[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 9, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H335-H336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CORRECTION OF PROCEEDINGS ON DISPOSITION OF SENATE AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE 
  JOINT RESOLUTION 134, MAKING FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 1996, PRINTED IN RECORD OF JANUARY 5, 1996, PAGES H226-H228

PROVIDING FOR DISPOSITION OF SENATE AMENDMENT TO HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 
   134, MAKING FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996

       Mr. Solomon. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on 
     Rules, I call up House Resolution 336 and ask for its 
     immediate consideration.
       The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 336

       Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution the House 
     shall be considered to have taken from the Speaker's table 
     the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 134) making further 
     continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1996, and for 
     other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and to 
     have concurred in the Senate amendment with an amendment 
     consisting of the text printed in the report of the Committee 
     on Rules accompanying this resolution.
       Sec. 2. House Concurrent Resolution 131 is hereby adopted.
       Sec. 3. The Clerk shall not transmit to the Senate a 
     message regarding H.J. Res. 134 until the House has received 
     a message that the Senate has agreed to House Concurrent 
     Resolution 131 as adopted by the House.

  The text of the Senate amendment and the House amendment to the 
Senate amendment are as follows:
  Senate amendment:

       Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert:

                                TITLE I

 AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN AND FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION 
                               ASSISTANCE

     That the following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any 
     money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of 
     applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, 
     for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and 
     other organizational units of Government for the fiscal year 
     1996, and for other purposes, namely:
       Sec. 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary under the 
     authority and conditions provided in the applicable 
     appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1995 for continuing 
     the following projects or activities including the costs of 
     direct loans and loan guarantees (not otherwise specifically 
     provided for in this joint resolution) which were conducted 
     in the fiscal year 1995:
       All projects and activities funded under the account 
     heading ``Family support payments to States'' under the 
     Administration For Children and Families in the Department of 
     Health and Human Services;
       All projects and activities funded under the account 
     heading ``Payments to States for foster care and adoption 
     assistance'' under the Administration For Children and 
     Families in the Department of Health and Human Services;
       Such amounts as may be necessary for the medicaid program 
     under title XIX of the Social Security Act for the second 
     quarter of fiscal year 1996; and
       All administrative activities necessary to carry out the 
     projects and activities in the preceding three paragraphs:

     Provided, That whenever the amount which would be made 
     available or the authority which would be granted under an 
     Act which including funding for fiscal year 1996 for the 
     projects and activities listed in this section is greater 
     than that which would be available or granted under current 
     operations, the pertinent project or activity shall be 
     continued at a rate for operations not exceeding the current 
     rate.
       (b) Whenever the amount which would be made available or 
     the authority which would be granted under the Act which 
     included funding for fiscal year 1996 for the projects and 
     activities listed in this section as passed by the House as 
     of the date of enactment of this joint resolution, is 
     different from that which would be available or granted under 
     such Act as passed by the Senate as of the date of enactment 
     of this joint resolution, the pertinent project or activity 
     shall be continued at a rate for operations not exceeding the 
     current rate or the rate permitted by the action of the House 
     or the Senate, whichever is lower, under the authority and 
     conditions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for 
     the fiscal year 1995.
       (c) Whenever an Act which included funding for fiscal year 
     1996 for the projects and activities listed in this section 
     has been passed by only the House or only the Senate as of 
     the date of enactment of this joint resolution, the pertinent 
     project or activity shall be continued under the 
     appropriation, fund, or authority granted by the one House at 
     a rate for operations not exceeding the current rate or the 
     rate permitted by the action of the one House, whichever is 
     lower, and under the authority and conditions provided in the 
     applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1995.
       Sec. 102. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be 
     available to the extent and in the manner which would be 
     provided by the pertinent appropriations Act.
       Sec. 103. No appropriation or funds made available or 
     authority granted pursuant to section 101 shall be used to 
     initiate or resume any project or activity for which 
     appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available 
     during the fiscal year 1995.
       Sec. 104. No provision which is included in the 
     appropriations Act enumerated in section 101 but which was 
     not included in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal 
     year 1995 and which by its terms is applicable to more than 
     one appropriation, fund, or authority shall be applicable to 
     any appropriation, fund, or authority provided in this joint 
     resolution.
       Sec. 105. Appropriations made and authority granted 
     pursuant to this title of this joint resolution shall cover 
     all obligations or expenditures incurred for any program, 
     project, or activity during the period for which funds or 
     authority for such project or activity are available under 
     this joint resolution.
       Sec. 106. Unless otherwise provided for in this title of 
     this joint resolution or in the applicable appropriations 
     Act, appropriations and funds made available and authority 
     granted pursuant to this title of this joint resolution shall 
     be available until (a) enactment into law of an appropriation 
     for any project or activity provided for in this title of 
     this joint resolution, or (b) the enactment into law of the 
     applicable appropriations Act by both Houses without any 
     provision for such project or activity, or (c) January 3, 
     1996, whichever first occurs.
       Sec. 107. Expenditures made pursuant to this title of this 
     joint resolution shall be charged to the applicable 
     appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in 
     which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization 
     is contained is enacted into law.
       Sec. 108. No provision in the appropriations Act for the 
     fiscal year 1996 referred to in section 101 of this joint 
     resolution that makes the availability of any appropriation 
     provided therein dependent upon the enactment of additional 
     authorizing or other legislation shall be effective before 
     the date set forth in section 106(c) of this joint 
     resolution.
       Sec. 109. Appropriations and funds made available by or 
     authority granted pursuant to this title of this joint 
     resolution may be used without regard to the time limitations 
     for submission and approval of apportionments set forth in 
     section 1513 of title 31, United States Code, but nothing 
     herein shall be construed to waive any other provision of law 
     governing the apportionment of funds.

                                TITLE II

                          DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

     That the following sums are hereby appropriated, out of the 
     general fund and enterprise funds of the District of Columbia 
     for the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 1996, and 
     for other purposes, namely:
       Sec. 201. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary under the 
     authority and conditions provided in the applicable 
     appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1995 for continuing 
     projects or activities including the costs of direct loans 
     and loan guarantees (not otherwise specifically provided for 
     in this title of this joint resolution) which were conducted 
     in the fiscal year 1995 and for which appropriations, funds, 
     or other authority would be available in the following 
     appropriations Act:
       The District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 1996;


[[Page H336]]

     Provided, That whenever the amount which would be made 
     available or the authority which would be granted in this Act 
     is greater than that which would be available or granted 
     under current operations, the pertinent project or activity 
     shall be continued at a rate for operations not exceeding the 
     current rate.
       (b) Whenever the amount which would be made available or 
     the authority which would be granted under the Act listed in 
     this section as passed by the House as of the date of 
     enactment of this joint resolution, is different from that 
     which would be available or granted under such Act as passed 
     by the Senate as of the date of enactment of this joint 
     resolution, the pertinent project or activity shall be 
     continued at a rate for operations not exceeding the current 
     rate or the rate permitted by the action of the House or the 
     Senate, whichever is lower, under the authority and 
     conditions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for 
     the fiscal year 1995: Provided, That where an item is not 
     included in either version or where an item is included in 
     only one version of the Act as passed by both Houses as of 
     the date of enactment of this joint resolution, the pertinent 
     project or activity shall not be continued except as provided 
     for in section 211 or 212 under the appropriation, fund, or 
     authority granted by the applicable appropriations Act for 
     the fiscal year 1995 and under the authority and conditions 
     provided in the applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal 
     year 1995.
       Sec. 202. Appropriations made by section 201 shall be 
     available to the extent and in the manner which would be 
     provided by the pertinent appropriations Act.
       Sec. 203. No appropriation or funds made available or 
     authority granted pursuant to section 201 shall be used to 
     initiate or resume any project or activity for which 
     appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available 
     during the fiscal year 1995.
       Sec. 204. No provision which is included in the 
     appropriations Act enumerated in section 201 but which was 
     not included in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal 
     year 1995 and which by its terms is applicable to more than 
     one appropriation, fund, or authority shall be applicable to 
     any appropriation, fund, or authority provided in this title 
     of this joint resolution.
       Sec. 205. Appropriations made and authority granted 
     pursuant to this title of this joint resolution shall cover 
     all obligations or expenditures incurred for any program, 
     project, or activity during the period for which funds or 
     authority for such project or activity are available under 
     this title of this joint resolution.
       Sec. 206. Unless otherwise provided for in this title of 
     this joint resolution or in the applicable appropriations 
     Act, appropriations and funds made available and authority 
     granted pursuant to this title of this joint resolution shall 
     be available until (a) enactment into law of an appropriation 
     for any project or activity provided for in this title of 
     this joint resolution, or (b) the enactment into law of the 
     applicable appropriations Act by both Houses without any 
     provision for such project or activity, or (c) January 3, 
     1996, whichever first occurs.
       Sec. 207. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except section 206, none of the 
     funds appropriated under this title of this joint resolution 
     shall be expended for any abortion except where the life of 
     the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to 
     term or where the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape 
     or incest.
       Sec. 208. Expenditures made pursuant to this title of this 
     joint resolution shall be charged to the applicable 
     appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in 
     which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization 
     is contained is enacted into law.
       Sec. 209. No provision in the appropriations Act for the 
     fiscal year 1996 referred to in section 201 of this title of 
     this joint resolution that makes the availability of any 
     appropriation provided therein dependent upon the enactment 
     of additional authorizing or other legislation shall be 
     effective before the date set forth in section 206(c) of this 
     joint resolution.
       Sec. 210. Appropriations and funds made available by or 
     authority granted pursuant to this title of this joint 
     resolution may be used without regard to the time limitations 
     for submission and approval of apportionments set forth in 
     section 1513 of title 31, United States Code, but nothing 
     herein shall be construed to waive any other provision of law 
     governing the apportionment of funds.
       Sec. 211. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except section 206, whenever the 
     Act listed in section 201 as passed by both the House and 
     Senate as of the date of enactment of this joint resolution, 
     does not include funding for an ongoing project or activity 
     for which there is a budget request, or whenever the rate for 
     operations for an ongoing project or activity provided by 
     section 201 for which there is a budget request would result 
     in the project or activity being significantly reduced, the 
     pertinent project or activity may be continued under the 
     authority and conditions provided in the applicable 
     appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1995 by increasing the 
     rate for operations provided by section 201 to a rate for 
     operations not to exceed one that provides the minimal level 
     that would enable existing activities to continue. No new 
     contracts or grants shall be awarded in excess of an amount 
     that bears the same ratio to the rate for operations provided 
     by this section as the number of days covered by this 
     resolution bears to 366. For the purposes of this title of 
     this joint resolution, the minimal level means a rate for 
     operations that is reduced from the current rate by 25 
     percent.
       Sec. 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except section 206, whenever the 
     rate for operations for any continuing project or activity 
     provided by section 201 or section 211 for which there is a 
     budget request would result in a furlough of Government 
     employees, that rate for operations may be increased to the 
     minimum level that would enable the furlough to be avoided. 
     No new contracts or grants shall be awarded in excess of an 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the rate for operations 
     provided by this section as the number of days covered by 
     this resolution bears to 366.
       Sec. 213. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except sections 206, 211, and 212, 
     for those programs that had high initial rates of operation 
     or complete distribution of funding at the beginning of the 
     fiscal year in fiscal year 1995 because of distributions of 
     funding to States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, 
     similar distributions of funds for fiscal year 1996 shall not 
     be made and no grants shall be awarded for such programs 
     funded by this title of this resolution that would impinge on 
     final funding prerogatives.
       Sec. 214. This title of this joint resolution shall be 
     implemented so that only the most limited funding action of 
     that permitted in this title of this resolution shall be 
     taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and 
     activities.
       Sec. 215. The provisions of section 132 of the District of 
     Columbia Appropriations Act, 1988, Public Law 100-202, shall 
     not apply for this title of this joint resolution.
       Sec. 216. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except section 206, none of the 
     funds appropriated under this title of this joint resolution 
     shall be used to implement or enforce any system of 
     registration of unmarried, cohabiting couples whether they 
     are homosexual, lesbian, heterosexual, including but not 
     limited to registration for the purpose of extending 
     employment, health, or governmental benefits to such couples 
     on the same basis that such benefits are extended to legally 
     married couples; nor shall any funds made available pursuant 
     to any provision of this title of this joint resolution 
     otherwise be used to implement or enforce D.C. Act 9-188, 
     signed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia on April 15, 
     1992.

                               TITLE III

                           VETERANS' BENEFITS

     That the following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any 
     money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of 
     applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, 
     for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and 
     other organizational units of Government for the fiscal year 
     1996, and for other purposes, namely:

     SEC. 301. ENSURED PAYMENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1996 OF 
                   VETERANS' BENEFITS IN EVENT OF LACK OF 
                   APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Payments Required.--In any case during fiscal year 1996 
     in which appropriations are not otherwise available for 
     programs, projects, and activities of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     nevertheless ensure that--
       (1) payments of existing veterans benefits are made in 
     accordance with regular procedures and schedules and in 
     accordance with eligibility requirements for such benefits; 
     and
       (2) payments to contractors of the Veterans Health 
     Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs are made 
     when due in the case of services provided that directly 
     relate to patient health and safety.
       (b) Funding.--There is hereby appropriated such sums as may 
     be necessary for the payments pursuant to subsection (a), 
     including such amounts as may be necessary for the costs of 
     administration of such payments.
       (c) Charging of Accounts When Appropriations Made.--In any 
     case in which the Secretary uses the authority of subsection 
     (a) to make payments, applicable accounts shall be charged 
     for amounts so paid, and for the costs of administration of 
     such payments, when regular appropriations become available 
     for those purposes.
       (d) Existing Benefits Specified.--For purposes of this 
     section, existing veterans benefits are benefits under laws 
     administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that have 
     been adjudicated and authorized for payment as of--
       (1) December 15, 1995; or
       (2) if appropriations for such benefits are available 
     (other than pursuant to subsection (b)) after December 15, 
     1995, the last day on which appropriations for payment of 
     such benefits are available (other than pursuant to 
     subsection (b)).

     SEC. 302. EXPIRATION DATE.

       Section 301 shall expire on January 3, 1996.

  House amendment to the Senate amendment:

       In lieu of the matter inserted by said amendment, insert:
       Sec. 1. Section 106(c) of Public Law 104-56 is amended by 
     striking ``December 15, 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``January 26, 1996''.
       Sec. 2. The transmission of this joint resolution to the 
     President shall be in accordance with the requirements of the 
     concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 131) that establishes 
     procedures making such transmission contingent upon the 
     submission by the President of a seven-year balanced budget 
     using the economic and technical assumptions specified in or 
     consistent with the Congressional Budget Office Memorandum 
     entitled ``The Economic and Budget Outlook: December 1995 
     Update''.

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