Legislative Program

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague for yielding.

The schedule next week: On Wednesday, the House will meet at 12 p.m. for morning hour; 2 p.m. for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.

On Thursday, we will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and 12 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business.

Next week, we will be considering a continuing resolution, very important, to fund the government. We know the fiscal year concludes on September 30. It is something that we have to get done.

It is also our expectation that we may consider legislation to reform the STOCK Act. And then we will also consider bills under suspension of the rules. A complete list of suspension bills will be announced by the close of business tomorrow.

Of course, additional legislative items are possible.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JEFFRIES. The Senate has apparently moved for cloture on Tuesday. So, one, it is our expectation that we are going to have an opportunity to vote to make sure that we fund the government beyond September 30.

In terms of legislative text, the negotiations are ongoing. I think everyone is working in good faith. I am thankful for the leadership on our side of Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro.

We have a responsibility to make sure that we keep the government open, and we intend to keep that responsibility.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JEFFRIES. Well, there are ongoing negotiations in good faith. There have been several exigencies that have arisen; but I don't have visibility into the actual, precise nature of the negotiations right now.

As I mentioned, on our end, certainly they are being handled by Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro; but I know those negotiations are progressing. We expect that an agreement is going to be reached, hopefully, in the next few days. Then, of course, the gentleman will have an opportunity, as will all Members, to review the legislative text.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JEFFRIES. Well, that is a decision that ultimately will be made by the Speaker, in consultation with other members of leadership, but being guided by the public health professionals. The Capitol Physician has guided the decision up until this point in terms of the public health emergency that we have been under and what the appropriate protocols are to make sure that we are being responsible.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JEFFRIES. Well, I think the gentleman raises a very important observation that the American people expect us to lead. I think during the 117th Congress, that is absolutely what has been done.

We have led by passing the American Rescue Plan; saved the economy from perhaps collapsing into a recession, if not worse; put shots in arms, money in pockets, kids back in school. We have led by passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, creating millions of good- paying jobs, fixing our crumbling bridges, roads, and tunnels.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman asked the question. I am just responding.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I think, one, we have been operating under a public health emergency. But in the constraints of that, again, following the guidance of the public health professionals, that is how we have been operating.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I think he has yielded the time to me, so I can yield it back to him at the appropriate time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, again, we are going to follow the public health guidance.

Out of courtesy, we are having this colloquy, but we can't have a colloquy if the gentleman is dissatisfied with my answers and such that he is consistently not permitting me to respond. I will be happy to respond to any questions if we are going to have a colloquy.

I think what is clear, if the point is, are we leading, correct, we are leading. As I mentioned, we are leading on the American Rescue Plan. We are leading on infrastructure investment. We are leading on standing up for our veterans, leading on public safety, leading on passing gun safety legislation, leading on----

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source