[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 64 (Thursday, April 6, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4378-H4379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR LANGUAGE CLARIFICATION IN CERTAIN STATUTORY REFERENCES 
 RESULTING FROM CHANGES MADE IN THE REORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE AT THE 
                    BEGINNING OF THE 104TH CONGRESS

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 1421) to provide that references in the 
statutes of the United States to any committee or officer of the House 
of Representatives the name or jurisdiction of which was changed as 
part of the reorganization of the House of Representatives at the 
beginning of the 104th Congress shall be treated as referring to the 
currently applicable committee or officer of the House of 
Representatives.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, 
will the gentleman from California explain the purpose of the 
legislation?
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Further reserving the right to object, Mr. 
Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  What this bill does is attempt to conform the statutes that are on 
the books with the changes that were made at the beginning of the 104th 
Congress. As we know, there were three committees that were dissolved, 
there were significant restructurings in terms of jurisdictions, and 
all this bill does is to treat references to the old structure in 
public law as referring to the new structure. References to the old 
committees are to be treated as referring to the new committees.
  This is, in essence, a conforming bill. It does not make policy. 
Indeed, it simply conforms to policy that has already been passed 
allowing the new committees to reference themselves in the statutes 
that are already on the books.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill provides that references in public law to any 
committee or officer of the House whose name or jurisdiction was 
changed as a part of the reorganization of the House at the beginning 
of this Congress, shall be treated as referring to the currently 
applicable committee or officer.
  Mr. Speaker, on the first day of the 104th Congress, the new 
Republican majority lived up to its commitment to the American people 
by passing major reforms. Among these reforms was the wholesale 
restructuring of the committee system, which included elimination of 
three major committees. Committee jurisdictions were consolidated, and 
the names of several committees were changed.
  The primary purpose of this bill is to treat references to the old 
structure in public law as referring to the new structure. References 
to the old committees are to be treated as referring to the new 
committees.
  In the course of restructuring the internal operations of the House, 
we also eliminated the positions of Director of Non-Legislative and 
Financial Services and the House Doorkeeper. We created the position of 
Chief Administrative Officer, and we redefined the responsibilities of 
the Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms.
  The Committee on House Oversight has been charged in House rules with 
providing policy direction for and oversight of the House officers, and 
is continuing to direct the restructuring of the internal operations of 
the House. References in public law to the function, duty, or authority 
of a House officer are to be treated as referring to the officer 
exercising that function, duty, or authority, as determined by the 
Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, enactment of this bill will result in no changes in 
policy, rather it will reflect policy changes already made.
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to 
object, if there is no further debate, I would certainly concur in the 
adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas]?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 1421

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REFERENCES IN LAW TO COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF 
                   REPRESENTATIVES.

       (a) References to Committees With New Names.--Except as 
     provided in subsection (c), any reference in any provision of 
     law enacted before January 4, 1995, to--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on National Security of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (2) the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs of 
     the House of Representatives shall be treated as referring to 
     the Committee on Banking and Financial Services of the House 
     of Representatives;
       (3) the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities of the 
     House of Representatives;
       (4) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives;
       (5) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as
      referring to the Committee on International Relations of 
     House of Representatives;
       (6) the Committee on Government Operations of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (7) the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives;
       (8) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives;
       [[Page H4379]] (9) the Committee on Public Works and 
     Transportation of the House of Representatives shall be 
     treated as referring to the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
       (10) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
     House of Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on Science of the House of Representatives.
       (b) References to Abolished Committees.--Any reference in 
     any provision of law enacted before January 4, 1995, to--
       (1) the Committee on District of Columbia of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (2) the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service of the 
     House of Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives, except that a reference with respect to the 
     House Commission on Congressional Mailings Standards (the 
     ``Franking Commission'') shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives; 
     and
       (3) the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the 
     House of Representatives shall be treated as referring to--
       (A) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
     Representatives, in the case of a provision of law relating 
     to inspection of seafood or seafood products;
       (B) the Committee on National Security of the House of 
     Representatives, in the case of a
      provision of law relating to interoceanic canals, the 
     Merchant Marine Academy and State Maritime Academies, or 
     national security aspects of merchant marine;
       (C) the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives, in the case of a provision of law relating 
     to fisheries, wildlife, international fishing agreements, 
     marine affairs (including coastal zone management) except for 
     measures relating to oil and other pollution of navigable 
     waters, or oceanography;
       (D) the Committee on Science of the House of 
     Representatives, in the case of a provision of law relating 
     to marine research; and
       (E) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
     the House of Representatives, in the case of a provision of 
     law relating to a matter other than a matter described in any 
     of subparagraphs (A) through (D).
       (c) References to Committees With Jurisdiction Changes.--
     Any reference in any provision of law enacted before January 
     4, 1995, to--
       (1) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as referring to--
       (A) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
     Representatives, in the case of a provision of law relating 
     to inspection of seafood or seafood products;
       (B) the Committee on Banking and Financial Services of the 
     House of Representatives, in the case of provision of law 
     relating to bank capital markets activities generally or to 
     depository institution securities activities generally; and
       (C) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
     the House of Representatives, in the case of a provision of 
     law relating to railroads, railway labor, or railroad 
     retirement and unemployment (except revenue measures related 
     thereto); and
       (2) the Committee on Government Operations of the House of 
     Representatives shall be treated as referring to the 
     Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives in 
     the case of a provision of law relating to the establishment, 
     extension, and enforcement of special controls over the 
     Federal budget.
     SEC. 2. REFERENCES IN LAW TO OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
                   REPRESENTATIVES.

       Any reference in any provision of law enacted before 
     January 4, 1995, to a function, duty, or authority--
       (1) of the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall be 
     treated as referring, with respect to that function, duty, or 
     authority, to the officer of the House of Representatives 
     exercising that function, duty, or authority, as determined 
     by the Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (2) of the Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives shall 
     be treated as referring, with respect to that function, duty, 
     or authority, to the officer of the House of Representatives 
     exercising that function, duty, or authority, as determined 
     by the Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (3) of the Postmaster of the House of Representatives shall 
     be treated as referring, with respect to that function, duty, 
     or authority, to the officer of the House of Representatives 
     exercising that function, duty, or authority, as determined 
     by the Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (4) of the Director of Non-legislative and Financial 
     Services of the House of Representatives shall be treated as 
     referring, with respect to that function, duty, or authority, 
     to the officer of the House of Representatives exercising 
     that function, duty, or authority, as determined by the 
     Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives.

  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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