[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[Daily Digest]
[Page D]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: Twenty-one public bills, H.R. 4274-4294; one private 
bill, H.R. 4295; and two resolutions, H.J. Res. 360 and H. Con. Res. 
242, were introduced.

                                                         Pages H2638-39

Report Filed: One report was filed as follows: H. Res. 410, providing 
for consideration of H.R. 3221, to provide for the adjudication of 
certain claims against the Government of Iraq (H. Rept. 103-481).

                                                             Page H2638

Journal: By a yea-and-nay vote of 256 yeas to 161 nays, Roll No. 140, 
the House approved the Journal of Wednesday, April 20.

                                                         Pages H2585-86

Violent Crime Control: By a recorded vote of 285 ayes to 141 noes Roll 
No. 144, the House passed H.R. 4092, to control and prevent crime.

                                                      Pages H2593-H2613

  Rejected the McCollum motion to recommit H.R. 4092 to the Committee 
on the Judiciary with instructions to report it back forthwith 
containing an amendment intended to safeguard against racial 
discrimination in sentencing by ensuring that a defendant's or victim's 
race is not an admissible consideration in decisions to seek or impose 
criminal penalties; forbid the prosecutor or defense attorney from 
making statements before the jury that appeal to racial prejudice; 
allow a trial to be moved if an impartial jury cannot be assembled; and 
forbid racial quotas or statistical tests for the imposition of the 
death penalty (rejected by a recorded vote of 192 ayes to 235 ayes, 
Roll No. 143).

                                                         Pages H2605-08

Agreed To:
  The Hughes amendment, as modified, that requires the United States 
Sentencing Commission to submit a report to the Congress not later than 
December 31, 1994, on issues relating to sentences applicable to 
offenses involving the possession and distribution of all forms of 
cocaine; the different penalty levels which are ascribed to the form of 
cocaine involved in the offense for which sentencing is imposed; and on 
any recommendations the Commission may have for retention or 
modification of these differences in penalty levels (agreed to by a 
recorded vote of 424 ayes, Roll No. 141); and

                                                         Pages H2593-96

  The Franks of New Jersey amendment, as modified, that requires 
Federal prisoners who do not possess a high school diploma or its 
equivalent to earn a General Education Development (GED) certificate 
before they can be eligible for early (good behavior credit) release 
from prison; and that any exemptions from this GED requirement be at 
the discretion of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (agreed 
to by a recorded vote of 347 ayes to 82 noes, Roll No. 142).

                                                         Pages H2596-98

  Subsequently, pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 401, the House 
concurred in the Senate amendment to H.R. 3355, to amend the Omnibus 
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow grants to increase 
police presence, to expand and improve cooperative efforts between law 
enforcement agencies and members of the community to address crime and 
disorder problems, and otherwise to enhance public safety, with an 
amendment consisting of the text of H.R. 4092 as passed the House. 
Agreed to amend the title of H.R. 3355.

                                                             Page H2609

  The House then insisted on its amendments to the Senate amendment to 
H.R. 3355; and asked a conference. Appointed as conferees: 
Representatives Brooks, Edwards of California, Hughes, Schumer, 
Conyers, Synar, Moorhead, Hyde, Sensenbrenner, and McCollum.

                                                             Page H2609

  Rejected the McCollum motion to instruct House conferees to insist on 
the provision of the House amendment to the Senate amendment that 
authorizes $10.5 billion for grants to State prison construction and 
operation and agree to the provisions of the Senate that require States 
to change their laws to require that defendants serve at least 85 
percent of the sentence ordered (rejected by a recorded vote of 191 
ayes to 222 noes, Roll No. 145).

                                                         Pages H2609-13

  The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, cross-references 
and punctuation, and to make such stylistic, clerical, technical, 
conforming, and other changes as may be necessary in the engrossment of 
the House amendments to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3355.

                                                             Page H2613

Legislative Program: The Majority Leader announced the legislative 
program for the week of April 25. Agreed to adjourn from Thursday to 
Monday.

                                                             Page H2613

Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with Calendar Wednesday business 
of April 27.

                                                             Page H2613

Community Development Financial Institutions: House disagreed to the 
Senate amendment to H.R. 3474, to reduce administrative requirements 
for insured depository institutions to the extent consistent with safe 
and sound banking practices, and to facilitate the establishment of 
community development financial institutions; and asked a conference. 
Appointed as conferees:
  From the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, for 
consideration of the House bill, and the Senate amendment (except 
titles II and V), and modifications committed to conference: 
Representatives Gonzalez, Neal of North Carolina, LaFalce, Vento, 
Schumer, Frank of Massachusetts, Kanjorski, Kennedy, Flake, Mfume, 
Waters, LaRocco, Orton, Bacchus of Florida, Leach, McCollum, Roukema, 
Bereuter, Ridge, Roth, McCandless, Baker of Louisiana, and Nussle: 
Provided, That for consideration of section 348(b) of the Senate 
amendment, Representative Klein is appointed in lieu of Representative 
LaFalce.
  From the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, for 
consideration of title II of the Senate amendment, and modifications 
committed to conference: Representatives Gonzalez, Neal of North 
Carolina, LaFalce, Vento, Schumer, Frank of Massachusetts, Kanjorski, 
Kennedy, Flake, Mfume, Waters, Orton, Klein, Velazquez, Leach, 
McCollum, Roukema, Bereuter, Ridge, Roth, McCandless, Baker of 
Louisiana, and Nussle.
  From the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, for 
consideration of title V of the Senate amendment, and modifications 
committed to conference: Representatives Gonzalez, Neal of North 
Carolina, LaFalce, Schumer, Frank of Massachusetts, Leach, Bereuter, 
and McCollum.
  As additional conferees from the Committee on Education and Labor, 
for consideration of section 209 of the Senate amendment, and 
modifications committed to conference: Representatives Ford of 
Michigan, Williams, Clay, Kildee, Miller of California, Goodling, 
Roukema, and Fawell.
  As additional conferees from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
for consideration of sections 201-205, 207, 320, and 347 of the Senate 
amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives 
Dingell, Markey, Sharp, Swift, Collins of Illinois, Boucher, Manton, 
Lehman, Schenk, Margolies-Mezvinsky, Synar, Wyden, Richardson, Bryant, 
Moorhead, Fields, Bliley, Oxley, Schaefer, Barton of Texas, McMillan, 
Hastert, and Gillmor.
  As additional conferees from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
for consideration of sections 503-505, 507, and 706 of the Senate 
amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives 
Dingell, Markey, Collins of Illinois, Towns, Lehman, Moorhead, Stearns, 
and McMillan.
  As additional conferees from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for 
consideration of section 703 of the Senate amendment, and modifications 
committed to conference: Representatives Hamilton, Gejdenson, and 
Gilman.
  As additional conferees from the Committee on the Judiciary, for 
consideration of section 139 of the House bill, and sections 325, 408, 
and 409 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to 
conference: Representatives Brooks, Schumer, Edwards of California, 
Conyers, Hughes, Sensenbrenner, Smith of Texas, and Schiff.
  As additional conferees from the Committee on Small Business, for 
consideration of section 348(b) of the Senate amendment, and 
modifications committed to conference: Representatives LaFalce, Smith 
of Iowa, and Meyers of Kansas.
  As additional conferees from the Committee on Ways and Means, for 
consideration of sections 210 and 502-504 of the Senate amendment, and 
modifications committed to conference: Representatives Rostenkowski, 
Gibbons, Pickle, Rangel, Stark, Archer, Crane, and Thomas of 
California.

                                                             Page H2614

Late Report: Conferees received permission to have until midnight on 
Monday, April 25, to file a report on H.R. 2333, to authorize 
appropriations for the Department of State, the United States 
Information Agency, and related agencies, and to authorize 
appropriations for foreign assistance programs.

                                                             Page H2614

Farmers' Home Administration Claims: House passed S. 1930, to amend the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to improve the 
administration of claims and obligations of the Farmers' Home 
Administration--clearing the measure for the President.

                                                         Pages H2614-15

Technical Corrections: House passed S. 2005, to make certain technical 
corrections--clearing the measure for the President.

                                                             Page H2615

Public Service Recognition Week: House passed S.J. Res. 150, to 
designate the week of May 2 through May 8, 1994, as ``Public Service 
Recognition Week''--clearing the measure for the President.

                                                         Pages H2616-17

Presidential Messages: Read the following messages from the President:
  South Africa GSP Benefits: Message wherein he advises of his intent 
to add South Africa to the list of beneficiary developing countries 
under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)--referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means, and ordered printed (H. Doc. 103-243); and

                                                             Page H2617

  China trade in honey: Message wherein he advises of his decision not 
to afford import relief to China for the importation to the United 
States of honey--referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and 
ordered printed (H. Doc. 103-242).

                                                             Page H2617

Referrals: Two Senate-passed measures were referred to the appropriate 
committees.

                                                             Page H2637

Senate Messages: Message received from the Senate appears on page 
H2586.
Amendments Ordered Printed: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the 
rule appears on page H2640.
Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea-and-nay vote and five recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H2585-86, H2595-96, H2598, H2607-08, H2608, and H2612-13. There were no 
quorum calls.
Adjournment: Met at 11 a.m. and adjourned at 6:35 p.m.