Contributing to this nation. I ask my colleagues to consider h. R. 592 and how we can make it better. So that it can go forward and help the places of worship, i thank you and i yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. I wish to yield four minutes to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Smith. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Smith i thank the gentleman for yielding, i thank the gentlelady for her strong and passionate remarks, i want to thank congresswoman meng for her support of this bill. Let me say a couple of points to my colleagues, i will be submitting for the record a fine seasonal sis for tissue analysis for the beckett fund for religious liberty, a law firm that has done yomans work on this yoemans work on this, they have written a statement to us members of congress by its leaders, it points out, not only does the establishment clause not support femas not giving aid too religious organizations. Eric russbalk and Daniel Blumberg have offered a contribution to this debate. Ms. Meng mentioned this earlier and it bears repeting, in letters of support for h. R. 592, harvard professor says, religious institutions may receive government aid if it is in the context of a broadly Available Program that are newt with criteria neutral toward religion and poses no religious favoritism. He says once fema has a program in place to aid building reairs, houses of worship should not be exempt from receiving this aid. This is all the more important given the neutral role we have seen houses of worship play without regard to religion to those afflicted in the wake of sandy and countless previous disasters. Federal Disaster Relief aid in the form of social insurance and means of helping battered communities get them back on their feet. Churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship are an essential part of the recovery process. Religious lib tir scholar, madam speaker, professor douglas lacoc wrote a letter endorsing h r. 5 2 writing that charitable contributions to places of worship are tax deductible, even though the tax benefits to the donor are like a matching grant from the government. These deductions have been uncontroversial because they were included without discrimination in a much broader category of all not for profit organizations devoted to charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes. The neutral category here is equally broad. To include places of worship in Disaster Relief is neutral. To exclude them would be affirmatively hostile. There is no constitutional obstacle to including them. So says again professor lacoc of the university of Virginia School of law, a preeminent expert on these matters. Houses of worship are an irreplaceable part of the pab fabric of our communities. Like any other private Nonprofit Organization, their recovery is essential to the recovery of neighborhoods, towns and states. They should not be excluded from Community Programs that ensure community recovery, especially since they so selflessly provide assistance to all in need. This legislation, madam speaker, in conclusion, has been backed by a number of important organizations, including the union of Orthodox Jewish congregations of america, the United States conference of catholic bishops, National Association i ask for an additional 30 seconds. Mr. Barletta i yield the gentleman 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Smith the American Jewish committee has also supported it, the Family Research council, as i said earlier the beckett fund and so many others have written very extensive remarks in favor of it. I hope this will be a very strong support nor legislation. Its a malter of inclusion to stop current day, present day exclusion. I yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania had one minute remaining, one and a half minutes. Mr. Barletta i want to confirm, the gentleman from West Virginia has yielded back his time . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from West Virginia has yielded. Mr. Barletta i know firsthand what happens when disaster strikes at home. My tits constituents were affected by Tropical Storm lee. I want to commend the gentleman from new jersey for his hard work for constituents back home. Its time like this we need to come together in a bipartisan fashion to help americans who need that help. And with that, madam speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yield back the balance of his time. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 592 . Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Mr. Barletta spks madam speaker, i demand the mr. Barletta madam speaker, i demand the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. Those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise an remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having risen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause of rule 20, proceedings will resume on motions to suspend the rules previously postponed. Votes will be taken in the following order. H. R. 592, by the yeas and nays. H. R. 267 by the yeas and nays. The first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15minute vote. Remaining electronic votes will be conducted as fiveminute votes. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Barletta, to suspend the rules and pass h r. 592 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 529, a bill to amend the robert t. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance act to clarify that houses of worship are eligible for certain Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance on terms equal to other eligible private, nonprofit facilities and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill . Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 354, the nays are 72. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The house will be in order. The house will be in order. Would members please clear the well. For what purpose does the gentma leader, from california, seek recognition . Ms. Pelosi madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized, but the house is not in order. Please take your conversations off the floor. The house will be in order. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Pelosi thank you, madam speaker. I rise with great pride to pay tribute to a very distinguished american, a longtime member of the congressional staff, in fact a person who has served the congress for 38 years as a member of the staff. 30 of it for George Miller, eight as my assistant in the leadership office, John Lawrence. Im happy to pay tribute to him, im sad because john will be, i dont know if the word is retiring, but he will be leaving service in the capitol. He has always been a great proponent of science, technology, and innovation, and as he concludes his service to the house, it is only fitting to cite the words of alfred lord tennieson as inscribed on the lord tennyson as inscribed on the walls of the house science and technology committee. Quote, for i dipped into the future as far as human eyes could see, saw a vision of the world and all the wonder that would be. Over nearly four decades serving the congress, john has always kept his sights and his vision firmly on the future. He believed and he knew that the future is about investing in our children, supporting working families, strengthening the middle class. He knew that the future is about protecting our environment and preserving our planet for generations to come. John knew that the future of the house is strengthened by fellow Staff Members working in a bipartisan way. John has always respected the role the speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman will suspend. The house is not in order. The gentlewoman may continue. Ms. Pelosi thank you, madam speaker. John has always respected the roleplayed by our staff on the Education Committee and on the Natural Resources committee and the offices of the democratic leader and as my role as speaker of the house and as our distinguished speakers role as speaker today. Indeed, the staff look to him for leadership just as members look to him for guidance. In that spirit, this afternoon, my colleagues the speaker, thank you, mr. Speaker, for making this possible, the speaker and i will honor John Lawrence with theon w. Mccormack award of excellence on which as declared by former majority leader, then majority leader carl albert in 1970, quote, the name of the house employee who performs the most valuable service for the house will be inscribed. What a fitting tribute to John Lawrences 38 years of valuable service, extraordinary leadership and dedication to the future. We have had the privilege of honoring in a bipartisan way other members of the staff in the congress and johns name will bring luster to that list. Colleagues, please join me in thanking a dear friend, my former chief of staff, John Lawrence and now i yield to the speaker of the house, mr. Boehner. The speaker this is a day of mixed emotions for the house. John lawrence, his retirement means were losing a faithful public servant, one of our own. But we can all agree that john deserves some time off after 38 years of working here in the house. For those of you who may not know john, he is currently the longest serving staffer in the house. John and i have known each other for a long time. Since going back to my days as chairman of the education and work force committee. And i can safely say that it really didnt matter whether we were on the same side of the page or whether we had opposing views, he always handled it in the same way. With class and integrity. A real a real standup guy. John didnt just make an asset to George Miller but was also a great asset to leader pelosi. But it made him a great asset, i think, for the house as a whole and to the American People. So i know, my colleagues and i want to say to john, thank you for all of your service to this house. Were sorry to see you go but we want to wish you and your congratulations. Ms. Pelosi with the speakers permission, i acknowledge elijah lawrence, the teenage son of John Lawrence, and debra lawrence, who is with us in the chamber. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. Without objection, fiveminute voting will continue. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Whitfield, to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 267 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk Union Calendar number four, h. R. 267, a bill to improve hid ro power and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill . Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 422. The nays are zero. 2 3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Would members please clear the well of the house . Will the house please come to order . Would members please clear the well of the house . Would the house please come to order . For what purpose does the gentleman from california rise . Madam speaker, by the direction of the democratic caucus, i offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the resolution. The clerk House Resolution 64, resolved, that the following named members be and are hereby elected to the following Standing Committees of the house of representatives one, committee on agriculture, mr. Garamendi. Two, committee on the budget, mr. Blumenauer, to rank immediately after mr. Car daneas. Three, committee on oversight and government reform, mr. Welsh, to rank immediately after mr. Danny k. Davis of illinois. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The speaker pro tempore the chair will entertain oneminute speeches. The house will be in order. The chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. The speaker pro tempore are there any further oneminute requests . Under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2013, the gentlewoman from california, ms. Speer, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee ms. Spier, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Ms. Speier thank you, mr. Speaker. This afternoon we will talk about gun violence prevention and in particular how the National Rifle association has systematically unwound laws that have already been on the books. You know, last night the president referenced the fact that since the horrific death at sandy hook there have been 1,000 more people that have died due to gun violence. It is not good enough to wear a green ribbon in support of the sandy hook families and think you have done enough. Times have changed and the polling thats been done is overwhelming in support for sensible gun violence prevention laws. And lets be clear at the outset, the heller decision by the u. S. Supreme court has made it very clear. Mr. Speaker, can we have some quiet on the floor, please . The heller decision made it very clear. Every american has the right to own a gun for Recreational Purposes or to have a gun in their home for purposes of safety, and that is not going to change. We embrace that decision. We support it. But we also support safe laws around the use of guns. So let us begin by looking at this. A survey done very recently, 92 support background checks for all gun purchases, including 91 of gun owning households. 89 support closing the gun show loophole by requiring background checks for all gun purchases. 69 support banning the sell of semi automatic military style assault weapons. 81 favor prohibiting highrisk individuals from having guns, including those convicted of serious crime as juvenile or convicted of violating Domestic Violence restraining orders. So frank luntz, the republican pollster, polled n. R. A. Members and nonn. R. A. Members who were gun owners and where did they find out and what did they find out . 85 of gun owners and 87 of gun owners believe that they can coexist. Thats what we are talking about. 87 of gun owners and 74 of n. R. A. Members support requiring background checks of anyone buying a gun. Were talking about that right now. But in a couple minutes im going to show you how that has changed among the leadership in the n. R. A. 53 of gun owners and 57 of the n. R. A. Members mistakenly believe that everyone has to pass a background check. 80 of gun owners, 79 of n. R. A. Members support requiring background checks of gun retailers. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. Ms. Speier mr. Speaker, can you ask that members take their conversations off the floor . The speaker pro tempore members, please take your conversations out of the chamber. Ms. Speier support barring people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns. It surprises most people that they can in fact buy guns. All right. Lets move on. Lets talk about the c. E. O. Of the National Rifle association. What did he say in 1999 . In 1999 after the cull up bine shootings, columbine shootings, when so many children lost their lives at columbine high school, he said, we think its reasonable to provide mandatory instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show, no loopholes anywhere for anyone. Thats what he said. What did he say after 20 children and six adults lost their lives in newtown at sandy hook . In 2013 he says at a Senate Hearing when senator leahy says you do not support background checks in all instances at gun shows. We do not because the fact is the law right now is a failure the way its working. None of it makes any sense in the real world. We are living in the real world and the real world would suggest to everyone that a commonsense law is to have a universal background check for much. Lets for everyone. Lets look at the next time we saw a flipflop by mr. Wayne la pierre. Again the point being here that the n. R. A. Leadership does not reflec