[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 7, 1995)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D301-D302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page D301]]
                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 13 public bills, H.R. 1142-1154; and 2 private bills, 
H.R. 1155 and 1156 were introduced.
  Pages H2810-11
Reports Filed: The following reports were filed as follows:
  H. Res. 93, providing for the consideration of H.R. 450, to ensure 
economy and efficiency of Federal Government operations by establishing 
a moratorium on regulatory rulemaking actions (H. Rept. 104-45).
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
designates Representative Waldholtz to act as Speaker pro tempore for 
today.
  Page H2721
Recess: House recessed at 10:28 a.m. and reconvened at 11:00 a.m.
  Page H2729
Attorney Accountability Act: By a recorded vote of 232 ayes to 193 
noes, Roll No. 207, the House passed H.R. 988, to reform the Federal 
civil justice system.
  Pages H2735-49
  Rejected the Conyers motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Judiciary with instructions to report it back forthwith containing an 
amendment that inserts new language in section 2 that requires courts 
to award reasonable costs and legal fees to the prevailing party if it 
determines that (1) the losing party's position was not justified, (2) 
imposing fees and expenses on the losing party would be just, and (3) 
the prevailing parties costs of such fees and expenses is substantially 
burdensome and unjust; requires the plaintiffs and or their attorneys 
in class actions to post a security for payment of the defendant's 
costs and legal fees; requires a party seeking reimbursement to apply 
within 30 days of final judgment; that permits courts to use their 
discretion in determining how much to award; places no limits on the 
courts' ability to award costs pursuant to other provisions of law; 
requires the court to award the prevailing parties reasonable fees and 
expenses in discovery proceedings unless special circumstances make 
such an award unjust; and prohibits plaintiffs from withdrawing from or 
voluntarily dismissing an action in order to evade the ``loser pays'' 
provisions.
Pages H2747-49
  Agreed to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Page H2747
Rejected:
  The Burton of Indiana amendment that sought to reduce from 100 
percent to 25 percent the prevailing party's cost and legal fee 
requirement under the ``loser pays'' provision; and to increase the 
portion of liability the court may increase the reimbursement above 25 
percent if it considers the loser was unreasonable in rejecting the 
last offer (rejected by a recorded vote of 202 ayes to 214 noes, Roll 
No. 204);
Pages H2735-40
  The Conyers amendment that sought to exempt civil rights cases from 
the mandatory sanctions on attorneys for making frivolous arguments 
(rejected by a recorded vote of 194 ayes to 229 notes, Roll No. 205); 
and
Pages H2740-44
  The Bryant of Texas amendment that sought to limit the ``loser pays'' 
provisions to cases brought against small businesses as defined under 
section 3 of the Small Business Act (rejected by a recorded vote of 177 
ayes to 244 nays, Roll No. 206).
Pages H2745-46
Securities Litigation Reform Act: House completed all general debate on 
and began consideration of amendments on H.R. 1058, to reform Federal 
securities litigation. Consideration of amendments will resume on 
Wednesday, March 8.
  Pages H2760-79
Agreed To:
  The Cox of California amendment that prohibits the use of the RICO 
statute, which provides for treble damages in cases where patterns of 
violations exist in any civil case involving securities fraud (agreed 
to by a recorded vote of 292 ayes to 124 noes, with 1 voting 
``present'', Roll No. 209); and
Pages H2770-79
  The Fields of Texas technical amendment.
Page H2779
  H. Res. 105, the rule under which the bill is being considered, was 
agreed to earlier by a recorded vote of 257 ayes to 155 noes, with 1 
voting ``present,'' Roll No. 208.
Pages H2750-59
Committees To Sit: The following committees and their subcommittees 
received permission to sit on Wednesday, March 8, during the 
proceedings of the House under the 5-minute: Committees on Banking and 
Financial Services, Economic and Educational Opportunities, Government 
Reform and Oversight, House Oversight, International Relations, 
National Security, and Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Page H2780
Quorum Calls--Votes: Six recorded votes developed during the 
proceedings of the House today and appear on pages H2739-40, H2744, 
H2746, H2749, H2759, and H2778-79.
Adjournment: Met at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 11:13 p.m.

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