinking in san francisco let's listen in. >>reporter: we believe a minimal amount of oil was released. we believe less of a gallon is a good guess at this point. we do know full potential of 3,800 gal. is on board the barge. we believe most of the or all of the tanks are completely intact. what was released was all residual oil or floated up due to flooding of the vessel itself. tremendous actions by the responsible party at this point at dewatered the vessel. were still working on removi

. >> mr. davis is recognized. >> thank you for joining us today. i would like to switch subjects to a different area that is returned from the standpoint of job creation and job sustainment and that is to talk about unemployment insurance. could you tell us who pays unemployment insurance taxes. >> i'm sure you know this based on your question. if you are an economist you have a more complex answer to that because ultimately the economy as a whole pays those taxes. >> ultimately comes out of someone's pocket. >> the direct emphasis is on businesses. some say -- and won't give you a more complicated -- >> the next question is as have you ever pay an employer these taxes? i have. i have written the checks every quarter. >> i have been in the public sector all my life. i have helped manage substantial organizations. >> no fault in that but it gives a different context. the reason i want to clarify that is the administration's budget describes your unemployment insurance proposals offering $9 billion in relief to employers through 2013 and subsequently

mrs. davis. >> thank you, mr. chairman. we applaud you for your extraordinary service. i want to add my voice as well. you said this was your last budget? >> as far as i know. >> given that, several of my colleagues are asking questions that you can take out of your minutes. what is it that concerns you the most whether it is in the budget or outside the budget? did you speak a bit to the disconnect you see between what the needs are and what the budget actually reflects? it is a little of the "what keeps you up at night" question. is there anything in particular you would like us to focus our attention on? >> i will take a crack at it. as i look at the future, there has been a discussion today about structure. i worry in the longer run that we align our structure with the national security requirements we have. at some point in time with the structure we have, we will have to start saying that there will be some stuff we have to stop doing. i worry about refitting from these wars. we will get two years of all time in the next few years, but we are not really reset for

mr. speaker, i rise to speak against this amendment. the davis-bacon act requires workers on federally funded construction projects be paid no less than the wages paid in the community for similar work. sounds fair. the davis-bacon act prevents the federal government, a large, influential construction owner from using precious tax dollars to undercut local wage standards for its investments in construction work. those against davis-bacon say it drives up costs, not so. why don't we deal with facts for a change? davis-bacon has no effect on colt cost of construction. study after study reveals productivity makes up for any additional labor costs, essentially eliminating any cost savings if the law was repealed. in other words, projects using highly skilled workers often cost less than those using low wage, low-skilled workers. opponents claim the government can save billions by eliminating davis-bacon protections ignore productivity, safety, and the economic benefits which contribute to the real cost-effectiveness of davis-bacon. in addition, the d

mr. davis is recognized. >> thank you, mr. chairman.mbassador kirk, before i ask you my question, i'd like to comment briefly on the japan post insurance issue which i know you're aware of which is a matter of serious concern to many of us on the committee. members of both parties are watching closely to see how the japan post privatization is handled. this issue is very important to u.s. insurance companies. i know you've worked hard to encourage japan to reform japan post in a manner consistent with its wto obligations, and i'm concerned that the privatization efforts to date may not be fully in be compliance with its commitments. mr. ambassador, we support your efforts and hope you can achieve a successful resolution to this issue soon. i'll be submitting a question for the record pertaining to this important issue. but for my question today i'd like to come back a little closer to how many to some of the agreements that have already been touched on. i'd like to hear your thoughts on the geopolitical aspects of panama and colombia. t

mr. davis: thank you, mr. speaker. and i rise in strong opposition to the kline amendment. and although i know that career colleges play an important role in the higher education, i cannot support this amendment and i cannot support it because the scope of the prohibition is too broad and the timing of this amendment, that is prior to the release of any final regulation preempts the traditional regulatory authority. together, the amendments' comprehensive ban on the department's ability to implement, administer or enforce any current, pending or future regulation of gainful employment inappropriately and prematurely restricts the responsibility of the administration to regulate institutions of higher education. in the many meetings i have had with career college stake holders, each one of them have admitted that they are bad actors. despite this uniform recognition, this amendment would tie the hands of the department of education from any effort to jourge these schools to improve their -- encourage these schools to improve their practices and protect . i support career col

mr. davis. >> thank you, mr. chairman and secretary gates and chairman mullen. i think we all applaud you for your service and i want to add my voice as well. since he said secretary gates that this is your last project i believe also chairman mullen -- is your last budget as well? >> as far as i know. >> given that, several of my colleagues have had questions that ask you to take out your note. and what is the concerns you the most, whether it's in the budget are outside the budget? and i wonder if you could speak a bit to any disconnect that you see between what the needs are and what the budget actually reflects. it's a little of the what keeps you up at night question, but i would hope that this is your final if there's anything from particular you'd like to focus our attention on it may not have been missed. >> all take a crack at it. i look at the future, there's been a discussion today about force structure in a word in the long run i think we're okay, but a word in the long run do we align our force structure with the national security requirements we ha

officials have threatened to withhold billions of dollars in aid to get mr. davis freed.will learn more today about the 2001 anthrax attacks when the national research council releases its report on the science the fbi used in its investigation of the attacks that killed five people. the fbi sought the independent review because of skepticism about its findings that the late army researcher bruce ivins acted alone in sending the deadly powder in the mail. the fbi concluded that the parent material of the anthrax spores used in 2001 came from a single flask in his laboratory at fort detrick, maryland. the news conference will be available later today on our website, c-span.org. those are some of the latest headline on cspan radio. >> when i was sworn in as president, i pledge to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term. the budget i am proposing today meets that >> pledge> president obama sent a $3.70 trillion budget which would reduce the budget by over one trip dollars trillion over the next three years. what reaction from house and senate members online at th

thompson of mississippi and to acknowledge our new members, mr. daviss, spears of california and mr. richman of louisiana. we are delighted to have the opportunity to serve the american people on this particularly important committee. mr. chairman, let me first congratulate you on your chairmanship of the transportation and security subcommittee and let me say that i look forward to working with u.s. we have done before during this congress and as we work together to ensure that the transportation security administration as the tools and resources it needs to secure all modes of transportation, including aviation, mass transit, passenger freight rail, hybrids and pipelines, but additionally make note of the fact that every american, mr. chairman, is used about a transportation that we have responsibility over at some point in their life. it is a large and looming challenge to ensure the transportation mode of this nation. in a thank you for the opportunity to work with you. let me also welcome as i indicated to get a new members on both sides of the ais

thompson of mississippi and to acknowledge our new members, mr. davis of illinois, spears of california and mr. richman of louisiana. we are delighted to have the opportunity to serve the american people on this particularly important committee. mr. chairman, let me first congratulate you on your chairmanship of the transportation and security subcommittee and let me say that i look forward to working with u.s. we have done before during this congress and as we work together to ensure that the transportation security administration as the tools and resources it needs to secure all modes of transportation, including aviation, mass transit, passenger freight rail, hybrids and pipelines, but additionally make note of the fact that every american, mr. chairman, is used about a transportation that we have responsibility over at some point in their life. it is a large and looming challenge to ensure the transportation mode of this nation. in a thank you for the opportunity to work with you. let me also welcome as i indicated to get a new members on both sides

mr. davis: i move to strike the last word. i rise in strong opposition to h.r. 1, which cuts the heart out of safety net programs which sustain and help sustain the most economically challenged and most vulnerable individuals and families in our society. of particular concern to me are the maternal and child health programs, community development block grants, cuts to legal assistance services, education and training, the low-income energy assistance program known as liheap and others which sustain the most vulnerable, the most disadvantaged, the most disjointed and in many instances, the most helpless and most hopeless members of our society. i'm obviously concerned about health services in a real sense, because if you have all of these other problems and then you're sick on top of it and have no way of taking care of yourself, then you have no way of addressing the other needs that you have. i have been involved with health services for more than 40 years. and i have had a good look at what we call community health centers,

i want to weigh in as mr. davis did on the issue of japan. it is an important issue to my constituency. we have gone back and forth on that foreign number of years. i hope you will continue to vigorously pursue that issue. let me take us to an issue that is important here. our friends on the other side suggested repeatedly that there have been delays constructed into these hefty as. in many ways the easiest bilateral was panama. the problem was the complication adopted by the assembly speaker who murdered an american soldier. was alleged to have murdered an american soldier. the bush administration correctly pull back on that bilateral because of that human rights violation. we can say as mr. louis pointed out dismiss certain bad behavior with human rights if it is a republican president and it not to be a consideration if it is a democratic president. that is the point mr. lewis and i were trying to shop with you. give us an update where we are with panama bilateral and what happened with domestic politics that might ensure an easier path to

ambassador, i want to weigh in with mr. davis said another important issue to my constituency in the run back and forth with ustr for a number of years and i hope that you are going to continue to vigorously pursue that issue in terms of reform. i can, mr. ambassador, tickets to an issue important here. our friends on the other side jested reputedly the first emblaze the we've constructed into these fta's. in many way, the easiest bilateral was panama. on the problem was the problem offered by the assembly speaker who murdered an american soldier and was alleged to have murdered an american soldier. the bush administration correctly pulled back on the bilateral because of the human rights violation. so we can't say that we are going to have mr. lewis point out, dismissed by behavior with human rights if it's a republican president and mrs. human rights to be a consideration if it's a democratic president. that is the point mr. lewis and i were trying to shop with you. could you give us an update on where we are with the panama bi

>> mr. davis-- an employee of the embassy and he was granted diplomatic immunity under the vienna convention. what we are saying very clearly is that he needs to be released in accordance with those treaties, which applied to the personnel of countries, not just the united states, but pakistan, and every other country that participates in in those important trees. it is a fundamental principle that cannot be compromised. >> this man was working for the central intelligence agency. >> what we're talking about here is the fact that he was perceived by the pakistan the government as an employee of the state of the embassy of the united states embassy, and had the protections of the vienna convention. that needs to hold true and he needs to be released. >> [inaudible] is there any guidance white house officials gets about the way and it is appropriate to meet off-campus with lobbyists? >> this administration has taken extraordinary actions to be transparent. this question stems from a story that was a

. >> mr. davis is recognized. >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for joining us today, mr. secretary. i would like to switch subject to a different area and that is to talk about unemployment insurance. could you tell us who pays unemployment insurance taxes? >> as you bet, businesses pay the unemployment insurance taxes. >> as an economist, you can get a more complex answer than that. >> ultimately comes out of someone's pocket. >> some people would say -- >> have you ever been an employer and pay these taxes? i have. i have written the checks every quarter. >> i have been in the public sector all my life. but i have helped manage substantial organizations of people. the administration's budget page 184 describes your unemployment proposal offering relief through 2013. tax hikes to only $67 billion over the next decade. if you were an employer, as i was, paying those checks and was looking at long-term capital investment forecast try to decide whether to hire or not hire, would you think that getting $9,000 in relief now in exchange for $67,000 tax tab in the future throug

welcome to davis's worst nightmare, mr. hollywood jumped to cleveland. nbapurgatory. they believed they were getting the guy great with warrior buzz the often lethargic davis, baron going to cleveland. and off the court monty ellis back holding another feed the children event. the foundation provided 400 families with boxes of food and items. in addition to being a top scorer he's very civic minded and helps the needy in the community. >> terrific job he's doing witness. thank you. >> that is this edition of abc 7 news. >> from all of us here, thanks for joining us. >> and hope to see you again at 9:00 and 11:00. well this year our garden's simply amazing. how did you do it? eh, takes a lot of love. the real difference is, this year we went to lowe's. well all our lowe's garden club select plants are grown for your local region and selected for peak performance. we get new plants delivered throughout the week and we guarantee our plants and flowers for one whole year. and nobody beats our prices. nobody. so it wasn't me? well, you provided the love. [ male announcer ]

mr. davis: thank you, mr. chairman. i simply rise to concur with the last group of speakers who have indicated that they were in opposition to this amendment. i have worked with individuals in the state of illinois for the last several years. my congressional district runs right along lake michigan. and we have had a tremendous amount of effort to try and resolve this problem. it has not been resolved, and i would plead for more time, more study, more opportunity to come up with the resolution that works for all of the great lakes area, not just for some to the debt riment of other -- detriment of others. i strongly oppose this amendment and yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana rise? mr. pence: i rise to strike the requisite number of fish. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. pence: thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for allowing that moment of levity. i do rise today in opposition to the amendment offered by my friend an

mr. danny davis of illinois for today, and mr. young of florida for today. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the requests are granted. the speaker's announced policy of january 5, 2011, the gentleman from missouri, mr. akin, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. under the speaker's announced policy of january 5, 2011, the gentlewoman from the virgin islands, mrs. christensen, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. mrs. christensen: i'm pleased to lead this special order for this hour on behalf of the congressional black caucus and have some of my distinguished colleagues join me. but as we begin this special order to call attention to the travesty the republican leadership is proposing and the cuts that they will be trying to enact for the balance of this year, i want to say something to begin to put these cuts into a particular perspective. i'm sure that everyone is aware that today is vietnamen fine's day, a day -- is valentine's day, a day in which we supposedly celebrate love. as the