00:00Sure. Senator Merkley. I want to thank Senator Merkley for offering this amendment because this really is an important discussion. We had a good discussion last week, but I think it's important that we all remember the principle of a deal is a deal, and that means that this committee should not let our bipartisan bills written and voted on in this committee be undone later by a partisan proposal written by the White House.
00:24That just seems to me common sense for this committee as a whole, and I want to address the matter of jurisdiction. Senator Merkley referenced it a bit in his remarks, but we actually did a bill on the rescissions on the floor last week.
00:39It was referred to this committee, to the Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee was then discharged from further action on the floor along with budget, and every motion to recommit during the debate, and there were many, was to this committee appropriate.
00:54So those are the facts. Now, I acknowledge the budget committee also has a role here, but we have to be clear. Fundamentally, rescissions involve the work of this committee, and for that reason, I do think it's entirely appropriate for this committee to speak on this issue, which threatens our work, this committee's work, and hopefully address it on a bipartisan basis.
