[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 127 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D973-D976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: Seventeen public bills, H.R. 2159-2175; one private 
bill. H.R. 2176; and four resolutions. H.J. Res. 106, H. Con. Res. 90-
91, and H. Res. 209 were introduced.
  Pages H8308-09
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H.R. 1536, to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend for two 
years an expiring authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with 
respect to determination of locality salaries for certain nurse 
anesthetist positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs;
  H.R. 1384, to amend title 38, United States Code, to exempt certain 
full-time health-care professionals of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs from restrictions on remunerated outside professional 
activities, amended (H. Rept. 104-226);
  H.R. 2108, to permit the Washington Convention Center Authority to 
expend revenues for the operation and maintenance of the existing 
Washington Convention Center and for preconstruction activities 
relating to a new convention center in the District of Columbia, and to 
permit a designated authority of the District of Columbia to borrow 
funds for the preconstruction activities relating to a sports arena in 
the District of Columbia and to permit certain revenues to be pledged 
as security for the borrowing of such funds (H. Rept. 104-227); and
  H.R. 1445, to amend Rule 30 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 
to restore the stenographic preference for depositions (H. Rept. 104-
228).
Page H8308
Motion to Adjourn: By a yea-and-nay vote of 120 yeas to 289 nays with 1 
voting ``present'', Roll No. 609, the House rejected the Obey motion 
that the House adjourn.
  Pages H8183-84
Committees To Sit: The following committees and their subcommittees 
received permission to sit today during proceedings of the House under 
the 5-minute rule: Committees on Banking and Financial Services, 
International Relations, National Security, Small 

[[Page D974]]
Business, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Veterans' Affairs.
  Page H8194
Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations: House completed all general debate 
and began reading for amendment on H.R. 2127, making appropriations for 
the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and 
related agencies, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996; but 
came to no resolution thereon. Reading for amendment will resume on 
Thursday, August 3.
  Pages H8194-H8268
 Agreed To:
  The Porter amendment that reduces by $2 million the appropriation for 
State unemployment insurance and service operations, increases by $4 
million the appropriation for Department of Labor departmental 
management, reduces the Health Care Financing Administration program 
management appropriation by $2.29 million, and increases the 
appropriation for children and families services programs by $1.3 
million;
Pages H8213-14
  The Porter amendment that makes a technical correction and exempts 
individuals from provisions regarding political advocacy;
Pages H8214-15
  The Crapo amendment that establishes a permanent Deficit Reduction 
Lockbox for the fiscal year Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill and 
all future general appropriations bills (agreed to by a recorded vote 
of 373 ayes to 52 noes, Roll No. 613); and
Pages H8242-48, H8264
  The Greenwood amendment that makes $193.35 million available for the 
voluntary family planning project under title X (agreed to by a 
recorded vote of 224 ayes to 204 noes, Roll No. 615).
Pages H8249-62, H8264-65
Rejected:
  The Obey amendment that sought to strike 17 limitations on the use of 
funds affecting worker protection, women, education, and Political 
advocacy (rejected by a recorded vote of 155 ayes to 270 noes, Roll No. 
611);
Pages H8232-39, H8262-63
  The Pelosi amendments en bloc that sought to strike language 
prohibiting the use of funds by OSHA to develop, promulgate, or issue 
any standards or guidelines on ergonomic protection; language 
prohibiting the use of funds by the NLRB to investigate or prosecute 
any alleged unfair labor practice against an employer, when such 
charges are based in whole or in part on an employer taking any adverse 
action against any individuals who are employees of agents of any labor 
union; and language prohibiting the use of funds by the NLRB to 
exercise its authority to go to court to seek an injunction unless 
certain conditions are met rejected by a recorded vote of 197 ayes to 
229 noes, Roll No. 612); and
Pages H8239-42, H8263-64
  The Livingston substitute to the agreed-to Greenwood amendment that 
sought to terminate funding for the title X family planning program and 
transfer $193.35 million to the maternal and child health block grant 
and migrant health centers programs (rejected by a recorded vote of 207 
ayes to 221 noes, Roll No. 614).
Pages H8249-62, H8264-65
  The Stokes amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn that 
sought to increase funds available for the school-to-work program by $5 
million.
Pages H8228-32
  H. Res. 208, the rule under which the bill is being considered, was 
agreed to earlier by a yea-and-nay vote of 323 yeas to 104 nays, Roll 
No. 610.
Pages H8183-94
  Agreed to the Solomon amendment to the rule that provides for a total 
of two and one-half hours of general debate and an additional 90 
minutes of general debate on each of the first three titles.
Page H8193
Middle East Peace Facilitation Extension: House passed H.R. 2161, to 
extend authorities under the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1994 
until October 1, 1995.
  Pages H8268-69
Motion To Adjourn: By a recorded vote of 89 ayes to 216 noes, Roll No. 
617, rejected the Fattah motion that the House adjourn.
  Pages H8280-81
Communications Act: House completed all general debate on H.R. 1555, to 
promote competition and reduce regulation in order to secure lower 
prices and higher quality services for American telecommunications 
consumers and encourage the rapid deployment of new telecommunications 
technologies; but came to no resolution thereon. Consideration of 
amendments will begin at a later date.
  Pages H8281-95
  H. Res. 207, the rule under which the bill is being considered, was 
agreed to earlier by a yea-and-nay vote of 255 yeas to 156 nays, Roll 
No. 616.
Pages H8269-79
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on page 
H8179.
Amendments Ordered Printed: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the 
rule appear on pages H8309-10.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and six recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H8183-84, H8193-94, H8262-63, H8263-64, H8264, H8264-65, H8265, H8279, 
and H8280-81. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: Met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 2:19 a.m. on Thursday, 
August 3.

[[Page D975]]

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Chenoweth and Cooley; and the following officials of 
the Department of the Interior: George T. Frampton, Assistant 
Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks; and John G. Rogers, Deputy 
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
INSURANCE FUND AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION INSURANCE FUND--PROPOSALS TO 
MERGE BANKING THRIFT INDUSTRIES
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial 
Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing on the financial 
condition of the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF) and the Savings Association 
Insurance Fund (SAIF) and proposals to merge the banking thrift 
industries. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Treasury: John D. Hawke, Under Secretary, Domestic 
Finance; Eugene A. Ludwig, Comptroller, Office of the Comptroller of 
the Currency; and Jonathan Fiechter, Acting Director, Office of Thrift 
Supervision; Ricki Helfer, Chairman, FDIC; Alan Greenspan, Chairman, 
Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; and public witnesses.
INTEGRATED SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL MANAGEMENT ACT
Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported amended H.R. 1020, Integrated 
Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Act of 1995.
POLITICAL ADVOCACY WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs continued 
hearings on Political Advocacy with Taxpayer Dollars. Testimony was 
heard from Timothy Flanigan, former Assistant Attorney General, Office 
of Legal Counsel, Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
OVERVIEW OF UNITED STATES POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on overview of 
United States Policy in the Middle East. Testimony was heard from 
Robert Pelletreau, Assistant Secretary, Near East and South Asian 
Affairs, Department of State; and RAdm. W. H. Wright, IV, USN, 
Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Plans, Policy and 
Operations, Department of the Navy.
BEIJING CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on the Beijing conference on 
Women. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of State: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Permanent Representative 
to the United Nations; Victor Marrero, U.S. Ambassador to the United 
Nations; and Melinda Kimble, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
International Organization Affairs.
ACQUISITION REFORM
Committee on National Security: Held a hearing on acquisition reform. 
Testimony was heard from Steven J. Kelman, Administrator. Federal 
Procurement Policy, OMB; Colleen Preston, Deputy Under Secretary, 
Acquisition Reform, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
1743, to amend the Water Resources Research Act of 1964 to extend the 
authorization of appropriations through fiscal year 2000; H.R. 238, 
amended, Ozark Wild Horses Protection Act; and H.R. 1745, amended, Utah 
Public Lands Management Act of 1995.
SOLE SOURCE BID REQUIREMENTS IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Government Programs held a 
hearing to review the efforts of some to promote ``sole source'' bid 
requirements in government contracts. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Geren of Texas; Dave Privar, Manager of Safety and 
health, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA; and public 
witnesses.
CLARIFYING THE STATUS OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Taxation and Finance 
concluded hearings on the need to clarify the status of independent 
contractors, with discussion of the following bills: H.R. 1972, 
Independent Contractors Tax Simplification Act of 1995; and H.R. 582, 
Independent Contractors Tax Fairness Act of 1995. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the IRS, Department of the Treasury: 
Marshall V. Washburn, National Director, Specialty Taxes; and Mary E. 
Oppenheimer, Assistant Chief Counsel (Employee Benefits and Exempt 
Organizations); Natwar M. Gandhi, Associate Director, Tax Policy and 
Administration, GAO; and public witnesses.

[[Page D976]]

COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct: Met in executive session to 
consider pending business.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following bills: H.R. 2145, Economic Development Partnership Act of 
1995; and H.R. 2149, Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1995.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Education, Training, 
Employment and Housing held a hearing on the following: H.R. 1941, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to make clarifying and technical 
amendments to further clarify the employment and reemployment rights 
and responsibilities of members of the uniformed services, as well as 
those of the employer community; legislation on the Housing Loan 
Programs and Veterans Small Business, and a discussion on LVER/DVOP 
(Local Veterans Employment Representative/Disabled Veterans Outreach 
Program Specialist). Testimony was heard from John Vogel, Under 
Secretary, Veterans Benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs; Patricia 
R. Forbes, Acting Associate Deputy Administrator, Economic Development, 
SBA; Preston M. Taylor, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Veterans Employment 
and Training, Department of Labor and public witnesses.
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS TRADE PROPOSALS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade approved for full 
committee action technical corrections and miscellaneous trade 
proposals.
REPORT OF GUATEMALA
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on the Department of Justice Inspector General 
Report on Guatemala. The Committee was briefed by departmental 
witnesses.