[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 88 (Thursday, May 25, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING ADDITIONAL TIME FOR DEBATE ON AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 
           1561, THE AMERICAN OVERSEAS INTERESTS ACT OF 1995

  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want my colleagues to be absolutely clear 
why we are providing additional time after the recess to consider H.R. 
1561 the American Overseas Interests Act. It is because so many 
amendments are still pending and because our colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle requested additional time for them.
  The rule accompanying H.R. 1561 provided for 2 hours of general 
debate and 10 for amendments that were preprinted in the Record. Any 
remaining amendments would be considered under a 10-minute time limit, 
with all debate to conclude by 2:30 this afternoon.
  As of last night--100 amendments had been filed--58 by Republicans 
and 42 Democrats. When the Committee rose yesterday, we had consumed 9 
of the 10 hours of debate and had disposed of nine amendments--six 
Republican and three Democrat.
  Of the 91 amendments remaining--51 are Republican and 39 are 
Democratic amendments. It is to accommodate those Members with 
remaining amendments that we are proposing an additional 6 hours of 
debate when we return from the recess.
  Reports that we yanked H.R. 1561 because the bill is in trouble are 
just plain wrong. We are acting to provide more time to consider this 
very important measure that deals with our foreign policy agencies and 
programs.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. GILMAN. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
think it makes sense. We have a large number of amendments pending, and 
I think it makes sense to have some modicum of debate. Am I to assume 
that the committee will be recommending to the Committee on Rules when 
we come back in a week-and-a-half a time limit on these amendments, or 
will it be staying under the 5-minute rule?
  Mr. GILMAN. I will yield to the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
Solomon], the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules.
  Mr. SOLOMON. I will say to my good friend, the gentleman from 
California, that we have already reported a rule about an hour ago 
which does provide for 6 hours of additional time under the 5-minute 
rule, yes.
  Mr. BERMAN. So essentially there is no time limit on any individual 
amendment.
  Mr. SOLOMON. I would just say to the chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations that if there were going to be any time 
limitations on amendments, it would have to be negotiated between both 
sides of the aisle. That is to be expected.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield for one further 
question, is the plan to bring this rule to the floor on Wednesday, 
June 7?
  Mr. GILMAN. That is correct.
  Mr. BERMAN. Is it the plan to then move, assuming that rule passes, 
to the 6 hours remaining of debate on Wednesday, June 7?
  Mr. GILMAN. It is my understanding we would be able to then move to 
consider the 6 hours of remaining debate.
  Mr. BERMAN. Are the amendments limited to the amendments that have 
been printed in the Record as of today?
  Mr. GILMAN. That is my understanding. Only the amendments that have 
been printed in the Record as of yesterday.
  Mr. BERMAN. Does it include a managers' amendment?
  Mr. GILMAN. Yes it would be included.

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