[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 58 (Thursday, May 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, during rollcall vote No. 167, an 
amendment on H.R. 2442, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, 
I would have voted ``yea.''
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to commend my colleagues on 
the Public Works and Banking Committees for their work on bringing this 
long awaited reauthorization legislation to the floor.
  The Economic Development Administration has played an important role 
in diversifying North Dakota's economy. The regional planning councils 
in my State, which received EDA planning grants, have been crucial in 
coordinating economic development efforts. Communities with a low 
population density and a small tax base rely on the regional councils 
for their planning and technical expertise.
  In addition, many successful projects have received EDA funding in 
North Dakota:
  The expansion of Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing, a small family-
owned manufacturing business. This expansion created jobs for an area 
suffering from the downturn in the oil industry in the late 1980's.
  The construction of an industrial park offered the needed sewage and 
water services for a farmer-owned pasta company. EDA funding helped 
make an agriculture commodity into a processed product and further 
diversify my State's economy and created over 100 jobs.
  While I support authorizing EDA, I have some strong reservations 
regarding the grant eligibility requirements. My State is mostly rural, 
sparsely populated and dependent on agriculture and the energy 
industry.
  The economic downturns experienced in my State are not just one event 
like a plant closing. North Dakota's economy is affected by the weather 
and the price of oil. Our economic stress tends to be more gradual and 
widespread. I am concerned whether the criteria of major economic 
dislocation would apply to my State.
  North Dakota's unemployment rate is historically lower than the 
national average because people leave the State in search of job 
opportunities. Consideration of unemployment figures only does not give 
sufficient weight to the economic effects of gradual outmigration.
  I realize this bill allows grants for high outmigration as pockets of 
distress. Unfortunately, these pockets of distress are eligible to 
compete for only 35 percent of EDA's total appropriation. I am sure 
there are many other districts like mine which are in desperate need of 
EDA assistance but do not fit the distress criteria.
  I call on the other body to make adjustments in these eligibility 
requirements. I cannot support final passage of this authorization if 
it does not recognize the diverse needs of rural America.
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Chairman, as we come to final passage, I urge my 
colleagues to vote for the bill.
  While some excellent amendments were rejected, other amendments have 
strengthened and improved this legislation.
  I especially commend to my colleagues the amendment that would make 
it easier for small businesses to utilize our federally paid-for 
research and development.
  This amendment will not cost any new Federal money and, if Congress 
is vigilant, won't create any vast new bureaucracy.
  We also voted on abolishing both the Economic Development 
Administration and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
  The House clearly intends to continue these agencies under the 
reforms and other provisions of their reauthorization legislation.
  Nevertheless, Congress must be vigilant in its oversight of the EDA 
and ARC.
  We must be sure that reforms in targeting the funds and leveraging 
them with private, State, and local funds and efforts are, in fact, 
carried out.
  Congress must ensure that the EDA defense conversion funds are 
utilized and expedited to the communities struggling with base 
closings.
  The EDA and ARC must be made keenly aware that Congress in watching.
  On behalf of the minority members of the Banking Committee, I thank 
my colleagues on the Public Works Committee for their cooperation in 
bringing this bill before the House.
  The debate has been wide-ranging and enlightening.
  I thank the majority members of both the Banking and Public Works 
Committee and their staff assistants for their cooperation and 
information during consideration of this bill.
  While I have reservations about the ARC and other provisions, I urge 
my colleagues to vote for this amended legislation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the reauthorization of 
the Economic Development Administration [EDA]. EDA is an important 
agency that contributes significantly to economic growth and job 
expansion. Clearly, EDA fulfills a key function in providing State and 
local governments, nonprofit organizations, and public institutions 
with vital economic grants and technical assistance. This 
reauthorization is a demonstration of our commitment to see that EDA 
has the capacity to serve those who depend on its resources.
  Over the years, EDA has proven to be a valuable source of economic 
assistance for regions all over the United States. EDA provided a total 
of $301.8 million in 1993 to various organizations across the country. 
This assistance was in the form of public works grants to public and 
private nonprofit organizations and technical grants and assistance to 
enable communities and firms find solutions to problems that inhibit 
economic growth.
  EDA also provided planning grants to States, cities, districts, and 
Indian reservations and special economic adjustment assistance to help 
State and local governments solve recent and anticipated severe 
adjustment problems, including defense conversion assistance.
  I know that my home State of Maine has benefited from EDA funding. 
Last year, EDA provided economic assistance for 12 projects in Maine 
totaling over $2.5 million. Some of these projects assisted with EDA 
funds include the expansion of the international and domestic arrivals 
terminals at Bangor International Airport and the Eastport cargo 
facilities. EDA assistance has helped finance Maine businesses and 
developed revolving loan fund programs, as well. In short, Maine, like 
many areas of the country, benefits tangibly from EDA resources.
  Mr. Speaker, as we consider reauthorizing EDA for the first time 
since 1982, we cannot overlook its valuable contributions to 
communities all across this Nation. I am very much aware of the 
economic benefits for which EDA is responsible for in Maine. I hope my 
colleagues can see what EDA does for their States and districts and 
join me in supporting its reauthorization.
  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to support the 
bill extending the Economic Development Administration today and I 
strongly oppose efforts of some Members to eliminate or reduce EDA 
funding. Instead of debating the termination of EDA or reducing help to 
distressed communities, we should be celebrating the fact that the 
House is debating the issue. For 12 long years, economic development 
assistance for distressed communities was held hostage by 
administrations in Washington who had scant concern for the millions of 
jobless Americans in areas like Detroit.
  For many communities, and especially for my home community of 
Detroit, EDA programs are as important today as they were in 1965 when 
the EDA was established. In my district, EDA grants support a number of 
economic development activities, including FOCUS: HOPE, a project which 
I recently visited with President Clinton that has been cited as a 
model for job retraining.
  Some today are touting the economic recovery and cite the recovery as 
a reason for cutting or eliminating EDA programs. I say to those who 
promote this view, to those who see no need for EDA, ``Come to Detroit. 
Come and see what the face of joblessness really looks like.''
  When the U.S. Postal Service advertised in Detroit that they were 
giving an exam to determine eligibility for future employment, 20,000 
people waited in line all day in the freezing cold. Unemployment among 
African-Americans hovers at 19 percent, more than double that of 
others. As basic manufacturing jobs diminish and our economy becomes 
more high tech, African-Americans are becoming even more disadvantaged 
in the job market.
  This is why I am shocked that we are even debating elimination of EDA 
funds. Efforts to reduce funding for economic development projects must 
be soundly rejected. I say to my colleagues who would eliminate 
funding, ``The recession may be over in your district, but in mine it 
rages on.''
  This is no time to be cutting economic development funds. To the 
contrary, we need to be strengthening these programs until the economic 
recovery comes to every community. I am pleased that in the Public 
Works Committee we were able to put special emphasis on pockets of 
poverty within cities.
  I have introduced legislation to dramatically increase funds to 
distressed communities for economic development, and I have introduced 
a bill to provide job training for the unemployed. I worked to create 
empowerment zones. I supported the school-to-work bill.
  I invite every Member who would cut the EDA to visit Detroit, to talk 
to the people who want to work, to talk to those whose jobs are gone, 
to visit FOCUS: HOPE, and to see a city that needs this bill. If you 
did, I am sure you would agree that the EDA is not a Washington 
boondoggle. It can and does make a real difference in many communities.
  I am working to pass this bill and I hope my colleagues will join me.
  The CHAIRMAN. Are there further amendments to come before the 
committee?
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of 
words.
  Mr. Chairman, I take this moment to congratulate the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Economic Development of the Committee on Public Works 
and Transportation, as well as the ranking Republican member, on the 
splendid work they have done in fashioning a bill that has brought 
together such broad bipartisan support, as EDA has done throughout its 
many years of functioning and successful operation.
  I especially take this time to note the impending retirement of the 
chief counsel of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Carl Lorenz. 
Carl has served the Committee on Public Works and Transportation for 
well over 25 years. We first became acquainted when he came on board 
the committee staff as a junior attorney, and I was the administrator 
of the staff of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, 
coming here from Baltimore, having worked with the former chairman, 
George Fallon, and then under John Blatnik's leadership as chairman of 
that subcommittee, and years later I transformed from a staff member to 
a Member of Congress and Carl and I worked together when I chaired the 
Subcommittee on Economic Development.
  Carl epitomizes for all of my colleagues, I say, in the House, who 
know the splendid work and support that we have from our staff, he 
epitomizes the professionalism, the dedication to duty, the carrying 
out of policy that is set by the Chair and by the members of the 
committee. He has never blurred that distinction.
  Carl has always served the committee to the highest degree of his 
ability, and given 110 percent. Many are the long hours in the evening 
and the long Saturdays and Sundays that he dedicated to his commitment 
to his career service of economic development.
  Carl, we will miss you greatly. I shall miss a friend, and I shall 
miss a colleague and a professional of the highest order. 
Congratulations on a job and a career truly superbly undertaken.
  Mr. MINETA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
  (Mr. MINETA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. MINETA. Mr. Chairman, just as the very distinguished gentleman 
from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar] who just preceded me has served long and 
well on the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, both as a 
former staff member and now as a very distinguished Member of the 
Congress, I would like to take this time to recognize and congratulate 
also Mr. Carl Lorenz, who is the counsel and staff director of our 
Committee on Economic Development.
  Members may have noticed an extra lightness in Carl's step, or caught 
him whistling a tune. It is for good reason. Carl has decided to shed 
the pressures of Capitol Hill and retire after a long and distinguished 
career in government. Having joined the Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation in 1962, Carl served originally as associate counsel to 
our Subcommittee on Federal Aid Highway Programs before moving on to 
Economic Development. He has since labored to protect and promote the 
ideals and practical necessities of developing our Nation's 
infrastructure.
  Carl has been a valued member of the Public Works team and a special 
friend to us all. On behalf of the members and staff of the committee, 
I wish Carl and his wife Nancy a happy and healthy retirement, which I 
am sure will include many hours at his beach house. Mr. chairman, after 
32 years of government service, it is richly deserved.
  Mr. Chairman, we all wish Carl good health and Godspeed.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the committee amendment in the 
nature of a substitute, as amended.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, 
was agreed to.
  The CHAIRMAN. Under the rule, the Committee rises.

                              {time}  1354

  Accordingly the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore [Mr. 
Bonior] having assumed the chair, Mr. Torres, Chairman of the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that that 
Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2442) to 
reauthorize appropriations under the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965, as amended, to revise administrative 
provisions of the Act to improve the authority of the Secretary of 
Commerce to administer grant programs, and for other purposes, pursuant 
to House Resolution 420, he reported the bill back to the House with an 
amendment adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is 
ordered.
  Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment to the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute adopted by the Committee of the Whole?
  If not, the question is on the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third 
reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.


                             recorded vote

  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 328, 
noes 89, not voting 15, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 168]

                               AYES--328

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Andrews (ME)
     Andrews (TX)
     Applegate
     Bacchus (FL)
     Bachus (AL)
     Baesler
     Baker (CA)
     Barca
     Barcia
     Barlow
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Bateman
     Beilenson
     Bentley
     Berman
     Bevill
     Bilbray
     Bishop
     Blute
     Boehlert
     Bonior
     Borski
     Boucher
     Brewster
     Brooks
     Browder
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Bryant
     Bunning
     Buyer
     Byrne
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Canady
     Cantwell
     Cardin
     Carr
     Chapman
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clinger
     Clyburn
     Coleman
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (IL)
     Collins (MI)
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Coppersmith
     Costello
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Cunningham
     Danner
     Darden
     de la Garza
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeLauro
     Dellums
     Derrick
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dickey
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Dooley
     Dunn
     Durbin
     Edwards (CA)
     Edwards (TX)
     Emerson
     Engel
     English
     Eshoo
     Evans
     Everett
     Ewing
     Farr
     Fazio
     Fields (LA)
     Filner
     Fingerhut
     Fish
     Foglietta
     Ford (MI)
     Ford (TN)
     Fowler
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (CT)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frost
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Gallo
     Gejdenson
     Gephardt
     Geren
     Gibbons
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Glickman
     Gonzalez
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Green
     Greenwood
     Gunderson
     Hall (OH)
     Hamburg
     Hamilton
     Harman
     Hastings
     Hayes
     Hefner
     Herger
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hochbrueckner
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Horn
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Huffington
     Hughes
     Hutchinson
     Hutto
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Inslee
     Jacobs
     Jefferson
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (SD)
     Johnston
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klein
     Klink
     Kopetski
     Kreidler
     LaFalce
     Lambert
     Lancaster
     Lantos
     LaRocco
     Laughlin
     Lazio
     Leach
     Lehman
     Levin
     Lightfoot
     Linder
     Lipinski
     Livingston
     Lloyd
     Long
     Lowey
     Machtley
     Maloney
     Manton
     Margolies-Mezvinsky
     Markey
     Martinez
     Matsui
     Mazzoli
     McCloskey
     McCrery
     McCurdy
     McDade
     McDermott
     McHale
     McHugh
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek
     Menendez
     Meyers
     Mfume
     Mica
     Miller (CA)
     Mineta
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Molinari
     Mollohan
     Montgomery
     Moran
     Morella
     Murphy
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Neal (MA)
     Neal (NC)
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Orton
     Owens
     Packard
     Pallone
     Payne (NJ)
     Payne (VA)
     Pelosi
     Peterson (FL)
     Peterson (MN)
     Pickett
     Pickle
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Poshard
     Price (NC)
     Quillen
     Quinn
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Ravenel
     Reed
     Regula
     Reynolds
     Richardson
     Roemer
     Rogers
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rose
     Rostenkowski
     Roth
     Roukema
     Rowland
     Roybal-Allard
     Rush
     Sabo
     Sanders
     Sangmeister
     Santorum
     Sarpalius
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Schenk
     Schiff
     Schroeder
     Schumer
     Scott
     Serrano
     Shaw
     Shays
     Shepherd
     Shuster
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slattery
     Slaughter
     Smith (IA)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (OR)
     Snowe
     Spence
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stokes
     Strickland
     Studds
     Stupak
     Sundquist
     Swett
     Swift
     Synar
     Tanner
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Tejeda
     Thomas (CA)
     Thompson
     Thornton
     Thurman
     Torkildsen
     Torres
     Torricelli
     Towns
     Traficant
     Tucker
     Unsoeld
     Upton
     Valentine
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Volkmer
     Vucanovich
     Walsh
     Washington
     Waters
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weldon
     Wheat
     Williams
     Wilson
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wyden
     Wynn
     Yates
     Young (AK)

                                NOES--89

     Allard
     Andrews (NJ)
     Archer
     Armey
     Baker (LA)
     Ballenger
     Barrett (NE)
     Barton
     Bereuter
     Bilirakis
     Bliley
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Burton
     Castle
     Coble
     Combest
     Cox
     Crane
     Crapo
     DeLay
     Doolittle
     Dornan
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     Fawell
     Fields (TX)
     Gekas
     Gilchrest
     Gingrich
     Goss
     Grams
     Hall (TX)
     Hancock
     Hastert
     Hefley
     Hobson
     Hoke
     Hunter
     Inhofe
     Istook
     Johnson, Sam
     Kasich
     Kim
     King
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kyl
     Levy
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (FL)
     Mann
     Manzullo
     McCandless
     McCollum
     McInnis
     McKeon
     McMillan
     Michel
     Miller (FL)
     Moorhead
     Myers
     Nussle
     Oxley
     Paxon
     Penny
     Petri
     Portman
     Pryce (OH)
     Ramstad
     Roberts
     Rohrabacher
     Royce
     Schaefer
     Sensenbrenner
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (TX)
     Solomon
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Stump
     Talent
     Thomas (WY)
     Walker
     Young (FL)
     Zeliff
     Zimmer

                             NOT VOTING--15

     Becerra
     Blackwell
     Flake
     Grandy
     Gutierrez
     Hansen
     Hoagland
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lewis (GA)
     Parker
     Pastor
     Porter
     Ridge
     Sharp
     Whitten

                              {time}  1418

  The Clerk announced the following pair:
  On this vote:

       Mr. Hoagland for, with Mr. Porter against.

  Mr. CARR of Michigan and Mr. BACHUS of Alabama changed their vote 
from ``no'' to ``aye.''
  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
reauthorize economic development programs under the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965 and the Appalachian Regional 
Development Act of 1965 for fiscal years 1994 through 1996, and for 
other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________