Pressure the Agency
The floor debate can present opportunities to pressure the agency into paying attention, or at least considering what the issue may be that prompted floor action. An example illustrates this point:
Mr. BEREUTER: ... I have an amendment Number 20 which would stop the ... copper rule. I am not going to offer it, because of my concern of what it would do in some places where the copper rule needs to be applied. I have heard the assurances of the gentleman from California and the gentleman from Florida and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis, appropriations subcommittee chair) of the appropriations subcommittee, and I take those assurances for cooperation. And next year, I will be back to cut the $15 million out of the administrator's office, a very tempting target, if necessary." (Congressional Record, H6574, July 29, 1998.)
Very polite and innocuous sounding, but which agency official won't take notice of a major or complete cut of their immediate staffs and office's budget, including their own salaries?