[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 125 (Monday, July 31, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H8034-H8038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2126, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call 
up House Resolution 205 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 205

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule 
     XXIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 2126) making appropriations for the Department 
     of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and 
     for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be 
     dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of 
     the bill for failure to comply with clause 2(1)(6) of the 
     rule XI, clause 7 of rule XXI, or section 306 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974 are waived. General debate 
     shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour 
     equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
     minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. After 
     general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment 
     under the five-minute rule. The bill shall be considered by 
     title rather than by paragraph. Each title shall be 
     considered as read. Points of order against provisions in the 
     bill for failure to comply with clause 2 or 6 of rule XXI are 
     waived. An amendment striking section 8021 and 8024 of the 
     bill shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the 
     Committee of the Whole. During consideration of the bill for 
     amendment, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may 
     accord priority in recognition on the basis of whether the 
     Member offering an amendment has caused it to be printed in 
     the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that 
     purpose in clause 6 of rule XXIII. Amendments so printed 
     shall be considered as read. At the conclusion of 
     consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall 
     rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as 
     may have been adopted. The previous question shall be 
     considered as ordered on the bill and amendment thereto to 
     final passage without intervening motion except one motion to 
     recommit with or without instructions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss] is 
recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Frost], pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During 
consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for purposes of 
debate only.
  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to include extraneous 
material in the Record.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the floor yet another 
very fair and simple open rule. H. Res. 205 provides for one hour of 
general debate, equally divided between the majority and the minority. 
Following that, any Member can offer amendments in accordance with the 
rules of the House.
  Members are encouraged, but not required, to preprint their 
amendments in the Record, so that we can engage in full and well-
informed debate, and I think that is something that has actually worked 
out pretty well.
  In addition, the committee granted limited waivers for the 
consideration of H.R. 2126, including waivers of clauses 2 and 6 of 
rule XXI regading unauthorized appropriations and reappropriation 
within this bill.
  The need for these protections, due to lack of the authorization for 
many of the programs, has been thoroughly debated, so I will not debate 
it here. We all know we have a problem between the authorizing and the 
appropriations cycle and that is part of the budget reform that we hope 
to bring forward.
  In order to expedite the floor schedule and allow the House to 
complete its schedule appropriations work before the August break, 
which I think is of great interest to every Member and 

[[Page H 8035]]
probably the Nation at large as well, the committee granted waivers of 
clause 2(l)(6) of rule XI and clause 7 of rule XXII, regarding 3-day 
layovers for the committee report.
  The report for H.R. 2126 has been available since Friday, however, 
and Members have had the weekend and then some time today to review 
this report. I would also point out that we have been through much of 
this in the authorizing process already as well.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, the last waiver granted is a technical one for 
section 306 of the Budget Act regarding measures under the jurisdiction 
of the Committee on the Budget reported by other committee. I would 
like to point out to Members that the two ``offending'' sections of the 
bill, 8021 and 8024, have been removed at request of the Committee on 
the Budget by a self-executing amendment, so I think that problem is 
behind us.
  Mr. Speaker, that may seem like a lot of explanation for what really 
is, in essence, a very simple open rule, but I am confident that we 
have a very fair, I would say very open rule that will allow us to 
fully consider this vital appropriations measure.
  Providing for our national defense is one of the few charges 
specifically given to the Congress of the United States under the 
Constitution and we cannot shirk our responsibilities in this area. 
Freedom is not free. The American people demand a strong and ready 
force, capable of dealing with whatever crisis may arise, wherever it 
may happen, whenever it may happen.
  We obviously must ensure that our armed services are the best 
trained, best equipped, best provided for, both for their benefit and 
ours. There are a few, I suppose, who still argue that the demise of 
the Soviet Union meant an end of all major threats to the United 
States' interests, therefore, we do not need much defense.
  Mr. Speaker, those folks are wrong, in my view, and I think in most 
Americans' views. Vigorous military buildups in countries like Iran, 
North Korea, and China pose new challenges to American interests across 
the globe, not to mention the real threat we face from the slow but 
steady spread of nuclear capability to new countries and, possibly, to 
terrorist groups.

                              {time}  1830

  Nor could we totally ignore genocide as we now witness it in former 
Yugoslavia. Threats to democracy and our national security come in many 
forms, in many ways these days.
  No, to most of us there is no question that we need a strong and 
ready defense, and I am pleased that after several years of steadily 
declining budgets and uncertain leadership from the administration 
these past 2 years, we now have a Department of Defense appropriation 
bill that begins to meet the needs both long term and immediate of our 
armed forces.
  Make no mistake, many of the items funded in this bill are not for 
future acquisition of some high-tech weapons systems, but they are for 
things like food, clothing and other basic necessities for our men and 
women in the service.
  The chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security Appropriations, 
my friend and distinguished colleague from Florida, the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Young], presented the Committee on Rules with a list of 
these basic requirements that were not being met until now. That list, 
containing lots of nuts and bolts necessary to keep our forces fit, was 
put on a roll that stretched almost across the entire width of the 
Committee on Rules hearing room. We may even get to see that roll again 
before this debate is over.
  So I congratulate the chairman, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. 
Young], and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Murtha] and the rest 
of the Committee on Appropriations for their very hard work on this 
particularly important appropriations bill.
  I urge support for the rule and support for H.R. 2126.
  I include for the Record the following information:


  THE AMENDMENT PROCESS UNDER SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE,\1\ 103D CONGRESS V. 104TH CONGRESS 
                                              [As of July 31, 1995]                                             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  103d Congress                        104th Congress           
              Rule type              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Number of rules    Percent of total   Number of rules    Percent of total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open/Modified-open \2\..............                 46                 44                 40                 73
Modified Closed \3\.................                 49                 47                 13                 23
Closed \4\..........................                  9                  9                  2                  4
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Totals:.......................                104                100                 55                100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This table applies only to rules which provide for the original consideration of bills, joint resolutions or
  budget resolutions and which provide for an amendment process. It does not apply to special rules which only  
  waive points of order against appropriations bills which are already privileged and are considered under an   
  open amendment process under House rules.                                                                     
\2\ An open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule. A      
  modified open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule     
  subject only to an overall time limit on the amendment process and/or a requirement that the amendment be     
  preprinted in the Congressional Record.                                                                       
\3\ A modified closed rule is one under which the Rules Committee limits the amendments that may be offered only
  to those amendments designated in the special rule or the Rules Committee report to accompany it, or which    
  preclude amendments to a particular portion of a bill, even though the rest of the bill may be completely open
  to amendment.                                                                                                 
\4\ A closed rule is one under which no amendments may be offered (other than amendments recommended by the     
  committee in reporting the bill).                                                                             


                          SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE, 104TH CONGRESS                         
                                              [As of July 31, 1995]                                             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  H. Res. No. (Date                                                                                             
       rept.)               Rule type             Bill No.                 Subject           Disposition of rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Res. 38 (1/18/95)  O...................  H.R. 5..............  Unfunded Mandate Reform..  A: 350-71 (1/19/   
                                                                                              95).              
H. Res. 44 (1/24/95)  MC..................  H. Con. Res. 17.....  Social Security..........  A: 255-172 (1/25/  
                                            H.J. Res. 1.........  Balanced Budget Amdt.....   95).              
H. Res. 51 (1/31/95)  O...................  H.R. 101............  Land Transfer, Taos        A: voice vote (2/1/
                                                                   Pueblo Indians.            95).              
H. Res. 52 (1/31/95)  O...................  H.R. 400............  Land Exchange, Arctic      A: voice vote (2/1/
                                                                   Nat'l. Park and Preserve.  95).              
H. Res. 53 (1/31/95)  O...................  H.R. 440............  Land Conveyance, Butte     A: voice vote (2/1/
                                                                   County, Calif.             95).              
H. Res. 55 (2/1/95).  O...................  H.R. 2..............  Line Item Veto...........  A: voice vote (2/2/
                                                                                              95).              
H. Res. 60 (2/6/95).  O...................  H.R. 665............  Victim Restitution.......  A: voice vote (2/7/
                                                                                              95).              
H. Res. 61 (2/6/95).  O...................  H.R. 666............  Exclusionary Rule Reform.  A: voice vote (2/7/
                                                                                              95).              
H. Res. 63 (2/8/95).  MO..................  H.R. 667............  Violent Criminal           A: voice vote (2/9/
                                                                   Incarceration.             95).              
H. Res. 69 (2/9/95).  O...................  H.R. 668............  Criminal Alien             A: voice vote (2/10/
                                                                   Deportation.               95).              
H. Res. 79 (2/10/95)  MO..................  H.R. 728............  Law Enforcement Block      A: voice vote (2/13/
                                                                   Grants.                    95).              
H. Res. 83 (2/13/95)  MO..................  H.R. 7..............  National Security          PQ: 229-100; A: 227-
                                                                   Revitalization.            127 (2/15/95).    
H. Res. 88 (2/16/95)  MC..................  H.R. 831............  Health Insurance           PQ: 230-191; A: 229-
                                                                   Deductibility.             188 (2/21/95).    
H. Res. 91 (2/21/95)  O...................  H.R. 830............  Paperwork Reduction Act..  A: voice vote (2/22/
                                                                                              95).              
H. Res. 92 (2/21/95)  MC..................  H.R. 889............  Defense Supplemental.....  A: 282-144 (2/22/  
                                                                                              95).              
H. Res. 93 (2/22/95)  MO..................  H.R. 450............  Regulatory Transition Act  A: 252-175 (2/23/  
                                                                                              95).              
H. Res. 96 (2/24/95)  MO..................  H.R. 1022...........  Risk Assessment..........  A: 253-165 (2/27/  
                                                                                              95).              
H. Res. 100 (2/27/    O...................  H.R. 926............  Regulatory Reform and      A: voice vote (2/28/
 95).                                                              Relief Act.                95).              
H. Res. 101 (2/28/    MO..................  H.R. 925............  Private Property           A: 271-151 (3/2/95)
 95).                                                              Protection Act.                              
H. Res. 103 (3/3/95)  MO..................  H.R. 1058...........  Securities Litigation      ...................
                                                                   Reform.                                      
H. Res. 104 (3/3/95)  MO..................  H.R. 988............  Attorney Accountability    A: voice vote (3/6/
                                                                   Act.                       95)               
H. Res. 105 (3/6/95)  MO..................  ....................  .........................  A: 257-155 (3/7/95)
H. Res. 108 (3/7/95)  Debate..............  H.R. 956............  Product Liability Reform.  A: voice vote (3/8/
                                                                                              95)               
H. Res. 109 (3/8/95)  MC..................  ....................  .........................  PQ: 234-191 A: 247-
                                                                                              181 (3/9/95)      
H. Res. 115 (3/14/    MO..................  H.R. 1159...........  Making Emergency Supp.     A: 242-190 (3/15/  
 95).                                                              Approps..                  95)               
H. Res. 116 (3/15/    MC..................  H.J. Res. 73........  Term Limits Const. Amdt..  A: voice vote (3/28/
 95).                                                                                         95)               
H. Res. 117 (3/16/    Debate..............  H.R. 4..............  Personal Responsibility    A: voice vote (3/21/
 95).                                                              Act of 1995.               95)               
H. Res. 119 (3/21/    MC..................  ....................  .........................  A: 217-211 (3/22/  
 95).                                                                                         95)               
H. Res. 125 (4/3/95)  O...................  H.R. 1271...........  Family Privacy Protection  A: 423-1 (4/4/95)  
                                                                   Act.                                         
H. Res. 126 (4/3/95)  O...................  H.R. 660............  Older Persons Housing Act  A: voice vote (4/6/
                                                                                              95)               
H. Res. 128 (4/4/95)  MC..................  H.R. 1215...........  Contract With America Tax  A: 228-204 (4/5/95)
                                                                   Relief Act of 1995.                          

[[Page H 8036]]
                                                                                                                
H. Res. 130 (4/5/95)  MC..................  H.R. 483............  Medicare Select Expansion   A: 253-172 (4/6/  
                                                                                              95)               
H. Res. 136 (5/1/95)  O...................  H.R. 655............  Hydrogen Future Act of     A: voice vote (5/2/
                                                                   1995.                      95)               
H. Res. 139 (5/3/95)  O...................  H.R. 1361...........  Coast Guard Auth. FY 1996  A: voice vote (5/9/
                                                                                              95)               
H. Res. 140 (5/9/95)  O...................  H.R. 961............  Clean Water Amendments...  A: 414-4 (5/10/95) 
H. Res. 144 (5/11/    O...................  H.R. 535............  Fish Hatchery--Arkansas..  A: voice vote (5/15/
 95).                                                                                         95)               
H. Res. 145 (5/11/    O...................  H.R. 584............  Fish Hatchery--Iowa......  A: voice vote (5/15/
 95).                                                                                         95)               
H. Res. 146 (5/11/    O...................  H.R. 614............  Fish Hatchery--Minnesota.  A: voice vote (5/15/
 95).                                                                                         95)               
H. Res. 149 (5/16/    MC..................  H. Con. Res. 67.....  Budget Resolution FY 1996  PQ: 252-170 A: 255-
 95).                                                                                         168 (5/17/95)     
H. Res. 155 (5/22/    MO..................  H.R. 1561...........  American Overseas          A: 233-176 (5/23/  
 95).                                                              Interests Act.             95)               
H. Res. 164 (6/8/95)  MC..................  H.R. 1530...........  Nat. Defense Auth. FY      PQ: 225-191 A: 233-
                                                                   1996.                      183 (6/13/95)     
H. Res. 167 (6/15/    O...................  H.R. 1817...........  MilCon Appropriations FY   PQ: 223-180 A: 245-
 95).                                                              1996.                      155 (6/16/95)     
H. Res. 169 (6/19/    MC..................  H.R. 1854...........  Leg. Branch Approps. FY    PQ: 232-196 A: 236-
 95).                                                              1996.                      191 (6/20/95)     
H. Res. 170 (6/20/    O...................  H.R. 1868...........  For. Ops. Approps. FY      PQ: 221-178 A: 217-
 95).                                                              1996.                      175 (6/22/95)     
H. Res. 171 (6/22/    O...................  H.R. 1905...........  Energy & Water Approps.    A: voice vote (7/12/
 95).                                                              FY 1996.                   95)               
H. Res. 173 (6/27/    C...................  H.J. Res. 79........  Flag Constitutional        PQ: 258-170 A: 271-
 95).                                                              Amendment.                 152 (6/28/95)     
H. Res. 176 (6/28/    MC..................  H.R. 1944...........  Emer. Supp. Approps......  PQ: 236-194 A: 234-
 95).                                                                                         192 (6/29/95)     
H. Res. 185 (7/11/    O...................  H.R. 1977...........  Interior Approps. FY 1996  PQ: 235-193 D: 192-
 95).                                                                                         238 (7/12/95)     
H. Res. 187 (7/12/    O...................  H.R. 1977...........  Interior Approps. FY 1996  PQ: 230-194 A: 229-
 95).                                                              #2.                        195 (7/13/95)     
H. Res. 188 (7/12/    O...................  H.R. 1976...........  Agriculture Approps. FY    PQ: 242-185 A:     
 95).                                                              1996.                      voice vote (7/18/ 
                                                                                              95)               
H. Res. 190 (7/17/    O...................  H.R. 2020...........  Treasury/Postal Approps.   PQ: 232-192 A:     
 95).                                                              FY 1996.                   voice vote (7/18/ 
                                                                                              95)               
H. Res. 193 (7/19/    C...................  H.J. Res. 96........  Disapproval of MFN to      A: voice vote (7/20/
 95).                                                              China.                     95)               
H. Res. 194 (7/19/    O...................  H.R. 2002...........  Transportation Approps.    PQ: 217-202 (7/21/ 
 95).                                                              FY 1996.                   95)               
H. Res. 197 (7/21/    O...................  H.R. 70.............  Exports of Alaskan Crude   A: voice vote (7/24/
 95).                                                              Oil.                       95)               
H. Res. 198 (7/21/    O...................  H.R. 2076...........  Commerce, State Approps.   A: voice vote (7/25/
 95).                                                              FY 1996.                   95)               
H. Res. 201 (7/25/    O...................  H.R. 2099...........  VA/HUD Approps. FY 1996..  A: 230-189 (7/27/  
 95).                                                                                         95)               
H. Res. 204 (7/28/    MC..................  S. 21...............  Terminating U.S. Arms      ...................
 95).                                                              Embargo on Bosnia.                           
H. Res. 205 (7/28/    O...................  H.R. 2126...........  Defense Approps. FY 1996.  ...................
 95).                                                                                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Codes: O-open rule; MO-modified open rule; MC-modified closed rule; C-closed rule; A-adoption vote; D-defeated; 
  PQ-previous question vote. Source: Notices of Action Taken, Committee on Rules, 104th Congress.               


  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule providing for the 
consideration of the Department of Defense appropriation for fiscal 
year 1996. While I am concerned that once again the Committee on Rules 
did not seek fit to allow the amendment authored by the gentlelady from 
Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder], the rule otherwise will allow the House to 
consider amendments that will amend funding levels contained in the 
bill.
  The Schroeder amendment, of course, seeks to reduce the overall 
funding level of the appropriation to the level originally sought by 
the administration. Mr. Speaker, while I personally would not support 
the Schroeder amendment, I do believe her amendment would have provided 
the House the opportunity to debate how many Federal dollars should be 
allocated to the Department of Defense in the coming and future fiscal 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2126 closely tracks the provisions of the 
authorization bill adopted by the House in June. While the two bills 
are not identical, the appropriation does provide funding for advance 
procurement of two additional B-2 Stealth bombers. The committee is to 
be commended for this action and I support the inclusion of these 
advance procurement funds. I also commend the committee for including 
$200 million in the bill for the continued development of the F-22 
fighter.
  Mr. Speaker, I have in my 17 years in Congress always been a 
supporter of a strong national defense. I intend to continue my record 
and support this rule and this appropriation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from greater metropolitan Sandimas-Claremont, CA [Mr. 
Dreier], the distinguished vice chairman of the Committee on Rules.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule. I would like to 
congratulate both my friend, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Young], 
and my friend, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Murtha], who have 
worked long and hard on this extraordinarily important piece of 
legislation.
  This is an open rule. It is an amendment process which will allow 
Members to work their will on a wide range of issues that are going to 
be coming before us.
  It is very important to note, as we embark on the defense 
appropriation bill, that this is legislation that we are addressing as 
we are all very concerned about the budget and the deficit and the 
national debt, and yet it seems to me that as we look at the preamble 
of the U.S. Constitution, it is very important for us to recognize that 
providing for the common defense is paramount.
  There are a wide range of levels of government, State and local 
governments, county governments that can deal with many of the issues 
that the U.S.
 Government today addresses, and yet when it comes to the security of 
the United States of America, only one level of government, only one 
level of government is in a position to address those, and that is the 
U.S. Government.

  So it is for that reason that we have to recognize the preeminence of 
the issue of defense appropriations.
  Now, there are going to be some controversial questions that will 
come forward. The B-2 bomber is one which I know my very good friend, 
the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Skelton], and I have worked on for a 
number of years. Let me just say this very briefly about that issue, it 
seems to me if we look at this question and try to back off, it will be 
the first time in the history of our republic that we would have taken 
a retrograde step on a new and very important technology.
  There are many who argue that since we have seen the demise of the 
Soviet Union, that it is no longer necessary, and yet there are 
potential conflicts in the Middle East which a friend of mine in 
California was talking to me about not too long ago, and other spots 
where this technology is very important, and it cannot be ignored.
  I have to say that none of the jobs for this are actually in my 
district. I recognize that many of them are in California, but I 
believe this very firmly, because of the national security of our 
country, that what we should proceed with the B-2. I hope very much we 
will be successful when that comes up on the floor.
  Let me say that I do congratulate again my friend, the chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations, for the valiant effort he 
has put forward, the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from 
Louisiana [Mr. Livingstone], and others who have been very involved.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote on this open rule. Then we will look forward to 
having the House work its will.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Missouri [Mr. Skelton].
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule. First I 
compliment my friend, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Young], the 
chairman of the committee, and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. 
Murtha], the ranking Democrat, for their excellent work as well as the 
full committee.
  I also wish to express my appreciation and agreement with the funding 
for the two long-lead issues involving the B-2.
  Of course, Whiteman Air Force Base is in the district that I am 
privileged to serve, but it is more than that. As the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Dreier] so eloquently pointed out, we must look to the 
future. We must look to future technology. This is the one weapons 
system that will allow us to 

[[Page H 8037]]
continue to bring the technology forward as we bring the troops and 
become more continental-based in our Air Force, Army, and Navy. This is 
what is called power projection. It not only can serve as a strong 
weapon, it can serve as an excellent deterrent to those who would cause 
mischief on the other side of the world.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a dangerous world in which we live. Few 
Americans remember even last year that we came within a gnat's eyelash, 
not once, not twice, but three times to conflict; once involving Haiti, 
once involving North Korea, and the third time when we sent our troops 
over and successfully stopped Saddam Hussein from proceeding to the 
south of the border.
  This dangerous world in which we live, and we being the only 
superpower on this Earth, it is incumbent upon us to be strong, to be 
militarily prepared. We should learn from history. We should learn that 
in the years past and the decades past, the United States of America, 
after every major conflict or every major threat, has cut itself 
militarily to the bone.
  It is my intention to fight hard to keep that from happening now, and 
I am pleased to see so many Members of this House joining in that 
fight.
  Mr. Speaker, you will recall that I offered a defense budget of my 
very own, increasing the administration's budget over 4 years by some 
$44 billion. The budget that was adopted came relatively close to that. 
But we should make sure it is not just in the areas of technology, such 
as the B-2, not just in the areas of weapons systems, ships and tanks, 
and guns, but we must look to taking care of the young men and young 
women who wear the American uniform. That is utmost. That is important 
in this bill, and I will vote for this rule.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah 
[Mr. Orton].
  (Mr. ORTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ORTON. Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States is the 
Commander in Chief of the Armed Services.
  This bill that will come before us provides funding for the Pentagon. 
What better bill to give the President a line item veto than the 
defense appropriations bill?
  I have been a supporter since arriving here of the line item veto 
concept. You can debate and argue as to which particular approach is 
best, whether to have a pure veto by the President on a line item 
within one bill or whether, as the other body has proposed, to separate 
the bills into many different bills with separate enrollments, and have 
the President veto each separate bill, or whether, rather than vetoing 
the bill, to enhance the President's rescission authority so that he 
can strike out items, send them back here for us to vote on, whether we 
want to include or exclude that particular line item from the spending 
package.
  While we can argue the constitutionality, while we can argue which is 
the best approach, I believe that it is critical that we give the 
President the opportunity to speak out, to include in the process his 
authority of line iteming each particular area that he feels ought to 
be cut.
  I have proposed amendments on each of the last five appropriation 
bills to do that. They are not in order without a waiver. I acknowledge 
that. I commend the Committee on Rules for the openness of the bill 
which they have put forward.
  I do wish, however, that we could waive the point of order to allow 
the provisions of line item veto to be placed on this one bill rather 
than amending and changing the process for every bill coming forward. 
If we could apply it to this one bill, have a test case, I believe it 
is important. I would urge this body to act.
  We have yet to even appoint conferees on line item veto. It is 
important that we move forward.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, we urge adoption of the rule, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just simply would like to say that the gentleman from 
Utah [Mr. Orton] has made a very important point about our concern 
about the line item veto, and I would like to have included, among the 
extraneous material that we are putting in the Record today, a 
statement from the Speaker of the House to the chairman of the 
Committee on Rules which says, from the Speaker, that he is committed 
to moving forward on line item veto and to that end he has promised to 
schedule a motion to go to conference on the line item veto and to 
appoint conferees press on the first day of House business in 
September. So we have achieved getting his attention and commitment to 
getting forward with that, and I will put that in the Record at this 
point.
  We have a fair and open rule that allows Members to offer cutting 
amendments on an appropriations bill, and it is an honor to bring this 
appropriations bill to the floor with this good a rule on this 
important subject.
  The letter referred to is as follows:

                                            Office of the Speaker,


                                U.S. House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, July 27, 1995
     Hon. Gerald B.H. Solomon,
     Chairman, Committee on Rules,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Jerry: I want to thank you for your valuable 
     contributions and ongoing efforts to move the Line-Item Veto 
     Act to conference at the earliest practicable date.
       The line-item veto is one of the most important commitments 
     we made as a party in our Contract with America. I have every 
     confidence that with your help and leadership we can resolve 
     the vast differences that exist between the House and Senate 
     passed bills over how best to fashion and implement the line-
     item veto authority for the President.
       Although some have suggested we should delay the process of 
     working out the differences with the Senate, I want you to 
     know I am committed to moving forward on this bill. To that 
     end, you have my promise to schedule the motion to go to 
     conference on the line-item veto and to appoint conferees on 
     the first day of House business in September. You can be 
     assured that I share your dedication to enacting this central 
     component of our Contract with America.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Newt Gingrich.

  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the 
balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington.) The question is 
on the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. LARGENT. 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 409, 
nays 1, not voting 24, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 601]

                               YEAS--409

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     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
     Chapman
     Chenoweth
     Christensen
     Chrysler
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clinger
     Clyburn
     Coble
     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
     Dickey
     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
     Flanagan
     Foglietta
     Foley
     Forbes
     Fowler
     Fox
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Frisa
     Frost
     Funderburk
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gejdenson
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Geren
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gonzalez
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Greenwood
     Gunderson
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Hancock

[[Page H 8038]]

     Hansen
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Hefner
     Heineman
     Herger
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hunter
     Hutchinson
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Istook
     Jackson-Lee
     Jacobs
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (SD)
     Johnson, E. B.
     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
     Leach
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lightfoot
     Lincoln
     Linder
     Lipinski
     Livingston
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Longley
     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
     Mfume
     Mica
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Mineta
     Minge
     Mink
     Molinari
     Montgomery
     Moorhead
     Moran
     Morella
     Murtha
     Myers
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Neumann
     Ney
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Orton
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Parker
     Pastor
     Paxon
     Payne (NJ)
     Payne (VA)
     Peterson (FL)
     Peterson (MN)
     Petri
     Pickett
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Poshard
     Pryce
     Quillen
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Reed
     Regula
     Richardson
     Riggs
     Rivers
     Roberts
     Roemer
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rose
     Roth
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     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
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Stokes
     Studds
     Stump
     Stupak
     Talent
     Tanner
     Tate
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Tejeda
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thornberry
     Thornton
     Tiahrt
     Torkildsen
     Torres
     Torricelli
     Towns
     Traficant
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     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 (FL)
     Zeliff
     Zimmer

                                NAYS--1

       
     Franks (CT)
       

                             NOT VOTING--24

     Becerra
     Coburn
     Flake
     Ford (TN)
     Green
     Hall (OH)
     Hoke
     Hoyer
     Jefferson
     Johnson, Sam
     Lazio
     Lowey
     Meyers
     Moakley
     Mollohan
     Obey
     Pelosi
     Reynolds
     Stark
     Stockman
     Thurman
     Tucker
     Volkmer
     Young (AK)

                              {time}  1902

  Mr. ZELIFF and Mr. OWENS changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the resolution was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  

                          ____________________