[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D297-D299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 32 public bills, H.R. 3198-3229; and 8 resolutions, 
H.J. Res. 170-171, H. Con. Res. 157-159, and H. Res. 397-399 were 
introduced.
  Pages H3229-31
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H. Res. 395, providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 159, proposing 
an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require two-
thirds majorities for bills increasing taxes (H. Rept. 104-513);
  H. Res. 396, providing for consideration of H.R. 842, to provide off-
budget treatment for the Highway Trust Fund, the Airport and Airway 
Trust Fund, the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and the Harbor Maintenance 
Trust Fund (H. Rept. 104-514);
  H.R. 2747, to direct the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency to make grants to States for the purpose of financing 
the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of water supply 
systems, amended (H. Rept. 104-515); and
  H.R. 842, to provide off-budget treatment for the Highway Trust Fund, 
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and 
the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund; adversely (H. Rept. 104-499, Pt. 2).
                                                     Pages H3184, H3229

[[Page D298]]

Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
designates Representative Gunderson to act as Speaker pro tempore for 
today.
  Page H3173
Journal: By a recorded vote of 323 ayes to 83 noes, with 1 voting 
``present'', Roll No. 109, the House approved the Journal of Thursday, 
March 28.
  Page H3184
Order of Business: It was made in order that the Committee on 
Appropriations be discharged from the further consideration of H.J. 
Res. 170 when called up; and that it be in order at any time to 
consider the joint resolution in the House; that the joint resolution 
be debatable for not to exceed one hour, to be equally divided and 
controlled by Representative Livingston and Representative Obey; that 
all points of order against the joint resolution and against its 
consideration be waived; and that the previous question be considered 
as ordered on the joint resolution to final passage without intervening 
motion, except one motion to recommit, without instructions. 
                                                             Page H3176
Product Liability Legal Reform: By a yea-and-nay vote of 259 yeas to 
158 nays, Roll No. 110, the House agreed to the conference report on 
H.R. 956, to establish legal standards and procedures for product 
liability litigation.
  Pages H3176-83, H3184-H3204
  H. Res. 394, the rule waiving points of order against consideration 
of the conference report was agreed to earlier by a voice vote. Agreed 
to order the previous question on the resolution by a yea-and-nay vote 
of 237 yeas to 173 nays, Roll No. 108.
Pages H3176-83
Further Continuing Appropriations: House passed H.J. Res. 170, making 
further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1996. 
                                                         Pages H3204-06
District Work Period: House agreed to H. Con. Res. 157, providing for 
an adjournment or recess of the two Houses.
  Page H3206
Committee Election: House agreed to H. Res. 397, electing 
Representative Hayes to the Committee on Ways and Means.
  Page H3206
Legislative Program: The Majority Leader announced the legislative 
program for the week of April 15.
  Pages H3206-07
Resignations--Appointments: It was made in order that, notwithstanding 
any adjournment of the House until Monday, April 15, the Speaker and 
the Minority Leader be authorized to accept resignations and to make 
appointments authorized by law of the House.
  Page H3207
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with Calendar Wednesday business 
of April 17.
  Page H3207
Designation of Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker 
authorizing Representative Emerson to act as Speaker pro tempore to 
sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions through Monday, April 15, 
1996.
  Page H3207
British-American Interparliamentary Group: The Chair announced the 
Speaker's appointment of the following Members on the part of the House 
as delegates to the British-American Interparliamentary Group: 
Representatives Clinger, Brownback, Emerson, Linder, Molinari, Petri, 
and Pryce.
  Page H3211
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on 
pages H3173 and H3228.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H3183, H3184, and H3204.
Adjournment: Met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 5 p.m.

Committee Meeting
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, 
and Judiciary held a hearing on the Commission on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission). Testimony was heard from 
Representative Smith of New Jersey.
  The Subcommittee also continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was 
heard from Members of Congress.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on the Secretary of Energy. Testimony was 
head from Hazel R. O'Leary, Secretary of Energy.
TRUTH IN BUDGETING ACT
Committee on the Budget: Ordered reported unfavorably H.R. 842, Truth 
in Budgeting Act.
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous 
Materials held a hearing on reauthorization of the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Consumer Product Safety Commission: Ann Brown, Chairman; Mary 
Sheila Gall and Thomas Hill Moore, both Commissioners; the following 
former Chairmen of the Commission: Terrence Scanlon and Nancy Harvey 
Steorts; and Carol Dawson, former Commissioner.

[[Page D299]]


SINGLE AUDIT ACT AMENDMENTS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information, and Technology held a hearing on 
H.R. 3184, Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996. Testimony was heard 
from G. Edward DeSeve, Controller, Office of Federal Financial 
Management, OMB; Gene L. Dodaro, Assistant Comptroller General, 
Accounting and Information Management Division, GAO; and public 
witnesses.
OMNIBUS EXPORT ADMINISTRATION ACT
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported amended H.R. 
361, Omnibus Export Administration Act of 1995.
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime approved for full 
Committee action H.R. 3166, Government Accountability Act of 1996.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Procurement 
and the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development continued 
joint hearings on the fiscal year 1997 national Defense authorization, 
with emphasis on Navy modernization. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of the Navy: John W. Douglass, 
Assistant Secretary, Research, Development, and Acquisition; VAdm. 
Thomas J. Lopez, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Resources, 
Warfare Requirements, and Assessments; and Maj. Gen. Jeffrey W. Oster, 
USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources, U.S. Marine Corps.
TAX LIMITATION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule 
providing for the consideration of H.J. Res. 159, proposing an 
amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require two-
thirds majorities for bills increasing taxes, in the House without the 
intervention of any point of order. The rule provides that an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute consisting of the Text of H.J. Res. 169 
will be considered as adopted. The previous question shall be 
considered as ordered on the joint resolution as amended, and on any 
further amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion 
except as specified. The rule provides 3 hours of debate equally 
divided and controlled between the chairman and ranking minority member 
of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule further provides for an 
amendment by the Minority Leader or his designee, which will be 
considered as read, and which will be debatable for 1 hour equally 
divided between the proponent and an opponent. Finally, the rule 
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Barton of Texas, Shadegg, Hall of Texas, 
Skaggs, Frank of Massachusetts, Conyers and Geren of Texas.
TRUTH IN BUDGETING ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 2 
hours of debate on H.R. 842, Truth in Budgeting Act. The rule makes in 
order the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
Committee on the Budget. The rule makes in order the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure amendment in the nature of a 
substitute now printed in the bill as an original bill for the purpose 
of amendment. The rule provides that each section of the committee 
amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered as read. 
Priority in recognition will be given to Members who have pre-printed 
their amendments in the Congressional Record prior to their 
consideration. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with 
or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Shuster.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported amended the following 
bills: H.R. 3158, Pilot Small Business Technology Transfer Program 
Extension Act of 1996; and H.R. 2715, Paperwork Elimination Act of 
1995.
ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Veteran's Affairs: Held a hearing on the Administration's 
fiscal year 1997 budget request. Testimony was heard from Jesse Brown, 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Frank Q. Nebeker, Chief Judge, U.S. 
Court of Veterans Appeals.

Joint Meetings
OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS
Conferees continued to resolve the differences between the Senate-and 
House-passed versions of H.R. 3019, making appropriations for fiscal 
year 1996 to make a further downpayment toward a balanced budget, but 
did not complete action thereon, and will meet again on Monday, April 
15.