[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 63 (Thursday, May 19, 1994)]
[Daily Digest]
[Page D]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 11 public bills, H.R. 4453-4463 were introduced.

                                                         Pages H3754-55

Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H.R. 1432, to establish missions for Department of Energy research 
and development laboratories, provide for the evaluation of laboratory 
effectiveness in accomplishing such missions, and reorganize and 
consolidate Department of Energy technology transfer activities, 
amended (H. Rept. 103-484 Pt. II);
  Conference report on S. 24, to reauthorize the Independent Counsel 
Law for an additional 5 years (H. Rept. 103-511);
  H.R. 1638, to amend the Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and 
Engineering Education Act of 1990 to establish the National Academy of 
Science, Space, and Technology at State universities, to expand the 
scholarship program associated with such Academy, and to direct the 
Administrator of General Services to construct a public building to 
provide space for the headquarters of such Academy (H. Rept. 103-512, 
Pt. I);
  H.R. 3724, to designate the United States courthouse located in 
Bridgeport, Connecticut, as the ``Brien McMahon Federal Building'' (H. 
Rept. 103-513);
  H.R. 3840, to designate the Federal building and United States 
courthouse located at 100 East Houston Street in Marshall, Texas, as 
the ``Sam B. Hall, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse'' 
(H. Rept. 103-514);
  H. Con. Res. 238, authorizing the use of the Capitol grounds for the 
Greater Washington Soap Box Derby (H. Rept. 103-515);
  H.R. 4453, making appropriations for military construction for the 
Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1995 (H. 
Rept. 103-516);
  H.R. 4454, making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 1995 (H. Rept. 103-517);
  H.R. 4425, to authorize major medical facility construction projects 
for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 1995, to revise 
and improve veterans' health programs (H. Rept. 103-518); and
  H.R. 4385, to amend title 23, United States Code, to designate the 
National Highway System, amended (H. Rept. 103-519).

                                     Pages H3697-H3704, H3735-36, H3754

Recess: House recessed at 9:32 a.m. and reconvened at 11:05 a.m.

                                                         Pages H3683-92

Black Lung Benefits: By a recorded vote of 252 ayes to 166 noes, Roll 
No. 186, the House passed H.R. 2108, to make improvements in the Black 
Lung Benefits Program.

                                               Pages H3707-21, H3721-35

  Rejected the Fawell motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Education and Labor.

                                                             Page H3734

  Agreed to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.

                                                             Page H3734

Agreed To:
  The Goodling amendment that requires that the amendments made by this 
Act shall not take effect unless the costs are fully offset in each 
fiscal year through fiscal year 1999 by changes to the Black Lung 
Benefits Program; and

                                                         Pages H3718-19

  The Hoekstra amendment that strikes language that makes the 
legislative history accompanying this bill controlling if, during a 
legal proceeding, the law is ambiguous as it pertains to this bill.

                                                         Pages H3725-26

Rejected:
  The Boehner amendment that sought to require that the provisions not 
take effect unless the total indebtedness of the Black Lung Disability 
Trust Fund is less than $600,000,000 (rejected by a recorded vote of 
189 ayes to 234 noes, Roll No. 181);

                                                         Pages H3716-18

  The Fawell amendment that sought to strike provisions which place 
restrictions on the amount of evidence each side may present in a black 
lung benefit case (rejected by a recorded vote of 181 ayes to 238 noes, 
Roll No. 182);

                                               Pages H3719-21, H3721-23

  The Armey amendment that sought to strike provisions that provide 
that the attorney's fees by the claimant be paid by the operator 
responsible if the determination is made by an administrative or 
judicial proceeding that a claimant is entitled to benefits (rejected 
by a recorded vote of 176 ayes to 250 noes, Roll No. 183);

                                                         Pages H3723-25

  The Fawell amendment that sought to strike provisions that enable 
claimants to keep all black lung benefit payments they receive while a 
final determination is being made regarding their eligibility;

                                                         Pages H3726-28

  The Barrett amendment that sought to establish a Federal Black Lung 
Advisory Committee to examine State worker compensation laws to 
determine if they include Black Lung as a compensable occupational 
illness, and whether there is a need for continuing the Federal Black 
Lung Program (rejected by a recorded vote of 162 ayes to 265 noes, Roll 
No. 184); and

                                                         Pages H3728-31

  The Boehner amendment that sought to strike provisions that provide 
that any claim filed, and subsequently denied, after January 1, 1982, 
may be refiled as a new case with full consideration of the case on its 
merits (rejected by a recorded vote of 166 ayes to 258 noes, Roll No. 
185).

                                                         Pages H3731-34

  H. Res. 428, the rule under which the bill was considered, was agreed 
to earlier by a voice vote.

                                                         Pages H3704-07

Defense Authorization: House continued consideration of H.R. 4301, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1995 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense; but came to no resolution thereon. 
Consideration of amendments will resume on Friday, May 20.

                                                         Pages H3736-46

  Agreed to the Frank of Massachusetts amendment that urges the 
President to enter into negotiations with host-nations in Europe that 
result in payment by allies of up to 75 percent of the non-defense 
salary costs of United States troops stationed in Europe; and directs 
the Department of Defense to reduce troop levels in Europe by 1,000 for 
each percentage point that the host nations don't contribute for 
nonpersonnel costs (agreed to by a recorded vote of 268 ayes to 144 
noes, Roll No. 187).

                                                         Pages H3736-46

Temporary Resignation: Read and accepted letters from Representatives 
Woolsey and Browder wherein they temporarily resign from the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology in order to serve on the Committee on 
the Budget.

                                                             Page H3746

Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on 
pages H3692 and H3721.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Seven recorded votes developed during the 
proceedings of the House today and appear on pages H3718, H3722-23, 
H3725, H3730-31, H3733-34, H3734-35, and H3745-46. There were no quorum 
calls.
Adjournment: Met at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:21 p.m.