[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 12, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H6895-H6896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. GEPHARDT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I ask for this time to inquire of the 
distinguished majority leader about the schedule for the rest of this 
evening and tomorrow.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, I thank the 
gentleman for asking. With respect to the schedule for the rest of this 
evening, tomorrow, and possibly days beyond, let us start with this 
evening.
  In a few moments, Mr. Speaker, we are going to ask that the House 
begin special orders. While those special orders are underway, the 
Committee on Rules will be meeting in order to consider a new rule for 
the Interior appropriations bill and/or possibly other rules.
  We will, if necessary, later in the evening, have a recess of the 
House subject to the call of the Chair in order to enable the Committee 
on Rules to report those rules so that they can be taken up tomorrow.
  In the meantime, I think it is safe to tell the Members that there 
will be no more recorded votes tonight and the House, of course, will 
reconvene at the appointed time tomorrow of 10 a.m. We would expect at 
that time, or very soon thereafter, to be picking up the new, more up 
to date, more passable rule on Interior appropriations and then be able 
to move on the bill tomorrow.
  We would still try our very best, in examination of the dual 
considerations of Members' travel schedules, work period schedules, and 
our desire to move the bill, to work late tomorrow evening, perhaps, 
but then try our very best to enable Members to avoid having to work on 
Friday or the weekend.
  But at this point, I cannot say anything more definite about that 
other than, obviously, it is our desire to be able to resolve the 
legislative schedule without trespassing against the Members' weekends. 
I hope to be able to be more clear in my understanding of this in a 
moment.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, if I could ask the gentleman from Texas 
[Mr. Armey], does the gentleman have a number of bills he would like to 
complete by late tomorrow night so that we could leave for the week, or 
do you know that at this point?
  Mr. ARMEY. Of course, if the gentleman had his way, he would complete 
all the rest of these appropriations bills by tomorrow night and then 
everybody could take a vacation. But I would at least like to see us 
complete the Interior appropriations bill by tomorrow night. I would 
think that would give us the chance to reinstate our schedule for the 
August 4th district work recess period.
  Our principal focus is to try to protect that departure time for that 
recess period while we complete the appropriations bills. So if we can 
find our way back on track as quickly as we can, then hopefully we can 
smooth things out a little bit again.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. And would the gentleman further yield. I saw in a flyer 
that was on the floor from the distinguished majority whip earlier in 
the evening that you believe that the House will be in session now on 
Monday, July the 17th, and votes would begin at 5 p.m. Is that still 
your intention?
  Mr. ARMEY. I am very confident that we will reconvene the House on 
Monday, the 17th, for votes to begin after 5 o'clock. My only concern 
right now is whether or not this front end we will get out and have our 
work down tomorrow night so that we can, as the flyer said, not have 
votes or work on Friday.
  But yes, whenever we finish this week's work, we will be coming back 
next Monday for votes to begin after 5 o'clock in the evening.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. I thank the gentleman.
  
[[Page H 6896]]

  Mr. ARMEY. I thank the gentleman.
  

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