[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 4554, AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, 
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1955

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4554) making appropriations for 
agriculture, rural development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
related agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
1995, and for other purposes, with Senate amendments thereto, disagree 
to the Senate amendments, and agree to the conference asked by the 
Senate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.


                Motion to Instruct Offered by Mr. Skeen

  Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct conferees.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Mr. Skeen moves that the managers on the part of the House 
     at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses 
     on the Bill H.R. 4554, be instructed to insist on the House 
     position on the amendments of the Senate numbered 43 and 80.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the gentleman from New 
Mexico [Mr. Skeen] will be recognized for 30 minutes, and the gentleman 
from Illinois [Mr. Durbin] will be recognized for 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Skeen].
  Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, my motion insists the House conferees sustain the firm 
position of the House to provide $914 million for the essential 
operations of the Food and Drug Administration.
  Second, Mr. Speaker, my motion instructs the House conferees to 
support and maintain the House provision giving the Farmers Home 
Administration the authority to create a loan guarantee program to 
provide rural rental housing for low- and middle-income recipients.
  I think that covers the intent of it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good motion. I support it.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in support of the motion 
by the gentleman from New Mexico. This motion would instruct House 
conferees to insist on inclusion in the conference report of the House-
passed provision providing $1 million for a Farmers Home Administration 
demonstration program of loan guarantees for multifamily rental housing 
in rural areas.
  On June 17, 1994, the House approved an amendment to H.R. 4554, made 
by this Member, to transfer $1 million from the 502 Direct Loan Program 
and reserve it for funding for a Rural Rental Guarantee Program. This 
50 project demonstration program to provide Federal loan guarantees for 
the development of multifamily rental rural housing is included in H.R. 
3838 which passed the Banking Committee on June 15, 1994. The amendment 
specified that the $1 million transfer would become available only upon 
the enactment of the authorizing legislation.
  The demonstration would finance 25 projects in each of fiscal years 
1995 and 1996 and would provide a 90-percent guarantee on loans made by 
private lenders to the developers of rental housing for five or more 
families.
  Current law provides direct loans for the development of rental 
housing for low- to moderate-income families. The demonstration program 
will provide for additional housing for moderate income families at a 
limited cost to the Federal Government. Unlike direct loans, which 
require appropriations of the whole amount of a loan, loan guarantees 
only cost the Federal Government the amount of defaults on private 
loans.
  This Member worked with Fannie Mae, the National Association of 
Homebuilders and the Rural Housing Council and others in creating this 
program. This new program is based on the highly successful existing 
502 middle-income loan guarantee program for individual homeownership 
in rural areas. This program has a default rate of only 1.59 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member is pleased that the House has shown the 
foresight to fund this program and urges his colleagues to support this 
motion to instruct to maintain the House position. This Member thanks 
the gentleman from New Mexico for offering this motion and urges its 
passage.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. WIthout objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the motion to instruct.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to instruct 
offered by the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Skeen].
  The motion was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the Chair appoints the 
following conferees: Mr. Durbin, Mr. Whitten, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Thornton, 
Ms. DeLauro, Messrs. Peterson of Florida, Pastor, Smith of Iowa, Obey, 
Skeen, and Myers of Indiana, Mrs. Vucanovich, Mr. Walsh, and Mr. 
McDade.
  There was no objection.

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