[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 64 (Thursday, April 6, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4374-H4378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 244, PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995

  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I call up the conference report on the 
Senate bill, S. 244, to further the goals of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act to have Federal agencies become more responsible and publicly 
accountable for reducing the burden of Federal paperwork on the public, 
and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McInnis). Pursuant to the rule, the 
conference report is considered as read.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
Monday, April 3, 1995, at page H4093.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. 
Clinger] will be recognized for 30 minutes, and the gentleman from 
Minnesota [Mr. Peterson] will be recognized for 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Clinger].
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to bring to the floor today the 
conference agreement on the reauthorization of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act. It is the first reauthorization since the act expired in 1989.
  The House version, I would remind my colleagues, of this bill was 
approved by an overwhelming vote, a unanimous vote, of 418 to nothing. 
The conference report very closely resembles the excellent provisions 
which were included in our original bill. There are several provisions 
which I would just like to discuss for the Record.
  First, the conference bill reauthorizes the appropriation for the 
Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, so-called OIRA, for 6 years, OIRA is the key office 
responsible for implementing the provisions of the Contract With 
America's regulatory reduction goals which are moving through this 
Congress. OIRA had a permanent authorization which I had hoped the 
other body would accept. Six years, however, which is what is provided 
in the conference report, should provide OIRA with a
 significant authorization to implement the regulatory reforms called 
for by the Contract With America.

  Second, the bill strengthens the requirements of existing law to 
ensure that agencies develop low-burden, better-quality collections of 
information that in particular reduce the compliance requirements and 
paperwork costs for small businesses. This is clearly a very 
meritorious objective, to take away some of this overwhelming burden 
that we have imposed on small businesses over the years in the form of 
regulatory requirements.
  Third, it overturns the 1990 Supreme Court case of Dole versus the 
United Steel Workers of America, which thereby restores the full 
coverage of the Paperwork Reduction Act over third-party disclosure 
requirements, which was originally included in this act.
  Fourth, Mr. Speaker, and most importantly, the conference bill 
protects the public by providing citizens with a complete legal defense 
if agencies refuse to participate in a clearance process involving 
public notice and comment, public protection, and OIRA review. This 
provision is based on the very excellent amendment which was offered on 
the House floor by our colleague, the gentleman from Idaho, Mr. Mike 
Crapo.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, the legislation mandates a paperwork reduction 
goal of 10 percent for the next 2 years, as proposed in the committee 
amendment offered by our colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, 
Mr. Jon Fox.
  The remainder of the bill was discussed at length during 
consideration of the House-passed bill on February 22. As I say, those 
were the only changes that were implemented in this conference report, 
so I would encourage all Members to support this conference report.
  Let me conclude my remarks by expressing my appreciation to those 
who 
[[Page H4375]] helped in drafting this bill and the conference report. 
In addition to all of my committee members, I particularly appreciate 
the efforts of the House conferees, the gentleman from New York, John 
McHugh, the gentleman from Indiana, David McIntosh, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania, Jon Fox, the gentlewoman from Kansas, Jan Meyers, the 
gentlewoman from Illinois, Cardiss Collins, the gentleman from 
Minnesota, Collin Peterson, and the gentleman from West Virginia, Bob 
Wise.
  I also want to thank the Senate conferees,
   Senators Bill Roth, Bill Cohen, Thad Cochran, John Glenn, and Sam 
Nunn; and, finally, express my deep appreciation to the staff of the 
conferees who worked so tirelessly to produce this much-needed 
reauthorization of OIRA, the first in 6 years.

  Therefore, again, I would just encourage all Members to support 
enactment of this report, and continue the good work of our 
predecessors who started the drafting of this legislation back in 1980. 
It is overdue.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report for S. 244, 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This legislation received broad 
bipartisan support in both houses, and the conference committee has 
reported a stronger bill.
  Mr. Speaker, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 reflects the 
sentiment that sometimes, Federal agencies ask for too much paperwork 
from large and small businesses alike. Agency officials, often highly 
specialized in the programs they administer, require information, 
surveys, and questionnaires that place a substantial burden on 
companies while providing benefits that are not always apparent.
  The Paperwork Reduction Act sets up a check by reauthorizing the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of 
Management and Budget to review all information collection requests 
before they are approved.
  It is OIRA's job to approve information requests only if the 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility. OIRA must also ensure that the requests have 
been open for public comment and that legitimate concerns are 
addressed. These requirements stem from the recognition that 
information requests are often time consuming and costly to comply 
with.
  The Paperwork Reduction Act also authorizes another important 
function, that of providing Government information to the public. The 
bill charges OIRA with overseeing the dissemination of information to 
the public by agencies, as well as providing central guidance for 
public access to that information.
  It must oversee agency efforts to provide privacy, confidentiality, 
security, disclosure, and the sharing of Government information. These 
are very important policies that cannot be left to the whims of 
individual agencies.
  Mr. Speaker, the conferees made substantial improvements to the bill 
as reported by the House. Let me briefly describe those changes.
  First, the House bill had made the Office of Information and 
Regulatory and Affairs within OMB a permanent office with permanent 
authorization. That would have given away Congress' ability to 
regularly review OIRA by not requiring OIRA to justify and defend its 
operations during reauthorization hearings.
  OIRA, because of its pivotal role in the regulatory process, has been 
at the center of controversy since its inception in 1980. 
Reauthorization hearings allow Congress to closely examine how this 
Office is working, whether you believe it has too much influence or not 
enough control over agency regulations. To give permanent authorization 
would have resulted in ceding a key congressional function to the 
executive branch, which I know is something the 104th Congress is fond 
of doing.
  Fortunately, the conference committee recognized the need for regular 
review of this Office, and agreed to a 6-year authorization.
  Second, the conferees dropped a provision in the House bill 
authorizing the head of OIRA to waive statutory requirements that 
agencies not charge more than their marginal copying costs for making 
Government information publicly available.
  This world have been a sharp departure from the policy that while 
agencies are allowed to charge the actual cost of copying Federal 
records, they cannot subsidize their operating budgets through higher 
fees.
  This would have resulted in far higher costs for public libraries, 
the public interest community, and the information industry, and 
therefore the conference committee wisely rejected this change.
  In addition, the Senate bill contained two provisions eliminating 
hundreds of statutorily required reports. The conference committee 
dropped these provisions.
  Mr. Speaker, both houses included a provision requiring workplace 
safety notifications required by Federal regulatory agencies to be 
submitted for OMB clearance. This provision, which overturns a Supreme 
Court decision, leaves workers at the mercy of politicians instead of 
safety experts. I would have preferred that his new provision be 
dropped, but because it was included in both bills, it was retained.
  I would hope that OMB would use its new authority only with a view 
toward paperwork, and not as a mechanism to overturn statutory 
requirements for full disclosure of safety hazards at the workplace.
  I would like to commend Chairmen Clinger and Roth, Senator Glenn, and 
all the other conferees for quickly resolving all of these issues and 
reporting back a bill that all of us can support.
                              {time}  1515

  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Martini], a very valued freshman member of the committee.
  Mr. MARTINI. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, first I would like to compliment the chairman and the 
other members who worked on this conference report. I rise today to 
express my support for the Paperwork Reduction Act conference report.
  Mr. Speaker, the era of big taxing, big spending, and Big Government 
is finally over. The taxers, the takers, and Government rulemakers are 
out of business. Congress is taking steps to reduce the size and scope 
of the Federal Government.
  As a member of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, I 
have worked to get Government off the back of business both large and 
small.
  This act will reduce the paperwork burden that hinders both large and 
small business across our Nation. By decreasing Government paperwork, 
we will allow companies to do what they do best, expand their 
businesses and create jobs.
  The Council on Regulatory Information Management has estimated that 
American businesses spend over 10 billion hours a year meeting Federal 
paperwork requirements. This is simply unacceptable. By easing 
paperwork requirements, small businesses will now be able to better 
compete in the global market and in the 21st century.
  Mr. Speaker, in a recent meeting of business leaders of the Eighth 
Congressional District of New Jersey, my constituents complained of the 
noose that Washington puts around their necks and their businesses' 
necks.
  Mr. Speaker, they have spoken and we have listened. We made a 
contract with the American people and I am proud to say that we have 
stood firm and delivered today. This important legislation is the first 
step toward returning common sense to Government regulation, and I urge 
support of the conference report.
  Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Tauzin].
  Mr. TAUZIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report. We went 
through a very elaborate debate on this floor regarding regulatory 
reform. The extraordinary effort this House has made to change the way 
in which agencies of this Government regulate businesses 
[[Page H4376]] and entities and individuals in our society is, I think, 
historic. I hope, indeed, that before this session gets too much older, 
we can see a conference report on those regulatory reform bills. They 
are critical to the future success of this country and to a new 
relationship between the Government and those people in this country 
who created it and who expect their Government to start serving them 
again instead of being their master.
  Paperwork reduction is a key component of that. Reauthorizing this 
act, improving it, strengthening it, giving the OMB additional 
authorities to cut down on the level of paperwork required in business 
and industry and small business and by individuals in our society is a 
key element of regulatory reform. More and more people in small 
business tell me it's not so much the regulation, it's not so much 
having to comply, it's the enormous paperwork, the reporting we have to 
do, not to one agency but to 5, 6, 7, 10 agencies on the same activity.
  The load of paperwork, the load of extra, unproductive work done in a 
small business to comply with regulations just in paperwork is 
crippling our productivity. This conference report will give us a 
chance to complete, if you will, that effort in regulatory reform, not 
only to change the way in which regulations are made in this country 
but hopefully one day to lower the level of reports and paperwork 
required of small businesses and individuals in our society.
  I urge my colleagues to adopt this conference report.
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Idaho [Mr. Crapo] for the purposes of a colloquy.
  Mr. CRAPO. I thank the gentleman the chairman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, before I begin my colloquy, I would like to mirror the 
comments of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle about the 
importance of this historic opportunity to bring regulatory reform to 
the forefront in the Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I comment the chairman of the committee and Subcommittee 
Chairman David McIntosh and House Small Business Committee Chairwoman 
Jan Meyers for bringing this conference report to the floor. I strongly 
support the conference report and believe it will provide immediate 
benefits to business across the country.
  In that regard, I am particularly pleased that the final version of 
this legislation contains an amendment offered by myself, and 
Congressman Tom DeLay and David McIntosh, which passed unanimously on 
the House floor, that expressly provides for the enforcement mechanism 
implicit in section 3512 as it was originally enacted by Congress in 
1980, and, therefore, put teeth in the public protection provisions of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act. This should end any confusion which may 
exist in the courts and Federal agencies about how section 3512 was 
originally intended to work by codifying existing law.
  Mr. Speaker, is it your understanding that the amendments made to 
section 3512 are intended to clarify that a penalty imposed by a 
Federal agency based on failure to comply with an information request 
that does not bear on OMB control number is not enforcable, and had 
always provided the public with the right to petition the agencies or 
courts for complete relief at any time during the agency or court 
review process to eliminate the effects of any penalty.
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, let me say 
that the gentleman is correct. The conference report is intended to 
clarify that it is the intent of Congress that section 3512 requires 
agency information collection requests applicable to 10 or more members 
of the public to be submitted to OMB and receive a valid control 
number. If not, the public need not respond, no may it be subjected to 
any penalty for failing to comply with such an unenforceable collection 
of information.
  Mr. CRAPO. I thank the chairman of the committee. If the gentleman 
would respond to one more question, I would like to ask, is it the 
chairman's understanding that section 3512 will become effective as of 
October 1, 1995, and will apply to all cases then pending before the 
Federal agencies or the courts?
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is absolutely correct. As of 
October 1, 1995, the defense provided in section 3512 is available at 
any time in an ongoing dispute.
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox], another very valued freshman member of the 
committee.
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 244, 
the Paperwork Reduction Act. I want to thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Clinger] for his initiative on this issue.
  This legislation is long awaited and takes the necessary steps to 
help Federal agencies reduce their paperwork and better utilize 
information technology. It sets a goal of 10-percent paperwork burden 
reduction for fiscal year 1996 and 1997 and a 5-percent goal 
thereafter. This is an attainable goal.
  Passage of this legislation is imperative in keeping our reform goals 
and serving as active players in the information age. Therefore, I ask 
my colleagues to give full support to this important bill.
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Kansas [Mrs. Meyers], the chairman of the Committee on Small Business 
who was a conferee on this measure and made many valuable contributions 
to the production of this bill and particularly recognizing the burden 
that we had placed on small business over the years. She has been a 
real tiger protecting their interests.
  (Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of nearly all the small 
business organizations across the country who have for 6 years 
supported efforts to enact the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and on 
behalf of the Small Business Committee, I want to proclaim hallelujah. 
There has been a lot of hard work that has gone into this. Everyone can 
feel proud that the job has been done well.
  This is very strong legislation we are sending to the President. It 
is a good bill. It establishes a solid legislative framework to reduce 
the burdens of regulatory paperwork on small business and the American 
public generally.
  I want to particularly acknowledge the work of the broad-based 
Paperwork Reduction Act coalition, a group of some 70 organizations. 
They were led by the U.S. Chamber, the National Federation of 
Independent Businesses, the National Association of Manufacturers, 
National Small Business United, Citizens for a Sound Economy, and the 
Council on Regulatory and Information Management. The coalition was 
most helpful in ensuring this bill had bipartisan support.
  It is worth noting Mr. Speaker, that this legislation benefited from 
a 418-to-0 vote in the House; a 99-to-0 vote in the Senate. There was 
not a single vote of opposition. That sends a strong signal from 
Congress to the executive branch that they want the tools in this act 
used vigorously to reduce the burdens of regulatory paperwork.
                              {time}  1530

  We have in this bill now a 6-year organization that is a target of 10 
percent for 2 years, and 5 percent after that of reduction of 
paperwork; a provision that if paperwork is required, the regular 
regulation must state how long it must be kept. And I think that is 
very important because we could save millions in this country. There 
are people paying for storage of paperwork all over this country that 
we could probably do without.
  The public protection provision of this act has been strengthened, 
and we have the amendment of the gentleman from Idaho [Mr. Crapo] to 
thank for that. The feature of the law is intended to help the public 
self-police the commonsense management principles contained in the law. 
If, for example, a recordkeeping requirement does not display an OMB 
control number, then no one can be penalized for failing to comply if a 
control number is displayed that shows the agency has checked for 
[[Page H4377]] duplication, allowed for public comments, and submitted 
a justification for OIRA review and approval.
  This is particularly important, Mr. Speaker, for small business. 
Paperwork is difficult for all business. The costs are enormous. The 
Paperwork Reduction coalition thinks that 10 billion hours and $510 
billion are spent every year doing paperwork. It is particularly 
difficult for small business because they frequently do not have an 
office manager or other personnel to handle it.
  I am very grateful, I am proud to be a conferee on this bill, and I 
urge strong support of S. 244.
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Davis], another member of our committee, a 
freshman who is chairman of our District of Columbia Committee who has 
done valiant work in that area. Even today he has been doing valiant 
work in that area.
  Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to once again congratulate Chairman Clinger for 
shepherding yet another bill through both bodies and being able to send 
it on to the President for signature.
  The House action has really succeeded in this with the following: We 
are authorizing appropriations for the OIRA for 6 years, we are 
establishing clear guidance for agencies to follow in developing good 
quality but low-burden forms, including the need to seek public comment 
before submitting the form to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs for review. We are focusing specific attention to the need for 
agencies to the extent practicable and appropriate to reduce reporting 
burdens on small business, including the use of techniques set forth in 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act. We have included third-party-disclosure 
requirements in the definition of collection of information, returning 
this act to its original intended scope by overturning the Supreme 
Court Dole versus Steelworkers decision, and it has agencies give added 
attention to the management of information technology in performing 
agency missions.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I want to congratulate Chairman Clinger and 
other Members who made this possible, and I am proud to get up here 
today and support it.
  Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests 
for time. Again I urge my colleagues to support S. 244.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to congratulate all who 
have been so involved in this effort--especially Chairman Clinger and 
Ranking Member Congresswoman Cardiss Collins.
  The Paperwork Reduction Act has been unauthorized since 1989. Some 
look at that fact as justification for the permanent authorization that 
was included in the House version of this bill.
  I disagree, and offered amendments both in committee and on the floor 
to limit the period of reauthorization.
  Happily, the Conference Committee agreed with me and placed a 6-year 
sunset on this legislation.
  We have made a number of new initiatives in this bill--a new and 
higher goal on reducing paperwork; specific paperwork reduction goals 
for each agency; new information dissemination policy; new policy on 
statistics; and increased responsibility for agencies in incorporating 
public comment.
  The 6 year authorization included in this conference report will 
allow us to revisit these initiatives to determine their effectiveness.
  Frankly Mr. Speaker, there are a number of groups that are not to 
particularly happy with this bill.
  Statisticians feel that the section on statistical policy should be 
stronger.
  Librarians are concerned that the principles of public access to 
government information could be stated more strongly.
  Businesses that specialize in repackaging government information want 
their access to that information more clearly defined.
  For each of these groups and many others, reauthorization will 
provide the opportunity to make their case again.
  It assures a continuing role of and by the public in the legislative 
process.
  Furthermore, as technology improves, this legislation may well become 
seriously outdated. We cannot predict the impact of the information 
revolution.
  Reauthorization will force us to keep information policy up with 
technology.
  I am pleased that the conference committee agreed to a limited 
authorization for this bill. The Paperwork Reduction Act is a crucial 
piece of our public information policy and it is important that we not 
let it get out of date.
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I also have no further requests for time. I 
urge a unanimous vote for this very good conference report to 
reauthorize OIRA for a 6-year period.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McInnis). Without objection, the 
previous question is ordered on the conference report.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the conference report.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently, a quorum is not present.
  The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 423, 
nays 0, answered ``present'' 2, not voting 9, as follows:

                             [Roll No 299]

                               YEAS--423

     Abercrombie
     Allard
     Andrews
     Archer
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baesler
     Baker (CA)
     Baker (LA)
     Baldacci
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barr
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Bateman
     Beilenson
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berman
     Bevill
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Bliley
     Blute
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonior
     Bono
     Borski
     Boucher
     Brewster
     Browder
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Brownback
     Bryant (TN)
     Bryant (TX)
     Bunn
     Bunning
     Burr
     Burton
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Canady
     Cardin
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Chenoweth
     Christensen
     Chrysler
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clinger
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coburn
     Coleman
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (IL)
     Collins (MI)
     Combest
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cooley
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crapo
     Cremeans
     Cubin
     Cunningham
     Danner
     Davis
     de la Garza
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     Dellums
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Dornan
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Durbin
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Emerson
     Engel
     English
     Ensign
     Eshoo
     Evans
     Everett
     Ewing
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fawell
     Fazio
     Fields (LA)
     Fields (TX)
     Filner
     Flake
     Flanagan
     Foglietta
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fowler
     Fox
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (CT)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Frisa
     Funderburk
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Gejdenson
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Geren
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gonzalez
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Green
     Greenwood
     Gunderson
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Hancock
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Hefner
     Heineman
     Herger
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hoke
     Holden
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hunter
     Hutchinson
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Istook
     Jackson-Lee
     Jacobs
     Jefferson
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (SD)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Johnston
     Jones
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kasich
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MA)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kim
     King
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klink
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lantos
     Largent
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Laughlin
     Lazio
     Leach
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lightfoot
     Lincoln
     Linder
     Lipinski
     Livingston
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Longley
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luther
     Maloney
     Manton
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Martinez
     Martini
     Mascara
     Matsui
     McCarthy
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDade
     McDermott
     McHale
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntosh
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek
     Menendez
     Metcalf
     Meyers
     Mfume
     Mica
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Mineta
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Molinari
     Mollohan
     Montgomery
     Moorhead
     Moran
     Morella
     Murtha
     Myers
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Neumann
     Ney
     Norwood
     Nussle
     [[Page H4378]] Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Orton
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Parker
     Pastor
     Paxon
     Payne (NJ)
     Payne (VA)
     Peterson (FL)
     Peterson (MN)
     Petri
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Poshard
     Pryce
     Quillen
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Reed
     Regula
     Richardson
     Riggs
     Rivers
     Roberts
     Roemer
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rose
     Roth
     Roukema
     Royce
     Rush
     Sabo
     Salmon
     Sanders
     Sanford
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Scarborough
     Schaefer
     Schiff
     Schroeder
     Schumer
     Scott
     Seastrand
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Shuster
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Solomon
     Souder
     Spence
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Stockman
     Stokes
     Studds
     Stump
     Stupak
     Talent
     Tanner
     Tate
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Tejeda
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thornberry
     Thornton
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Torkildsen
     Torres
     Torricelli
     Towns
     Traficant
     Tucker
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Volkmer
     Vucanovich
     Waldholtz
     Walker
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Ward
     Waters
     Watt (NC)
     Watts (OK)
     Waxman
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     White
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Williams
     Wilson
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wyden
     Wynn
     Yates
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)
     Zeliff
     Zimmer

                        ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--2

     Becerra
     Roybal-Allard
       

                             NOT VOTING--9

     Ackerman
     Chapman
     Dickey
     Frost
     Ganske
     Pelosi
     Pickett
     Rangel
     Reynolds

                              {time}  1552

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD changed her vote from ``yea'' to ``present.''
  So the conference report was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  

                          ____________________