[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3746-H3754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   PAPERWORK ELIMINATION ACT OF 1996

  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 409 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 409

       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. 2715) to amend chapter 35 of title 44, United 
     States Code, popularly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act, 
     to minimize the burden of Federal

[[Page H3747]]

     paperwork demands upon small businesses, educational and 
     nonprofit institutions, Federal contractors, State and local 
     governments, and other persons through the sponsorship and 
     use of alternative information technologies. The first 
     reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. 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 Small Business. After 
     general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment 
     under the five-minute rule. It shall be in order to consider 
     as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 
     five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
     recommended by the Committee on Small Business now printed in 
     the bill. Each section of the committee amendment in the 
     nature of a substitute shall be considered as read. 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. Any Member may 
     demand a separate vote in the House on any amendment adopted 
     in the Committee of the Whole to the bill or to the committee 
     amendment in the nature of a substitute. The previous 
     question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and 
     amendments thereto to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions.

                              {time}  1230

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Burton of Indiana). The gentleman from 
Georgia [Mr. Linder] is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hall], pending 
which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration 
of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
  (Mr. LINDER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks and include extraneous material.)
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 409 is an open rule 
providing for the consideration of H.R. 2715, the Paperwork Elimination 
Act of 1996. This rule provides 1 hour of general debate divided 
equally between the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Small Business.
  House Resolution 409 makes in order as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment under the 5-minute rule the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Small Business 
now printed in the bill. Any Member will have the opportunity to offer 
an amendment to the bill under the 5-minute rule. Finally, the rule 
provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions as is 
the right of the minority. Under this rule, the Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recognition on the basis 
of whether the Member offering an amendment has had that amendment 
preprinted in the Congressional Record.
  I am pleased this bill will be considered under an open rule, which 
was unanimously approved by the Rules Committee yesterday. While the 
chairman of the Small Business Committee testified to the Rules 
Committee that she did not expect many amendments, this rule will 
provide the entire House with sufficient time to offer amendments and 
express any persisting apprehension about the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people have endured a brutal winter and 
welcome the arrival of spring. Unfortunately, our citizens still must 
deal with a blizzard of Federal paperwork requirements. As we approach 
the 21st century, the Paperwork Elimination Act recognizes the coming 
of non-paper-dependent information technologies, and will help reduce 
the avalanche of paper that has covered American taxpayers and small 
businesses.
  I strongly supported the Paperwork Reduction Act that this Congress 
passed during the consideration of the Contract With America. That bill 
reduced the information collection burdens on the public and assured a 
more efficient and productive administration of information resources. 
Today's legislation builds upon the progress in paperwork reduction 
brought about by the enactment of that reform legislation.

  The legislation before us today will further reduce the burden of 
Federal paperwork on small businesses and individuals by providing for 
the optional use of electronic technologies to meet the demands of 
Federal paperwork regulations. The American people spend billions of 
hours every year filling out Federal forms and submitting records to 
the Government, and it makes sense to allow those who have the capacity 
to comply with regulations by computer to take advantage of the 
information superhighway.
  The Rules Committee heard testimony that the amount of time and 
effort spent by our citizens in complying with Federal regulatory 
paperwork represents a dollar value equal to 9 percent of the gross 
domestic product. The time and effort filling out paperwork would be 
better spent on the creation of new jobs.
  I have always believed that those nations that have achieved the most 
impressive growth in the past have not been those with rigid Government 
controls, and we all know that Federal regulations and paperwork 
requirements are strangling job creation and productivity. Excessive 
Government regulatory mandates are not beneficial to economic 
development, and this bill enables small businesses and all taxpayers 
to save valuable time and money.
  The Paperwork Elimination Act of 1996 has received considerable 
support, and I want to recognize Chairman Jan Meyers and Representative 
Peter Torkildsen, chairman of the Small Business Committee's Government 
Programs Subcommittee. Their bill effectively reduces the paperwork 
burden, and also benefits the environment by reducing both the need for 
and the disposal of paper products. They have crafted sound legislation 
which I believe will receive overwhelming bipartisan support.
   Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2715 was favorably reported out of the Committee 
on Small Business by voice vote, and this rule received the unanimous 
support of the Rules Committee. I urge my colleagues to support this 
rule, and I look forward to a thoughtful debate on the Paperwork 
Elimination Act of 1996.
   Mr. Speaker, I submit the following extraneous material for 
inclusion in the Congressional Record:

  THE AMENDMENT PROCESS UNDER SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE,\1\ 103D CONGRESS V. 104TH CONGRESS 
                                             [As of April 23, 1996]                                             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  103d Congress                        104th Congress           
              Rule type              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Number of rules    Percent of total   Number of rules    Percent of total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open/Modified-open \2\..............                 46                 44                 62                 59
Modified Closed \3\.................                 49                 47                 26                 25
Closed \4\..........................                  9                  9                 17                 16
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................                104                100                105                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).                                                                             


[[Page H3748]]



                          SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE, 104TH CONGRESS                         
                                             [As of April 23, 1996]                                             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Disposition of 
    H. Res. No. (Date rept.)         Rule type           Bill No.              Subject                rule      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Res. 38 (1/18/95)...........  O................  H.R. 5...........  Unfunded Mandate        A: 350-71 (1/19/ 
                                                                        Reform.                 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/
                                                                        Pueblo Indians.         1/95).          
H. Res. 52 (1/31/95)...........  O................  H.R. 400.........  Land Exchange, Arctic   A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Nat'l. Park and         1/95).          
                                                                        Preserve.                               
H. Res. 53 (1/31/95)...........  O................  H.R. 440.........  Land Conveyance, Butte  A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        County, Calif.          1/95).          
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       A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Reform.                 7/95).          
H. Res. 63 (2/8/95)............  MO...............  H.R. 667.........  Violent Criminal        A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Incarceration.          9/95).          
H. Res. 69 (2/9/95)............  O................  H.R. 668.........  Criminal Alien          A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Deportation.            10/95).         
H. Res. 79 (2/10/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 728.........  Law Enforcement Block   A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Grants.                 13/95).         
H. Res. 83 (2/13/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 7...........  National Security       PQ: 229-100; A:  
                                                                        Revitalization.         227-127 (2/15/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 88 (2/16/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 831.........  Health Insurance        PQ: 230-191; A:  
                                                                        Deductibility.          229-188 (2/21/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 91 (2/21/95)...........  O................  H.R. 830.........  Paperwork Reduction     A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Act.                    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   A: 252-175 (2/23/
                                                                        Act.                    95).            
H. Res. 96 (2/24/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 1022........  Risk Assessment.......  A: 253-165 (2/27/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 100 (2/27/95)..........  O................  H.R. 926.........  Regulatory Reform and   A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Relief Act.             28/95).         
H. Res. 101 (2/28/95)..........  MO...............  H.R. 925.........  Private Property        A: 271-151 (3/2/ 
                                                                        Protection Act.         95).            
H. Res. 103 (3/3/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 1058........  Securities Litigation   .................
                                                                        Reform.                                 
H. Res. 104 (3/3/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 988.........  Attorney                A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Accountability Act.     6/95).          
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       A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Reform.                 8/95).          
H. Res. 109 (3/8/95)...........  MC...............  .................  ......................  PQ: 234-191 A:   
                                                                                                247-181 (3/9/   
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 115 (3/14/95)..........  MO...............  H.R. 1159........  Making Emergency Supp.  A: 242-190 (3/15/
                                                                        Approps.                95).            
H. Res. 116 (3/15/95)..........  MC...............  H.J. Res. 73.....  Term Limits Const.      A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Amdt.                   28/95).         
H. Res. 117 (3/16/95)..........  Debate...........  H.R. 4...........  Personal                A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Responsibility Act of   21/95).         
                                                                        1995.                                   
H. Res. 119 (3/21/95)..........  MC...............  .................  ......................  A: 217-211 (3/22/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 125 (4/3/95)...........  O................  H.R. 1271........  Family Privacy          A: 423-1 (4/4/   
                                                                        Protection Act.         95).            
H. Res. 126 (4/3/95)...........  O................  H.R. 660.........  Older Persons Housing   A: voice vote (4/
                                                                        Act.                    6/95).          
H. Res. 128 (4/4/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 1215........  Contract With America   A: 228-204 (4/5/ 
                                                                        Tax Relief Act of       95).            
                                                                        1995.                                   
H. Res. 130 (4/5/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 483.........  Medicare Select          A: 253-172 (4/6/
                                                                        Expansion.              95).            
H. Res. 136 (5/1/95)...........  O................  H.R. 655.........  Hydrogen Future Act of  A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        1995.                   2/95).          
H. Res. 139 (5/3/95)...........  O................  H.R. 1361........  Coast Guard Auth. FY    A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        1996.                   9/95).          
H. Res. 140 (5/9/95)...........  O................  H.R. 961.........  Clean Water Amendments  A: 414-4 (5/10/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 144 (5/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 535.........  Fish Hatchery--         A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Arkansas.               15/95).         
H. Res. 145 (5/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 584.........  Fish Hatchery--Iowa...  A: voice vote (5/
                                                                                                15/95).         
H. Res. 146 (5/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 614.........  Fish Hatchery--         A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Minnesota.              15/95).         
H. Res. 149 (5/16/95)..........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 67..  Budget Resolution FY    PQ: 252-170 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   255-168 (5/17/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 155 (5/22/95)..........  MO...............  H.R. 1561........  American Overseas       A: 233-176 (5/23/
                                                                        Interests Act.          95).            
H. Res. 164 (6/8/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 1530........  Nat. Defense Auth. FY   PQ: 225-191 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   233-183 (6/13/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 167 (6/15/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1817........  MilCon Appropriations   PQ: 223-180 A:   
                                                                        FY 1996.                245-155 (6/16/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 169 (6/19/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 1854........  Leg. Branch Approps.    PQ: 232-196 A:   
                                                                        FY 1996.                236-191 (6/20/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 170 (6/20/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1868........  For. Ops. Approps. FY   PQ: 221-178 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   217-175 (6/22/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 171 (6/22/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1905........  Energy & Water          A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       12/95).         
H. Res. 173 (6/27/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 79.....  Flag Constitutional     PQ: 258-170 A:   
                                                                        Amendment.              271-152 (6/28/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 176 (6/28/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 1944........  Emer. Supp. Approps...  PQ: 236-194 A:   
                                                                                                234-192 (6/29/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 185 (7/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1977........  Interior Approps. FY    PQ: 235-193 D:   
                                                                        1996.                   192-238 (7/12/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 187 (7/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1977........  Interior Approps. FY    PQ: 230-194 A:   
                                                                        1996 #2.                229-195 (7/13/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 188 (7/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1976........  Agriculture Approps.    PQ: 242-185 A:   
                                                                        FY 1996.                voice vote (7/18/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 190 (7/17/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2020........  Treasury/Postal         PQ: 232-192 A:   
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       voice vote (7/18/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 193 (7/19/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 96.....  Disapproval of MFN to   A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        China.                  20/95).         
H. Res. 194 (7/19/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2002........  Transportation          PQ: 217-202 (7/21/
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       95).            
H. Res. 197 (7/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 70..........  Exports of Alaskan      A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Crude Oil.              24/95).         
H. Res. 198 (7/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2076........  Commerce, State         A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       25/95).         
H. Res. 201 (7/25/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2099........  VA/HUD Approps. FY      A: 230-189 (7/25/
                                                                        1996.                   95).            
H. Res. 204 (7/28/95)..........  MC...............  S. 21............  Terminating U.S. Arms   A: voice vote (8/
                                                                        Embargo on Bosnia.      1/95).          
H. Res. 205 (7/28/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2126........  Defense Approps. FY     A: 409-1 (7/31/  
                                                                        1996.                   95).            
H. Res. 207 (8/1/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 1555........  Communications Act of   A: 255-156 (8/2/ 
                                                                        1995.                   95).            
H. Res. 208 (8/1/95)...........  O................  H.R. 2127........  Labor, HHS Approps. FY  A: 323-104 (8/2/ 
                                                                        1996.                   95).            
H. Res. 215 (9/7/95)...........  O................  H.R. 1594........  Economically Targeted   A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Investments.            12/95).         
H. Res. 216 (9/7/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 1655........  Intelligence            A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Authorization FY 1996.  12/95).         
H. Res. 218 (9/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1162........  Deficit Reduction       A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Lockbox.                13/95).         
H. Res. 219 (9/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1670........  Federal Acquisition     A: 414-0 (9/13/  
                                                                        Reform Act.             95).            
H. Res. 222 (9/18/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1617........  CAREERS Act...........  A: 388-2 (9/19/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 224 (9/19/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2274........  Natl. Highway System..  PQ: 241-173 A:   
                                                                                                375-39-1 (9/20/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 225 (9/19/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 927.........  Cuban Liberty & Dem.    A: 304-118 (9/20/
                                                                        Solidarity.             95).            
H. Res. 226 (9/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 743.........  Team Act..............  A: 344-66-1 (9/27/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 227 (9/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1170........  3-Judge Court.........  A: voice vote (9/
                                                                                                28/95).         
H. Res. 228 (9/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1601........  Internatl. Space        A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Station.                27/95).         
H. Res. 230 (9/27/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 108....  Continuing Resolution   A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        FY 1996.                28/95).         
H. Res. 234 (9/29/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2405........  Omnibus Science Auth..  A: voice vote (10/
                                                                                                11/95).         
H. Res. 237 (10/17/95).........  MC...............  H.R. 2259........  Disapprove Sentencing   A: voice vote (10/
                                                                        Guidelines.             18/95).         
H. Res. 238 (10/18/95).........  MC...............  H.R. 2425........  Medicare Preservation   PQ: 231-194 A:   
                                                                        Act.                    227-192 (10/19/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 239 (10/19/95).........  C................  H.R. 2492........  Leg. Branch Approps...  PQ: 235-184 A:   
                                                                                                voice vote (10/ 
                                                                                                31/95).         
H. Res. 245 (10/25/95).........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 109.  Social Security         PQ: 228-191 A:   
                                                    H.R. 2491........   Earnings Reform.        235-185 (10/26/ 
                                                                       Seven-Year Balanced      95).            
                                                                        Budget.                                 
H. Res. 251 (10/31/95).........  C................  H.R. 1833........  Partial Birth Abortion  A: 237-190 (11/1/
                                                                        Ban.                    95).            
H. Res. 252 (10/31/95).........  MO...............  H.R. 2546........  D.C. Approps..........  A: 241-181 (11/1/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 257 (11/7/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 115....  Cont. Res. FY 1996....  A: 216-210 (11/8/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 258 (11/8/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2586........  Debt Limit............  A: 220-200 (11/10/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 259 (11/9/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2539........  ICC Termination Act...  A: voice vote (11/
                                                                                                14/95).         
H. Res. 261 (11/9/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 115....  Cont. Resolution......  A: 223-182 (11/10/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 262 (11/9/95)..........  C................  H.R. 2586........  Increase Debt Limit...  A: 220-185 (11/10/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 269 (11/15/95).........  O................  H.R. 2564........  Lobbying Reform.......  A: voice vote (11/
                                                                                                16/95).         
H. Res. 270 (11/15/95).........  C................  H.J. Res. 122....  Further Cont.           A: 229-176 (11/15/
                                                                        Resolution.             95).            
H. Res. 273 (11/16/95).........  MC...............  H.R. 2606........  Prohibition on Funds    A: 239-181 (11/17/
                                                                        for Bosnia.             95).            
H. Res. 284 (11/29/95).........  O................  H.R. 1788........  Amtrak Reform.........  A: voice vote (11/
                                                                                                30/95).         
H. Res. 287 (11/30/95).........  O................  H.R. 1350........  Maritime Security Act.  A: voice vote (12/
                                                                                                6/95).          
H. Res. 293 (12/7/95)..........  C................  H.R. 2621........  Protect Federal Trust   PQ: 223-183 A:   
                                                                        Funds.                  228-184 (12/14/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 303 (12/13/95).........  O................  H.R. 1745........  Utah Public Lands.....                   
H. Res. 309 (12/18/95).........  C................  H.Con. Res. 122..  Budget Res. W/          PQ: 230-188 A:   
                                                                        President.              229-189 (12/19/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 313 (12/19/95).........  O................  H.R. 558.........  Texas Low-Level         A: voice vote (12/
                                                                        Radioactive.            20/95).         
H. Res. 323 (12/21/95).........  C................  H.R. 2677........  Natl. Parks & Wildlife  Tabled (2/28/96).
                                                                        Refuge.                                 
H. Res. 366 (2/27/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2854........  Farm Bill.............  PQ: 228-182 A:   
                                                                                                244-168 (2/28/  
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 368 (2/28/96)..........  O................  H.R. 994.........  Small Business Growth.  .................
H. Res. 371 (3/6/96)...........  C................  H.R. 3021........  Debt Limit Increase...  A: voice vote (3/
                                                                                                7/96).          
H. Res. 372 (3/6/96)...........  MC...............  H.R. 3019........  Cont. Approps. FY 1996  PQ: voice vote A:
                                                                                                235-175 (3/7/   
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 380 (3/12/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2703........  Effective Death         A: 251-157 (3/13/
                                                                        Penalty.                96).            
H. Res. 384 (3/14/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2202........  Immigration...........  PQ: 233-152 A:   
                                                                                                voice vote (3/21/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 386 (3/20/96)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 165....  Further Cont. Approps.  PQ: 234-187 A:   
                                                                                                237-183 (3/21/  
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 388 (3/20/96)..........  C................  H.R. 125.........  Gun Crime Enforcement.  A: 244-166 (3/22/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 391 (3/27/96)..........  C................  H.R. 3136........  Contract w/America      PQ: 232-180 A:   
                                                                        Advancement.            232-177, (3/28/ 
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 392 (3/27/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3103........  Health Coverage         PQ: 229-186 A:   
                                                                        Affordability.          Voice Vote (3/29/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 395 (3/29/96)..........  MC...............  H.J. Res. 159....  Tax Limitation Const.   PQ: 232-168 A:   
                                                                        Amdmt..                 234-162 (4/15/  
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 396 (3/29/96)..........  O................  H.R. 842.........  Truth in Budgeting Act  A: voice vote (4/
                                                                                                17/96).         
H. Res. 409 (4/23/96)..........  O................  H.R. 2715........  Paperwork Elimination   .................
                                                                        Act.                                    
H. Res. 410 (4/23/96)..........  O................  H.R. 1675........  Natl. Wildlife Refuge.  .................
H. Res. 411 (4/23/96)..........  O................  H.J. Res. 175....  Further Cont. Approps.  .................
                                                                        FY 1996.                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.               


[[Page H3749]]


  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. HALL of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 409 is an open rule 
which will allow full and fair debate on H.R. 2715, a bill to reduce 
the burden of Federal paperwork requirements for small businessmen and 
individuals.
  The bill, the Paperwork Elimination Act, follows last year's 
enactment of the Paperwork Reduction Act. It is a continuation of 
Congress' efforts to reduce the demands made on our citizens as a 
result of Federal regulation.
  As my colleague from Georgia has described, this rule provides 1 hour 
of general debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Small Business.
  Under this rule, amendments will be allowed under the 5-minute rule, 
the normal amending process in the House. All Members, on both sides of 
the aisle, will have the opportunity to offer amendments.
  This rule is an easy one for me to support. The normal committee 
process was followed before the bill was presented to the Rules 
Committee. The Small Business Committee held a public hearing to 
consider the bill's provisions. Then the committee held a markup, 
amended the bill, and reported it by voice vote.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an example of the kind of rule the Rules 
Committee should be reporting. This is the kind of process the House 
should be following.
  I urge the adoption of the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I 
move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Regula). Pursuant to House Resolution 
409 and rule XXIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of 
the Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the 
bill, H.R. 2715.
  The Chair designates the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Taylor] 
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, and requests the gentleman from 
Indiana [Mr. Burton] to assume the chair temporarily.

                              {time}  1237


                     in the committee of the whole

  Accordingly the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 
2715) to amend chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, popularly 
known as the Paperwork Reduction Act, to minimize the burden of Federal 
paperwork demands upon small businesses, educational and nonprofit 
institutions, Federal contractors, State and local governments, and 
other persons through the sponsorship and use of alternative 
information technologies, with Mr. Burton of Indiana, Chairman pro 
tempore, in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as having 
been read the first time.
  Under the rule, the gentlewoman from Kansas [Mrs. Meyers] and the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce] each will be recognized for 30 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Kansas [Mrs. Meyers].
  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to cosponsor and 
support the Paperwork Elimination Act of 1996, legislation which is 
sponsored by Congressman Torkildsen.
  This legislation is a winner. Potentially, it will contribute to 
billions of dollars of savings in reduced regulatory compliance costs 
that small business and the public must pay in order to meet the 
Federal Governments paperwork demands. It is not only user friendly, it 
is also environmentally and public friendly.
  I urge my colleagues vote for this bill.
  Congressman Torkildsen is the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Government Programs of the Small Business Committee. As a result of his 
work, the full committee voted unanimously on March 29 to report the 
bill favorably. This bill enjoys bipartisan support. The administration 
testified, welcomed the congressional support and attention the bill 
represents, and suggested an amendment which was adopted. The Chief 
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration joined in the 
support. So did the small business witnesses.
  We on the Small Business Committee have heard testimony that the 
dollar cost of Federal paperwork demands approximates $510 billion 
annually. In 1992 that dollar amount estimate of the time and effort 
the American public spends to meet regulatory paperwork requirements 
equalled 9 percent of the gross domestic product. I believe that 
percentage would be about the same today.

  Small business pays a disproportionate share of that burden. That 
huge figure gives you a picture of the cumulative costs. Too 
frequently, these costs are barriers to job creation, job preservation, 
and economic productivity. They are the costs of Government which are 
hidden taxes because the money must be paid, and it is not paid by 
Government spending or collected by the Internal Revenue Service.
  Given the significant role small business and small business 
entrepreneurs play in our economy, it makes common sense to do what is 
possible to eliminate and reduce these costs. The Paperwork Elimination 
Act emphasizes the opportunity provided to reduce costs by electronic 
compliance with the information demands of regulatory compliance.
  This bill builds on the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. We passed 
that legislation as part of the Contract With America last session. 
Every Democrat and Republican voted for that measure and the President 
enthusiastically singed it last May. It went into effect his past 
October.
  The Congress established burden reduction goals for the executive 
branch in that act. We in the House were particularly enthusiastic that 
the goals be established and that we try to meet them. For the next 2 
years, the goals is to reduce the overall burden of Federal paperwork 
requirements by 10 percent. For the following 4 years the goal becomes 
5 percent each year.
  There were and continue to be serious skeptics as to whether these 
goals can be reached. We all agree that the Federal Government should 
aspire and do what it can to reach them. After all, 10 percent of $510 
billion would be a hidden tax reduction of $51 billion.

  For many of us, and I think we should thank Mr. Torkildsen for 
continuing to work on this, what makes those goals reasonable is the 
promise of the information age we live in. New information 
technologies, such as the growing use of computers and modems, which 
even the children are learning to use, holds out the promise that the 
paperwork costs can be reduced. If the Government gets smarter in 
leading the way for the public's use of new technology, those reduction 
goals can be reached.
  The Paperwork Elimination Act is intended to help.
  It requires Federal agencies to think strategically and consider how 
to provide electronic options to regulatory compliance each and every 
time an agency comes up with a new proposal for reporting, 
recordkeeping, or disclosure of information.
  It requires that the electronic option be considered when agencies 
review their continuing information demands every 3 years. And it 
requires the Director of OMB, through the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs [OIRA], to oversee and implement the Governmentwide 
adoption of the electronic option.
  Lastly, it adds to the existing reporting requirement to Congress 
that instances of successes and failures be brought to the Congress' 
attention. That will enhance our oversight function and give us 
feedback on whether the reduction goals are being met.

[[Page H3750]]

   Mr. Chairman, I believe this bill strikes a blow for a commonsense 
approach to regulatory and paperwork relief that all of us should 
support.

                              {time}  1245

  I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Clinger], 
chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight. We share 
jurisdiction with that committee, and Chairman Clinger reviewed the 
work that we had done on it and waived his jurisdiction.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my chairman.
  H.R. 2715, the Paperwork Elimination Act of 1996, was originally 
referred to both the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and 
to the Small Business Committee; however, after reviewing the 
legislation as reported from the Small Business Committee, the 
Government Reform Committee waived jurisdiction to formally consider 
the bill.
  I believe that this legislation should be considered and passed 
without any delay. It is good for the Government and is good for those 
who are required to provide information to the Government. Moreover, it 
does not cost money.
  Mr. Chairman, this bill simply provides that the Government should 
take steps to allow, and even encourage, the use of electronic 
information technology in order to reduce the burden on individuals and 
businesses that disclose information to the Government. It does not 
require these information providers to use electronic means to supply 
the data; it merely permits them to do so if they have the capacity, 
and many do.
  Enactment of this bill will simply recognize that paper copies are 
not the only way to provide data to the Government. It may well be 
easier for citizens to transmit data electronically and it is certainly 
easier for the Government to receive it this way. Thus, I view this 
bill as a winner for all concerned.
  I know of no opposition to the bill, and I urge all Members to 
support it.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Torkildsen].
  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
the time, and I want to applaud the gentlewoman's leadership in moving 
this bill through the full committee and to the House floor.
  Mr. Chairman, the legislation before us, the Paperwork Elimination 
Act of 1996, will require the Federal Government to get smart about the 
information age we live in. It requires the executive branch to become 
computer user friendly and allow small business and individuals the 
option to file all information required by the Federal Government 
electronically. It also requires Federal agency to make documents and 
publications available electronically as well.
  Small business bears the disproportionate share of these reporting 
costs. The legislation today focuses on how the use of electronic 
submission, maintenance and disclosure of information demanded by the 
Federal Government can reduce the cost on small business. But State and 
local governments, government contractors, educational and nonprofit 
institutions, and the public at large will also benefit by the 
improvements in this bill.
  This legislation potentially eliminates billions of dollars of cost 
that small business and others face in meeting Federal information 
demands.
  I would also like to thank the bill's cosponsors for their support of 
this effort, as well, and also the bipartisan comments of support from 
the other side of the aisle. This really has been a bill that we have 
worked together with support from both sides of the aisle, from both 
the White House as well as the legislative branch, and that is why the 
bill is moving as quickly as it is.
  Mr. Chairman, where I come from in New England, small business 
represents 53 percent of the private work force. Viewing our economy, 
small business plays an increasing role in creating new jobs as well as 
sustaining existing jobs. In 1993, industries dominated by small firms, 
from banking to tourism and everything in between, posted a net gain of 
over 1 million jobs, as opposed to industries dominated by large firms 
which lost 200,000 jobs. So clearly small business has been the engine 
for job growth in New England and other areas.
  On the national level, the role that small business plays in the 
health of our economy is compelling. Small business accounts for more 
than three-quarters of all businesses that export. Small business 
contributed roughly 40 percent of the Nation's new high technology jobs 
during the last decade.
  The health of small business is vital to our economy. The focus of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act is to find ways to reduce the costs of 
complying with government mandates by using electronic means to meet 
regulatory paperwork requirements. This will promote the advantages of 
the information age we live in, and explore the use of new information 
technologies and eliminate barriers to job creation caused by wasteful 
paperwork requirements.
  Mr. Chairman, the information needs of the Federal regulatory system 
touch everything. Paperwork demands range from tax returns, health care 
reimbursement forms, and contract bids, to OSHA material data work 
sheets and EPA chemical reporting forms. Over and over again, there is 
a need, and sometimes it is very legitimate, a need for information for 
the Federal Government to fulfill its functions. This legislation says 
the Government must provide an electronic option for these demands.
  The bill builds upon and complements the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
last year, legislation which this Congress passed unanimously. It 
amends that Act by specifying that small business and people with 
access to computers and modems should be able to use them when dealing 
with the Federal Government.
  Again, let me emphasize this is an option for small business and 
individuals. It is not a requirement that they go out and computerize, 
although most small businesses do have at least one computer now. This 
is an option for them to report electronically.
  I want to stress that that option is key to the bill's success. We 
would not be here if it were another mandate on small business. Indeed, 
this is an option, but one that will save small business extensive 
money in meeting their reporting requirements.
  Also importantly, though, this bill will save money for the Federal 
Government, as well. Once an agency is on-line to receive computer-
generated information, it will reduce its own cost of manually 
inputting information for paper reports.
  Federal paperwork requirements are nothing more than hidden taxes of 
Government programs. The Committee on Small Business has heard 
testimony that these costs easily run into the hundreds of billions of 
dollars, and they are costs that have to be paid. They are not paid in 
cash to the Federal Government, but they are paid nonetheless. It is 
important that we reduce some of those costs through this bill.
  Mr. Chairman, this legislation importantly is also environmentally 
friendly, as it substitutes paper with an electronic option. You do not 
need the paperwork. You do not need the actual forms to file with the 
Federal Government. Therefore, you do not have to produce the paper. 
Therefore, you do not have to cut down the number of trees you would 
need for those reams and reams of paper.
  Let me give just a little example. For example, if you are a 
physician, you have to file this form, this one-page form, with HCFA on 
average about 8,000 times per physician. Now, 8,000 times is 
represented by the reams of paper right here. In 1 year, one physician 
just filing this one form, not counting the other forms they have to 
file with HCFA and other agencies, would have to use this much paper 
just for this one form.
  Instead of producing all these forms that have to be filed, for every 
physician to file with HCFA, that information could be filed 
electronically. It could be stored on something as small as this disk.

  So you are saving space. You are helping the environment by not 
needing to produce as much paper. You are saving costs to the Federal 
Government as well, because they will not

[[Page H3751]]

have to convert these handwritten forms into computer information, 
which is what their normal practice is. Most Federal agencies, when 
they receive these forms, do have someone convert them back from paper 
technology into computer technology. By taking out this paper mid-step, 
we will be able to save a great deal of cost, both for the private 
sector as well as for the taxpayers who have to pay the costs of that 
Federal agency.
  Again, that is just one example out of thousands of reports that are 
required each and every year. In addition, there is a cost savings 
associated with this as well.
  Filing the old-fashioned way on paper, one may find out in 6 or 8 
weeks that there was a mistake. Maybe the person filling out the form 
left one space blank. Maybe they had the wrong serial number, some 
minor error. It will take 6 to 8 weeks just to receive notice that an 
error was made. The form has to be resubmitted.
  In the meantime, your business, your operation is not receiving 
reimbursement for the service provided, or perhaps you are not in 
technical compliance with the reporting requirement, if it is a 
different type of form. By filing electronically, errors will be able 
to be spotted and corrected much more quickly, again saving time and 
money both for the private sector as well as for the Federal agency 
involved.
  I think it is important to note that this is a step that will make 
the Federal Government friendly to the computer age; that we are saying 
that the Federal Government should be doing everything it can to make 
use of the great advances in technology that have happened, that have 
been developed mostly here in America, to see that anyone trying to 
create jobs will not have to pay any more than is necessary to meet 
these requirements.
  This bill, the Paperwork Elimination Act, does not replace the 
Paperwork Reduction Act. At the same time we want to make sure that 
people can file any information electronically, we still want to keep 
an eye on reducing the actual cost of putting that information together 
and make sure that no information is being requested unless it is 
absolutely necessary for the public good and for the Federal Government 
to meet its legally obligated mission.
  But this bill, this legislation, will go a long way in saying the 
Federal Government is willing to take the steps necessary to see that a 
small business, whether 1 or 5 or 50 employees, to see that small 
business has no more cost required on it than is absolutely necessary. 
That savings is good for that small business, it is good for job 
creation, it is good for the economy in general, and it is also good 
for the taxpayers.
  I again applaud the gentlewoman from Kansas [Mrs. Meyers], the Chair 
of the committee, for the great leadership she has shown on this bill 
and all issues dealing with small business. I again urge all my 
colleagues to vote for this legislation.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York [Ms. Velazquez].
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2715, 
the Paperwork Elimination Act of 1996, and to commend Chairwoman Myers 
for her work on this issue.
  In this age of growing technology, we should encourage and offer even 
more opportunities for small businesses to improve productivity through 
technology. H.R. 2715 will make it easier for many small businesses to 
provide information electronically to the Government, resulting in a 
reduced paperwork burden.
  I would caution though, this legislation is not the answer to all 
small business problems. As the use of information technology 
flourishes, a gap is growing larger between the technology haves and 
the have-nots.
  It is true that a great many Americans send and receive electronic 
mail with their personal computers. Many conduct bank transactions 
online, from home. The Internal Revenue Service reported that at least 
11 million Americans filed their Federal income taxes electronically.
  But the whole truth is, the technology users I just described do not 
live in the lower-income communities, like mine. Most of my 
constituents do not have access to technology. This means many of the 
small businesses in my community are quickly falling into the widening 
technology gap.
  These businesses cannot afford to hire experts to develop software 
applications. They will not be taking advantage of the electronic 
option provided by this bill--let alone afford the expensive initial 
investment in computer equipment.
  Although I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation--keep 
in mind that we need to take this bill a step further. We must continue 
to look for ways that will help small, disadvantaged businesses again 
access to information technology. If we fail to do so, we may very well 
lose one of the most vibrant sectors of our economy.
  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. LoBiondo].
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Chairman, I come to the floor today as a proud 
cosponsor of the Paperwork Elimination Act. I commend the gentleman 
from Massachusetts [Mr. Torkildsen] for introducing this legislation 
and the gentlewoman from Kansas [Mrs. Meyers], chairwoman, for her role 
in bringing this to the floor.
  Last year we passed the Paperwork Reduction Act. Now we are going to 
pass the Paperwork Elimination Act to further improve agency efficiency 
and responsiveness to the public. This bill recommends that our 
country's small businesses and Federal agencies move into the 
electronic information age. Some small businesses are required to file 
forms with up to 50 different Federal, State and local agencies.

                              {time}  1300

  This is absolutely incredible when you think about it. I believe that 
more of their time should be spent concentrating on providing quality 
goods and services to their customers. I believe this is an important 
piece of legislation for small businesses in my own district in 
southern New Jersey, as well as for small businesses around the 
country.
  It provides small business owners with a more efficient and effective 
means to quickly complete agency requirements, thereby allowing them to 
get on with growing and improving their small businesses.
  Mr. Chairman, before serving in Congress, I spent my time in a small 
business, in a small family business in southern New Jersey. Along with 
my father and my brother and some other family members, we struggled 
with some of the very problems that we are attempting to address today. 
I witnessed year after year where the requirements just seemed to grow 
more and more on what we were expected to provide back in the form of 
paperwork.
  Now, as it was stated before, this will not be an answer to the 
entire problem, but it is certainly a step in the right direction, 
because for the district that I represent in southern New Jersey that 
has so many small businesses that are trying to make ends meet, that 
are trying to do the right thing to provide jobs, this will give them 
an opportunity to see a small glimmer of hope.

  I try, as I am sure my colleagues do, to attend as many business and 
Chamber meetings as I can when home on district work periods. This is 
something that I hear over and over again: Will you please put a human 
face on what you are doing in Washington and understand the 
implications of the decisions you make on those of us who live in the 
real world?
  Mr. Chairman, in that real world, the paperwork requirements are a 
tremendous problem. It is one we are beginning to recognize today, and 
I am very proud that we will have the opportunity to move this forward.
  So again, I am asking all my colleagues to yet again demonstrate our 
commitment, the commitment of this Congress, to easing the regulatory 
burden on American small businesses by supporting this Paperwork 
Elimination Act.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota [Mr. Luther].
  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Paperwork 
Elimination Act. This legislation builds on the Paperwork Reduction Act 
passed by the House last year, which was one of the top recommendations 
of the White House Conference on Small Business held last year.

[[Page H3752]]

  I think Members of both parties can agree that the Federal paperwork 
demands on small businesses and individuals have become too time-
consuming, expensive, and burdensome. It is estimated that business 
owners and ordinary citizens spend as much as 6 billion hours per year 
responding to Federal reporting requirements, ranging from employment 
forms from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to Internal Revenue Service 
returns, 6 billion hours of time that could be spent generating 
increased economic growth or helping kids with a school project.
  H.R. 2715 provides the option of electronically submitting 
information needed to comply with Federal regulations. Small businesses 
and individuals can now send and receive mail, complete financial 
transactions, and read magazines and newspapers from their personal 
computer. There is no reason why they should not have the option of 
completing Federal Government forms by computer. Where possible, we 
need to simplify and streamline Government so that interaction with 
Government becomes more of a positive experience rather than a chore.
  As a Member of the Committee on Small Business, I urge support for 
this legislation in order to better enable small businesses to compete 
and individuals to be productive in today's world.
  Mr. Chairman, I thank the author, the ranking member, and the 
chairman.
  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Washington [Ms. Dunn].
  Ms. DUNN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 2715 
and would like to thank the gentlewoman from Kansas, Chairman Meyers, 
and the gentleman from Massachusetts, Chairman Torkildsen, for their 
steadfast work on this legislation. The Paperwork Elimination Act is 
excellent legislation, and the efforts of the committee are to be 
commended.
  This bill is a streamlining government bill, and my original intent 
was to offer a pro-small business friendly amendment to this 
legislation. After being informed, however, that the amendment would be 
opposed by the minority on technical grounds, I have decided to 
withdraw the amendment, with the intent of proposing it as part of some 
future legislation. I do, however, want to explain the rationale for 
the amendment.
  Quite simply, the language I intended to offer requires that in-House 
agency printing of Government information be limited to certain levels 
so as to allow for agency convenience. Meanwhile, however, it ensures 
that larger nonclassified jobs are outsourced to the private sector for 
maximum savings to the taxpayer.
  Under my proposal, in-House convenience would be a limit of 1,000 
units, or sheets of paper, or for a multipage document up to 5,000 
sheets of paper. The current regulatory limit is 5,000 and 25,000, but 
clearly this limit is much too high. There is no question, for example, 
that a job requiring 50 reams of paper is a job a local printer can do 
for less than the Government Printing Office.
  Mr. Chairman, so you can see that my amendment was intended to act in 
unison and as a complement toward the goal of H.R. 2715, which is 
streamlining Government.
  My amendment is pro-small business. Most private printers are the mom 
and pop types of shops that all of us have in our own districts. If we 
insist that the Federal Government send its work out for a competitive 
bid, all of those small businesses will have an opportunity to bid on 
this work and drive down the cost to the taxpayer in the process.
  The beauty of it is it is the small business community who would have 
benefited most, small businesses and the American taxpayer. Of course, 
with more work going to the private sector, small businesses may have 
the need to step up their work force to meet the increased demand, 
thereby making this a worker-friendly amendment as well.
  My amendment is highly taxpayer friendly. The Government Printing 
Office has an outstanding procurement office with a proven record of 
purchasing printing more cheaply from the private sector than can be 
done by the Federal Government. The agencies are not fully availing 
themselves of this service, and that is the heart of this issue.
  My amendment would save the taxpayers precious resources at a time 
when every dollar counts. This amendment is efficiency in Government. 
The amendment makes Government smaller by streamlining printing 
operations.
  How many print shops do we need in the Federal Government, Mr. 
Chairman? Certainly not one in every Federal agency. In the President's 
own words from a statement dated July 22, 1994, he says ``Reform 
legislation can improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of 
Government printing by maximizing the use of the private sector 
printing capability through open competitive procedures and by limiting 
Government-owned printing resources to those necessary to maintain a 
minimum core capacity.''
  In explanation of the amendment, Mr. Chairman, we visited this issue 
before, and I would add under Democratic leadership. Section 207 of the 
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 1995 reaffirms congressional 
intent that the GPO, and the GPO only, is the sole source of 
procurement of printing, including duplicating, for the entire Federal 
Government.
  Mr. Chairman, as we look for ways to decrease the paperwork burden 
generated by the Federal Government, we must look at both the 
unnecessary paperwork it demands, as well as the unnecessary paperwork 
it does. As you might say, there are two sides to the paper, especially 
when the paper generated within the Federal Government is costing 
taxpayers millions more than they should be paying.
  A preliminary CBO score of this provision which I have revised from 
legislation that I introduced earlier in this Congress indicates a 
savings to the taxpayer of around $150 million per year. I would have 
hoped my colleagues might have supported my amendment on this basis, 
and because it is pro-small business, protaxpayer, prostreamlining 
Government.
  Mr. Chairman, I look forward to the adoption of my amendment in some 
future legislation, and I urge the support of the Paperwork Elimination 
Act.
  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, in closing, I would like to comment that there are more 
than 21 million small businesses in this country, according to current 
estimates. In recent years, these small enterprises have employed 54 
percent of the private work force, contributed 52 percent of all sales 
in the United States, generated 50 percent of the private gross 
domestic product, and in 1994, they were responsible for an estimated 
62 percent of the new jobs created. Thus, the term small is rather 
misleading when it comes to the real impact on our economy of small 
business.
  I think it is important that we let them do what they do best, and 
that is generate innovative ideas, create jobs, and stimulate the 
economy. That is why this bill is so important, that we release them as 
much as possible from the burdens of paperwork.
  These paperwork demands range from tax forms, loan applications, 
contract bids, EPA's chemical reporting for manufacturers to OSHA's 
material data sheets; all of these are informational requirements. We 
all know what we are talking about when we are talking about paperwork 
reduction and elimination.
  Mr. Chairman, the bill is important, and I urge the support of my 
colleagues.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Chairman, as America rushes forward into the 
information age, the Federal Government is not keeping up. Instead of 
using new technology to streamline the application and reporting 
processes that individuals, State and local governments, businesses and 
nonprofits must provide--the paper pile continues to grow ever higher. 
For those at the grassroots, time, money, and jobs are lost in the 
process.
  The Paperwork Elimination Act serves to cut through the reams of 
documents--particularly those which affect small businesses, and 
educational, and nonprofit institutions. It will minimize their burden 
through the use of computer technology. As a former University 
president, I know how effective this act will be.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote on the Paperwork Elimination Act. In a few 
days, I will introduce a measure authorizing and encouraging electronic 
reporting. But today's vote is a beginning in reducing and eliminating 
unnecessary steps in the governmental processes.

[[Page H3753]]

  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2715, the 
Paperwork Elimination Act.
  At the end of March, Mr. Chairman, this legislation was reported out 
of the Small Business Committee by a voice vote.
  Mr. Chairman, this is a non-controversial bill. It would accomplish 
several much needed reforms. First, Mr. Speaker, this bill would 
minimize the burden of Federal paperwork demands on small businesses 
through the use of alternative electronic information technologies. 
Second, this bill would direct the Office of Management and Budget to 
act as the administrative body responsible for directing the Federal 
Government's efforts to promote and monitor the use of this new 
technology. Although, this would increase the administrative costs to 
OMB, it would not significantly impact the budget. Nor, Mr. Speaker, 
would it create new mandates for Federal agencies because it does not 
require agencies to acquire and implement these new technologies. The 
authority to do this already exists.
  Mr. Chairman, small businesses are the engine that drive our economy. 
They employ a large percentage of our work force and indeed, job growth 
in small firms is far outstripping that in large companies, which are 
laying off whole sections of the work force.
  Mr. Chairman, this legislation will go a long way in removing the 
onerous paperwork burdens of small businesses, freeing them to 
concentrate their energies and creativity to producing higher quality 
products and expanding the economy.
  Mr. Chairman, I commend Chairwoman Meyers for her diligent efforts in 
bringing this worthwhile legislation to the House floor and I encourage 
my colleagues to support H.R. 2715.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the 
bill shall be considered by sections as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment. Pursuant to the rule, each section is considered 
as having been read. During consideration of the bill for amendment, 
the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in 
recognition to a Member offering an amendment that has been printed in 
the designated place in the Record. Those amendments will be considered 
as having been read.
  The Clerk will designate section 1.
  The text of section 1 is as follows:

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Paperwork Elimination Act of 
     1996''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 1?
  If not, the Clerk will designate section 2.
  The text of section 2 is as follows:

     SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

       The purpose of this Act is to--
       (1) minimize the burden of Federal paperwork demands upon 
     small businesses, educational and non-profit institutions, 
     Federal contractors, State and local governments, and other 
     persons through the sponsorship and use of alternative 
     information technologies, including the use of electronic 
     maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information to 
     substitute for paper; and
       (2) more effectively enable Federal agencies to achieve the 
     purposes of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, 
     popularly known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act.''

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 2?
  If not, the Clerk will designate section 3.
  The text of section 3 is as follows:

     SEC. 3. AUTHORITY AND FUNTIONS OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE 
                   OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.

       (a) Direction and Oversight of Information Technology.--
     Section 3504(a)(1)(B)(vi) of title 44, United States Code, is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(vi) the acquisition and use of information technology, 
     including the use of alternative information technologies, 
     such as the use of electronic submission, maintenance, or 
     disclosure of information to substitute for paper.''.
       (b) Promotion of Use of Electronic Information 
     Technology.--Section 3504(h) of title 44, United States Code, 
     is amended by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end 
     of paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end of 
     paragraph (5) and inserting ``; and'', and by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(6) specifically promote the optional use of electronic 
     maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information where 
     appropriate, as an alternative information technology to 
     substitute for paper.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 3?
  If not, the Clerk will designate section 4.
  The text of section 4 is as follows:

     SEC. 4. ASSIGNMENT OF TASKS AND DEADLINES.

       Section 3505(a)(3) of title 44, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
     subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end of 
     subparagraph (C) and inserting ``; and'', and by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(D) a description of progress in providing for the use of 
     electronic submission, maintenance, or disclosure of 
     information to substitute for paper, including the extent to 
     which such progress accomplishes reduction of burden on small 
     businesses or other persons.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 4?
  If not, the Clerk will designate section 5.
  The text of section 5 is as follows:

     SEC. 5. FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.

       (a) Providing for Use of Electronic Information 
     Management.--Section 3506(c)- (1)(B) of title 44, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon at the end of clause (ii) and by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(iv) provides for the optional use, where appropriate, of 
     electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of 
     information; and''.
       (b) Promotion of Electronic Information Management.--
     Section 3506(c)(3)(C) of title 44, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``or'' after the semicolon at the end of 
     clause (ii), by adding ``or'' after the semicolon at the end 
     of clause (iii), and by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iv) the promotion and optional use, where appropriate, 
     of electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of 
     information.''.
       (c) Use of Alternative Information Technologies.--Section 
     3506(c)(3)(J) of title 44, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(J) to the maximum extent practicable, uses alternative 
     information technologies, including the use of electronic 
     maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information, to 
     reduce burden and improve data quality, agency efficiency and 
     responsiveness to the public.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 5?
  If not, the Clerk will designate section 6.
  The text of section 6 is as follows:

     SEC. 6. PUBLIC INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITIES; SUBMISSION 
                   TO DIRECTOR; APPROVAL AND DELEGATION.

       Section 3507(a)(1)(D)(ii) of title 44, United States Code, 
     is amended by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end 
     of subclause (V), by adding ``and'' after the semicolon at 
     the end of subclause (VI), and by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(VII) a description of how respondents may, if 
     apprppriate, electronically maintain, submit, or disclose 
     information under the collection of information.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 6?
  If not, the Clerk will designate section 7.
  The text of section 7 is as follows:

     SEC. 7. RESPONSIVENESS TO CONGRESS.

       Section 3514(a)(2) of title 44, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
     subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end of 
     subparagraph (D) and inserting ``; and'', and by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(E) reduced the collection of information burden on small 
     businesses and other persons through the use of electronic 
     maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information to 
     substitute for paper maintenance, submission, or disclosure 
     of information, including--
       ``(i) a description of instances where such substitution 
     has added to burden; and
       ``(ii) specific identification of such instances relating 
     to the Internal Revenue Service.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 7?
  If not, the Clerk will designate section 8.
  The text of section 8 is as follows:

     SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall take effect October 1, 1997.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 8?
  If not, the question is on the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The CHAIRMAN. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
  Accordingly the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Burton of Indiana) having assumed the chair, Mr. Taylor of North 
Carolina, Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
the Union, reported that that Committee, having had under consideration 
the bill (H.R. 2715) to amend chapter 35 of title 44, United States 
Code, popularly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act, to minimize the 
burden of Federal paperwork demands upon small businesses,

[[Page H3754]]

educational and nonprofit institutions, Federal contractors, State and 
local governments, and other persons through the sponsorship and use of 
alternative information technologies, pursuant to House Resolution 409, 
he reported the bill back to the House with an amendment adopted by the 
Committee of the Whole.

                              {time}  1315

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Burton of Indiana). Under the rule, the 
previous question is ordered.
  The question is on the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third 
reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. TORKILDSEN. 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 418, 
nays 0, not voting 14, as follows:

                             [Roll No 130]

                               YEAS--418

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allard
     Andrews
     Archer
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baesler
     Baker (CA)
     Baker (LA)
     Baldacci
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barr
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Bateman
     Becerra
     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
     Campbell
     Canady
     Cardin
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Chapman
     Chenoweth
     Christensen
     Chrysler
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clinger
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coburn
     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
     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)
     Filner
     Flake
     Flanagan
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fowler
     Fox
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (CT)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Frisa
     Frost
     Funderburk
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gejdenson
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Geren
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gonzalez
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Green (TX)
     Greene (UT)
     Greenwood
     Gunderson
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Hancock
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Hefner
     Heineman
     Herger
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hoke
     Holden
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Hoyer
     Hunter
     Hutchinson
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jacobs
     Jefferson
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (SD)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Johnston
     Jones
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MA)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kim
     King
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klink
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lantos
     Largent
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lazio
     Leach
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lightfoot
     Lincoln
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Longley
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luther
     Maloney
     Manton
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Martinez
     Martini
     Mascara
     Matsui
     McCarthy
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McHale
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntosh
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek
     Metcalf
     Meyers
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Molinari
     Mollohan
     Montgomery
     Moorhead
     Moran
     Morella
     Murtha
     Myers
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Neumann
     Ney
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Orton
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Pastor
     Paxon
     Payne (NJ)
     Payne (VA)
     Pelosi
     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
     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
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Stockman
     Stokes
     Studds
     Stump
     Stupak
     Talent
     Tanner
     Tate
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Tejeda
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thornberry
     Thornton
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Torkildsen
     Torres
     Torricelli
     Towns
     Traficant
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Volkmer
     Vucanovich
     Walker
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Ward
     Waters
     Watt (NC)
     Watts (OK)
     Waxman
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     White
     Wicker
     Williams
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wynn
     Yates
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)
     Zeliff
     Zimmer

                             NOT VOTING--14

     Dicks
     Fields (TX)
     Foglietta
     Hastings (FL)
     Houghton
     Kasich
     Laughlin
     Livingston
     McDade
     Menendez
     Parker
     Schroeder
     Whitfield
     Wilson

                              {time}  1332

  Mr. OWENS changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________