Providing for Consideration of House Joint Resolution 105, Further Continuing Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2011

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. POLIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Resolution 1776 provides a closed rule for the consideration of H.J. Res. 105, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2011, and for other purposes.

The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the joint resolution except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that the joint resolution shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against provisions of the joint resolution. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit the joint resolution with or without instructions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of approving a continuing resolution to maintain a level and consistent funding stream for our government.

This resolution is aptly numbered ``1776,'' a patriotic number for a patriotic bill that will allow government to continue its normal operations until midnight, on Tuesday, to give the Senate a chance to complete its deliberations.

I could take this opportunity to share the frustration of our colleagues at the inability of the Senate to complete its work in a timely manner; but in the spirit of the season, Mr. Speaker, I will simply say that we must pass this continuing resolution to allow the Senate to continue its important work and deliberations to create either a longer term continuing resolution or an omnibus appropriations package that will allow the regular business of government to keep the people of America safe to continue.

I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. POLIS. I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I could certainly discuss how the House has passed two appropriations bills this year--the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill and the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, while the Senate has not passed a single appropriations measure. Last year, the House passed all of the appropriations measures.

I could certainly also discuss how, in the 12 years that the Republicans controlled the House, there were a number of years when not a single regular appropriations measure was enacted by October 1--in 1996, in 2002, and in 2003. In fact, in those 12 years, CRs were enacted 84 times.

Again, Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of the season, in the spirit of charity, and in the spirit of our colleagues' desire to complete their work in this body, I will simply say that it is critical for the basic functions of government to continue over the next 5 days, particularly during this travel season.

Where would we be on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year if we cut off funding for our air marshals, which the failure of this bill would ensue?

Just yesterday, I was proud that this body passed and sent to the President a bill to keep taxes low for all Americans. I supported this bill, along with 139 of my Democratic colleagues and 138 of my Republican colleagues. In voicing their support for the legislation, many of our friends on both sides of the aisle cited the need for certainty and stability.

Well, Mr. Speaker, this bill before us today provides certainty and predictability for the basic functions of the Federal Government until next Tuesday, at midnight, by which point we will undertake a longer term continuing resolution or other measure to allow for the basic functions of government to continue.

I call upon my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source