Date: 2007-06-13
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman. it is amazing because a lot of us sat here last night until 2 in the morning and watched the Republican minority file motion after motion for us to rise so we wouldnt take up a Homeland Security bill that has no earmarks. What they did was slow us down on tryingto have a bill passed by October 1. which they have had trouble when they were 12 years in the majority. That is why we had to live under continuing resolutions. and continue to live under one because of their governance last year. The Homerand Security bill has 300 new Border Patrol agents. It would be nice on October 1 if this bill was signed into law so we would have those Border Patrol agents on the border. in our airports and in our ports. They are delaying the planning for the first responders. whether in the city of Houston where I come from. or the State of Texas where my three collealues who spoke earlier on how bad earmarks were. or the bill provides protection from explosive systems for our airports. including DallasFort Worth and Houston. This is delaying $400 million for port security. including the Port of Houston. the number one foreigntonnage port. We are doing some great things in the Port of Houston. It is because we put the community together. the business community and all government agencies. Republican and Democrats. I wish we could see that in Washington. But we didnt see that last night. We saw delay after delay in not taking up this bill. So we are putting it off so they can make a point of how bad earmarks are. But the House Republicans dont want to- talk about those issues. They want to talk about how they want to bring the light of day into earmarks. Well. for 12 years they didnt want the light of day in earmarks. They were the king. They were the emperor of earmarks. I have watched for many years what happened over those 12 years with the earmarks and the ones that were shut out in the minority. I think what they are concerned about is that wemay do to them what they did to the Democrats for 12 years. but that is not our intent. All we want -is to be able to see them. the public. I have requested earmarks. and I am proud to say I have received them for our district. I dont mind publicizing them. In fact. I will do it in any manner required. instead of airdropping them in like they previously did in the appropriations bills. I think that conversion we saw. maybe it started with the November election. but we are seeing it now. that conversion is. almost as amazing as Sauls conversion on the road to Damascus. from Saul being a persecutor of Christians to becoming Paul. the Lord works in mysterious ways. but I dont think it is so mysterious. I think what we are seeing is after 12 years of being dictators in this House. now they are afraid the same rules are going to be used against them. For 3 years. I have requested $250.000 in an earmark for a prenatal machine to treat mothers. poor mothers. to be able to get a new piece of equipment so we can do prenatal planning. $250.000. Health and Human Services has stripped out Democratic earmarks for a number of years. I dont intend to do that. I am not an appropriator. but I hope our Appropriations Committee doesnt do that. I am not ashamed to say that I asked for that earmark again this year for that prenatal machine. Or for $250.000 for a diabetes program in Harris County to help what our local community is doing. I have asked for $250.000 for immunizations. The reason we have earmarks is that I dont want to appropriate all that money and send to Health and Human Services. and say. by the way. I sure would like you to help diabetes and immunizations in Harris County in Houston. Texas. Or maybe help pay for part of a machine for prenatal care. Mr. Chairman. do I still control the tittme on the floor of the House?